Session Spotlight: Light Painting Photography for Margie’s Haven House Into the Light III Gala
- Lizzie Knapp
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
This week’s Session Spotlight shines on a powerful image I recently created and shared on X, crafted specifically for the Margie’s Haven House Into the Light III Gala, happening tomorrow night, March 29, 2025, in Cleburne County, Arkansas. The photograph, brought to life through the art of light painting photography, is more than just a visual—it’s a story, a reflection, and a tribute to the resilience of survivors of domestic violence, including myself.
To create this piece, I turned to my trusty light painting set from LightPaintingBrushes.com and drew inspiration from a YouTube tutorial posted about five years ago by the set’s creator Jason D. Page, titled Light Painting Tutorial: How I Created This Light Painting. You can find Jason's Video here: youtube.com/watch?v=ulxEXtycShA&si=sJz4Yf-988BBB3vT&fbclid=IwY2xjawJT2G1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYxXu_-FxmKqtLeC5HfJ6RdPPSlkoVAkkjf5Ieuw9zoGl2lf2JlzI8etgg_aem_fdAIVZu9EX_boFypEfLOzA
The process involves using long-exposure photography and carefully manipulated light sources to “paint” shapes and figures in the frame. For this image, I envisioned a scene that captures the raw essence of escaping domestic violence—a theme deeply tied to the mission of Margie’s Haven House, the only emergency domestic violence shelter in Cleburne County.
When I first saw Jason's version of the image, I’ll admit I found it a little unsettling, even grotesque. Skeletal arms reach up from swirling flames, clawing toward a woman suspended in the frame. The intensity of the fiery chaos below contrasted sharply with the serene light above. But as I sat with it, something shifted. The more I studied the photograph, the more I realized it wasn’t grotesque at all—it was real. This is what escaping domestic violence feels like, at least for me as a survivor. The flames represent the hell of abuse, a consuming inferno of fear, pain, and despair. Those grasping arms? They’re the forces—be it the abuser, the trauma, or the lingering doubt—that try to pull you back into the fire just as you’re breaking free.
And then there’s the hand at the top, bathed in soft, radiant light, reaching down to lift the woman out of the abyss. That hand is salvation, hope, and rescue. It’s Margie’s Haven House in visual form—a beacon for countless women in Cleburne County, Arkansas, offering a way out of the darkness and into the light. The woman in the image isn’t just a figure; she’s every survivor who has found refuge and strength through the shelter’s 24/7 support, crisis intervention, and advocacy. I knew in that moment I had to recreate my own version of this image for this special event as it fit perfectly with everything Margie's Haven House represents and does for our community.
The light painting technique itself feels symbolic here. Just as I used tools to shape light in the darkness of my camera’s long exposure, Margie’s Haven House shapes hope in the darkest moments of its clients’ lives. The process wasn’t easy—manipulating the light, adjusting the exposure, and refining the composition took patience and intention—but neither is the journey of escaping abuse. It’s messy, it’s raw, and it’s beautiful in its triumph.
Tomorrow night, as attendees gather at the Into the Light III Gala, I hope this image resonates with them as it does with me. Domestic abuse is hell, but there’s a way out. Margie’s Haven House has been that outstretched hand for so many, pulling them from the flames into a space where healing and empowerment can begin. As a survivor, I see myself in this photograph—caught between the fire and the light, reaching for rescue. And as an artist, I’m honored to contribute to an event that celebrates the strength of survivors and the vital work of this incredible organization.
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