I have a great deal of interest in digital photography, but my life is as crazy as anyone else’s. My son, family, and work keep me busy from dawn to midnight every day. I’ve never had time to cultivate any photography skills, even though I’ve always been very interested, sitting on the edge of my seat, if you will, for a chance to take some digital photos in order to learn a little about how capturing light can create astonishing works of art.

My interview with Matthew Danser had given me my long sought “excuse” to try out some photography techniques. But it also required that I put in an honest effort. The thought in the back of my head: These photos are going to suck. Probably a lot. And they will most likely be seen by the thousands of people who visit this blog monthly. Second gulp.

But I’m the kind of person so riddled with ADHD that even my paranoia about being judged on a mass scale can only last about three minutes before the audacity to try anything resurfaces and action is taken. So here’s what happens when a total amateur who has no idea what he is doing tries to “Paint with Light.”

A one-dollar flashlight from – you guessed it – the Dollar General. One dollar. Even. Gotta love it. Especially since it’s all I could afford, seeing as how I’m still paying off the aforementioned Nikon that I bought to take photos of our baby son. (True, a million pictures have been taken of him during his first year-and-a-half on Earth. However, 999,999 of those photos were taken with an iPhone. Go figya.)

THE PLAN, STAN:

The plan was to wait until it was dark in the apartment and do some light painting. I knew that I could use the Shutter mode on my camera to set it to take exposures of up to thirty seconds. I saw that my camera also had an option for bulb release, so, invoking Danser, who recalls how his girlfriend had to hold down the button on his camera for a full thirteen minutes, I determined that if I asked really nicely, I might be able to persuade my wife to hold down the trigger to get exposures longer than thirty seconds. Otherwise, thirty seconds was my window of time to do all the light painting I could.

I started off pretty timidly. I had seen photos online in which people used long exposures to create squiggly lines. The most popular examples are pictures of traffic at night, headlights and tail lights streaming, giving you a sense of the fluid motion of busy intersections. You’ve also seen those nature pics in which streams and rivers and clouds and stars become gauzy with movement because of long exposures.

But what I really like about Danser’s work is the use of color. The effect of running inside the hut and popping off red-gelled flashes shown at the beginning of this blog post (Matthew Danser! And happy lightpainting, everyone!

Since we covered outdoor lighting last time, this week we thought we would focus on lighting that you use more frequently. Everyone wants a house with good lighting. A bright house can fill you with energy or create a peaceful atmosphere. There are plenty of options out there for you if you are redoing your indoor lighting.

Pot lights are becoming a popular option in many homes over the last few years. Because pot lights are receded you can get a great “clean” look in any room. You can put many pot lights in one room without it looking busy or overwhelming. This also helps to give great light coverage from corner to corner.

In February we talked about adding a new chandelier to your home. This is a fantastic option for those with a big open space. A chandelier can bring the room together and look great. If you pick out the right one you can also add tons of light to a dark space. For those of you looking for something above and beyond this could be the right option.

Ceiling fans offer both functionality and aesthetics. We previously discussed the efficiencies’ of having a ceiling fan during the summer to keep your home cool. With a ceiling fan you can turn down your thermostat and let the fan regulate the air. Ceiling fans also come in a wide variety of styles, ensuring that there is one for every room. If you have an upper level room that is just getting too warm during the summer months, a ceiling fan is perfect for you.

Track lighting used to be bulky and unattractive. But the design has significantly improved over the years. Now you can find sleek designs with a combination of heads and lights. Track lighting allows you to focus the lights in the places that need it most. In a living room you can create a cool environment, or in a kitchen you can brighten up a workspace.

Each one of these lighting options can fit a different space. Take a look at your room and think about what works best for you.

There are many possible reasons your lights may flicker from time to time:

Because there are so many possible causes for flickering lights, it is best to have a licensed electrician inspect your electrical systems to determine the exact cause, especially if the problem persists. Depending on the nature of the problem, there could be the potential for additional issues to arise if it is ignored.

Give us a call today so we can help keep your home safe and in working order.