Xmas out-takes: over the years I've tried lots of experimental fun ideas. Most worked. Some didn't, quite. I thought it was time to reveal a few out-take sets where I had a nice idea... but where my skillz as a photographer weren't yet up to realising the images I had in my head. Good learning experiences and great fun, if a bit loony!

In my mind, this is the most successful of the experiments that I never followed up. I really should look and see what the state of the art of electro-luminescent cords are now. I saw these glowing rope things at a festival and bought a few to experiment with. They were encumbered by a not-too-stylish bulky battery pack, and weren't really long enough to do a convincing job of tying someone up securely. If they'd been twice as long, they'd have been awesome.

What I learned: I did a lot of experimenting here with mixed light sources, long shutter speeds, first and second curtain shutters, and generally finding ways to mix dim continuous lighting with brighter lights (either flash, or the modelling lights from the flashes). The main thing I learned is that a tripod is the gold standard way of dealing with this issue... although with a lens with image stabilisation (and possibly a monopod) I'd be game to try this one again. Certainly now that modern dSLRs are a lot more light sensitive, I think one could have a fighting chance of crisp, sharp, smooth images at say 1/30th of a second at f/4. Might be worth a revisit. Anyone know where I can get 10+ metre lengths of electro-luminescent cord?