Christmas Tree Lighting

[jenirose3]

I have 2 AB800s. One is a ring flash. I have been trying various lighting setups with a black backdrop and an small tree with white lights. I'm stumped and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get that glowy lights on the tree effect and still light up my subject. Any suggestions?

I've tried just lighting up the background, turning the ABs all the way down, using one AB but all I get is either a child with a black background and a tree. You can't tell the tree is lit let along that glowy light look, KWIM?

HELP!

Jeni

[muleskinner]

What is your shutter speed? I've never tried to light a tree, but I'd try a longer shutter.

[jenirose3]

That's what I'm hearing. Longer shutter with ambient. It's gonna be difficult with a moving child though. I'm thinking I may have to shoot for the child and then shot for the tree and combine in PS.

[fpalitang]

You will need to meter for the tree and lights.

1. Leave the child out of the picture initially. Less headaches that way. ;)
2. Find a good combination of ISO, aperture and shutter speed to make the tree and lights look the way you want taking note that your shutter speed must be fast enough to prevent camera shake.
3. Dial in your flash to properly expose your child (use a test subject like a stuffed animal). Take care that the subject-to-background distance is such that your light is not spilling onto your tree (unless you want to negate the "glowy" look).
4. Bring in your child, and fire away. The flash will freeze movement to an extent. You may get some ghosting, so keep shooting.

Good luck...show us your results!

[tetrode]

I have 2 AB800s. One is a ring flash. I have been trying various lighting setups with a black backdrop and an small tree with white lights. I'm stumped and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get that glowy lights on the tree effect and still light up my subject. Any suggestions?

I've tried just lighting up the background, turning the ABs all the way down, using one AB but all I get is either a child with a black background and a tree. You can't tell the tree is lit let along that glowy light look, KWIM?

HELP!

Jeni

You'll need a looooong exposure for the lights to register and just enough flash to record your non-inert subject.

8 Seconds, f/16, Nikon SB-800 powered down and flashed off the ceiling (I still can't believe I neglected to close the right hand curtain panel):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2921358437_b9f3ae6b58_o.jpg

Dave F.

[tiziano]

If you are looking for something like this:
http://75.126.234.18/forum/showthread.php?t=254022&highlight=christmas
I can explain how I did it.

[jenirose3]

Thanks so much for everyone's help!!!! Off to practice this weekend!

[Maddog12]

you have your Christmas Tree up already?

[Gatorboy]

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. Here is a shot I took last year.

I was 2 stops above ambient (underexposed). ISO 640; f/2.8; 1/125; Flash was camera right at 1/128 with CTO gel and tungsten WB. You can see the twinkle of the christmas lights, but my subjects were well lit -- for they were the main subject of the photo.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2102669135_68657edd0f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhoffmann/2102669135/)