From the US company "Ants on a Melon" - what a hilarious name - i ordered a couple more light painting devices. First out, another LED RGB Critter torch - so that i have two, and can adapt two different light painting tool to it. But additionally, i ordered an acrylic tools called "Slugger Blade" you put sideways in front of the torch, giving interesting effects.

Kind of like a light painting sword or stick. But not entirely illuminated, but mainly leaking light coming out from the sides. I thought I give that a try, testing it. I have never had an acrylic tool - so I am not entirely sure how I will use it.

a user's photo (?), via "Ants on a Melon"

Surely I will add more light painting tools

to the Critter Torch family over time - once i get a better feeling over the effects of these acrylic tools. I have seen amazing creation, though. Like one acrylic tool (from a different brand, i suppose), shaped like a leaf - in which the creator surrounded his model with many leafs which looked almost like glowing feathers. Very artsy (outdoors).

Yet, for the moment, I have enough, and do not truly seek to buy a lot of acrylic tools - because I wish to get to know the tools I have as well those i have on order. And that will take some time.

Again, you don't need expensive tools. Anything that glows - can be used to create light paintings. To my taste and experience, the simple tools are often the best ! The more complicated they are (or large like the Pixelstick from a different brand), the less you tend to use them. The Pixelstick is my least used device. It's interface is clumsy and I've never gotten around it / never gotten the hang of it. And now i have forgotten how to even use it. Well, it is 10+ years old. Back then i thought it was an amazing, unique tool. I think that company behind Pixelstick is still around.

2x Critter Torches

means for example that Sal and I can both light paint in a frame. It is often highly fun to collaborate with somebody together. It is simply fun, and you never know 100% what things turn out like. That is part of the charm with light painting. It is highly experimental... once you get the hang of it - or just partially - there will be a lot of "Aaah" and "Oooh", and "Wow".

It is simply very creative !

Doesn't destroy, doesn't uglify, and no guard will ever take you. (They might actually be curious and listen to your description of how to paint with light though a camera!). I stood once not long time ago, 15 minutes with guards chatting. They where totally fascinated to hear, what can be done with a camera, open shutter and light painting tools. Since then they greet me, and chat / ask how are you doing.

The light painting experiments leave absolutely nothing behind - but your images will be filled with strange magic.

What is there not to like ?!

I simply love it, since the days I started shyly to experiment with the sparks from a lighter back in 1990. That's how it all started - and I am by no means any specialist nor that good. There are - today in 2025 - amazing artists out there, which have brought the art of light painting to new levels. Somewhere early 2009 it took off with some artists really getting extremely skillful - where this art wasn't that wide spread yet.

I am just a home made dude, who likes to fiddle and wave with torches and light strings in front of the camera.

Having Jolly fun.