Photographer Captures Swirling Sci-Fi Light Tornadoes

We've seen light painting facilitated by robots, speeding trains, and even WiFi waves, but sometimes using simple materials to support and photograph LEDs can yield the most incredible results. Take, for example, the work of photographer Martin Kimbell. Armed with a customized hoola-hoop—deigned a "light hoop"—and a strong arm, the British artist captures tornado-like spirals of light that look like snapshots from a Twister reboot set in space.

Kimbell's process is simple. In an article on DIYPhotography, he explains, "I basically hook up a battery pack to speaker wire, then just attach individual LEDs to that." Using a long-exposure setting on his camera, he releases the shutter and then throws his DIY hoop high into the air. Then, the open lens captures the trajectory of the hoop in all its beautiful, swirling glory.

The results look like some cross between a force of nature, and a UFO beam sucking up a specific fragment of the Earth. Kimbell notes his process is "Fairly basic, but it's bright and tough, which is the most important thing to me!" If his long exposures continue to stun us as much as his current repertoire, we agree that (sometimes) basic is best.

For more of Kimbell’s awesome light photography, check out his website here.

h/t DIYPhotography

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