Photographs are not just taken – they are made. And when we go beyond what the camera can detect, when we add in light, and slow down time, we can create otherworldly images.

I first learnt about the technique painting with light while I was studying for my Diploma and I instantly loved the surrealism.

This is such a fun and rewarding experiment that anyone can do. All you need to do is put your camera on a tripod, on a long exposure (anywhere from 20 to 40 seconds is usually plenty of time) and use a torch to ‘paint in’ areas of light.

Make sure your camera is on manual mode. Set your ISO to low (100 or 200). Select a small aperture such as f11 (or higher f number).

Once you get the hang of it you can play around with different torches- LED lights have a cool blue tone, while older style torches have a warmer light. You could even use the torch on your phone.