Inspiration from Patrick Rochon's 'Nude Light Painting' Collection

Having analysed a photograph from Patrick Rochon's Nude Light Painting collection, I felt inspired to try and achieve a similar effect that he achieved in his photographs. In this collection, the way the light had been drawn almost looked likes flames. In response to this, (using glow doodle) I used a gas cooker light  and by moving it across side to side it created a unique effect of disjointed flames. In these light drawings I used my hand and face to act as the bare skin untouched by the fire.

Patrick Rochon Analysis

Patrick Rochon Analysis - Nude Light Painting

http://www.patrickrochon.com/archives/1092

Patrick Rochon is a light painter. Since 1992, he has been painting with light in photographs, videos and even live performances. With over 19 years of experience, Patrick Rochon has produced light painting photography for numerous rock and fashion magazines, CD jackets, DVDs, posters and various other promotional material. Patrick Rochon is also the first prize winner at the Nikon photo contest in Japan. ‘My work is about the movement of light cumulating through time and space. My mission is to get the greater public to know what light painting is, and for it to be recognized worldwide as a form of art.’ – Patrick Rochon.


The photograph I am looking at is in the collection titled: Nude Light Painting. The background used for this photograph is plain black either created by a black curtain or wall and also a black floor. When looking closer at the photograph, you can see that the main shape in the centre is a female model lying down naked with her arms outstretched. Over her body, golden/white light has been shone onto her to create an electrifying aspect across her that almost looks like a form of liquid that radiates off of her skin, yet is her skin at the same time. Around the models body, golden/white light is used again to highlight her outline and also smear it. The lines drawn around her body have been created to look like they are coming off of her, almost like flames. Thinner lines of white can be seen around her head, possibly representing hair, and around her hands and legs.


From my research, it was clear that Patrick Rochon created this series of ‘Nude Light Painting’ to, in his own words, ‘create a world where you can see, feel and imagine the essence of sexuality and eroticism, to bring beauty into to it, to redirect it into the feeling rather than the look of sensuality and to have the light show as much as it’s hiding the subject leaving lots of space for your own interpretation.’ Looking at this particular photograph, like the others in this series, the use of light engulfs the model’s body possibly representing the emotions and sensations that could take over. Only remnants of the model’s skin is left untouched by the light, this could mean that being in such a scene not only shows your skin, but who you really are through the intimacy of the moment. The black background could represent the lack of attention to what is around people when they are ‘caught up in the moment’. The body itself looks almost liquid by the way the light has been drawn across it, maybe suggesting how some people melt together or at others feet. The way light comes off of the body seems almost flame like, contradicting the liquid centre as the flame like light suggests passion and the hot body temperature of the model’s body. Another interpretation of this is that, on the outside the model comes across as a hot, passionate lover, when really on the inside, she is as delicate as water when it comes to loving another. The white light adds a cooler feel to the whole photograph, a calmer sense of love rather than passionate lust.


I really like this photograph and the subtleness that it holds. The use of the light covers the body enough to make it a non-inappropriate image and a very delicate one that holds and shows beauty in the human form. The way the light seems to radiate off of her body in a way that could never be seen by the naked eye, gives this photograph a magical sense to it and a most definitely sensual feeling about it, in an unusual calm way.

Inspired Light Drawings

Patrick Rochon's Light Painting Video demo reel

After watching this video, I was really inspired to create light drawings that were not specific shapes or words. Using the online website, Glow Doodle, by placing tissue paper over my torch I did quick movements and flicks of my wrist to create abstract light drawings of colours over lapping and entwining. 

Patrick Rochon Analysis

Patrick Rochon Analysis - SUPERNOVAE – Fashion Through the Eye of Light

http://www.patrickrochon.com/archives/961

Patrick Rochon is a light painter. Since 1992, he has been painting with light in photographs, videos and even live performances. With over 19 years of experience, Patrick Rochon has produced light painting photography for numerous rock and fashion magazines, CD jackets, DVDs, posters and various other promotional material. Patrick Rochon is also the first prize winner at the Nikon photo contest in Japan. ‘My work is about the movement of light cumulating through time and space. My mission is to get the greater public to know what light painting is, and for it to be recognized worldwide as a form of art.’ – Patrick Rochon.


The photograph I am looking at is in the collection titled: SUPERNOVAE – Fashion Through the Eye of Light. The original background colour is unclear by just looking at the photograph, as it is a combination of reds, light and dark purples and hues of oranges to yellows. In the centre of this photograph you can see a model in complete focus wearing tight, black clothing placed in a position that seems unnatural to the eye. Around her, using a white light that seems light blue at some points, Patrick Rochon followed the outline of the model’s body partly and then drew the light across part of her face and body in a wispy looking way. To the left of the model, a bright yellow colour accumulated of lines of light is placed in such a way that could suggest shadow; however parts of the yellow colour has been drawn across the model and her clothing suggesting otherwise. To the right of the model, lines of red and yellow seem to of been drawn coming from behind the model which contrasts the dark purple area that lies just beyond them. To the left of the photograph, golden yellow spherical shapes are dotted about with some having an outer glow to them, contrasting the dark purple and the red/purple colours behind them.


As far as I know through the research I have done, this photograph and the others within this collection (SUPERNOVAE – Fashion Through the Eye of Light), were created for a fashion shoot to use in a commercial version of light painting for a fashion client. Part of the title for this collection being ‘SUPERNOVAE’ could suggest the reason for the choices of colour in this photograph, all of them being hot fiery colours except for the dark purples. Simply, the reds, oranges and yellows could represent the different heat within fire, the purple could represent the aftermath of fire i.e. the burnt edges of the photograph as the fire leaves that area; and the white light surrounding the model and her skin could represent the hottest part of the fire, possibly even the source of the fire, leaving her clothes black – burnt. Another interpretation of this photograph could be that of emotions. The model herself, on the outside seemingly cool and relaxed represented through the use of white light surrounding her and the fact her face is turned to the side, suggesting deep thought. However, on the inside, a flood of emotions being both hot and cold, but mostly intense passion that could be the emotions within and surrounding either love or anger or both. The reds, oranges and yellows being the ‘fiery’ passion of an emotion or several; and the darker patches of purple representing the harder emotion spectrum of either hate or hurt or a mixture of both.


I really like this photograph as I think the light painting itself is extraordinarily beautiful and highlights the model perfectly. The whole photograph has been created in such a way that nothing seems or feels out of place. The model is connected to the light as some of it seems to be faded across her but she is still easily the centre of attention in the photograph. The warm colours in the photograph make it feel more inviting to the eye and as you look closer at the photograph, the various coloured lights around the photograph make it that more magical.

This is a video of Patrick Rochon's SUPERNOVAE – Fashion Through the Eye of Light:

Light Painting Video by Patrick Rochon and Aurora Crowley.