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The Motions Of Canoers and Kayakers Revealed With LEDs In Long Exposure Photography
The Motions Of Canoers and Kayakers Revealed With LEDs In Long Exposure Photography
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The Motions Of Canoers and Kayakers Revealed With LEDs In Long Exposure Photography

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Photographers like Stephen Orlando in Ontario always find a way to bring fresh ideas to the popular photography art sub-genre of light painting. His stunning pictures capture the hypnotically repetitive motions of kayakers, canoers, and swimmers as they paddle through the water, turning their movement into beautiful woven braids of light.

Orlando’s long exposure photos use programmable strips of LED lights that can blink or change colors over time, which is how he was able to ensure that each paddle stroke was captured. In the long exposure of 20 or 30 seconds, the kayak becomes invisible, but the trail of light left behind as they paddle gets picked up and turned into an elegant light art show.

This photographer has plenty more beautiful photos of other activities as well, so be sure to check out his website (where he’s got cool photo prints for sale)! For more on these interesting photos, read Orlando’s interview with Bored Panda.

More info: motionexposure.com | Facebook | Instagram (h/t: colossal)

RELATED:

    Kayaking

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    I’m an avid outdoor enthusiast and photographer,” Stephen Orlando told Bored Panda. “I also have an engineering background. These three things culminated in the production of these photos

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-2

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    The shape of the light trails turned out to be what I was expecting. I did a lot of planning for these photos and I plotted out the expected path beforehand. The unexpected result was how visually appealing they are

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-3

    The lights trails in these photos were not created in Photoshop, nor are they composite images. They were made with careful timing, proper lighting and patient friends

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-4

    I did have to waterproof the lights, especially for the whitewater kayaking photos

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-5

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    Canoeing

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-6

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-7

    led-lights-long-exposure-stephen-orlando-8

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    Swimming

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    We’d like to thank Stephen for answering our questions and can’t wait to see more of his enchanting works!

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    Dovas

    Dovas

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw

    Read less »
    Dovas

    Dovas

    Author, Community member

    There is a beast with heart of cold stone that dashes like lightning, shreds flesh from bone. // Bewitched by this beast, I fell to my knees. My mouth babbled madness and mumbled soft pleas. // I stared down the ravenous, gnashing dark maw of a cute cuddly kitten with yarn in its paw

    What do you think ?
    NancyFleming
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a wonderful idea, The results are fantastic.

    MarleneLove
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    very unique and beautiful. Keep up the great work, what an inspiration

    LynnMacDonald
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never we looked that colorful kayaking and swimming out on Meech. Beautiful

    cuteness
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is ingenious!!!!!!!!!!

    MarleneLove
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you for posting, your work is beautiful and unique, keep up the great work.

    DrewClancy
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is mind-blowingly simple gorgeous and original! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Sewingmolly
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Brilliantly unique! As well beautiful! As a canoeist in my younger days, I always thought group canoeing might be good set to music...

    JamieBlack
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is this? Where did this come from, why did you do this? I want to know more about this!! Please contact me? jamie@soleadenture.ca

    Paul Narloch
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Feel free to contact me when you find out Jaime. Good questions. www.facebook.com/FurnitureFlea

    Load More Replies...
    PaulRandell
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These would make great 'invisible sculptures' if viewed through a holographic plate at the lakes edge???

    MarcelPunschke
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those fotos look great.. nice idea and the result is inspiring to do more experiences..

    Steve Shanley
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are some of the coolest pictures I've ever seen.

    SteveShanley
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are some of the coolest pictures I've ever seen.

    Delijan
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My Uncle Jason just got green Mercedes SLS AMG Convertible only from working parttime off a macbook... see this page DOMAIN.com

    Carlos Rios
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the 2nd and 6th photos, crop out everything above the horizon and it looks like an awesome abstract painting!

    Chris Emberson
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very beautiful. I wish that me paddling looked as nice.

    ChrisEmberson
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very beautiful and inspiring. I wish that my paddling would look as nice.

