| Capturing pictures of holiday lights was very | | | | systems give the equivalent of setting the |
| difficult in the past because of the | | | | shutter speed 4 stops faster. |
| limitations with film sensitivity. Since | | | | |
| holiday lights are not very bright, they can | | | | Since the technology now allows much better |
| be seen well only at night. Using a flash is | | | | photos to be taken in low light conditions, |
| not an option, because this would wash out | | | | your shots of holiday lights will probably be |
| the lights themselves, defeating the purpose. | | | | much more dramatic if you leave the flash |
| So capturing holiday lights meant having to | | | | off. Let the holiday lights or candles light |
| use either a very long exposure time or very | | | | the scene themselves. |
| sensitive film -- or both -- in order to | | | | |
| capture a quality image. Each option | | | | "Bracketing" is a technique where many photos |
| presented it's own problem: A long exposure | | | | of a scene are taken with slight variations |
| time increases the chances of a blurred shot | | | | in shutter speed, aperture settings and color |
| unless extra setup time and equipment is used | | | | adjustment in order to ensure getting the |
| (e.g. a tripod and a remote shutter release | | | | best possible shot. Bracketing is a great |
| to keep the camera as steady as possible), | | | | technique to use for holiday lights since the |
| and high ISO film typically created a more | | | | scene is not moving, and time can be taken to |
| grainy image. | | | | get several shots over a few minutes, |
| | | | adjusting the settings manually in between. |
| Today's digital cameras have solved these | | | | Digital cameras technology also supports this |
| problems, and now allow anyone to capture | | | | technique since memory cards can usually hold |
| beautiful shots of holiday lights. | | | | dozens (or even hundreds) of images at a |
| | | | time. Examining the photos afterwards will |
| Most digital cameras' image sensors are able | | | | allow you to detect and keep the best ones |
| to capture images even in low-light | | | | right away, and the others can be discarded. |
| conditions. Many offer sensitivity up to ISO | | | | |
| 1600 or even ISO 3200 with very little | | | | Digital camera technology has made better |
| "noise" added to the picture; this is the | | | | photography possible in many ways; capturing |
| equivalent of the fastest "fast" film in the | | | | more spectacular shots of holiday lights is |
| past 35mm days. You will have to experiment | | | | just one example. Go put your digital camera |
| with your own camera to see how high you can | | | | to good use, and capture those holiday |
| go and still capture a noise-free image. | | | | memories! |
| | | | |
| Many digital cameras -- both point-n-shoot | | | | is a digital photography blog contributed to |
| and digital SLRs -- also offer a vibration | | | | by a community of digital photographers. Our |
| reduction system built into the camera or the | | | | goal is to provide the latest news about |
| lens system. VR systems allow the | | | | digital camera technology, tips, advice and |
| photographer to get a much steadier shot, | | | | digital camera reviews. |
| especially in low light conditions; the best | | | | |