To create more interest in a photo, you need to light it differently. These photos are done with a technique called light painting. In a dark room, using a tripod, a flashlight, and a long shutter speed you can create a unique look. You begin with setting the the focus and then switching it into manual. Then using a long shutter speed and a timer you begin lighting the scene with your flashlight. Depending on the scene and the mode that you are going for, you can adjust how much light you put on the scene. My general settings for these photos were F/8, shutter speed 10 seconds, and ISO 200.
Caryn Esplin is who taught me how to set up and to take these photos. Here is another website that shows some cool ways to do more light painting.