    Toni Newman Maritima
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lovely! the swim strokes--and every other one--are so precise.

    MathewBatdorff
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is beautifull to be able to see the flow of movement thru the medium of matter we exist in. Cool;-)

    NoraFisher
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very interesting! How did the LED lights get hooked on to the oars, paddles, and swimmers?

    Jeanne Delannoy
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ingénieux et très bels effets j'aime

    rozie
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. That is just amazing. So creative and the end result is fantastic.

    LynneSparkes
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Luv your work didn't think we moved so graciously when we kayaked xx

    MarjorieFranko
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stunning. Who would ever have thought that paddling could create such an image just a few years ago?!

    RaeWren
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd like to see this with a kayaker going over a waterfall or in Class V rapids. Spectacular! idea! Bravo!

    susafo
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so beautiful, so harmonic movment!

    JoAnnSchmidt
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gorgeous! What a creative idea.

    JudithKenyon
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is very beautiful and creative!

    DrewClancy
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is mind blowingly simple gorgeous and original! thanks for the inspiration!

    Sewingmolly
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ...Canoeing to music filmed with lights would be stunning!

    NancyFleming
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a wonderful idea, The results are fantastic.

    MarleneLove
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    very unique and beautiful. Keep up the great work, what an inspiration

    LynnMacDonald
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never we looked that colorful kayaking and swimming out on Meech. Beautiful

    cuteness
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is ingenious!!!!!!!!!!

    MarleneLove
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you for posting, your work is beautiful and unique, keep up the great work.

    DrewClancy
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is mind-blowingly simple gorgeous and original! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Sewingmolly
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Brilliantly unique! As well beautiful! As a canoeist in my younger days, I always thought group canoeing might be good set to music...

    JamieBlack
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is this? Where did this come from, why did you do this? I want to know more about this!! Please contact me? jamie@soleadenture.ca

    Paul Narloch
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Feel free to contact me when you find out Jaime. Good questions. www.facebook.com/FurnitureFlea

    Load More Replies...
    PaulRandell
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These would make great 'invisible sculptures' if viewed through a holographic plate at the lakes edge???

    MarcelPunschke
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those fotos look great.. nice idea and the result is inspiring to do more experiences..

    Steve Shanley
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are some of the coolest pictures I've ever seen.

    SteveShanley
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are some of the coolest pictures I've ever seen.

    Delijan
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My Uncle Jason just got green Mercedes SLS AMG Convertible only from working parttime off a macbook... see this page DOMAIN.com

    Carlos Rios
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the 2nd and 6th photos, crop out everything above the horizon and it looks like an awesome abstract painting!

    Chris Emberson
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very beautiful. I wish that me paddling looked as nice.

    ChrisEmberson
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very beautiful and inspiring. I wish that my paddling would look as nice.

    Toni Newman Maritima
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lovely! the swim strokes--and every other one--are so precise.

    MathewBatdorff
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is beautifull to be able to see the flow of movement thru the medium of matter we exist in. Cool;-)

    NoraFisher
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very interesting! How did the LED lights get hooked on to the oars, paddles, and swimmers?

    Jeanne Delannoy
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ingénieux et très bels effets j'aime

    rozie
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. That is just amazing. So creative and the end result is fantastic.

    LynneSparkes
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Luv your work didn't think we moved so graciously when we kayaked xx

    MarjorieFranko
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stunning. Who would ever have thought that paddling could create such an image just a few years ago?!

    RaeWren
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd like to see this with a kayaker going over a waterfall or in Class V rapids. Spectacular! idea! Bravo!

    susafo
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so beautiful, so harmonic movment!

    JoAnnSchmidt
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gorgeous! What a creative idea.

    JudithKenyon
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is very beautiful and creative!

    DrewClancy
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is mind blowingly simple gorgeous and original! thanks for the inspiration!

    Sewingmolly
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ...Canoeing to music filmed with lights would be stunning!

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