Gallery: Conjuring Tornadoes of Light With LEDs and Hula Hoops

  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Universe Space Night Astronomy Outer Space Starry Sky Architecture and Spire
    Martin Kimbell
    01

    Martin Kimbell

    To include the stars of the night-sky, the exposure for this image was over 2 hours.
  • Image may contain Nature Weather Silhouette Adventure Leisure Activities and Outdoors
    Martin Kimbell
    02

    Martin Kimbell

    “I have different sizes and weights of hula hoops which create different effects," says Kimbell about his modded hula hoops.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Tree Plant Building Rural Countryside Shelter Tree Trunk Housing and Vegetation
    Martin Kimbell
    03

    Martin Kimbell

    Kimbell is happy to play around with pyrotechnics too.
  • Image may contain Building Tower Architecture Light Flare Steeple and Spire
    Martin Kimbell
    04

    Martin Kimbell

    "If it looks like the hoop went really far, it usually did. The hoop is pretty easy to throw far.” says Kimbell.
  • Image may contain Light Flare Nature Plant Tree Building and Architecture
    Martin Kimbell
    05

    Martin Kimbell

    Kimbell uses the simplest tools: hula hoops rigged with LEDs he has wired himself.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Thunderstorm Storm and Lightning
    Martin Kimbell
    06

    Martin Kimbell

    Martin Kimbell has been making light-paintings since 2006.
  • Image may contain Tree Plant Silhouette Tree Trunk Banister Handrail and Building
    Martin Kimbell
    07

    Martin Kimbell

    Kimbell shoots both B&W and color on his trusty Bronica
  • Image may contain Cone
    Martin Kimbell
    08

    Martin Kimbell

    Resembling holograms, some photos are like a cross between The Blair Witch Project and Close Encounters.
  • Image may contain Nature and Outdoors
    Martin Kimbell
    09

    Martin Kimbell

    This image is a mere 30 second exposure.
  • Image may contain Plant Tree Tree Trunk and Ground
    Martin Kimbell
    10

    Martin Kimbell

    Kimbell's lights once startled, and then attracted the attentions of, a horse on Dartmoor.
  • Image may contain Vegetation Plant Outdoors Nature Tree Animal Bird and Land
    Martin Kimbell
    11

    Martin Kimbell

    The stunning photographs have gone viral in the past few weeks, despite much of the work being years old.
  • Image may contain Architecture Tower and Building
    Martin Kimbell
    12

    Martin Kimbell

    “I’ve simply called the work 'Light art' when I've been pushed to give it a title. 'Light Tornadoes' didn't come from me,” says Kimbell. “I’ve heard a lot of people describe the patterns as tornadoes, but different people see different things.”
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Night Fireworks Light and Flare
    Martin Kimbell
    13

    Martin Kimbell

    Kimbell doesn't consider this work as part of a series with any closure. He will be making these light artworks for as long as he is able.
Read More
The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For
AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.
Miles Klee
A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why
Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.
Stephanie Pearson
It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend
Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.
Luke Larsen
There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home
Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.
Jeremy White
The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones
As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.
Miles Klee
Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good
This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.
Christopher Null
The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App
The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.
Matthew Korfhage
Crimson Desert Is a Cat Dad Simulator
Step into the shoes of the strongest, goodest boy in a game that is beautiful, baffling, and impossible to put down.
This At-Home Hair Color Printer Raised My Blood Pressure
This hair dye printer promises hundreds of shades. It couldn't even manage two.
Louryn Strampe
I Tested the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air. Here's Which One You Should Buy
After conducting long-term testing on both the MacBook Neo and MacBook Air, I have a good idea who should buy which laptop.
Luke Larsen
The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Carrying This and That Everywhere
You don't need a car to tote around kids and cup holders. I rode cargo ebikes for miles to find the best one for your buck.
Adrienne So
Your Push Notifications Aren’t Safe From the FBI
Plus: Iran’s internet blackout hits the 1,000-hour mark, cryptocurrency scams result in a record amount of money stolen from Americans, and more.
Matt Burgess