Janne was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1980. He has over 15 years of experience in light painting. Light painting is the art of using sources of light to “paint” something while a long exposure photograph is taken. His work has been featured in many publications and companies, including National Geographic, Adobe, and The Guardian.
Ironically, he discovered light painting by accident. 15 years ago, he was out one night capturing star trails. He accidently bumped the camera as he was walking around. When he reviewed his photos, he noticed that in the bumped pictures, the streetlights blurred across the screen, leaving a trail of light behind them.
Tools and Techniques
I think Photoshop is a curse word among the light painters
-Janne Parviainen (LightPaintingPhotography.com)
When making a new light painting, Janne prefers a digital medium compared to film. This is because his preferred camera is a DSLR with shutter control. To keep the camera steady throughout his process, a tripod is also required. When planning out a new piece, Janne sometimes has to draw a scene out before him. To do this, he uses a white marker. When painting the light, he carefully traces over every line to ensure his vision is matched. If his piece involved the outline or shape of a body, he often uses himself or a model. The LEDs that he uses range from multicolor flashlights made for light painting to simple LEDs found at convenience stores. When framing a shot, he sometimes has to carry a bright flashlight for setting the cameras focus manually. One surprising aspect about Jannes work is the lack of post processing. He doesn’t edit, photoshop, or change anything about his images. They are all straight from the camera.
Concepts and Ideas
Jannes biggest source of inspiration is urban exploration. He wishes that one day, he could travel to Hashima Island, Japan or the African ship graveyards to do a large-scale light painting. Many of his images that are set outdoors have a sense of improvisation to them. He believes that when outdoors one should improvise and make a painting that interacts with one’s surroundings. When talking to beginner light painters, he believes in starting small and doing individual components at a time, such as starting with only a hand, then extending to an arm. Doing so helps each artist develop their own technique, form, and style of painting.
Janne splits his work into several categories, including Light Topography, Figures, and Installations.
Behind Closed Doors (2020)
One of Jannes more recent projects was called Behind Closed Doors. Inspired during the onset of COVID-19, he wanted to imagine what went on inside abandoned buildings during lockdown.
Other Works
Late Night Show (2010)
- An example of Light Figures
- Jannes personal favorite
- 20 minute exposure
Turn the Tide (2015)
- An example of Light Topography
- Inspired by Dali
- Includes elements of forced perspective
- Janne wanted this to have a natural theme, one that emphasised becoming one with nature
- 24 minute exposure
Sacred Geometry (2018)
- An example of a Light Installation
- Janne uses white markers to create a forced perspective inside his small studio.
- The separation of colors is real, this is one image.
- 7 minute exposure
Information (2021)
- An example of Light Topography
- 50 minute exposure
Link to his website
Sources
https://retrofuturista.com/janne-parviainen-light-painting-interview/
https://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-artist/featured-artist-2/janne-parviainen/
https://lightsfromdreams.wordpress.com/2014/01/11/interview-janne-parviainen/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx4NqZu6fqo
https://www.flickr.com/people/jannepaint/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1SO1-wwFrw
https://jannepaint.wixsite.com/jannepaint-2