Photographing Christmas Lights

​When it comes to photography, for me, very few things go together as well as, Christmastime and Cape May! The Victorian homes are always decorated beautifully and are practically inviting you to stroll the streets and take pictures. Just watch out for the horse drawn carriages!
 
Taking pictures of lights at night comes with its own set of challenges. So, I thought I would share a few tips on the subject.
 

1. Since you’re shooting in a low light situation, I think it’s best to use a tripod, if possible. Your shutter speed will most likely be too slow for a handheld shot. If you do find yourself out and about without a tripod, find something to brace your camera against—such as a post, a tree, a fence, etc…
2. If You want to photograph an entire house and yard, your best bet would probably be a wide-angle lens. Whereas, if you want to photograph details such as a single bulb, a macro lens might be your go to choice.
3. Try starting off with your ISO at 400. Depending on how dark you want your image, you can adjust the ISO. I go up to 800, but not above 800 because it will degrade the image quality too much when the ISO is pushed beyond that.
4. Consider using a wide aperture—Somewhere between f/2.8—f/4.6
5. If you set your white balance in camera, try setting it on Tungsten. That will help with the yellow color cast. You can also try Daylight. But remember, you can always adjust further in post-processing.

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