A Photographer's perspective of the Leicestershire Light Show

By Chloe Atkinson

The Light Up Leicester art exhibition used LED lights to create an interactive trail for the public to enjoy earlier this month. However, did the artistry translate onto still-image for a photographer?

Daniel Wood, a freelance photographer from Leicestershire, shared both his opinion and some of the photographs that he had taken.

Daniel began by talking about some of his favourite exhibits from the weekend (MARCH5-8). One was called ‘the wave’, which were drooping lights with small speakers inside so they would simultaneously play music as they light up.

Daniel said: “To a photographer it didn’t matter if it was well lit or not because the exhibit opened itself up for a lot of different styles for creative photography.”

Daniel described why the ‘shadow dance’ exhibit; one that uses lights to create colourful shadows on a large wall on Green Dragon’s Square, was another exhibit perfect for a photographer

“It gave the chance for photographers to explore shadows and lights along with movement which makes for some creative photographs,” he said.

When asked about the flaws in the light show from his perspective, he said: “Some of the exhibits were too well lit to get the most out of the photographs, such as the exhibit ‘Unexpected Connection” (a tunnel with a light-up ring triggered when somebody stands either side of it).

“The exhibit would work well in a dark room but instead took place in Jubilee Square.”

When asked what Daniel would have done differently to take better photographs, he said: “From a photographer’s view this festival was interesting and successful as a whole but I would like to see some of the exhibits located better for better effect next year, so they are designed to show light more.”