Fresh off the back of winning the 2018 UrbanIOTHack at Eighteen04, a Newcastle-based collaboration team comprised of NewieVentures and SmartPlayHQ worked with City of Newcastle to bring together their #LunaProject - a soft, interactive illumination project for urban space activation - to run during 2019 Hunter Innovation Festival.

Using a custom built acrylic interaction board and paper origami Lillies to trigger different hues and light saturations through IoT-based sensors, the space in Civic park is drawing in families and park-lovers experiencing the space in a whole new light.

We popped up from CentralCoast to take it all in and experiment with some light painting playtime with the activation team, using some ruggedised portable LEDs to layer in some extra layers over the top of their illuminated landscape to capture the moment.

​Higher resolution images are available in our gallery images below. Images copyright of Brian Hill.

As part of LumenMotion, we're running Photographers awards to recognise the best entry in the following categories, based on images posted online to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and tagged with #lumenmotion15 

​Images must be based on a verifiable RAW image file source, not retouched. Whilst sharing on the night would be lovely, we know that it can take a little time back in the studio to get an export, web ready image done. Prize-winners will be announced 9pm 13Nov via our Twitter and Facebook pages.

We'll be judging based on a crowdsourced poll of registered participants and judges discretion, so clearly popular posts judged on social media will be bubbling to the top of the list but other factors will also be taken into account. No vote buying please folks. :-) Creative points accumulate if you can integrate local landmarks, places + spaces in a novel reinterpretation of them as part of the event.

SparkCC are your local Central Coast Makerspace in West Gosford. They've done a great job putting together 2 workshops to help you get your sparkle on and help us light up the night on 7Nov2015 at southern Tuggerah Lake. Check these out and grab a ticket early:

Sat17Oct2015 - Wearable Electronics Workshop: a nice short 2hr workshop to help you build your own ElectroLuminiscent (EL) Wire decorations for bikes, helmets or personal adornment.

Sat 24Oct2015 - LED LightSaber workshop: their second 2hr workshop to help you work with addressable LED strips controlled by microcomputers to build a LightSabre that is a testament to your own DIY Force. Get your Geek on!

1. What inspired you to explore some of the forms and places you've featured at www.motionexposure.com ?
"I'm an avid kayaker and canoeist so it was a natural for me to photograph two of my favourite activities. I have a background in aerodynamics which has also inspired me to create these photos. I see a lot of similarities between the streamlines of fluid flow and the lights trails in my photos."

2. What's in your Motion Exposure toolkit that's helped to give the great results you've achieved?
"I'm using an Arduino to drive a strip of led lights. This allows me almost infinite control over the lights patterns. I'm using a full frame dslr in manual mode, however any camera with full manual settings can be used. Also, very important is a tripod so the camera doesn't move during the shot. I've also found that a remote for the camera really makes the process easier so you can perfectly time the shot. "

3. How can the subject of the photo work best with the photographer to achieve a memorable result?
"The canoeing and kayaking photos I take are difficult to achieve because I cannot easily mark a line in the water where I want the paddlers to move so the photos require many takes. An experienced and patient paddler is key to making these photos great. It is very important for the photographer to plan out the shoot with the subject beforehand so the subject has an idea of what the photo is going to look like."

4. What tips can you share with local photographers about your setup for getting the best result?
"My number one recommendation would be to familiarize yourself with how the main settings of the camera work (ISO, aperture and shutter speed) so that you know how to compensate for different lighting conditions. You have to use these settings in combination to properly expose the led lights and the background. I would also strongly recommend getting a remote for your camera so you can easily use bulb mode."

5. Do you have a personal favourite in your gallery that stands out in terms of the result achieved compared to the amount of effort taken to get the shot? What is it and why?
"So far my whitewater kayaking photos have been my favourite. They look great and I was particularly proud of all the effort I put into planning the shoot so the lights and batteries were well waterproofed."

6. What's coming up next for you?
"I have some shoots planned with some Olympic athletes which I'm really excited about. I also have some new light patterns that I think will look great. I'm planning on taking more music themed photos as well."

Take the time to also explore and discover the indigenous history and importance of the Lakes - we'll be providing some more materials in our coming blog-posts but here's a taster, with local representative Gavi Duncan telling some of the local stories of important cultural sites as part of Reconciliation Weeks Catchment Crawl. 

Our understanding of a  place is always enriched when you hear how it's viewed through indigenous eyes, take the time to explore its history and importance through others eyes. Our work in indigenous health settings at Laughing Mind and connection to peers at Culture Is Life has helped us understand why Connection to Country is important and helps sustain positive culture and health. 

With Picnic Point acting as one of our event spaces, we know there's quite a few skaters that like to hit the place at dusk. With a variety of spots, there's some great options to capture the motion of your latest tricks, by lighting up your boards and obstacles. Here's some examples of things we can do in partnership with you, using some simple DIY kits from AdaFruit and a helping hand from the Central Coast Makerspace run by SparkCC at West Gosford.

When it comes to lighting up the night, there's nothing that primes our senses quite like a good old lightning storm. Here's a great little article by the Maker crew at MakeUseOf for how to build your own portable lightning cloud. 

Be brave, jump in and explore - who knows, you might just meet some other storm-makers on the path!

LumenMotion (www.lumenmotion.com) is a festival to celebrate the fusion of Light and Human Powered motion, enhanced by lightweight technology + clean tech power, allowing us to creatively visualise loved landscapes and places with new, transient artworks. 

Designed for easy entry participation for enjoyment by all ages and families, it's also a little STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts + Maths) exercise for those who want to take their participation to the next level.