Photocaravan: The Best Holiday Lights of Prestonwood Forest
Details
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/0/2/c/600_444968236.jpeg
Every year I hear someone ask where's a good place to shoot Christmas Lights. The Prestonwood Forest Neighborhood is my favorite place to visit, and are very photographer friendly. Bring the whole family!
PRESTONWOOD FOREST
are among the city's best. You can visit the homes anytime during the Christmas Lights events, from now through December 27th. Bring some Christmas cookies for the kids, bottles of water, and enjoy the tour in your own vehicle.
After your visit, feel free to post your favorite images!
THIS PHOTOWALK EVENT
Visit the neighborhood anytime between now and December 27th. Feel free to post your favorite images as soon as you get home.
Don't forget to bring the family and your favorite Christmas Light Photography gear!
Here's a link to the neighborhood web site: Click Here (http://www.prestonwoodforestonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=625&Itemid=498)
Here's a Google map of the neighborhood: Click Here (https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zVZL1cBKcE20.kLLTiUKsIQSw&usp=sharing)
KNOW OTHER PLACES TO SHOOT LIGHTS?
If you have some other places you like to shoot lights, feel free to post the locations/addresses in comments below!
HINTS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Christmas lights are tough to shoot, but the results can be amazing with a little trial and error. Here are a few hints to help get you started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCpRrhZ7zZg
• Go early. This seems counter to what you would expect. You might expect to go when it's pitch black nighttime right? If you arrive just slightly before dusk, you can photograph a home AND the lights, rather than just getting a bunch of colored dots.
• Don't leave home without the wide angle ... and zoom. The wide angle will let you compose for the whole house. But for the interesting small bits ... in someone's private yard ... use a zoom rather than walking on their grass.
• Consider using "tungsten" for your white balance. This will help turn the sky a royal blue and white bulbs will look white.
• Consider using "cloudy for your white balance. This will help white bulbs look warmer.
• Don't forget the sky, try to get sky in your images so the house stands out.
• Use a tripod (if you're in a situation that allows you to exit the car). Or use a car window to help steady your camera.
• Don't meter on the lights. Meter on something neutral or dark. If you meter on a lightbulb, everything other than lights will be completely dark.
• Practice using your manual exposure modes, take the camera out of "auto" so you can pinpoint your exposure rather than letting your camera guess.
• Try zooming in-and-out while your shutter is open. This can create some interesting patterns of light if you are using a slower shutter speed.
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/1/5/c/600_319816732.jpeg
Photo by Stephanie
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/3/1/e/600_320977662.jpeg
Photo by Nina Rosa
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/4/5/e/600_320977982.jpeg
Photo by Nina Rosa
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/4/e/0/600_321998112.jpeg
Photo by Betty