Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Three Photos with Dark Skies

An acquaintance told us that there was quite a house display near his house, which is just around the corner from our place. We drove over on that cold evening.

My first photo ↓


Fab house, but you see, above, that the lights that go way up the tree are truncated. I turned the camera the other way↓ but I had to take two photos and stitch them together in post. My wide angle lens would have done it in one shot, and I had it in the car, but it was so cold that I didn't want to involve myself with changing lenses with numb hands.

I moved down the street a bit, and did get all it in one at an angle.

While I like getting Christmas Lights photos, I do find the black sky unappealing. Starlit would be better, of course, and so would blue hour photos. But blue hour is so early these days that I wasn't sure if the lights would have been on by then, And although I specifically ordered starlight, the server just shrugged their shoulders and walked away.

You just have to do what you can when you can.

18 comments:

Marie Smith said...

When you refer to piecing things together in post, it always impresses me. Quite the light display!

Goldendaze-Ginnie said...

I've never seen anyone display lights up trees like that. A clever idea and your picture gives us a good example of it.

Patio Postcards said...

That house is certainly in full lighted merriment. In these dark days, maybe more is better applies to this display. Fantastic photos; I continue to try to get the same clarity of my night lighted displays ... I say I was going for that blurred look, aka bokeh.

William Kendall said...

These are well taken.

DJan said...

Thanks for the great photos, and that you attempted them makes me very happy to admire them, AC. Happy Holidays!

Barbara Rogers said...

As always, I'm impressed with how you manipulated to create the photo you wanted. I'd have been satisfied with the first one. But those lights going up in the tree are quite something, making me wonder how the heck they got them up there! Which is part of the awesomeness of the whole picture. Just wow!

Boud said...

I wonder if they used a cherry picker to get the tree decorated. Impressive pictures of an impressive display, thank you.

gigi-hawaii said...

What is wrong with a black sky? It shows off the bright lights better. Anyway, it is a visual feast.

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Mage said...

Shame on that server. :) I have to tell you that I really like that last image. Holiday colors indeed.

PipeTobacco said...

I especially enjoy the third image!

I wonder what if…. You were to highly manipulate the image so as to obtain a faux-blue hour effect….. the lights would of course be “blown out” from that change, but they too might still be attractive in a manipulated and abstract sort of way.

PipeTobacco

Margaret said...

We went around the neighborhood to look at lights with Grandson last night. They were mostly unimpressive. Those are amazing!

Red said...

There is so much to think about when trying to get a good photo.

The Furry Gnome said...

Look very good to me! But how did they ever get those lights way up in that tree anyway!?

Rita said...

Wow! That's a fabulous decorated house and you managed to get it all in one shot. Love it! :)

Doris Potter said...

Wonderful images! I'm like a little kid when I see lots of Christmas lights so thanks for these.

Jenn Jilks said...

JB offered to take me out to see the lights, but I just don't have the heart to figure out the proper settings, and I am way too frazzled.
Good work, John.

Bindu said...

Nice photos! Love it!