Professional photographer Ken Lee recently completed a challenging nighttime photography session in Desert Center, California, using an advanced technique called light painting to capture images of abandoned buildings in the ghost town. Despite facing extreme weather conditions with temperatures reaching 100°F and 60% humidity, Lee successfully photographed a collapsing market building using a single exposure method.
Light painting represents a specialized night photography technique that involves using handheld light sources to selectively illuminate subjects during long exposure shots. According to Lee, the method allows photographers to act like film producers, deciding which areas receive illumination and which remain in shadow. The technique requires constant movement to remain invisible in the final image, as photographers who remain stationary for more than 10% of the total exposure time begin appearing in the photograph.
Lee's original plan involved photographing an abandoned lime mining outpost located 16 miles from the nearest paved road. However, when he discovered the access road was closed, he redirected his efforts to Desert Center, a town founded in 1921 by Stephen Albert Ragsdale, known as "Desert Steve," and his wife Lydia. The couple famously advertised their establishment with slogans like "Our Main Street is 100 miles long!" and "We lost our keys...we can't close!" referencing their café's continuous 24-hour operation since opening.
The photographer encountered multiple challenges during the shoot, including interference from nearby sodium vapor lights that cast unwanted orange illumination across the scene. These lights, emanating from a post office and nearby trailer park, required Lee to carefully plan his lighting strategy to avoid the harsh orange glow that typically plagues night photography. Additionally, a friend warned him about previous encounters with hostile locals, including an incident involving someone with a shotgun rack, prompting Lee to keep his vehicle close for quick mobility between shooting locations.
For the main subject, an abandoned market that closed around 2008, Lee employed a four-step light painting process. First, he illuminated an adding machine positioned outside the door using a snoot—an eight-inch tube attachment that focuses light direction. The white, reflective surface of the machine required only a brief light exposure. Second, he used warm white light from both left and right angles to create detail on the building's four posts while working around the bright post office lights.
The third step involved strategic interior lighting decisions. Initially using warm white light similar to his gas station photographs, Lee determined that red light created better contrast and visual interest for the market's interior spaces. He emphasized that color choices in light painting should serve specific purposes such as adding interest, setting mood, or creating intrigue rather than being randomly applied.
The final step focused on highlighting the building's most distinctive features—the broken signage and collapsing roof. Lee positioned himself at various angles, directing light to emphasize these architectural elements while maintaining constant movement to avoid appearing in the photograph. To illuminate the interior without entering the potentially dangerous structure, he extended his light source behind plywood covering the windows while keeping both his body and arm in continuous motion.
After two hours of work in the extreme conditions, Lee had consumed a gallon and a half of cold water and was approaching exhaustion from the oppressive heat and humidity. By 10 p.m., he decided to conclude the session, having successfully captured his intended images without encountering any confrontations with local residents.
Lee currently teaches night photography workshops throughout the Southwest, covering topics including light painting, star trails, and Milky Way photography. He has published four books on night photography of abandoned locations, and his work has appeared in National Geographic Books, Omni, LA Times, and Westways magazine. His photographs have been exhibited at the La Quinta Museum and Hi-Desert Nature Museum in California, establishing him as a recognized expert in the specialized field of abandoned location night photography.
