Holiday Lights Tutorial

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

The last couple of months I have been out in the garage trying to get Christmas lights bokeh in the background of shots I am taking of the dogs. This combined with the fact that I am also trying to use Off Camera Flash to really light the dogs has been a trial. I thought I had some winners until Nancy told me I didn't :) And that is not a criticism at all, because many times we can't see the whole picture, but just our dogs! I so appreciate honest critiquing. Here are a couple of shots I tried to do all in one shot...with OCF and lights. These could MUCH better, but gave me a starting point.

This was taken with my 100 mm lens. F 3.2, ISO 800, 1/125, Flash did fire

Lens 24-70, F 3.2, 1/50, ISO 500 Flash Fired

Nancy suggested I shoot the background separately from the dogs and merge the two photos, which is what I did here. I did this under protest as I am still sure it can all be done in camera :)

So, I think it would be fun for all of us to try some Holiday lights photos while we have lights all around us. 

Here is some great information I found on how to go about doing these kinds of shots with flash. He explains it much better than I can. 

https://photographylife.com/indoor-portraits-with-a-christmas-tree-...

Here are most of the points he made....Flash should be on TTL, Use a tripod, Slow shutter speed, and widest aperture you can do. 

and just a few tutorials. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYhR3F_8YM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKEQugIXfGE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPcdWxhLwoA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0G7sk61obs

I like the third video, because it shows you can do this assignment without flash. Post your pictures here and tell us what you did and how you did it. We can all help each other learn by doing it together. 

Nancy also had these good points: 

One note, mentioned in one of the videos, is that if your holiday lights are LED, you may have flicker issues unless you shutterspeed is 1/60 or slower. In your pictures it will look like random lights are off. (Speaking from personal experience).

And this ties perfectly as a follow up to last month's lesson about depth of field. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

it can all be done in camera!  If you want the big circles you need a lot of space. 

Update: Here is another good video that talks about light fall off sent to me by Nancy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-J42VM448

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Oh sure....LOL. I think I was the only one at the seminar we attended that even photographed dogs. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Facebook will not allow me to view this video on any of my devices.  : (

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I was afraid of that....I will see if I can re-link it somehow.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I think you have V's complete attention.  Fudge, not so much! LOL Great photos IMO.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge is devious...she knows how to fight the camera :) 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for posting this Laurie. I think your shots are great.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, F!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Last night I got out the only 2 strings of Christmas lights that I have and strung them across the close line in the upstairs hall.  Brought my camera, speedlight, tripod and Haley upstairs.  The first thing that went wrong is that I cannot get either speedlights to fire.  Will work on that today.  The second problem I had is that Haley was NOT cooperative.  He would not stay where I positioned him and would not sit.  I will try this again after I get my speedlights working and hopefully, Mr Uncooperative will change his ways.  This is my result from last night with out flash.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Well, Anne, you got far better results than I did today. I can't even get my lights to look like yours in the top shot. I think you did a good job and you proved you don't need Speedlites to capture this shot. Nice work.  Talk about uncooperative dogs. I think I know what you are talking about....LOL :) Tell me your settings in the top photo, lens, etc. Thanks!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Thanks, Laurie.

Fudge really has her head buried!

Sorry, I always seem to forget something.

f5.3, 1/8, ISO 252, 98mm, camera was on floor with cellphone under the lens hood

I'm guessing that Haley was about 9' from the lights and I was about 11' from Haley.  There was a 300 watt bulb burning overhead in a ceiling fixture.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I only ask, because I need all the help I can get :) 

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

This is too cute! I think this is your holiday card.