Starry Christmas Tree

[SusanH1970]

Not the best picture - I took this really fast, right after we put it up and I still had crazy kids running around. When I have time to pull out my tripod and rearrange my livingroom, I'll get a better one. This one is cropped big time to get rid of annoying things, but I like the exposure and the starburst effect on the lights. I thought some might like this as a helpful hint to get the twinkly effect.

I just balanced my camera on an end table and turned off all lights in the room. I used the kit lens to go wide at 18mm (see, the kit lens can be more than a paperweight, lol!). Shot at f/22, ISO 800, 10 second exposure, AWB.



In ACR, I cooled down the WB, bumped the exposure a bit, and used the recovery slider a touch to get rid of a few extreme blowouts. I still had quite a few in the centers of the lights, but that's to be expected.

Hope this helps someone.

[statichash]

Very twinkly indeed - I like it We have to wait until next weekend to get ours, my wife is at the tail end of a class and needs to study; so we can't get our tree until then.

[Mocha]

OOOHHH, I love this time of year! 50-something years young and still love it. Your photo really puts me in the holiday mood. The twinkle effect and the reflections off the wall and floor give it a cozy, magical feeling. Beautiful!

[zona5101]

Happy Holidays Susan!
Nice tree!!!

[graciousness]

For the first time in a looooong while, that photo reminded me of the feelings of childhood around Christmas time. You have no idea how that conjures up happiness and sadness at the same time for me.

Happiness, because I have missed this feeling for so long now. It doesn't help that Sydney is not very Holiday chirpy at all being (1) summertime and (2) they just don't do decorations around town and in homes, unlike there in the US. The last time I felt like this was when I used to live in Chicago.

Sadness, because it's not fun being Mrs Scrooge and I haven't given my toddler the spirit of the season as I should. And yeah, Christmas gets depressing for me, too.

But you've inspired me to go out now and decorate my little one's playroom with lots of light that will make her giggle. I'd hesitate long enough.

Thanks, Susan

[AmySnap]

We haven't got the Christmas tree yet, but looking at this shot I've started whistling "White Christmas".
Thank you Susan!

[Hill Country Hack]

Susan,

Thanks for the quick lesson. Here is my contribution using your technique with ISO at 400 and 30 second exposure. I chose to leave mine darker instead of competing with the gold drapes and burgandy walls.



And a closer crop.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by statichash

Very twinkly indeed - I like it We have to wait until next weekend to get ours, my wife is at the tail end of a class and needs to study; so we can't get our tree until then.

Thanks! Hope you post some pics, and I hope your wife does well.

Originally Posted by Mocha

OOOHHH, I love this time of year! 50-something years young and still love it. Your photo really puts me in the holiday mood. The twinkle effect and the reflections off the wall and floor give it a cozy, magical feeling. Beautiful!

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by zona5101

Happy Holidays Susan!
Nice tree!!!

Thanks, Bruce, you too!

Originally Posted by graciousness

For the first time in a looooong while, that photo reminded me of the feelings of childhood around Christmas time. You have no idea how that conjures up happiness and sadness at the same time for me.

Happiness, because I have missed this feeling for so long now. It doesn't help that Sydney is not very Holiday chirpy at all being (1) summertime and (2) they just don't do decorations around town and in homes, unlike there in the US. The last time I felt like this was when I used to live in Chicago.

Sadness, because it's not fun being Mrs Scrooge and I haven't given my toddler the spirit of the season as I should. And yeah, Christmas gets depressing for me, too.

But you've inspired me to go out now and decorate my little one's playroom with lots of light that will make her giggle. I'd hesitate long enough.

Thanks, Susan

Aww, now you've made me get all teary-eyed! Christmas is actually kind of depressing for me too, but like you, I forge on for my kids. I'm so happy this image gave you a bit of a boost - that means a lot to me. Thanks for that, Grace.

Originally Posted by AmySnap

We haven't got the Christmas tree yet, but looking at this shot I've started whistling "White Christmas".
Thank you Susan!

LOL, thanks!!!

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

Susan,

Thanks for the quick lesson. Here is my contribution using your technique with ISO at 400 and 30 second exposure. I chose to leave mine darker instead of competing with the gold drapes and burgandy walls.



And a closer crop.

Okay, you kicked my ass. I'm totally redoing mine with settings similar to yours, thank you!!!

[Fishpic]

Must get tree up now!

[Hill Country Hack]

Oh and Susan, set your WB to Tungstun