Give me a starting point of taking good christmas light pix

This is my first time!

I will be using Canon 20D with 17-40/4 lens.

The subject is a house and yard filled with wild lighted decorations.
I'd want some good advice to minimize my time of standing in front of a
stranger's home in the 0°F chill. To make it chellenging, the house's
situated in a steep slop with a fair bit of traffic so I think I'll stay
inside a car to avoid being run over.

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:51:51 -0500, John wrote:

This is my first time!

Have a look through this very group, for my post entitled "focussing in the
dark"

We've just been through all that. I haven't got it right yet either, but
shooting at twilight seems to be the best suggestion, as it reduces the
contrast. Also, you will need a tripod, so inside the car isn't such a good
idea.

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:51:51 -0500, John wrote:

This is my first time!

Have a look through this very group, for my post entitled "focussing in the
dark"

We've just been through all that. I haven't got it right yet either, but
shooting at twilight seems to be the best suggestion, as it reduces the
contrast. Also, you will need a tripod, so inside the car isn't such a good
idea.

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net

Don't forget about those mini-clamp mounts, that secure to a car windows,
partially rolled down.

Bill Crocker


"Christopher Pollard" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:51:51 -0500, John wrote:

This is my first time!

Have a look through this very group, for my post entitled "focussing in
the
dark"

We've just been through all that. I haven't got it right yet either, but
shooting at twilight seems to be the best suggestion, as it reduces the
contrast. Also, you will need a tripod, so inside the car isn't such a
good
idea.

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net

Don't forget about those mini-clamp mounts, that secure to a car windows,
partially rolled down.

Bill Crocker


"Christopher Pollard" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:51:51 -0500, John wrote:

This is my first time!

Have a look through this very group, for my post entitled "focussing in
the
dark"

We've just been through all that. I haven't got it right yet either, but
shooting at twilight seems to be the best suggestion, as it reduces the
contrast. Also, you will need a tripod, so inside the car isn't such a
good
idea.

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net

Bill Crocker wrote:
Don't forget about those mini-clamp mounts, that secure to a car windows,
partially rolled down.

Bill Crocker


Remember to shut off the engine before taking a picture, and make sure
you don't have a carload of children along....



"Christopher Pollard" wrote in message
...

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:51:51 -0500, John wrote:


This is my first time!

Have a look through this very group, for my post entitled "focussing in
the
dark"

We've just been through all that. I haven't got it right yet either, but
shooting at twilight seems to be the best suggestion, as it reduces the
contrast. Also, you will need a tripod, so inside the car isn't such a
good
idea.

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net





--
Ron Hunter

Bill Crocker wrote:
Don't forget about those mini-clamp mounts, that secure to a car windows,
partially rolled down.

Bill Crocker


Remember to shut off the engine before taking a picture, and make sure
you don't have a carload of children along....



"Christopher Pollard" wrote in message
...

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:51:51 -0500, John wrote:


This is my first time!

Have a look through this very group, for my post entitled "focussing in
the
dark"

We've just been through all that. I haven't got it right yet either, but
shooting at twilight seems to be the best suggestion, as it reduces the
contrast. Also, you will need a tripod, so inside the car isn't such a
good
idea.

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net





--
Ron Hunter

John wrote:
This is my first time!

I will be using Canon 20D with 17-40/4 lens.

The subject is a house and yard filled with wild lighted decorations.
I'd want some good advice to minimize my time of standing in front of
a stranger's home in the 0°F chill. To make it chellenging, the
house's situated in a steep slop with a fair bit of traffic so I
think I'll stay inside a car to avoid being run over.

* Secure the camera so it will not move. Tripods are made for this
* Try a range of exposures. No one exposure is "correct" and the built
in meter will have a very difficult time with this subject. Small changes
like less that two stops will not make much difference.
* Look for a wet night or a snowy night. They will add interest with
their reflections.
* Star filters may be interesting
* Dusk, just about sunset can be the best time as it can show both the
lights and what they are on.
* Again experiment with exposure. Go manual. Take a look at the results
of each exposure until you get something you like then bracket.
* Try 1 second at f 5.6 as a starting point with 200 ISO.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

John wrote:
This is my first time!

I will be using Canon 20D with 17-40/4 lens.

The subject is a house and yard filled with wild lighted decorations.
I'd want some good advice to minimize my time of standing in front of
a stranger's home in the 0°F chill. To make it chellenging, the
house's situated in a steep slop with a fair bit of traffic so I
think I'll stay inside a car to avoid being run over.

* Secure the camera so it will not move. Tripods are made for this
* Try a range of exposures. No one exposure is "correct" and the built
in meter will have a very difficult time with this subject. Small changes
like less that two stops will not make much difference.
* Look for a wet night or a snowy night. They will add interest with
their reflections.
* Star filters may be interesting
* Dusk, just about sunset can be the best time as it can show both the
lights and what they are on.
* Again experiment with exposure. Go manual. Take a look at the results
of each exposure until you get something you like then bracket.
* Try 1 second at f 5.6 as a starting point with 200 ISO.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 05:15:42 -0600, Ron Hunter wrote:

Don't forget about those mini-clamp mounts, that secure to a car windows,
partially rolled down.

Remember to shut off the engine before taking a picture, and make sure
you don't have a carload of children along....

It's traditional to add DAMHIKIJKOK onthe end of a post like that...

--
Chris Pollard


CG Internet café, Tagum City, Philippines
http://www.cginternet.net