Light Painting in a Paris Tunnel
Miguel Couturier from OI-Paris.com organised a light painting photography session in one of the abandoned tunnels of the Petite Ceinture airway network in Paris. The outing was well-planned and brought together photo club members for an afternoon of creative experimentation in a unique urban setting.
Light Painting in a Paris Tunnel
About the Session
On October 12, 2025, at 2 PM, the group met at Porte d’Orléans on the T3a tramway platform in South Paris. From there, Miguel led participants to a tunnel along the Petite Ceinture, the abandoned circular railway line that once ringed Paris. The tunnel provided an ideal environment for light painting photography due to its complete darkness and atmospheric industrial setting with old railway tracks and stone walls.
What is Light Painting?
Light painting is a photographic technique that uses long exposure times to capture light trails created by moving light sources. The camera shutter remains open—typically between 3 seconds and over a minute—while photographers or subjects move lights through the frame, essentially “painting” with light. The resulting images show luminous patterns, shapes, and designs that are invisible to the naked eye in real time.
The images from Miguel’s session demonstrated various light painting techniques: spinning steel wool created circular bursts of orange sparks, LED lights traced smooth coloured arcs and geometric patterns, colored light tubes formed spherical shapes when spun, and multiple exposures combined different light patterns in single frames. Silhouetted figures were illuminated by light sources they held or stood within.
The tunnel’s complete darkness eliminated ambient light interference, allowing full control over exposure and light placement. The stone walls and railway infrastructure provided textural context that contrasted beautifully with the ethereal quality of the light trails.
Technical Requirements
For this type of light painting session, participants needed sturdy-soled shoes for walking on railway ballast, a headlamp or flashlight to see camera settings in the darkness (a mirrorless camera with good battery life like the Nikon Z9 would do the trick too), and a remote shutter release for the long exposures. Fully charged batteries and formatted memory cards are essential, as is a tripod for stability. Miguel uses wide-angle lenses (12-24mm, 16-35mm, and 24-70mm focal lengths), which are generally recommended for capturing the full scope of light painting compositions in enclosed spaces. As far as I was concerned, I opted for my favourite fully manual Nikkor 0 35mm f/2.
Organising Light Painting Sessions
From an organiser’s perspective, light painting outings require scouting accessible locations that offer complete darkness and interesting backgrounds. Abandoned railway tunnels, underpasses, and similar urban exploration sites work well, though permission and safety considerations are paramount. The Petite Ceinture in Paris has several accessible sections, though photographers should verify current access regulations before planning a session.
Organisers need to coordinate meeting points near public transportation, ensure participants understand equipment requirements, and plan for group safety in dark, potentially uneven terrain. Clear communication about timing, location, and necessary gear helps participants prepare properly and ensures a successful outing.
Final Thoughts
Light painting offers photographers a chance to create images that blend technical skill with artistic vision. The combination of Paris’s industrial heritage and creative lighting techniques produces unique results that capture both place and imagination. Sessions like Miguel’s demonstrate how ideal certain urban locations can become for photographic experimentation when paired with the right techniques and the relevant equipment.
For more of Miguel’s work, visit his Facebook page.
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Je suis photographe et aquarelliste. Je pratique la photographie depuis l'enfance et la photographie numérique depuis 1995. J'en ai fait mon activité principale en 2021. Je possède un studio photo dans le 15e arrondissement de Paris
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