I did a few "painting with light" shots with one of my old cameras. The basic technique is to illuminate a subject in total darkness by shining a torch (flashlite) over the parts of the subject you want to show up on the final image. I did this with some flowers and clay models on my kitchen table, nothing too grand (link to shots http://www.pbase.com/andydunn/image/36790160 and http://www.pbase.com/andydunn/image/36789631 ). I decided I wanted to try this technique on a MUCH larger scale so I bought a 5 million Candle power searchlight and decided to try it out for the first time here at Broadway Tower. The scene was in total darkness when I arrived, I set a long exposure on my camera and shone the searchlight on the parts of the scene I wanted to show up, mainly the tower and foreground to give it some depth.
I will try other subjects to refine this technique but I am satisfied with my first attempt.