Xmas lights

[snapdragon]

I am trying to get a head start on the xmas light photos so practiceing on a few of my own . I have 3 other photos in this album & one in B&W ,your comments & tips are greatly appreaciated .Thanks

[windrider86]

To be honest, I'm not sure what it is with this picture that doesnt work for me. Perhaps the house is too light against the lights?

[NaturesPixel]

with this shot i think you have done well .. its exposed correctly.. some of your others are a tad to light as far as the mood is concerned but first go well done.. im looking forward to taking my first xmas lights this year also
Thanks for sharing

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by windrider86

To be honest, I'm not sure what it is with this picture that doesnt work for me. Perhaps the house is too light against the lights?

Thanks Windrider ,i have not played with it .do you have any suggestions ? should I desaturate a tad maybe ? that would give a softer look without loosing detail I think , but not sure . i will reshoot in manual mode & try some different settings .I played a lot with the M settings last night but got nothing .I would like to get this figured early so i can get some good shots . it never looks the same as it does on the camera .

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by NaturesPixel

with this shot i think you have done well .. its exposed correctly.. some of your others are a tad to light as far as the mood is concerned but first go well done.. im looking forward to taking my first xmas lights this year also
Thanks for sharing

Thanks Leisa , I was out there early & tried a lot of settings ,it seems to be harder to get it right than I first thought it would be . these ones were the best I could come up with & I don't want to have to do a lot of post editing ,as i am not good at it but I will try a few things so long as they are not too compliacated . it is a fun thing to shoot so long as you are dressed Warm .I look forward to seeing some from you too as well as others . It would help to see whatothers xmas light photos look like , the contrast & saturation ............. hope to se some soon .

[windrider86]

I am not the best at layering but I think if you did a new darker layer to darkent he house part and then painted out the the lights part of it it might help to bring them out more.
Have you tried different angles?

[xxpinballxx]

Snap, I think a straight on shot might help a bit here....if you look at just the lights which is the subject its an unbalanced look. Especially the lights around the door due to some being hidden behind the relief of the doorway and on the far side the lights being against the white siding take away a bit from the lights themselves.
Nicely exposed not too bright or too dark.....maybe ten minutes later might draw more emphasis on the lights....good thing is you have a little while to play around with it.

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by windrider86

I am not the best at layering but I think if you did a new darker layer to darkent he house part and then painted out the the lights part of it it might help to bring them out more.
Have you tried different angles?

Thanks ,but I am afraid i am not good with layers ,but I will try it . I did try different angles ,but there is always more ,I will keep trying till I come up with something that works .

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by xxpinballxx

Snap, I think a straight on shot might help a bit here....if you look at just the lights which is the subject its an unbalanced look. Especially the lights around the door due to some being hidden behind the relief of the doorway and on the far side the lights being against the white siding take away a bit from the lights themselves.
Nicely exposed not too bright or too dark.....maybe ten minutes later might draw more emphasis on the lights....good thing is you have a little while to play around with it.

xxpinballxx, thanks , i did try the straight on approch but it was not quite dark yet , so a little darker that might help . & yes i am glad I have time on my side here LOL , I think i am going to need it .you said the lights were Nicely exposed not too bright or too dark so i am thinking i should not fool too much with my setings ,maybe try metering off of something else , any ideas on that ??

[Robin Sarac]

I think pinball has got it nailed here...I too would like to see a straight on shot...maybe from a low perspective too.