Efren Herrera
Light Painting Brushes Brand Ambassador Efren Herrera creates magic! His images showcase his love of dance and music. Efren seamlessly intertwines dancers with light as a visual representation of what music might look like if sound could be seen. Check out some of his interview and images he has created using the Light Painting Brushes below.
What is your name?
Hello! My name is Efren Herrera and Im based out of Indianapolis, IN USA
How long have you been light painting?
I started my light painting journey in March of 2015!
What is your favorite part about the Light Painting Art Form?
My favorite part about the light painting art form is that there is no right or wrong way to create something. The possibilities are endless and you are only limited by your imagination!
What are your favorite type of light paintings to create and why?
My favorite type of light painting to create would have to be portrait light paintings with dancers or gymnasts. I love the way you can create beautiful tones, and colors on the subjects skin, while following the subjects body lines with the light to create dynamic shapes. I myself have a dance background, so when I create light paintings with others, its as if we are dancing with light together.
What is your favorite environment to shoot in?
My favorite environment to shoot in has actually become shooting anywhere outside. The process of finding the right location to compose the perfect shot, followed by setting the model in the scene and creating a story with the light. Its an adventure ive learned to love. I often shoot in studio as well and that is also tons of fun!
What is your favorite Light Painting you have ever created with the Light Painting Brushes?
My favorite light painting I have ever created using LPB would have to be one I did in August of 2016 using a yellow collapsible sword attachment. I took a trip to Point Dume in Malibu California with my best friend Melissa Meyer who is a dancer and also my photography assistant. The adventure down to the rocky beach was long and fun but when we got to the exact location where the Milky Way arched over Point Dume, we knew we had to create there. We were able to capture the Milky Way in this image while I light painted around her using the sword attachment. The single exposure was around 2 seconds and it turned out perfect.
What is your favorite Light Painting Brushes attachment?
My favorite Light Painting Brushes would have to be any of the Plexi Glass attachments. The different shapes create amazing visuals, each one helping you create different dynamic shapes. The best part is that they are clear glass so you are able to change the color of the light by using colored gels or colored flashlights.
What or who inspires you and your light painting work?
Something that inspires my light paintings greatly would definitely have to be dance and music. Visualizing movement through light has always been something that pushes me to create something unique every time. If you could see music with your own eyes, as opposed to hearing it, what would it look like? That’s what the light represents for me when I create. A person who inspires me would have to be Eric Pare! He is one of the first light painters I ever came across when I fell in love with the art form. His lighting techniques are ones that have pushed me to being the artist I am today. “The only source of light is the one in my hand.” Is what Eric always says, and LPB has helped me make that something I create by.
What is one piece of advice for someone who is just starting out Light Painting?
A piece of advice I would have for someone starting out would be, never give up! Many times you might become frustrated because your results aren’t what you’re wanting or what you expect, that’s the beauty of it! The possibilities are endless when light painting and as long as you commit to it, and always experiment, you’ll always learn new things!
Where can people see more of your light painting work?
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