Christmas Light decoration photography

[NikonErik]

Here in the U.S., people are going crazy decorating their homes in preparation for Christmas. Among the neighborhoods around town there are families who are quite ostentatious about their lights. I hope to get out this weekend to photograph some x-mas light setups. We have a home down the block here that is insanely carpeted with lights!

The trick is to shoot during twilight, use a tripod and set the WB to incandescent. The lights will look great, and the sky will be so blue . . .

[Tamlin]

There's a similar trend been developing here in the UK over the past few years with neighbours seemingly in competition to create the most tasteless and over-the-top outdoor light displays. It also seems to be a general rule that the poorer the area, the more they spend on Xmas lights...

I may follow your advice this weekend and see if I can get some shots too.

[stiney51]

Nothing says Merry Christmas like 15 or so 8-foot inflatable Santas/Snowmen/Penguins etc on an 1/8th acre (or smaller) mobile home lot.

[notjustgraphics]

Remember a great way to really set of the twinkle factor of christas lights is to use a very small aperture... a those thousands of little points of light will get a 4pt stat effect around them that really sets the mood.. especially in a peaceful winter scene...

You can also buy one of those icky star filters which i despise, but they do produce a similar effect while allowing you to use higher aperture settings.

I prefer to combine two images, one taken at very low aperture and one taken at a high aperture to produce a better depth of field...

Cheers!

Mike.

[Kenneth]

Would like to see how that would look Mike! How about this? you can just connect this tree to your Usb! Something that will make christmas every day!
USB Juletræ - Gadgets.dk

[NikonErik]

I had a chance to go out finally!

Around here in Long Island, NY there many are homes that are plainly ostentacious in how they are adorned with Christmas lights. There's one right around the corner from where I live that looks like a tribute to Apollo, the god of light himself!

HOWEVER, for the first time I noticed that the decorations at this house are intended to raise money through visitors donations to benefit children with expensive medical needs.

I also met the homeowners. They were simply kind, proud folk.

[willypt]

ohhh I wished I had taken some pictures from my neighbours house... I had to clos all the curtains and cover my eyes to sleep it would look like the sun was still shining at night

[luckypictures]

I don't have anything on hand right now, but I've had a gash of a time just taking trippy out of focus images.
Real Mark Rothco color field type stuff. It's obnoxious, a waste of money, energy, and damaging to the environment, but at least I've got a few good shots out of it.