10 December 2009
Since Christmas is just around the corner, I thought a few tips on how to take great Christmas pictures would be helpful. Hopefully, this will give you some good Christmas photo ideas. I am also curious to hear how you approach the Season with your camera, so make sure you share your tips and ideas!
1. Making a list and checking it twice
Pack the camera bag with extra memory cards, fully charged batteries, and your favourite gadgets for the occasion. Have a tripod? Bring it along so you can be in the pictures too! Think of the light that will be available in the room where you'll take pictures. Will there be enough light? Will you need a flash?
2. Wishing you a White Balance Christmas
When you are ready to take pictures, check the type of light you are shooting in and select the white balance of your camera accordingly. For your indoor shoots, you might consider the following settings:
- Tungsten: usually represented by a little bulb and useful under incandescent lighting. This setting will cool the colour temperature of your image quite a bit.
- Fluorescent: This setting will help warm up the cool tint that a fluorescent light gives. This type of light is seldom used in homes, other than in the kitchen.
- Flash: the camera flash can give a rather cool tint to the image and the flash white balance setting will help warm up the colours.
3. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Family pictures around the Christmas tree or at the Christmas table are part of the fun, but there are many occasions to take pictures. Here are some ideas:
- In the kitchen and cooking that special Christmas dish;
- Putting the tree up and decorating it;
- Your favourite Christmas ornaments;
- Fun moments wrapping the gifts;
- Details of the Christmas table before everyone sits down;
- A delicious box of chocolate;
- The mess of wrapping paper once the gifts are opened;
- Set the camera on a tripod (or anywhere sturdy and safe) and set it to take pictures in 2 or 3 minute intervals. Join the group and be part of candid pictures!
4. Rudolf the red eyed reindeer
If Rudolf is famous for its red nose, so are pictures of red eyed friends and family members!! Most digital cameras have a red-eye flash mode that helps in reducing this effect by sending a series of small flashes before the final one. These quick flashes make the pupils contract and reduce the red eyed look. If your mum still has red eyes in the pictures despite your efforts, a quick and simple post processing touch can be helpful to make her look her best again!
5. Frosty the 'Flashman'
So, the party is going well, everyone is having a good time and you are taking great shots using your flash. The only problem is the flash is so bright everyone looks like they were caught like a deer in headlights, with strong shadows behind them. A few tips:
- If you have a flash diffuser, this is the time to get it out of your gadget bag!!
- If you don't have a diffuser, set a piece of white tissue over your flash to soften the light. Tape the tissue to the base of the flash or secure it with an elastic band.
- If you use an external flash, try to bounce the light off the ceiling or wall.
- You can also set your camera on 'slow synch' (night mode). This will slow your the shutter speed down and still fire a burst of light. Using this setting, you will get some of the available light and the flash will capture the action.
6. All I want for Christmas is a 'Filled Frame'
We have all seen pictures of a great family gathering with people so far away in the pictures it is hard to say who is who. To avoid this mistake, get up close and personal! Fill the frame by moving closer or zoom in on your subject. Get to your hands and knees to get to the kids level and for interesting angles. This simple tip will definitely help you get some fantastic shots with a lot of impact!
You have your own tips and great Christmas photo ideas? I'd like to know them, so don't be shy and share!
