It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – so I thought I’d take a look at what people are posting on Flickr and saw this theme emerging. Freaky Christmas Lights wrapped around people, animals, kids….
Note: some people don’t find this post safe for work or to be family friendly. Proceed with caution if sensitive.
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78 Responses to “20 Christmas Lights Photos – With a Twist” - Add Yours
December 17th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Nice pix. You don’t seem to have my favorite. The slow flash . http://www.flickr.com/photos/gfurry/2094805949/in/photostream/
December 17th, 2007 at 3:13 am
Seems dangerous to me.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:02 am
why dangerous?
December 17th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I swear I’m not a Grinch, and these pictures are all really cool, but given the recent findings of high lead levels on the cords of the most common lights, I just cringe seeing these. And I’m not coming from any moral high ground, as I took a photo of my toddler draped in lights last year. Oh, the guilt!
Wrap the lights around yourselves if you must, but don’t wrap your kids in them, folks!
December 17th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Personally, I’m fondest of the weimereiner. :P
December 17th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Very cool ideas with some of the shots. I don’t know why but I find some of the shots to be kind of morbid. They just kinda creep me out I gues.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Sorry guys but eye don’t get this one. I try to find the beauty (technically and artistically) in the topics, comments and on the forums and so on. This just looks dangerous, though there are some good ones in between. Until you’ve had a fire start or got a good zing from a set of those lights you may not understand. Not my kid…
December 17th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
@ Randy:
Very cool ideas with some of the shots. I don’t know why but I find some of the shots to be kind of morbid. They just kinda creep me out I gues.
There’s a BDSM-ish element to several of them; that might be what’s creeping you out a bit.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Wow nice xmas tree!
December 18th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Hmm.. .Can’t say I’ve seen any of these in a Christmas card before.
December 18th, 2007 at 1:50 am
I think that DPS should have had a disclaimer on their e-mail update today as for the content of these pictures. I’m disappointed that they did and still posted them for all unsuspecting people to view.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:14 am
My thought is to Photoshop lights instead of wearing them…especially on children and animals. Looks like some safety issues.
December 18th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Lead , electricity and disclaimers? Come on folks I don’t know a single person on the planet that has been hurt by Christmas lights. It is not like these shots were taken in a bathtub full of water. And as for the lead, its not like they were wrapping babies in lead for weeks at a time. I doubt that even if there was lead on the lights it would hurt anyone unless they ate it.
I am also not sure why you would need a disclaimer for the content? The only thing I can think of is the scantily clad women. If you are offended by this I suggest not looking at most photography magazines, books, websites, or forums if this type of thing offends you.
Just my 2¢
December 18th, 2007 at 8:28 am
friend of mine was shocked while hanging lights last year. oh she was pregnant. the baby is fine…
carry on :)
great shots
December 18th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I agree, get over yourself. There’s nothing wrong with the photos. Don’t get the blindfold. I enjoyed them. The most obscene one was the dog! lol The most interesting thing I noticed is I forget where this site is and realized it’s already tomorrow there. zen momment
December 19th, 2007 at 4:28 am
I’m a bit shocked at some of the responses, really, this is a photography site – it’s all about interpretation in the art of photography, and light is a main factor in photography. Christmas is near and people [photographers] put two and two together and we get to see these great photos. I can’t see anything worthy of a disclaimer, and, if people want to attempt to shock themselves with a little bit of electricity in the name of art – c’est la vie. So, i’m going to have to go against the grain and say that I love this set of shots and “no animals were harmed in the making…” ….as you were
December 19th, 2007 at 4:33 am
most of the pics are beautiful , good work and nice post . as for ” Julie ” I suggest you stay off the net …. you will be so much safer ;)
December 19th, 2007 at 5:18 am
These lights use dc, that’s not a danger. Low power.
Or else, the lights adds to the pictures. I like them.
December 19th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
I think they’re a bit bondagey, seem a bit on the freaky side for my taste.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:31 am
Great ideas…I love the naked woman on the bed with the star lights!
Live and Let Live!
Don’t Hate…Appreciate!
December 21st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
I was hurt very bad one year by Christmas Tree lights. Someone left them on the stairs, I ran up the stairs, and one of those little buggers went right though the bottom of my foot. OUCH! But seriously, that was just not being careful… I think these are great photos that show a lot of creativity. I’ll remember these for next years card ideas!
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:29 am
I love the pics, but I think it’s quite dangerous. I got shocked twice with christmas lights :( – nice pics though!
December 22nd, 2007 at 1:54 am
Sorry, Neelesh. The lights use AC and at full 120 volts. There is no rectifier in the circuitry to change the AC to DC nor a transformer to lower the voltage.
