Tips for Playing with Light – Coco Simon and Doug Wolters

There are two ways of “playing with light”: the light source moves, or the camera moves. For capturing holiday lights, let’s experiment with moving the camera.

In general:

Start with a point & shoot or DSLR set to full auto. Then, if you can control the camera settings, try Manual, at ISO 100, 1/5 to 1/2 sec, f/ 5.6. Vary the shutter speed and aperture depending on your subject or choice of technique.
Try zoom ranges of 24-70mm or 24-105mm and also 70-300mm
No flash
Slow shutter speeds (from 1/60 to BULB) give time for special effects and let in enough light
Use low ISO to keep noise levels low
Depending on desired effect, experiment with a smaller aperture (e.g., f/8 or f/11)
For White Balance, try Auto first; try also Daylight or Tungsten
Use Manual mode or Aperture or Time Value modes
If images are too bright, move Exposure Compensation toward – sign
If images are too dark, move Exposure Compensation toward + sign
To further adjust with your exposures, remember:
- To lighten: lower f/ stop numbers (wider aperture), slower shutter speed, higher ISO.
- To darken: higher f/stop numbers (smaller aperture), faster shutter speed, lower ISO
Experiment keeping the same exposure (as shown by the exposure comp needle) by letting the shutter speeds and the f/ stops dance. Keep the ISO the same.
Attach a neutral density filter to give you a longer exposure if the lights are too bright
Use live view for the best way to see what you’re shooting

Shooting without a tripod:

Wipe or swipe the camera up, down, or on the diagonal to create streaks
Move the camera in circles – different sizes & speeds
Move the camera in arcs or waves
Shake or jiggle the camera gently, quickly or slowly
De-focus the subject by varying amounts
Run by the lights, taking a long exposure (4 sec.) as you go
Combine any of the above
Experiment with your camera’s pre-sets / “scenes” / special effects
Use image stabilization or vibration reduction, as appropriate

Shooting with a tripod:

Change focal length by zooming in or out, full or partial amount of zoom
Get large soft-focus and overlapping disks by using manual focus; wide open lens (numerically low f/- stops); zoom in or get physically closer to the lights for better effects.
Try wipes & swipes, jiggles, waves, circular movements as above
Create multiple exposures, camera permitting
Practice “exposure stacking”: Use long exposure and quickly zoom lens a little every few seconds, zooming the same amount and pausing between turns.
Use cable release or remote
Turn off image stabilization or vibration reduction!

Some examples from the Dec. 7 field trip to the Mormon Temple and Brookside Gardens holiday lights displays (click images to expand)