Photograph Christmas Lights after dark?

Question

Hi! I was fortunate enough to get invited to go to Disney World at Christmas time. I know they have some amazing holiday lighting, and I also know that it will be dark around 5pm. I have a Kodak V705 (point and shoot, with a lot of custom and preset functions, 10x optical zoom). Can you suggest some techniques for taking good pix of the lights after dark? Thanks!

Answer 1

hmmm i have only one tip... a longer exposure will make the lights and colors brighter... i don't have very much experience tho... also, is that a digital camera? if so, this tip might not work... sorry!!!

good luck, and have fun at disney world!!

Answer 2

Well the good news is your camera has a minimum shutter speed of 8 seconds and can be tripod mounted. So take a tripod with you.

Referring to my ever-present FotoSharp (fotosharp.com) Day & Night Exposure Guide I'll use Scene # 11, Outdoor Christmas Lights. Since I'm not overly familar with the f-stop range on your camera you may have to adjust shutter speeds from what I'll list here at different f-stops.

ISO 100

f2.8 @ 1/2 sec.
f4 @ 1 sec.
f5.6 @ 2 sec.
f8 @ 4 sec.
f11 @ 8 sec.

ISO 50

f2.8 @ 1 sec.
f4 @ 2 sec.
f5.6 @ 4 sec.
f8 @ 8 sec.

Use the camera's self-timer to release the shutter. Make sure the flash is OFF.

These should at least get you in the game. The Guide is based on traditional 35mm camera f-stops so if you have an f-stop of, say, f7 you might try 3 sec. or 3.5 sec. @ ISO 100 and perhaps 9 sec. or 9.5 sec. @ ISO 50. Experiment until you get the results most pleasing to you.

Answer 3

Don't use Zoom if you can avoid it.
Set your camera on a tripod, because you will need to do exposures typically longer than 5 seconds, and any movement will cause light trails.
If you don't have a tripod, try creatively setting the camera on something stable, like a car roof, hood, or your knee with your foot planted on the ground while you are sitting.

Set your camera for manual. Use the exposure setting to increase the exposure. You will want greater than 1.5 sec, and use a higher f# to allow more light to enter. Take a picture at several different settings to get the light combination you like.
Lower exposure time will show mainly just the lights, higher times will show the features in relief that the lights are shining on.

Answer 4

Dusk is best, just after sunset as you will get a rich blue sky that will naturally balance the artificial lighting.

Use the camera histogram to get your exposure perfect... you'll only get a few minutes so a tripod will be essential.

Shoot in manual so you can control the exposure - get it spot on if you can. You will have a double hump on the histogram, one on teh right for the highlights and one on the left for the background / sky areas. Once outide this range forget it as the results will not be anywhere near as good.

You can use a dusk setting but it's better to be in control in my experience and by 5 you will be way too late at this time of year, think more like 3.30!

Good luck!

Answer 5

I think you'll end up with better pictures right at dusk. There is a sweet spot of about 10 minutes where the lights and the sky are going to line up perfectly and you can get some really good shots.

Get a tripod, use a self timer to avoid camera shake, use manual (you have to experiment), use a high f value so everything is in focus, no flash.

Good luck!

Answer 6

There's probably an option on your camera for nightime/firework pictures, so do a little exploring with that.

What I do with my VERY simple camera that doesn't have a fireworks/night option is just turn the flash off. Or you can set the camera on macro/no flash, which has a long delay and makes amazing abstract photos of swirls of light!

Answer 7

-- Buy a tabletop tripod (about 20 bucks)

-- Attach the camera and put it on AUTO

-- Set it on anything solid

-- Activate self -timer

Presto -- perfectly exposed, non-blurry pix.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

I'd get another camera!