Christmas Lights and Decorations

Like celebrations with fireworks, the season of Christmas lights is usually upon me before I have time to refresh my review of camera settings for these conditions.  The Facebook page TAPS theme for this week is Christmas Lights and Flickr's Crazy Tuesday is Christmas Decorations. (I got both covered.)

Last night I had a fight with myself battling whether to brave the cold to shoot the lights at Rhema Bible Church, they are famous in Oklahoma for their lights.  I tricked myself by first driving around our neighborhood to play with my camera...and I discovered it really wasn't that cold after all! Its funny how we play these games with ourselves. "Go outside and shoot lights in the neighborhood, drive and stay warm with the window down and heater on, it's not that cold, just drive over to Rhema and check the crowd, etc."  I actually found a parking spot at Rhema and got out of the car.  It was a great night to walk around and the Christmas spirit laid heavy on my heart, and missing the family.  I thought I might tear up.  (Hubby was at a council meeting last night and wants to go, so I might get another chance at shooting the lights at Rhema.)

 I'm so happy I lost the fight because I won by

 returning home with a happy warm heart!

Enjoy your day!

Below are my notes from an article from Wiki How to shoot Christmas Lights and apogeephoto.com had a great article covering this topic too.)

Setting up the camera in a good location:

Aim to begin shooting at dusk.  Try to get to the location early, roughly 15-20 minutes before dusk, so you’re sure not to miss the ideal photographing time. Check to see when the sun is going to set so you can make a plan to arrive before dusk. 

• If you take the pictures earlier, the lights won’t look lit in the photos, and if you take the pictures after the sun has set, then you won’t be able to see the background.
• When the Christmas lights look like they’re shining brighter against the darkening sky, it’s time to start taking pictures.
• Continue taking pictures of the lights until you’re satisfied with your collection or the sun completely sets.

Bring a tripod to keep your shots stable. 

• Set the tripod up on stable ground before dusk so that you have time to make any adjustments.
• If you don’t have a tripod, try balancing your camera on the hood of a car or another stable surface.
• If you're using your phone, consider investing in a portable tripod made for your specific type of cellphone.

Choose how close or far away you'll be from the lights. Decide exactly what you want to capture in your photo, such as the details of the ornaments on the tree, or a decorated house with lots and lots of lights that is best seen from far away. 

Find the right lighting if you're shooting indoors.  Avoid back lighting to ensure your picture doesn't come out super dark and be aware of how the windows will impact the lighting. If you're taking the picture indoors at night, try to dim the lights in your house so that the Christmas tree stands out but can still be seen. 

• Take pictures from several different angles with different levels of lighting to see which one looks best.

Adjusting camera settings: 

Use a manual camera so you can adjust your settings. 

Find a macro or all-purpose wide angle lens. A macro lens is great for capturing a specific ornament or decoration on the Christmas tree, meaning it’s perfect for details. A wide angle lens is good for fitting an entire house or grouping of trees into the picture. Choose a lens that's appropriate for what you'll be photographing, whether it's a Christmas tree full of details or a large scene with many trees. 

• Purchase a wide angle lens for your cellphone that comes as an attachment, if desire

Avoid using your camera’s flash. 

Keep the ISO around 400 to make up for the dark lighting. 

• Your pictures will become grainier the higher you set the ISO, which is why it’s not recommended to set it above 800.
• Consider downloading an app that extends your ISO range if you're taking the photos on your phone.

Set the aperture to a low setting according to the light. You want your aperture set to a low setting, likely between f/2.8 and f/8. Test out different settings within this range to find out which one works with the light around you. 

Change the shutter speed to a slower setting.  

• Keep your shutter speed between ⅛ of a second and ⅖ of a second.
• Be aware that low shutter speeds means the camera will be more susceptible to movement.
• Use an app like Camera+ 2 to slow down the shutter speed on your phone.

Switch to the right white balance.  Try setting the white balance to Daylight or Tungsten for the best results. 

• These settings will make the lights look their clearest and most accurately colored.
• If you're using your phone, use the manual white balance settings, or download an app like the VSCO Cam.