best setting to take chrsitmas lights with

[dehart68]

im wondering what best setting on a camera to take christmas lights with when u going thru a park in a car is

 

[o hey tyler]

Just set your camera to properly expose the photograph.

 

[mrpink]

im wondering what best setting on a camera to take christmas lights with when u going thru a park in a car is

Auto.





p!nK

 

[KmH]

im wondering what best setting on a camera to take christmas lights with when u going thru a park in a car is

It depends how much light there is.

Actually there are 8 settings combinations that will yield a properly exposed photograph, but only one of the 8 combinations would be the right 'artistic' settings.

The issue is further confused because the right 'artistic' photograph is a matter of personal choice.

In summary, any forum question asking for "the best" this ot that, cannot be answered, save by...It depends.

 

[mrpink]

im wondering what best setting on a camera to take christmas lights with when u going thru a park in a car is

It depends how much light there is.

Actually there are 8 settings combinations that will yield a properly exposed photograph, but only one of the 8 combinations would be the right 'artistic' settings.

The issue is further confused because the right 'artistic' photograph is a matter of personal choice.

In summary, any forum question asking for "the best" this ot that, cannot be answered, save by...It depends.

If you do not care enough to get out of your car, why would you care what settings the camera is on?






p!nK

 

[mike3767]

Smart ass comments don't help the beginner. I guess people on here expect us to know everything. Good luck. I asked the same question and I had a tough time. If you can and you have lights on your house, take a pic and get the setting that your happy with, then go out and shoot the homes you want using that same setting. Then you can adjust it from there. Hope this helps.

 

[mwcfarms]

Its probably a place where you drive through like a Candy Cane Lane or Zoo lights event and you drive through.

 

[KmH]

im wondering what best setting on a camera to take christmas lights with when u going thru a park in a car is

Smart ass comments don't help the beginner. I guess people on here expect us to know everything. Good luck. I asked the same question and I had a tough time. If you can and you have lights on your house, take a pic and get the setting that your happy with, then go out and shoot the homes you want using that same setting. Then you can adjust it from there. Hope this helps.

It's hard to take posts written in all lower case, and zero punctuation to seriously.

If the OP doesn't show any care, why the hell should anyone else?

You reap, what you sow.

 

[dsp921]

You said in a park, I assume that means the lights will be on trees. The problem is going to be if you expose for the light the trees/background will be dark, exposing for the trees/background will blow out the lights. The best way is to use manual mode and expose for the lights and use fill flash to open up the trees some. If you get something with too much flash, reduce the flash by a stop or so. It'll take a few test shots to get it right. Another option is to go at sunset and shoot right after the sun goes down, before full dark, that way there will be some light to fill in the background and the flash may not be necessary, or less so. Try to get sky in the shot. Best bet is to get out of the car and use a tripod. Try tungsten for WB.

 

[HikinMike]

If you do not care enough to get out of your car, why would you care what settings the camera is on?

p!nK

Maybe the OP is wheelchair-bound and can't get out of the car easily.

 

[mrpink]

If you do not care enough to get out of your car, why would you care what settings the camera is on?

p!nK

Maybe the OP is wheelchair-bound and can't get out of the car easily.

You are right. Thats probably it. What was I thinking. Poor guy.
(How's that for being a smartass)

Seriously.
If it is a place that you cannot stop and get out of your car, then I would suggest leaving your camera at home and just enjoying the lights. Why hassle with a camera when you know the photos will be junk? Better yet, bring a video camera- leave the still at home.

If you do take photos, post them up.



p!nK

 

[HikinMike]

You are right. Thats probably it. What was I thinking. Poor guy.
(How's that for being a smartass)
p!nK

I'm sure it wasn't, but I WAS in a wheelchair for over a year, so when I saw your comment, it stuck a nerve for me that's all. Not everybody can just get up and go.

 

[NikonNewbie]

I recently went thru a "farm" with christmas lights..I tried 3 settings...some with auto and yeah sure you can see them...but you can also see the frame they were on. some in manual mode, and some in auto with no flash...I kept getting out and the cars behind us were not so happy...but screw them! I paid 20 bucks for a 10 min car ride to see lights...if I wanted to get out and pitch a tent I could have...but it was raining off and on and the place was a mud hole, and I was wearing my nice leather boots with heels so..needless to say I was limited
This is some info from one of the pics. I didnt really know what I was doing...I was experimenting, and it turned out ok..lots of tripy trails- lol
Model: NIKON D40
ISO: 200
Exposure: 0.625 sec
Aperture: 4.5
Focal Length: 55mm
Flash Used: Yes
hmmm pic isn't loading here...nvr had this happen b4...they aren't working.

here is the link, you can see what and how they were taken...
Picasa Web Albums - Angela W

 

[mrpink]

You are right. Thats probably it. What was I thinking. Poor guy.
(How's that for being a smartass)
p!nK

I'm sure it wasn't, but I WAS in a wheelchair for over a year, so when I saw your comment, it stuck a nerve for me that's all. Not everybody can just get up and go.

I broke my right leg when I was 12... my photography has never been the same since.

/sarcasm.


Just as KmH said, if he doesn't care, why should we? that is what struck a nerve in me. Too many people come on here, asking for the "settings", like we are holding them as a big secret and won't share. Someone else posted, "set your camera to properly expose the photograph" Totally correct, I would add, the correct settings allow the image in your head to be transferred into the camera and onto print.





p!nK

 

[HikinMike]

Just as KmH said, if he doesn't care, why should we? that is what struck a nerve in me. Too many people come on here, asking for the "settings", like we are holding them as a big secret and won't share. Someone else posted, "set your camera to properly expose the photograph" Totally correct, I would add, the correct settings allow the image in your head to be transferred into the camera and onto print.

p!nK

That I agree! :thumbup: