Need Advice; re: Christmas Pictures: Re: "Need Advice; re: Christmas Pictures" ------------- SOOO, when taking a pic of individual couples next to 'colorfully-decorated' and...

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

Re: "Need Advice; re: Christmas Pictures"
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SOOO, when taking a pic of individual couples next to 'colorfully-decorated' and 'subtlely-lit' 8.foot Christmas Tree, WHERE do I position the Couple; ...Flash.? ...HDR.? ...How much of tree is showing.? ...height from which to TAKE picture.? ...General 'Settings'.?
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THANKS... And, MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear HOG friends.!.!.!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Bill, You need to ask yourself what is important in the image? Couple or Tree or both? I would position the couple off the center of the tree. If uou want the entire 8' tree plus couple, move further back or use a wide angle lens. Merry Christmas. I would use flash but that is me.quote=Gpa-15]Re: "Need Advice; re: Christmas Pictures"
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SOOO, when taking a pic of individual couples next to 'colorfully-decorated' and 'subtlely-lit' 8.foot Christmas Tree, WHERE do I position the Couple; ...Flash.? ...HDR.? ...How much of tree is showing.? ...height from which to TAKE picture.? ...General 'Settings'.?
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THANKS... And, MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear HOG friends.!.!.!

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Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

PixelStan77 wrote:

Bill, You need to ask yourself what is important i... (show quote)

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Hi 'PixelStan77'... Thanks for this advice; I'm gonna practice with BOTH 'Flash' ...and NO flash.!

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Got a Speedlight? Can it support bounce flash? Take a standard white business envelope, rotate the flash head pointing upwards, rubber band the envelope to the head and shoot. The light off the ceiling (unless it's in a commercial space with 30' overhead) will illuminate without the harsh direct flash, while the reflection off the envelope will illuminate the foreground.

The attached is a commercial product, but illustrates.

If your Speedlight has a pop up diffuser, use that.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

If the ceiling is a color other than white, Bounce flash does not work unless you post process for color correction.

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Got a Speedlight? Can it support bounce flash? Take a standard white business envelope, rotate the flash head pointing upwards, rubber band the envelope to the head and shoot. The light off the ceiling (unless it's in a commercial space with 30' overhead) will illuminate without the harsh direct flash, while the reflection off the envelope will illuminate the foreground.

The attached is a commercial product, but illustrates.

If your Speedlight has a pop up diffuser, use that.

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Got a Speedlight? Can it support bounce flash? Take a standard white business envelope, rotate the flash head pointing upwards, rubber band the envelope to the head and shoot. The light off the ceiling (unless it's in a commercial space with 30' overhead) will illuminate without the harsh direct flash, while the reflection off the envelope will illuminate the foreground.

The attached is a commercial product, but illustrates.

If your Speedlight has a pop up diffuser, use that.

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THANKS... I had forgotten the Effect of Bouncing the Flash.!!!

CO

A professional photographer told me once: "If you crop, crop with authority". Capture the entire tree in your photo or zoom in so that just a portion of the tree is captured.

The bounce flash recommendation is excellent. Do that if the ceilings are white.

I try to keep the camera height at about the height of the person's chest. That's just me. Maybe other people do that differently. If the person is sitting down then you will want to kneel to get the height correct. If you're photographing a child you'll probably want to sit on the floor.

For the settings, I would set the lens aperture to around f/5.6 to f/8. Lenses are usually the sharpest around those settings.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

PixelStan77 wrote:

Bill, You need to ask yourself what is important in the image? Couple or Tree or both? I would position the couple off the center of the tree. If uou want the entire 8' tree plus couple, move further back or use a wide angle lens.

Nail-on-the-head!

Links about shooting Christmas tree lights.

http://www.diyphotography.net/photograph-led-christmas-lights/
http://www.lightstalking.com/successfully-photograph-christmas-tree/
http://www.thelawtog.com/how-to-shoot-christmas-tree-lights/
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-take-great-photos-of-your-christmas-tree/
http://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/11/christmas-tree-photography-with-your-dslr-a-tutorial.html

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

CO wrote:

A professional photographer told me once: "If... (show quote)

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Hi 'CO'... These are Excellent suggestions -- THANK YOU
...and MERRY CHRISTMAS

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

jerryc41 wrote:

Nail-on-the-head! img src="https://static.uglyh... (show quote)

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Hi 'jerryc41'... HOLY COW...!
...as usual, YOU are a storehouse of Great-Info.!.!.!
...and Thanks for Quick response; gives me Time to research and Experiment ...Before 12/25/16 CHRISTMAS

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Gpa-15 wrote:

Re: "Need Advice; re: Christmas Pictures"
-------------
SOOO, when taking a pic of individual couples next to 'colorfully-decorated' and 'subtlely-lit' 8.foot Christmas Tree, WHERE do I position the Couple; ...Flash.? ...HDR.? ...How much of tree is showing.? ...height from which to TAKE picture.? ...General 'Settings'.?
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THANKS... And, MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear HOG friends.!.!.!

Two flashes? Each at a 45 degree from the camera and above the camera by at least two feet. Boxes for the flashes preferred. If not, aim flashes up and behind, if you are inside.

CO

This illustration is in the manual for my Nikon SB-700 flash. Its shows some of the possibilities that were recommended.

Bill_de Loc: US

I hate (strongly dislike) pictures of couples standing in front of Christmas trees looking at the camera. Stand the couple slightly off to the side and have them looking at the tree. That makes the connection between the two.

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Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

Bill_de wrote:

I hate (strongly dislike) pictures of couples standing in front of Christmas trees looking at the camera. Stand the couple slightly off to the side and have them looking at the tree. That makes the connection between the two.

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MANY THANKS; I'll test THAT.

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

CO wrote:

This illustration is in the manual for my Nikon SB-700 flash. Its shows some of the possibilities that were recommended.

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THANKS AGAIN, CO
More good info.!