December 22nd, 2007 at 11:06 am
Thanks, it gave me inspiration to make this photo:
http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2007/12/20/christmas-girl.html
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:54 am
i think the photos are great, but man the people’s comments on here are ridiculous…
i’ve been zapped by lights before, was stapling them up and put a staple through the line and got zapped. barely felt it. i’ve got shocked from a bad power cord on a coke machine and that was much worse, my hand locked up and i couldn’t let go.
so i don’t really see the danger in the photos, they’re just wrapped around people, who cares, you do things a million time more dangerous everyday, like driving, how’s that for safety?
December 27th, 2007 at 2:15 am
When people stop thinking for other people and think for themselves, we will stop worrying about offending the unknown masses. Why do we feel like our standard is so much higher than the next person to make a statement such as there needs to be a disclaimer? Is the next person incapable of making up their own mind about viewing the images? A twist of a contemporary saying holds true: political correctness is for those who cant take reality, reality is for those who cant take political correctness.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I agree with the majority. I, too, looked for the artistic beauty in these shots, but they creep me out. Wrapping myself in Christmas tree lights seem to be a little on the bizarre side.
December 30th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Great photos – but don’t agree with the kids and animals shots. There was a little girl killed by faulty lights last year (almost)- and she wasn’t wearing them.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:23 am
It seems to me that you must be looking for sexual content in these photos to actually be offended by them. I personally love the artistic nature and imagination that was involved to create these photos. If you can be offended by these then you would be best to close your eyes and cover your ears.
Next thing you going to say is Zoos need a disclaimer at the gate because the animals might just decide to mate while you watch. the world is becoming to sensitive, and way to controlling.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:36 am
You people are way too sensitive. These are cool!
January 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
The people who are way too sensitive are those who can’t graciously accept anyone saying they have some objections to the photos! Why do you feel compelled to criticize these people? It’s a given that some people will like a photo and some won’t.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
We did something similar last year :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/depechie/419926635/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/depechie/419926639/
January 9th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Not the most practical outfits.. I guess you could run an extension cord or have some sort of solar power device strapped to yourself – if you wanted to go down town.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Truly amazing job in PS. Great skiils!!
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Fantasitic, great ideas should give us all a new perspective on the Christmas lighting chore! very well done.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
My first thoughts were, “what would happen if there was a leak in the wire….” Esp with the pic of the wire in someone’s mouth!! I have pics with much safer lights with my son that my wife and I took over several years. So I do like the idea and all. And yes, some of the shots are really nice.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Nice photos but why do they almost all have to be pornographic in nature to be interesting? Why can’t we come up with ones that don’t require sensual images to be attractive?
March 27th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Hey There, Micah… I don’t see anything pornographic – are we looking at the same pages?
Regards,
Simon.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:10 am
I was disappointed in the surprise content of the several pictures of naked women on beds with lights wrapped around them. I think this should be kept in another section if it is shown at all.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:15 am
I Take your point, but in the images above you certainly don’t see more than if you were to go to any beach?
Regards,
Simon
September 26th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I took similar pics one year of my girlfriend…I wrapped her in a strand of lights and as we were taking pics the strand started smoking and she said the bulbs were burning her skin! Not such a good idea with old lights. Oops!
November 1st, 2008 at 12:58 am
Nice post Sime, these have given me a few ideas. A bit of long exposure coming up :)
November 1st, 2008 at 1:41 am
Wow, what a misconception.
1.)Lead does not hurt you unless ingested, inhaled, or rubbed into an open wound.
2.)Modern Christmas lights have LOW to NO lead content b/c of safety laws in practically all countries. (no guarantees on the retro ones from the 60’s though)
3.)Any lead in the Christmas lights are in the wires, and the wires are covered in PVC plastic shielding – if you’re rubbing up against exposed metal wires, you should really be worried about something else besides lead :0
Having said that, this is a neat idea. Cool photos!
November 20th, 2008 at 7:43 am
These are fantastic! What a great IDEA! (lightbulb goes on) lol pun intended
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
All of the pics are beautiful and indicated the skill shown by photographer. I appreciate this good work and nice post, I think these are photos that show a lot of creativity.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I took the one up there with the two kids. It was used in a national ad campaign by the postal service in 2007, in fact. The kids are sitting here, alive, lead free and healthy, reading these comments with me and thinking these comments are nutty. The boy one says “isn’t pornography naked people? I don’t see naked people.”
So, you know, whatever. I love these pics, even the ones I didn’t take.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Ten years ago, when teaching art at a university, I used to wrap the models in xmas lights and got some great drawings & paintings from them. Great fun.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Who exactly are all you preachy people preaching at? These came off of Flicker. Do you really think the original photographers are reading your posts?
December 19th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Some of these are great, some I don’t see the point of. My favorites in order from top to bottom are 9, 13, and 16. Shot 16 is priceless! I only see one nude and I feel it’s tastfully done. I think a shot of a harried mom trying to decorate and tangled in the lights would be hilarious. Maybe with a couple toddlers at her feet. lol
December 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I agree with the majority here also – and I think that Sime said it extremely well!
The only thing I can see that is in any way “obscene” is that #3 is pretty freaky, I can see that in some horror movie….Probably leaving the person they dragged into a dark room looking like #17. *L*
But the partial/nude ones were very tastefully done, very artistic or sweet like the couple with the colored lights. #16 is my favorite, and I would give just about anything to recreate that shot with my daughter! *L*
Thanks for the wonderful shots, and taking the time to put all of these together to help all of us become better photographers ~ And get the shots that make us go, “Yes!!!!!!” :)
Sarah (sorry, so long!)
December 27th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Merry Christmas you all,I laughed at your comments,sounds like some of you will need prune juice just to get your mind moving.I think you are correct in your opinions,but honestly some of you are so anal in your out look its a wonder you are able to function at all. If ignorance is bliss,then you must be a bunch of real happy shits.!!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I really enjoyed this article, Thanks for sharing this, every picture is antique.
Rose.
June 26th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Sorry but , The hot chick (with lights)(babies)(dogs) Pretty boring . . . Same thing every year .
Just Me . . .
August 26th, 2009 at 12:43 am
I don’t see what is disturbing about these at all. Well, #3 is kinda freaky, but in a good way. I may try something similar this year myself. Way cool.
August 26th, 2009 at 3:04 am
I really love it. Art
August 26th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Creepy? Over-reaction. These are a lot less creepy and disturbing than the nightly news or even Harry Potter for that matter. And the lead worry? Come on, there is little exposure there at all. They offer up a creative way of thinking about using christmas lights. What is it with some people is this forum? If you are really concerned about such things, there are far bigger fish to fry–use that energy in those areas. You could start with who you elect to your government.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Ok, now I’ve got the lights, where can I find a willing model.
J.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:57 am
I really admire the creativity shown, and think this could be adapted to many differnt moods depending on what style and color of lights used, a slow sync flash, or long exposure… my favorites were weaering the lights on the head on a halo, or the romantic kissing couple, what a great idea for holiday engagement photos…
I want to try wrapping the lights over a model in an angel or fairy costume with wings, and then altering in photoshop….
and as to the voltage/heat/mobility issue….did you know that you can find battery powered strands, lcd light kits to sew onto clothes, battery-lit glasses, acessories, etc? look in craft stores, or costume and novelty shops, especially from halloween through new year’s…. so may possibilities for SAFE creativity, and to each their own as far as style and subject matter.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I like them all. Don’t care what anyone else thinks.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Appreciated the imagination that went into alot of the pics.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I love the photos. gives me some ideas to try for halloween with orange and black lights.thanks
August 26th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I liked them! I did not find them offensive at all. I am not aware of any health problems, but I wouldn’t think there would be that much exposure to whatever it is!
August 26th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Photo 5 and 20 is to me beautiful and well excecuted. Photo with the dog? Ever so sweet, if doggy wants to sit still, drape him in the lights and get trigger happy. Qute. Nice
August 27th, 2009 at 2:54 am
These were so offensive I only looked at the 6 times. There are some really neat shot here.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:16 am
WOW! Different, to say the least. Some of them I definitely liked. Some of them were…well…interesting.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:56 am
okay, yeah, some are creepy…but in a good way. Tell a story, right? I like the one with the two kids and she’s a Christmas tree…guess what we’ll be doing this holiday season?
August 27th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Isn’t the point to some of these pics to be creepy? That was the whole idea so I guess it was a great photo since it got everyone talking! The toddler is precious and the pooch is adorable!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I have to say here that I REALLY appreciated the “warning”. I home school my children (no I don’t wear denim jumpers and I’m not a freak) and I absolutely LOVE photography and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas and Christmas lights and so do my children. If the disclaimer hadn’t been up, I would have NEVER anticipated seeing nudity and Christmas lights together. I would have gotten all excited and just started looking at them in front of my kids and because it was Christmas lights, they would have been glued to the screen with me. I think it’s sad that I have to watch everything first to make sure it’s appropriate, including something as simple and sweet as Christmas lights. And for the record, just because my values are different than yours doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy the art of photography too or that I am hateful. I just disagree with you that nudity is art and don’t appreciate it showing up in places like this. I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one.
Some of the pics are cute, some make me very sad. Honestly, I figured there would be some people trying to look like they had hung themselves or something but never woulda guessed on nudity, that actually surprised me although in this day and age I guess it shouldn’t.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
It’s interesting that some of the comments above suggest that people are over-reacting by having safety concerns.
Over 6 Australians die each year from Christmas light accidents.
Be careful folks!
August 28th, 2009 at 7:12 am
i like several of these pics. very artistic.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:22 am
Thank God that beauty and creativity aren’t defined by one person. I’m not crazy about many of the shots, but so what? I applaud every one of the photographers for “thinking.” There is too little of that in the world today. I would rather look at a good photo demonstrating a unique perspective than an excellent photo of something I have seen a million times.
@ms. jones, “Christmas light accidents”? What is a Christmas light accident? That doesn’t say the lights are dangerous. It says that accidents happen and that people should make informed, prudent decisions, but the thing about accidents is that, generally, there’s no way to avoid them. They have a crazy way of sneaking up in the prepared and inundating those who dive in head first.
Which bring me back to my main point. Thanks for sharing these photos, which are evidence that there are still some people out there with the ability to think and a desire to be creative.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:40 pm
@ejackson
When you mix electricity and people it can be very dangerous. (Dare I say) maybe these accidents are therefore less surprising and less ‘accidental’ than you suggest.
I’m simply saying not to be complacent but careful. That is all. Common sense?
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:14 am
I agree with the disturbing warning. This tends to lean too much towards bondage and torture. It takes away from what Christmas means — something I would celebrate as photography. IMO.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I would be most interested to know how these pepople were killed by christmas lights. I know of a municipal worker hanging lights from streetlamps and falling off the ladder. There are some people who use more power than a small nuclear power station can feed to make sure their house and garden can be seen from the international space station. I am sure there has been an incident or two there too. And most problems are due to faulty earth leakage switches on your mains board in the home. In which case a kettle can be far more of a danger than christmas lights.
But come on people – modern, well made (as opposed to very cheap and nasty imports) basic tree lights are really not dangerous if used correctly. If you are going to put your lights near children – tell them of the dangers and make them listen to you (what – your children don’t listen to you? your problem not mine, you sort them out…). They are just as dangerous to the kids on the tree as they are wrapped around them as they can still reach them and bite through the cable if they so will.
So do these things by all means, but be the responsible adult, tell the children what not to do, make sure your electricty supply in the house is not dangerous. Use new safe lights. These done together will be safer than walking accross the street in most towns.
As for the single nude shot – I do think that this post could have done without it, as it has certainly put some people off these posts by the looks of things (let other sites do this sort of thing – let make DPS safe in terms of nudity, but dangerous in terms of wrapping ourselves in electrical cables and throwing the switch). Well done for the disclaimer though. Maybe next time just that one should have been left out – the others are all worthy art in their own way. Nice pics to all the peoples behind the glass.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:41 am
“Maybe next time just that one should have been left out – the others are all worthy art in their own way.”
I hope you were not implying that art expressing nudity is not worthy art! :) I thought it was tastefully done and truthfully I didn’t notice she was nude until I read the complaint about the nudity….
Holy desensitization Batman!
October 29th, 2009 at 7:09 am
Loved the comment above – I don’t think that these are any big deal. Honestly I’d be more afraid of my son being afraid of #3, and a lot of them are pretty strange, but honestly the nude ones are beautifully done. The baby is my favorite and the dog would look great on a Christmas card. To kind of prove a point, I just called my 4 year old out to look, he said, “whoa, he’s weird” on the 1st couple & but mostly thought it was pretty cool. The one that he disapproves of the most is the one of the man & woman kissing. (the fully clothed one “gross, Mom!”) He didn’t even notice the nude ones.
They’re just different photos, taken for different reasons. I think the variety of different types of shots from freaky to cute/funny Christmas card type photo to artistic is a good collection of different ways to use Christmas Lights (for whatever you can dream up pretty much). Which I’m pretty sure is the point of the lesson.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
“I hope you were not implying that art expressing nudity is not worthy art! :)”
Hey I think that even my toddler with his face covered in chocolate and meatballs is art… Yes you are quite right they are all art – to clarify what I meant was they are all great art (each one different in their own way as in some weird, some funny, some *apparently* dangerous).
I am so desensitized in most aspects of life – I am sure that the politically correct people have got a hit out in my name. But on this website I have enjoyed the non-worry factor for the whole family to see.
And how did you know my nickname was batman??? My wife usually calls me that when I am being politically incorrect in an inappropriate way (usually in public too).
November 19th, 2009 at 7:08 am
None of these photos appealed to me . Why call them Christmas lights? How about just
lighted people? They had absolutely nothing to do with Christmas!
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