16 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2015
My Photo Tip:
Season's Gift
Christmas lights provide a welcome opportunity for
winter photographers.
By Justin Haag
The vibrant scenes of Christmas lights stand out during a time of
year known for being dark and gray and provide opportunities for
photography.
Christmas lights can be photographed during any time of the night,
but the best opportunity for an attractive shot comes at twilight. With the
evening sky between sundown and nightfall, some details of a building
or other subject are still visible and the scene is still dark enough for the
lights to stand out.
Don't just point and shoot with a camera, though. With such a low light
situation, get a noise-free, in-focus exposure by using a low ISO, slow
shutter speed and small aperture. A tripod and the use of a cable release or
self-timer will be necessary to keep the camera steady.
With good timing and a little know-how, a photographer's holiday light
photos can be a gift that keeps on giving. ■
PHOTOS
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
Fort Robinson State Park provides a great venue for photographing Christmas lights, as community volunteers join park staff in
decorating the many historical buildings creating a festive atmosphere for its annual dinner.
