Any advice on how to get the lights on a tree to show up better?

[GerryDavid]

Im going to photograph our 2 month old tomorrow, and Id really like to get a shot of him by the studio tree with the lights on the tree really showing up. The only way I can think of how to do this is to crank the iso up and go as wide as I can on the aperture to get the fastest shutter speed I can, since the tree lights are not that bright.

is there a better way of doing this? Is there special lights a photographer can buy that are super bright? Or perhaps its better just to photoshop the lights?

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Tripod, slow shutter is one way.

ISO to achieve a little faster shutter works too.

Once you play with it you'll know the right shutter, ISO and aperture.

 

[GerryDavid]

I dont want to go to slow on the shutter, my boy is pretty active. im not even sure about using the studio flashes since the lowest setting will over power the tree lights. I was hoping there was a secret photographer trick that I havent come across yet.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

maybe flash to freeze your child plus a slow shutter speed to absorb the light

 

[Derrel]

OKAY: HERE IS HOW to do it right. Set white balance to Manual mode, and set the icon to Tungsten on your camera. Set ISO to 500,640, or 800. Place an orange CTO gel filter over the flash, which is what will light your subjects. Mount the flash off-camera, and shooting through a softbox or umbrella, or bouncing off a white wall or large Foam-Core board refelector.

Use f/stops of around f/4 or so, and shutter speeds of around 1/20 second. Elevate the ISO value to make the lights Brighter, without affecting the flash exposure. If you want to lights on the tree to be "BIG", you must use a telephoto lens, from far back, to magnify the size of the background.

 

[GFP]

Thanks Derrel. going to give that a try. dont have an orange filter though but im sure I can play with the white balance to get the look I want and if I have to, convert two tiffs from teh raw, one for a background color and one for the subjects color.

 

[DavidSutphin]

You can do this! You use a technique referred to as "dragging the shutter". Rather than reinventing the wheel explaining it, photographer Neil van Niekerk has a great page explaining it with examples! Suggest you try this with a stand-in for your baby, preferably an object with a similar tone while you dial in your settings. Have fun!

http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/3-dragging-the-shutter/

 

[edouble]

You can do this! You use a technique referred to as "dragging the shutter". Rather than reinventing the wheel explaining it, photographer Neil van Niekerk has a great page explaining it with examples! Suggest you try this with a stand-in for your baby, preferably an object with a similar tone while you dial in your settings. Have fun!

http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/3-dragging-the-shutter/

LOL that is exactly what Derrel just explained

 

[cyngus]

you could also tripod the camera.. and shoot the tree the way you want it then bring the kiddos in and shoot the kids then stitch the 2 shots together if all else REALLY fails.. =)

not the best way of course.. but if you like to edit then go for it... although derrel hit the nail on the head pretty much