Make Spooky Halloween Photos by Painting with Light

Try a new lighting technique to create spooky Halloween photos of you and your friends. Experiment by painting with light in a dark room with an open shutter.

A tripod is essential. A remote control for your camera can make things easier, but is not necessary. Since there will be no light until you turn it on with the flash light or glow stick, you can trip the shutter on the camera and walk in front of the camera without fear of your blur being recorded.

Set the camera on a tripod and put it in the manual setting. Set the shutter speed to "Bulb" setting (which is marked with a B at the end of your shutter speed dial - this setting means the shutter opens and does not shut until you click the button again). Place the camera in manual focus. Have someone stand where you (or your subject) will be for the photograph. Manually focus the camera so the person's face is crisp and clear.

Now, turn off the lights. Seal any windows and doors with black cloth to keep light from leaking in. Stand (or have your subject stand) at the designated place in front of the camera. Click the shutter. Remember, it will remain open until you push the shutter button again. Use a flashlight, glow sticks or candle to make designs in the air. Try writing a spooky message or just make designs around your face. Remember, everywhere you move the light a streak will be left on the photo. If you are using a flashlight, turn it off to move and start a new design.

Try not to leave the shutter open more than 10 or 15 seconds. Walk back to the camera and push the shutter button to close the shutter again. If you are using a digital camera, check the photo on the LCD screen to see if you got the effect you wanted. Continue experimenting with different types of light and designs until you get photos you want.

This is a great way to make invitations to a Halloween party. Write a few words, like your party's theme, with light and then print out 5x7 prints of the photograph with your full invitation information written on the back of each photo. Or make a self-portrait for your on-line blogging site, like MySpace or Facebook, to get into the Halloween spirit.

Try using the entire horizontal shape of the photo and photograph yourself in three or four places at the same time. Mark on the floor where you can stand and still be in the photograph to the left and right of the frame. When you trip the shutter, go to the far left of the frame and assume a pose. Turn on your flashlight pointing up at your face. Swing it to "paint" your entire body with the light, then turn the flash light off. Move a few feet into the frame and repeat with a different pose. You will have a photograph of yourself in various poses to appear as if you were in all four places at the same time. Try to create a little blur between the poses as you move to make it seem like you moved that vast, cartoon like, between the sets.