{"id":16286,"date":"2024-11-05T01:58:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T01:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/photographer-david-gilliver-uses-light-sabre-to-create-magical-photos\/"},"modified":"2024-11-05T01:58:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T01:58:05","slug":"photographer-david-gilliver-uses-light-sabre-to-create-magical-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/photographer-david-gilliver-uses-light-sabre-to-create-magical-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographer David Gilliver uses ‘light sabre’ to create magical photos"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mr Gilliver has been shortlisted in the British Photography Awards for his image <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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If you have ever written your name in the air with a sparkler on bonfire night then you have experimented with light painting.<\/p>\n

Baffled by the \u201clines of light floating in mid-air\u201d, Scottish photographer David Gilliver knew he had to try capturing them with his camera.<\/p>\n

“I thought it was like sorcery, it’s like magic,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

For 15 years, Mr Gilliver has been a pioneer in the technique of light painting.<\/p>\n

Now, one of his pictures – which he has called Where Rainbows Sleep – has been shortlisted for this year\u2019s British Photography Awards<\/a> in its newest category – best low light photograph.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

‘Where rainbows sleep’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Picture this: Mr Gilliver is stood in a pitch black fishing boat hut, dressed head to toe in dark clothing, holding a \u201clight sabre\u201d.<\/p>\n

No, he’s not re-enacting Star Wars – this is just how the process of making the photo begins.<\/p>\n

To blend into the low-light background, Mr Gilliver must imitate one of film\u2019s greatest villains.<\/p>\n

He channels his inner Darth Vader but instead of “the force” he uses a long exposure photography technique, keeping the shutter open for anything from 30 seconds to 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

His camera, which he controls remotely, is at the other end of the room securely fixed to a tripod, because even the slightest movement will cause a blurring of the image.<\/p>\n

Mr Gilliver moves towards the camera, swooshing his light sabre before disappearing down the trap door.<\/p>\n

The exposure length gives him enough time to fire a flash gun manually to illuminate the boat hut surroundings. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The photographer immerses himself in the creative escapism of light painting<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The standing stones of Callanish<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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“Simple is often best”, Mr Gilliver says, when it comes to creating his waves of light.<\/p>\n

But he also loves to experiment.<\/p>\n

In another photo, he uses butterfly keyrings with battery-operated lights to create an image of multiple floating butterflies. <\/p>\n

He also created an eerie orb sitting within the ancient Callanish stones on the Isle of Lewis, by swinging a light on the end of a string like a lasso during the long exposure time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Ribbon Dance”<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The 45-year-old Glasgow School of Art graduate has always had an artistic eye. <\/p>\n

However, making a living as an artist initially proved difficult and he ended up working in finance in the Channel Islands for 14 years.<\/p>\n

He became “utterly obsessed” with light painting to capture the “magical” landscapes of Guernsey at night. <\/p>\n

When he moved back to Scotland in 2015, he says the “dramatic” and “iconic” backdrops of the country kept his creativity alive. <\/p>\n

In 2018, he abandoned his 9 to 5 life to finally take up photography full time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Rainbow Road”<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

David Gilliver uses the moonlight to illuminate the dark backgrounds<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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When he started posting his light paintings online, he says most people would ask him how he did it. <\/p>\n

Photographers would ask to come with him while he created his images, he says.<\/p>\n

Mr Gilliver, who lives in Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire, now teaches his own workshops across the UK. <\/p>\n

He says most people think the technique is hard to understand but actually it is “very accessible” once people start to experiment and play with light. <\/p>\n

He says teaching “found” him and he enjoys people’s natural curiosity.<\/p>\n

“Watching their eyes light up as they begin to learn what the creative possibilities are of this amazing art form is one of the many joys of teaching,” he says. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Loch Lomond is one of Mr Gilliver’s favourite places to teach<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Along with light painting, Mr Gilliver has a large portfolio of macro photography.<\/p>\n

The technique is a form of extreme close-up photography and can be used to capture small objects, flowers and insects. <\/p>\n

Mr Gilliver plays around with imaginative scenarios using small figurines.<\/p>\n

His photos range from iconic film scenes to handling more serious topics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Masking the problem”<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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This year, his recreation of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s famous “I’m flying” scene from the blockbuster movie Titanic has been shortlisted in the macro category.<\/p>\n

It depicts a miniature Jack and Rose recreating the famous scene on top of an electric iron.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

David Gilliver won at the British Photography Awards last year <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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He is no stranger to the British Photography Awards, having already won the best macro photograph category in 2022<\/a> by turning a face mask into a swimming pool for a Covid pandemic image.<\/p>\n

“Delivering a serious message without trivialising what you’re talking about is the key,” he says. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"DavidDavid Gilliver<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“My iron will go on”<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

Macro or light painting?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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The photographer says it would be unfair to choose which of photographic forms he prefers.<\/p>\n

He says macro photography exercises his imagination but light painting feels more like an experience.<\/p>\n

The “experiential” side of light painting is what makes the “incredible process reign supreme”, he says. <\/p>\n

Mr Gilliver has been shortlisted for three categories in this year’s British Photography Awards, for best macro, low light and commercial photography. <\/p>\n

The awards will take place on 4 November.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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