Filipp Kabanyayev
An artist who can colour everything with light
How did you start with the concept of light paintings?
Since childhood, I’ve loved colouring. In 2015, I discovered light painting photography while exploring creative ways to illuminate my subjects. It felt like a lightbulb went off in my head—I could colour anything with light. This technique blends my passion for photography and my love for colouring, allowing me to reveal the hidden magic in ordinary objects.
“This technique blends my passion for photography and my love for colouring, allowing me to reveal the hidden magic in ordinary objects.”
How did you develop the idea of beginning with darkness in your photography? What is the concept behind it?
Starting with complete darkness and adding light stroke by stroke is like painting on a blank canvas. It lets me control the light meticulously, highlighting details and creating unique atmospheres. This mirrors life’s unfolding from the unknown into moments of clarity and beauty, symbolising the emergence of form and meaning from the void.
“I realised that the workings of nature are rooted in the fundamental processes of the universe itself.”
Were you always attached to nature?
Yes, I have always loved nature. When I was a child, my family would spend summers at our country house, surrounded by the forest. Those magical experiences of exploring and spending hours alone in nature left a lasting impression on me. My fascination with nature extends to learning about its mechanisms. Through this exploration, I realised that the workings of nature are rooted in the fundamental processes of the universe itself. This deeper understanding enriches my connection to nature and fuels my artistic expression.
What is it about nature that drives you to create art?
I’m fascinated by how little things in nature create big things—like giant oak trees growing from tiny acorns. When photographing leaves and flowers, I always admire the small details. Nature’s constant creation of beauty drives me to capture and share these wonders.
Have you ever painted on leaves directly and changed their shades?
No, but I once gold-plated a leaf during a collaboration with Lindsey Stirling. I also tried using glow powder, but it didn’t turn out as expected.
Can you share your earliest memory of when you first realised you wanted to become an artist who paints with light?
I never aimed to be an artist; art became my outlet for self-expression. One of my earliest memories is experimenting with lighting techniques and being mesmerised by how light can transform an object. During one of these sessions, I realised light’s potential as a medium for artistic expression. The beauty in the world inspired me to share it, and light painting became my way of doing that.
Which part of the light-painting process is the most challenging and exciting for you?
The challenge is that you can’t see your progress when the camera shutter is open. But this is also what makes it exciting. When the shutter finally closes, you see the image for the first time. This anticipation before the reveal adds thrill to the process.
Do you feel colours can breathe life into photographs?
Absolutely. Light and colours shape our perception of reality. They evoke emotions, set the mood, and bring vibrancy to the subject. Colours can transform simple objects into magical creations.
Your use of colours is surreal and captivating. Do you always have a colour palette for each photograph, or do you follow the flow?
I try to do both. I start with the flow, letting the subject and moment guide me. I experiment with colour combinations once I understand how the subject reflects light. The spontaneity of light painting allows for unexpected effects, making each artwork unique.
“Painting with light is like illuminating the real world with different colours, capturing moments in a continuous image.”
You paint with lights. Has this ever intrigued you enough to pick up a paintbrush and fill the blank canvas with paint?
I enjoy painting for fun with my son, but it’s not something I always do. Photography and colouring are my passions, and light painting combines them perfectly. Painting with light is like illuminating the real world with different colours, capturing moments in a continuous image.
What does light mean to you?
Light is a metaphor for perception and understanding. It reveals the unseen, brings clarity, and transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. In my work, light symbolises the endless potential and beauty in every moment and object. Here is a poem I wrote about light that perfectly relates to how I feel.
Darkness is not the absence of light.
It is an attribute of sight.
The light is everywhere, but we don’t always see it,
For we may lack the sensory receptors to perceive it.
But as awareness in our minds creates new points of reference,
We realise that all is light and darkness is our ignorance.
