One of my favourite lessons in A-level photography was learning how to play with long exposures and light. In fact, one of my final pieces was of a long exposure on a bridge capturing the light trails left behind by the cars below - not very original, I know, but lots of fun. Since then my friends and family have been subjected various odd requests whenever we have been out in the dark with my DSLR, included running around with illuminated balloons, writing with sparklers and creating Christmas trees from glow sticks.

I was excited enough to see the Pixelstick on TV and was positively bouncing off the walls when it came into the office. The Pixelstick is more than just a light bar - it is a device with 200 LEDs that can be programmed to produce graphics, photos and patterns – if you have an image, Pixelstick can reproduce it. It is then used to create beautiful effects through long exposure.

To use the Pixelstick, you need a camera on a tripod set up to take a long exposure photograph. Then, think of the Pixelstick like a printer: you need to glide it through the air to ‘print’ the image  - you won’t be able to see the image whilst you are doing it, but the results will be visible on your camera whilst the Pixelstick and person using it will remain invisible. The Pixelstick is easy enough to use; it takes a little bit of practice to get the timings right and you will need a steady hand to get a smooth image, but the speed at which the image is flashed through the LEDs can be adjusted, as well as the brightness and white balance, giving you lots of options to play with.

The Pixelstick has a collapsed height of 42" and will pack away nicely into the included padded carry bag. It can even travel with you on flights as carry-on luggage. I would worry about how much bashing the Pixelstick could take, as it is mostly plastic and this made it feel delicate, but if it wasn’t, its weight would greatly increase, making it harder to use. If you are thinking of travelling with the Pixelstick, I would suggest investing in a protective hard-case.

The Pixelstick comes with eight demo patterns to get you started and there are plenty of image packs to add to your collection on the Pixelstick website - simply download them onto a SD card and pop it in the slot. However, the real fun comes with using the image converter, which allows you to project your own images.

The Pixelstick is a lot of fun for hobbyists and professionals alike; light painting, weddings, advertising,  - you name it, the Pixelstick will add a new dimension to any image. RRP $349

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4.8 out of 5

Pros

Creates beautiful images

Fun

Easy to use

Lightweight (4lb)

SD port

Padded carry case included

Image packs and image convert available on website

Versatile

Included- Flat milky diffusion lens, removable handle, spin sleeve and cold shoe adapter

Cons

Delicate

Takes a little practice