Capturing Christmas Trees?

Hi all,

Thanks in advance for helping me. I apologize in advance if this has been addressed already but maybe it can be more specific to me (a newbie).

What are the best settings to capture a christmas tree (with white lights) only using a flash?

Here is my info: XSi/18-15M is lens/vivtar 400mz exernal flash

Thanks again,
thumbsup

A tripod? I don't think a flash will be nice in anything other than a strict documentary way as in "This is a tree". It will kill the ambience of the small lights.

Here is a tree shot:

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Thumbsup wrote in post #9224176
Hi all,

Thanks in advance for helping me. I apologize in advance if this has been addressed already but maybe it can be more specific to me (a newbie).

What are the best settings to capture a christmas tree (with white lights) only using a flash?

Here is my info: XSi/18-15M is lens/vivtar 400mz exernal flash

Thanks again,
thumbsup

I think you must mean a 18-55mm? No flash thumbsup a relatively slow shutter speed on a tripod and you should get excellent results you could hand hold it also if your lens is the IS model but a tripod would give you better results.

Alan

JeffreyG wrote in post #9224244
A tripod? I don't think a flash will be nice in anything other than a strict documentary way as in "This is a tree". It will kill the ambience of the small lights.

Here is a tree shot:

I really like this shot but I think this more of a wine glass shot than a christmas tree shot geat capture nonetheless.

Alan

I would try 18mm, between F8 - F11 (depending on the effect your going for) ISO 200, tripod, if no tripod then stabalize on something, try for 1 - 1.5 sec exposure, chimp the histogram and go from there. Those are the settings I used anyway, no flash, you can start there and modify either way depending on the effect your going for. I would shoot RAW so you can play with the WB a bit more, warm or cool the pic again, depending on your preference. Hope that gives you a starting point anyway.

oh yes, I forgot, one more point, if your lens is IS, make sure you turn off the IS when stabilizing the camera, also, for an even sharper shot, use your self timer or remote shutter release with mirror lock

Amarinelli wrote in post #9224400
I think you must mean a 18-55mm? No flash thumbsup a relatively slow shutter speed on a tripod and you should get excellent results you could hand hold it also if your lens is the IS model but a tripod would give you better results.

Alan

Thanks for the correction. You are right I meant 18-55mm. No tripod yet, still working on that one. Can you tell I'm new to this? After the reponses even I aske myself why would I use a flash, it would kill the effect I'm going for.

Thanks again

PaulaLynn wrote in post #9224444
I would try 18mm, between F8 - F11 (depending on the effect your going for) ISO 200, tripod, if no tripod then stabalize on something, try for 1 - 1.5 sec exposure, chimp the histogram and go from there. Those are the settings I used anyway, no flash, you can start there and modify either way depending on the effect your going for. I would shoot RAW so you can play with the WB a bit more, warm or cool the pic again, depending on your preference. Hope that gives you a starting point anyway.

Thanks for the settings. I'll start with these and modify like you said. Thanks for reminding me about shooting in RAW. Once I get what I'm looking for, I'll post the results.

Thanks again. everyone is so helpful.

Okay, since I didn't get the results I was looking for, I tried a different approach. Tell me what you think. (This is the only image that will load). I'll put the others in C&C once I figure out why they won't load.

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Okay, since I didn't get the results I was looking for, I tried a different approach. Tell me what you think.

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One more try with different effect

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Thumbsup wrote in post #9232600
One more try with different effect

Nice job Thumbsup it looks like you did a white balance adjustment on the second one .I think I like the second one better myself . That is a real bird right? Keep up the good work!

Alan