Research - Patrick Shanahan

I like Patrick Shanahan's work because of the strong colours. This photograph reminds me of my 2nd time lapse. I like how the sky is a big feature in the image.

My Light Spirals

I had a go at making some light spirals using a torch on a string of rubber bands hanging from a light fitting in a darkened room. I really like the way this turned out but as it was daylight outside it was slightly too light to make long enough exposures. These are some of the photos from the shoot.

These initial photos are a little too shaky and are not very defined, the background is slightly too exposed as well.

This photo is over exposed as the ceiling and lights are visible.

With these photos I attached a laser pointer to the torch but this didn't have the affect I was expecting.

This one was taken just using the laser, it is more obvious but the room was too light to make a long enough exposure

With these photo's I moved the camera as well as the torch, I like the sporadic effect. I also like the way the torch seems to have several stripes.

With this one I attached an orange plastic bag over the torch to give it a different look. The light has become much softer as a result.

I used a piece of black card to cover the lens as I took the bag off the torch. I also used the laser pointer which I aimed at the lens.

With these last photos I pointed the laser at the ceiling. This produced a much clearer red line.

Light Spirographs

While I was researching time lapses and star trails I came across some 'spirographs' made with light like this one that I found on google images.

I also found some really interesting photos on Flikr that were done using a bike wheel which I might Experiment with www.flickr.com/groups/lightjunkies/discuss/72157614430634333

Time Lapse 2

This is my second attempt made in Southampton using 168 shots taken 30 seconds apart with a Canon EOS 350D, edited using Final Cut.



Time Lapse 2 from Alex Smith on Vimeo.

Experiment - Star trails time lapse

Stars from Alex Smith on Vimeo.

For this experiment I took a few long (ish only 60 seconds) exposures and edited them together using Final Cut. I think that the clouds moving in the sky are more obvious and interesting than the stars but the overall effect is interesting. 

Star Trails Research

I found this photograph on the website http://www.lightstalking.com/star-trails I really like a lot of the photographs featured on this site and hope to take some similar photos at a man made lake. I hope that the reflections will add interest to the composition.

Time Lapse

This is my first attempt at a time lapse and I'm fairly pleased with the result. I think it would have been more interesting if it had been a clearer night. My aim is to create a time lapse that has more of a wow factor. I think I will find another location and hopefully on a clearer night I will be able to capture another set of images.


This video was created using stills taken with a Nikon D80 and then put together using Final Cut.

1st Time Lapse from Alex Smith on Vimeo.

This is the first time I have really used a blog so I am not really sure where to start so I'll start with some research and inspiration.


I found this video online just before the start of term and it inspired me to look at time lapses long exposures and light trails.


The video is by Mike Flores.