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Riverside
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Location: Ontario Canada
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23-12-08, 07:57 PM
#1

Photographing Christmas Lights displays

If the weather co-operates, I hope to see the "Festival of Lights " in Niagara Falls over Christmas.
I have been practicing at home and realize there is only about a 10 minute window when the lighting is best.
Shooting in partial darkness, with gloves....I am obviously going to have to preset my camera before hand.
The best I have so far, I did by......
setting white balance to tungsten, increase the ISO to 400, F stop 5.6 shutter 1/30, manual mode with IS turned off ,self timer, and using bracket exposure...on a tripod of course.
Does anyone have any other suggestions? (I will have a second day if the first is a bust.)

Equipment is a Canon Rebel Xi ,with a 18-55mm IS lens and 55-250 IS lens
Kit 1
Canon Rebel T5i
Tamron 18-270 mm
Sigma 10-20 mm
Canon EF 50 mm 1.8
Canon EFS 18-55 mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon SX240, SX50


     
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Azz
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Location: South Wales, UK
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23-12-08, 09:18 PM
#2

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Wow I wish I was there too!

Check out this thread for a few tips as well:

Taking photographs of fireworks: tips wanted

Looking forward to seeing your results!
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
Bazza
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23-12-08, 10:51 PM
#3

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Just make sure everything is set up well before hand, as in taking a couple of pre event photos to check for camera settings- view/composition etc

Bazza


     
Riverside
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Location: Ontario Canada
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24-12-08, 12:37 AM
#4

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Oh dear, don't mention fireworks!

Gosh , I am finding settings that work one day don't work the next..so it looks like "the gloves will be coming off"..and I will have to keep snapping with different settings...with cold fingers.
I have been practicing on a little tree that is in constant motion changing colours..so not the best for practice.

(Love the lights at night on the Falls..and especially the fireworks.)
Can you believe the pressure? We are going to see the Fesival of Lights on the Parkway, plus the lighted Falls ..plus fireworks on the 26th.

I had a bit of luck with the lights on the Falls, and for fireworks..I take video.
Yes, I do plan to use a tripod and why I turn off IS.

(I also have not been able to figure out how to insert that photo of the lighted Falls..entering the url from Photobucket doesn't seem to work.)
Kit 1
Canon Rebel T5i
Tamron 18-270 mm
Sigma 10-20 mm
Canon EF 50 mm 1.8
Canon EFS 18-55 mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon SX240, SX50


     
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Azz
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Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
24-12-08, 12:50 AM
#5

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

You need to put the image url in IMG tags

See this: How to post pics on forums
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
Riverside
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Ontario Canada
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24-12-08, 02:32 AM
#6

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Tahat is what I tried to do..and obviously didn't work.
Kit 1
Canon Rebel T5i
Tamron 18-270 mm
Sigma 10-20 mm
Canon EF 50 mm 1.8
Canon EFS 18-55 mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon SX240, SX50


     
Riverside
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 90
 
24-12-08, 02:33 AM
#7

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Oh my gosh..it did, I just saw the link...thank you!
Kit 1
Canon Rebel T5i
Tamron 18-270 mm
Sigma 10-20 mm
Canon EF 50 mm 1.8
Canon EFS 18-55 mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon SX240, SX50


     
Bazza
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24-12-08, 11:54 AM
#8

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Ok now for the toughy question, who went behind the falls to place the lights?

Bazza


     
Riverside
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Location: Ontario Canada
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24-12-08, 02:51 PM
#9

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bazza View Post
Ok now for the toughy question, who went behind the falls to place the lights?

Bazza
No-one.
The lights are projected from a building near the falls.
Kit 1
Canon Rebel T5i
Tamron 18-270 mm
Sigma 10-20 mm
Canon EF 50 mm 1.8
Canon EFS 18-55 mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon SX240, SX50


     
Riverside
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 90
 
26-12-08, 05:02 AM
#10

Re: Photographing Christmas Lights displays

The lights were just incredible, and for the first time ever I went totally manual.
As the light diminished, I really was able to adjust the aperture and shutter speed..ocassionaly the ISO as well to keep the exposure within range.
Finally..I get it! It was pretty exiting I "knew what I was doing".
(Hubby was pretty upset because he said his fingers were frozen and falling off.not true.he still has 10.)

Here comes the bad news.
No-one told me that these creations were in constant motion!
So..a slow shutter speed..using a timer ..on a tripod...you can likely guess.
I have some great video.
Kit 1
Canon Rebel T5i
Tamron 18-270 mm
Sigma 10-20 mm
Canon EF 50 mm 1.8
Canon EFS 18-55 mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon SX240, SX50


     
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Christmas lights, night photography

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