Christmas Lights

[thecorrigan44]

This is my first critique request, so be gentle. Actually don't be. I am a new DSLR owner and am just getting to know my Canon EOS Rebel T1i. This was admittedly taken in auto mode with no flash. I got the info below from the properties of the photo file. Please excuse me and let me know if I don't have the correct info.

ISO 1600
1/8s
F/4

[Palladius]

The contrast between the warmth of the lights and the cold blue of the snow is quite nice.

It would be good to have some kind of context though. It looks like wooden railings around a porch or veranda, but it's hard to tell what it's actually a picture of. Maybe pull back a bit and get more of the foreground in the frame.

[thecorrigan44]

Thanks Palladius! The warmth of the light and cool blue of the background is what stood out to me too. I never would have thought about your second point though. I guess these are the things I need to learn as a new DSLR owner.

[dlambert]

There's an optical illusion of some sort that's sort of distracting to me -- the railings are perfectly vertical here, but all the trees are leaning to the left. Other than that, it's a nice photo. I'd like to see a better-defined subject, too, I guess -- right now, I guess it would have to be the railing, but I guess I'm not 100% clear on that.