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Tips for holiday photos

11th December 2010

It’s never too early to prepare for the festive holiday season. To help you along, I’ve jotted down a few picture-taking tips that may help you capture those great and memorable photos to share with family and friends.

 
Whether you’re using a convenient point-and-shoot or an advanced DLSR, most cameras have a wide range of adjustments and settings. I’ll key in on only a few of these.

Shooting Mode – I suggest using the Program shooting mode (usually “P” on the dial). Unlike the Auto shooting mode (“A”), which locks many of the settings, Program shooting mode let you adjust most of the other settings.

White balance – at our house, most of the holiday activities happen inside where it’s warm and snuggly. We have incandescent lights so this is how I set the white balance. If you have fluorescent or other lighting, set your white balance accordingly. If unsure, set the white balance to Auto – most cameras produce satisfactory colors with this choice.

ISO – I like taking indoor pictures without a flash. We have a well-lit living room and kitchen so I usually set the camera to ISO 400 setting. If you use a higher setting (e.g. 800), you may be sacrificing image quality especially with some of the less advanced point-and-shoot cameras. Instead of a higher ISO, use a tripod. All digital cameras perform better at lower ISO settings. If you’re using flash, use a lower ISO setting to maximize image quality.

Tripod – to avoid blurry low-light pictures, consider using a tripod. It takes only a few minutes to set it up but you’ll definitely notice a difference when the lighting is dim. Announce ahead of time to your human subject that they should refrain from moving when you click the shutter button.

Subjects – the lighted tree, the scented candles, the menorah – these are the often the usual subjects. Move in for a close up of your favorite ornament. Catch the flickering flame on top of the golden candle holder. Fill your viewfinder with the soft satiny violet bow that graces the carefully wrapped present. Try shotting from different angles and look for sights that fill your heart.


Using a tripod and a higher ISO setting I was able to capture the tree lights. A flash would have changed the mood of the picture.

 

Pop up the flash when family and friends are visiting, You don’t want to miss the chance to snap Uncle Fred with his silly Santa hat. Or Cousin Betty holding Baby Isabella for the first time. Try to capture their faces with casual, candid shots.

 

Then there’s the food – what better way to recall the festivities than a picture of the colorful holiday yams?

There are plenty of opportunities to make keepsakes from your holidays though pictures. Keep your camera handy. Don’t pass up the chance. And may you have a peaceful holiday season.

Written by Arnie Lee

 


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