Light Painting Photography With Android Phone (PRO Mode)

In this video we will be learning how to use the PRO mode of a cheap Android mobile phone to do light painting using a slow shutter speed and a tripod (long exposure photography). Here’s the video:

This video is from our Mobile Photography Course, which has 40 videos and 6 hours of content. Use the link below to access the full course on Udemy:

Mobile Photography Course

Video Summary

This creative photography tutorial from Creative Pad Media teaches how to create “Light Painting” photos using an Android phone’s Pro Mode.

Key Steps for Light Painting on a Smartphone:

• The Concept: Light painting is a form of long-exposure photography where you use a flashlight to draw shapes while the camera’s shutter is open [00:12].
• Essential Equipment:
  • Tripod: Absolute stability is required for long exposures [05:04].
  • Flashlight: Any light source, like a handheld torch, works for “painting” [02:35].
  • Dark Background: A black cloth or a dark room is recommended to make the light trails stand out [00:52].
• Camera Settings (Pro Mode):
  • ISO: Set to the lowest possible (e.g., ISO 100) to ensure a clean, noise-free image [04:40].
  • Shutter Speed: Use a slow speed, typically between 4 and 10 seconds, depending on the complexity of your drawing [06:11].
  • Manual Focus: Prefocus on the area where you will be drawing by using an object (like a light stand) and locking the focus there [03:07]. This prevents the camera from hunting for focus in the dark [03:44].
• Technique Tips:
  • Timer: Use a 5-second shutter delay so you can get into position after pressing the button [07:33].
  • Light Control: Only turn your flashlight on when you are ready to start drawing and switch it off the moment you finish to avoid unwanted “trail” lines [09:23].
• Post-Processing: The instructor mentions that even in a dark room, a 10-second exposure might reveal background distractions. These can be easily cleaned up in apps like Snapseed by adjusting exposure and cropping [10:48].