Taking photos of a night Christmas Parade...help!

[Jennilyn76]

We'll be going to a night time Christmas Parade on Friday. I have a Canon Rebel XS with just the kit lens, nothing else...what can I do to get the best photos possible in this situation? IS it hopeless without a tripod? I don't think I have an IS lens. TIA!

[bhursey]

Is there going to be like big street lights? I would go out quick and get a 80$ nifty 50 maybe you might be ok at 1600 iso and 50mm 1.8

[Jennilyn76]

I actually haven't been to the night parade here in town before, but I'm assuming there will be street lights. The only thing is, I have no money for anything as I just spent the $650 to get my camera replaced

[Pen]

well with that...umm if you have a flash but it doesnt sound like it, i guess if your close enough you could try the pop-up flash thats on your XS, but you would probably have to be pretty close to the parade for that to work...other than that ur kinda in a tough spot, crank the ISO, get as wide of an aperture you can and hope, the problem is that if you have to shoot with a slow shutter speed you will have problems with camera shake, but also motion blur if the subject is moving at all.

[Jennilyn76]

Yeah...so I don't think I'll be getting any good pictures of the parade. LOL Maybe at the tree lighting the night before! As far as I know, the tree doesn't get up and walk around.

[Chip]

Well, I'd still bring the camera. If you can't get a fast enough shutter to stop the action, then you could try either panning, purposefully using motion blur as part of the shot, take a candid of someone who's under some interesting light, etc.

Even if you don't get any keepers, it could be a nice learning experience.