For Derrel.

Braineack · Dec 9, 2013

xmas cats 051-1 by The Braineack, on Flickr

Derrel · Dec 9, 2013

Awesome! Kitty bokeh galore! Turned out great with the flash + slower speed for the lights. I check out the gallery. You giuys have a lovely, classically decorated tree. I like the rotating the camera stuff you're doing too. Is that the new Tamron 24-70mm at f/2.8 for this shot?

Braineack · Dec 9, 2013

Correct. I exposed for the lights with a high iso low shutter speed like you suggested and then used a flash to expose the kitty. Worked out well just could get the cat to pose better. We'll probably do a portrait ourselves so I wanted to practice the technique.

The rotating stuff was just fooling around with something I wanted to try being inspired by mish.

Derrel · Dec 10, 2013

You did a good job with it...got the right exposure for the flash that lighted the cat, and the right combination of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture to make the background lights a nice, bright color, not too bright and pale, not too dark and weak! I know whatcha' mean about getting a cat to pose...they're pretty much totally independent contractors... As you found, the combo of f/2.8 at 1/40 second and ISO 800 is a pretty good starting point for this type of flash + Christmas-season lights. The wide aperture of f/2.8 makes the "bokeh balls" big and round, especially with longer focal lengths like 70mm.