How to Take Pictures of Christmas Lights at Night
Christmas lights at night are so beautiful; however, if you have ever tried to take a picture of them, chances are your image was nothing but a blur. Rest assured, it is not an impossible task. You simply need to follow a few rules. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Place your camera on a sturdy tripod. You will need to use longer-than-average exposure times, which increases the chances of blurred images.
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Place the tripod as close to your scene as possible. This allows the Christmas lights to help illuminate your shot. If you must shoot from a distance, shine a flashlight toward the scene while taking the picture.
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Select the manual mode on your camera. This allows you to change the shutter speed.
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Select the slowest shutter speed possible to allow more light to pass through the lens. If the image appears too bright, gradually increase the speed until you are satisfied with the light levels in your photo. You may need to take several shots until you have found the best speed for your particular scene.
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Select the highest ISO option, also referred to as the sensitivity number.
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Attach a lens hood on the lens of your camera. This step is optional; however, it will help reduce stray light and unwanted glare from elements that are not a part of your shot.
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Set your camera's timer or use your camera's remote control, if you have one, to take the picture. If you take the picture by manually pressing the shutter button, you risk shaking the camera, which will cause the Christmas lights to appear blurred.
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References
- Photo Credit christmas trees in lights image by Robert Young from Fotolia.com
