Pictures Of Christmas Lights

[kimluvswdw]

Can you tell me the best way to take good, clear pictures of Christmas lights? I have a new Cannon S5?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The most important thing would be to use a tripod or some very firm support for the camera. Next most important is to not touch the camera while taking the picture (use the timer mode).

 

[AndrewWG]

Kim (I assume),

I know there has to be an easier way, but here is what I was forced to do in WDW last week.

1. Set camera to Av mode and choose an aperture. I think I stayed towards the lower number (wider aperture) like 5.6 or so. Focus on the lights. See what the camera tells you it will use for a shutter speed. For example, 1/400. Take the pic and see what it looks like. I would guess that it will be overexposed. If it is, continue to step 2.

2. Set the camera on M (yes, the scary dreaded M). Set your aperture to 5.6 and your shutter speed to 1/640 or 1/800 and take the pic. If it is still overexposed, take another pic at 1/1000.

You may need to set your ISO up a bit to get faster shutter speeds, but if it is on a tripod or something, the shutter speed shouldn't matter as much. Just be sure to set it to a faster shutter each time to get a less exposed shot.

This is trial and error in my world. What I have found is that the camera will try to expose for the whole picture and much of it will be dark, causing it to overexpose the lights. Doing what I do above will get good results, especially if you have the camera on a nice sturdy platform of some sort or a tripod. The slightest movement will make the lights blurry. I hope this helps. Let me know if it does.