Fronted by Mike Baillie, The Lonely Together delves into themes of love and sadness, hope and anger, beauty and pain. As a photographer deeply passionate about capturing the essence of artists, I had the unique opportunity to conduct a light painting session with Mike at his flat—a session that proved to be as intriguing and multifaceted as the music he creates.
The Art of Light Painting
Light painting is a technique that marries the precision of photography with the fluidity of painting. Utilizing a small LED light, I illuminate different parts of the scene in a series of long-exposure shots. These individual frames are then meticulously combined in Photoshop to create a single, cohesive image that encapsulates the subject’s essence. This method allows for an almost surreal quality, in a way that traditional photography cannot.
Setting the Scene
Mike’s flat, a space filled with musical instruments, personal memorabilia, and an array of eclectic décor, served as the perfect backdrop for our session. Each corner of his home told a story, much like the lyrics of The Lonely Together’s songs. The dimly lit environment was ideal for light painting, as it allowed for greater contrast between the illuminated areas and the shadows, adding depth and mystery to the final images.
The Session
We started with him seated, guitar in hand, a pose as natural to him as breathing. I used the LED light to trace the contours of his face, the guitar, and the surrounding objects, each stroke of light adding a layer of narrative to the composition. The process is slow and deliberate, requiring patience and precision to ensure that each element is highlighted correctly.
For the next set up, I used Mike’s guitars and a couple of his favourite albums on a coffee table as foreground elements.
Bringing It All Together
Post-processing in Photoshop is where the magic truly happens. Layer by layer, I blended the illuminated elements to create a single, cohesive image.
The final result was a couple of images that encapsulated the dualities present in The Lonely Together’s music—light and dark, hope and despair, serenity and intensity. Each photograph is a testament to the emotional depth that Mike brings to his music.
by 
