How do you get a good shot of your Christmas tree?

Question

I tried a bit last night to get a good shot of my Christmas tree. The tree has colored lights.

I didn't have much luck. I really wanted to bring out the brilliance of all the lights together, like my eyes see the tree. I tried to slow down the shutter speed to around 1/30 sec, but the shots started being way overexposed in red. I tried adjusting the white balance, even using presets, no luck, always overexposed one way or another.

I could get the overexposure out, but only at faster shutter speeds where you could barely see the lights.

Any more ideas to get a good shot of the tree/lights and have everything look like I see it?

FYI, the only equipment I have is a Nikon D50, 28-80mm f3.3-5.6 lens, a SB-600 speedlight, and a tripod!

Answer 1

Try these settings AFTER setting your camera in Manual Mode and use your tripod. Set white balance for incandescent. Keep the room lights to a minimum. Use the camera's self-timer to release the shutter.

ISO 100

f5.6 @ 2 seconds
f8 @ 4 seconds
f11 @ 8 seconds

For ISO 200 just reduce shutter speed by 1/2.

If the results are not exactly what you want then experiment with the shutter speed. I learned long ago its best to only change one variable at a time.

EDIT: The filter the other answerer is trying to think of is a cross-screen filter or star-burst filter. You can take a piece of screen wire and hold it in front of your lens to get the same effect.

Answer 2

I have the D50 and there should be no problem with this shot.

Try this:

1. Put your D50 it on the tripod and set it on Aperture Priority.

2. Use a medium aperture like f5.6. (The shutter speed is irrelevant since it's a tripod shot).

3. Set the ISO to 200

4. Use the self timer to make an exposure.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I use the sports setting on my camera and turn off the lights to get a great Christmas picture. I also use a soft focus filter some times to add a little touch to it.

I NEVER take Christmas tree pictures with out my twinkle filter. I am upstairs and can not think of the name. The screw on filter that makes the lights cross/twinkle

amazing pictures!!!

Also you can use a flash but cover it up, where only a little can come in or around and it does a lot...gives it a neat look

Answer 4

I actually just did a project on this for my Materials & Processes class...I used a Canon XTi...i had it set to 400 ISO and used my tripod with F-Stop at 8 and 2.5 seconds and I got a pretty good picture, without it getting to dark or blurry

Answer 5

turn off all lights, use f8 iso100, 2-4 seconds, then try say 8 and 15 seconds, use a tripod, heres an example for you, done on film but its the same thing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martini2005/2090135728/

dont use flash, or any other light sources, just the tree lights should be on - use 5600k white balance

a

Answer 6

no problem, adjust the ambient light in the room to provide fill light for the tree so that you don't overexpose the lights...

Answer 7

You might try taking the photo when there is more light in the room. The additional light might help cut down on the haze.

The link with this answer might help you out as well.