it’s friday
and it’s photo friday here at The Hollie Rogue!
i’ve been wanting to take some good pictures of my christmas tree and all the pretty lights that are out this time of year, but never can i get that warm, fuzzy, perfectly circular, dreamy bokeh i see in so many professional photos like this one:
image from Augustea Photography
so, i did what i usually do when i want to learn something new—searched pinterest and “googled” it.
here are some tips i found for capturing christmas lights (note, i am very much a beginner and these may or may not make real professionals cringe). if you want to know more about a tip, click the link to go to the original article:
1. high ISO & slower shutter speed (beth from unskinny boppy recommends around 1600-3200 ISO and 1/30 range for shutter speed)
2. focus on the subject up close and use lower number for aperture (my lens will only go to around f4.5 but on most of the sites i found with really good bokeh, they had their aperture around f1.8)
3. keep your subject several feet from the lights (ie: from the christmas tree)
4. use a TRIPOD (or a stationary, hard base like a coffee table or chair or a pile of kids’ books, in my case) because you are using a slower shutter speed and it will be blurry if you just try and hold it with your hand.
image from Unskinny Boppy
5. NO FLASH! (basically every article i read, said this)
6. if outside, photograph the lights in the early evening/sunset before it is completely dark outside
7. switch from A to M on the lens (manual focus) for this effect:
8. use the self-timer to prevent shaking when taking the picture
9. custom bokeh–i had no idea you could do this with construction paper and hole punch!
custom shaped-bokeh tutorial from Kevin&Amanda
10. have fun and experiment with it!
do YOU have any christmas light tips for me? i’d love to hear them!
also, while you are here, why don’t you hop over and enter the art print giveaway from Good Girl Gone Glad?
ok, time to show off what you’ve been photographing this week.
happy weekend, friends!
It really is the most fun thing, isn’t it? I have to abstain from putting up 20 pictures I have of lights so far : ) I really can’t get enough! ; ) Wishing you a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend. Love, Becky
I’d just been thinking about this today- that bokeh thing
My cousin posted a photo today on facebook with the lights as hearts and it was so cool!!!! I will have to try your tips! 
I’m definitely going to use these tips. I want to learn to take better light photos, especially with the holidays coming up. The photo I took was a total fluke and not anything planned, but I kind of secretly love it lol
So the ONLY thing I’m asking for for Christmas is a DSLR. When (not if!) I get it I”m gonna have to go back and read all of your tutorials!
Lovely xmas shots!!.. I’m so wanting a DSLR to take pictures with.
You did great, mama! I am so impressed!!! Last Christmas, I joined a Christmas Bokeh linky party and I tried my hardest to capture some decent bokeh photos, but they weren’t what I had hoped for. BUT, you’ve got some GREAT tips here! Thank you! My camera only goes to 4.5 as well, but I’m going to play around with it some more to create similar images to yours. Thanks for the tips and the inspiration!!!
Happy holidays!
Wonderful advice, Andi. Have a fantastic weekend!
Oh how I love Christmas bokeh – these shots are inspiring. Can’t wait to get into it this month!
Hi there,
Thanks for hosting the fun!! Have a great weekend!
I just found your blog through the link on Ramblings and Photos. So glad I stopped by! I love your tips, and your tree is beautiful
These are such great tips Andi. Love these inspiring shots you shared.
I want to do custom bokeh this year. I have been meaning to try it.
Great tips!!! Such beautiful photo’s! You take AMAZING photo’s I love them! Thanks for having this link up every week! =D *hugs friend* I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Andi this post is just what I needed, I am dying to get pictures of lights. I loveeeee the bokeh thing. I will start practicing this weekend using these tips
really good points – can’t wait to try them- IF I ever get my tree up!!!!!!!!
One of our Scavenger hunt items last month was custom bokeh – it was really fun! I used my 40 mm macro lens and a keyhole for my custom shape (I cut it out with an exacto knife, not as much fun as a punch I’m sure!) I got some really cool results and since my shape was probably too small I also got a fish eye effect. It was the third Scavenger hunt in November. You should try it – it’s fun!
I love those lights!! I especially love all things bokeh – I need to get my tree up!!
Yay! Glad we’re on the same wavelength again.
Your tips were so helpful! I played around for an hour last night trying to figure this out. Would have been helpful to read this post beforehand. ha! I linked up!
I found you through another link party and I love how beautiful your photography is! Thanks for letting me link up, even though I don’t have any lights:)
you can ALWAYS link up as long as there are photographs! welcome!
Hi I’m Veronica. Nice to meet you. Just stumbled on your blog. Love it so friendly!
These are beautiful and your tree is lovely!
Your photos are gorgeous! Gosh I need some photography lessons. Those are awesome pix!
I’m back to let you know I DID IT! YAY!!!!! Thanks so much for the how to’s with a normal, no fancy lens SLR. Here’s the photo if you want to see it.
http://deniseisrundmt.com/2011/12/07/a-christmas-flop/