The Art of Long Exposure
Russell Klimas
Over 5 days we work across both studio and outdoor environments, which gives you control over two very different situations. Studio sessions let you dial in your technique without wind, changing light, or unpredictable conditions. Outdoor shoots teach you how to read a real environment and adapt.
You'll cover portraits and landscapes throughout, learning to work with subjects as well as scenery. No prior light painting experience needed. If you know how to put your camera in manual mode, you're ready.
Techniques covered:
Fiber optics - for intricate detail, texture, and fine line work
Tubes and blades - geometric streaks and sharp-edged shapes
Brocade - soft, wraparound fills that feel almost painterly
Double exposure - layering two moments into one frame
Drones with lights - large-scale aerial effects and environmental coverage
Light whips - sweeping motion arcs that bring energy and movement to a shot
What to bring:
your camera, a sturdy tripod (required), and a remote shutter release if you have one. Light tools are provided.
Biography: Russell Klimas
Russell discovered light painting in 2018 and hasn't slept normally since. His sister jokes he's turned into a vampire.
Most nights you'll find him outside after dark with a camera, a tripod, and whatever light tools he's been obsessing over that week. Almost everything he shoots is done without photo editing software. Long exposures, strategic planning, and a genuine love for what the camera can do on its own. That constraint isn't a limitation for him, it's the whole point.
