Picturing what you can't see (From Your Local Guardian)

Picturing what you can't see

8:50am Monday 11th May 2009 in

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Grab a torch, some LEDS, a camera with long exposure and a scenic background and you too could be producing amazing pictures like these.

The striking images are created by The Old Sweet Shop's Joe Madeira and are designed to show you the things you're eyes can't usually see.

"I started photographing people originally when I graduated from the Royal College of Art," said Joe.

"But after a time I began to be interested in being able to photograph things we don't usually see, either using very fast shots or long shots of things and that's what is happening with this show.

"When I try to do light in very concrete places, especially wrapping light around things,you get these two things - one is very serious and one is fun."

Joe Madeira

"We don't have that option with our eyes and I like the idea of using photography to see things we wouldn't usually look at or see."

To get this effect, nicknamed 3D graffiti, Joe puts his camera on a long exposure so the picture is taken over the course of 20 to 30 seconds, during which time he takes some LEDS, a torch or a specially designed wand and creates the light patterns.

"When I try to do light in very concrete places, especially wrapping light around things,you get these two things - one is very serious and one is fun," he said.

"I like more the idea of calling it 3D calligraphy.

"The idea of graffiti was more to do with the freedom of it, plus calligraphy sounds a bit pompous."

Joe is currently exhibiting his work at The Old Sweet Shop as part of the Wandsworth Arts Festival and will also be giving a talk about his concept as well as a workshop to show people how it is done.

"The talk is with Martyn Simpson, the course director at Cambridge College of Art, and it's more of a conversation really," said Joe.

"It's very informal though and people can come in and ask questions from me technically and conceptionally.

The workshop at Tara Arts you need to book in advance and will feature a little introduction before we let people have a go themselves.

"We will probably start by outlining people first and then moving on to light in the air."

Light Lines Exhibition, The Old Sweet Shop, Brookwood Road, May 8 to June 7, 9.30am, free.

Talk, The Old Sweep Shop, May 18, 6.45pm, free.

Drawing with Light Workshop, Tara Studio, Garratt Lane, 10am and 2pm, £5. Call 020 8871 2272 or visit theoldsweetshop.org.