I want to take pictures of Christmas Lights

[Dana Grant]

SOOOOO..........

What settings should I use on my camera?

[Jonathan Long]

Dana,

I'd need a little more info before I could offer any help...

Jon

[Hans Deventer]

Dana,

I just started working with my new flash today. The one below is taken with no correction and bounce flashing against the ceiling. Below that one is with a flash exposure correction of -1.0.
The last one without any flash at all.

[Dana Grant]

Dana,

I'd need a little more info before I could offer any help...

Jon


Well, there are a few very lovely light displays in our neighborhood, and I was hoping to get a few good pictures.

The setting will be nighttime with only the illumination from the Christmas lights as lighting -- maybe a few street lights.

Remember I have no flash other than the on-board flash on my camera.

I know I'd have to use a tripod.

Any ideas? I'm going to experiment some, but if you had some "bright" ideas, it sure would help!

Thanks

[Jonathan Long]

Dana,

You can use the "Program" mode, or Aperture Priority for this.

Select an aperture that will give you the depth of field you want...

A tripod will be required because of the longer shutter speeds...

You can play with the "White Balance" settings, my guess would be that the setting for incandesent light might give you the most pleasing result.

I wouldn't even try to use your built in flash.... they usually have an effective range of about 10ft...

Remember to "bracket" your exposures...(you could use your exposure compensation dial if your camera has one...

I'll try to go take a few in the next few days and post them... but it's really cold here and we're supposed to get an inch or two more of snow...

It's not my favorite time of the year to be shooting pictures outdoors....

Jon

[Jonathan Long]

Hans,

You might want to invest in a "bounce" card or inflatable diffuser to attach to your flash. Sometimes it's impossible to use a wall or ceiling to diffuse the light from your flash...

If you have a flash meter I'd check the output to make sure it matches what the camera's computer is saying... There are many times that the flash is off by several stops and you need to compensate to get the correct exposure...

The one thing I like about Canon is their ability to use a "vari-program" where you can adjust the aperture or shutter speed from what the camera selected (in program mode) to meet your needs. They also seem to work better when using "fill flash", it seems easier to adjust the balance between existing light and the flash output.

Jon

[Hans Deventer]

You might want to invest in a "bounce" card or inflatable diffuser to attach to your flash. Sometimes it's impossible to use a wall or ceiling to diffuse the light from your flash...

Ok. I did already buy an omnibounce. See below.

If you have a flash meter I'd check the output to make sure it matches what the camera's computer is saying... There are many times that the flash is off by several stops and you need to compensate to get the correct exposure...

Hmm, I kind of hoped the Nikon SB-600 would be a good match for my D70. The SB-600 (and SB-800) were specifically designed to work with the D70 and other Nikon DSLR's from that time on.
Anyway, even in program mode, the flash can be corrected with EV stops.

The one thing I like about Canon is their ability to use a "vari-program" where you can adjust the aperture or shutter speed from what the camera selected (in program mode) to meet your needs. They also seem to work better when using "fill flash", it seems easier to adjust the balance between existing light and the flash output.

I just started shooting with the flash yesterday, but reading through the manual, it seems that it doesn't really lack in options. Which means I'll have to study (and most of all, practice) a lot!

[Hans Deventer]

Any ideas? I'm going to experiment some, but if you had some "bright" ideas, it sure would help!

I may be worthwhile to shoot during twilight, the hour before it gets totally dark. That helps to give the atmosphere you're looking for, while the contrast in light isn't as huge yet.

[Hans Deventer]

This is probably the shot I like best. Here are the settings

Device: Nikon D70
Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3,5-5,6G
Focal Length: 32mm
Focus Mode: AF-C
Aperture: F/5
Shutter Speed: 1/4s
Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Exposure Tuning:
Metering Mode: Matrix
Sensitivity: ISO 500

Flash Sync Mode: Slow Sync
Flash Mode: TTL
Flash Exposure Comp.: -1,0EV
Advanced Operations: Bounce Flash


The lights actually are that yellow. The camera was hand-held, my tripod could not get this low :basic04

[David Ward]

Here are two night shots of home made last week. I tried several several shutter speeds ... the close one was at 2 seconds and the distance shot was at 3 seconds. (I do not remember the aperture setting. ) Clearly, a tripod was used, however I did not use a remote shutter release for these.

There is exterior lighting on a pole behind the "flagpole tree" that is hidden, but its light shines on the trees and objects in the back yard.

The star on the house is the Moravian star, which is very popular in this area. Salem was originally settled by Moravians from Pennsylvania and many Moravian traditions are preserved and practiced today. On Saturday, my wife and I attended the annual Moravian Candle Tea at Old Salem where carols were sung, sugar cake and Moravian lovefeast coffee were consumed, the making of candles was demonstrated, the Salem Christmas "putz" was viewed, and the Christmas story was read at the sub-basement Nativity scene. (http://www.candletea.org/)

[Mark Bolerjack]

My family's roots are Moravian, settling in the areas that you mentioned. I have wanted to learn more about my heritage. There have been some family reunions in both NC and PA, but we have not been able to go. I think the next one will be in Asheville, NC.

[Dana Grant]

Well, thanks everyone for posting pictures -- keep them coming, because it looks like I might not get out to take pictures for another few days.

Just after Jon & Hans answered my post, I ended up getting a bad cold and the weather turned very rainy. Cute, huh?

I'm getting over the cold, but the rain hasn't stopped yet.

Stay tuned for fabulous Christmas lights pictures........HA HA -- surrrre.

[Jonathan Long]

Dana,

Hans had a great suggestion about shooting around sunset... That way use still have some ambient light to work with. If your camera has a "slow sync" setting you could use your built in flash for things really close to the camera - within 10 ft or so... built in flashes don't have that much power...

The "slow sync" setting uses ambient light to determine the base exposure and uses the flash to "fill" in... You could also try the fill flash setting - although it's not really designed for nighttime shots.... Good thing you're shooting digital - no more waiting for the processing!

Jon

[Dana Grant]

Dana,

Hans had a great suggestion about shooting around sunset... That way use still have some ambient light to work with. If your camera has a "slow sync" setting you could use your built in flash for things really close to the camera - within 10 ft or so... built in flashes don't have that much power...

The "slow sync" setting uses ambient light to determine the base exposure and uses the flash to "fill" in... You could also try the fill flash setting - although it's not really designed for nighttime shots.... Good thing you're shooting digital - no more waiting for the processing!

Jon

Thanks, Jon. I do have the slow sync setting for my flash.

But first I have to get well.

I don't even feel like putting a tree up......

HOpe this is over soon.

If someone took a picture of me right now it would probably qualify in the category of "suffering hardships" in that supreme challenge......LOL
(not really -- it's just a bad cold........)

[Jonathan Long]

I've got my daughter home sick today...

Feel better! Rest... stay warm.....

oh wait... open the window and get some fresh air!

It's 28 degrees here with snow and some ice...

Jon