Christmas has undergone a drastic change in just a few short years, there’s no denying it. Of course we have traditions, parties, but let’s face it, Christmas is a really fun time, so why not take the opportunity to immortalize it? Admittedly, it is a little difficult to translate the essence of this celebration if you do not have a precise idea of what you want to obtain, upstream, and what will be the parameters to use on the camera or what equipment will be our ally for this very special and arduous event.
Settings for your Christmas photos
Once you have a clear idea of what kind of photos you want to get for the night of the dead, it will be time to get your gear ready to take some great Christmas photos. And no need to encumber you with all your equipment, on the contrary! The essential will do more than the trick, remember that this is a party and so you need to have fun too.
With your camera, a bright lens and a cobra flash, this will be more than enough, even if a tripod will be essential for photo techniques such as lightpainting or strobe mode discussed above. Once the question of the equipment is settled, we will move on to the camera settings.
Harness shutter speed
Just like ISO sensitivity, shutter speed can be a great ally when taking Christmas photos. If you want to take photos while cruising around the city and enjoying the party, I recommend using intermediate speeds. But if you are looking for creative and vivid effects on your shots, then better go for low shutter speeds, I’ll explain why later. Either way, you should know that if you are going to opt for slower shutter speeds than usual, you will absolutely need to use a tripod or even a remote control. This will prevent the appearance of shaking in your images.
Work in manual mode
Even if it is very convenient to use the automatic mode of your camera, because the results are appreciable, this event will be the occasion to prove to yourself that you are able to produce comparable or even better shots with the camera. manual mode of your device, after having configured the parameters that you deem relevant.
The light conditions will not be ideal and why deny it, the photography remains above all of the light, so do not take risks with the automatic mode. And it is just as essential to use the RAW format. Thus, no detail of the scene will escape you, especially as here, details can play an essential role in capturing the viewer’s attention!
Play on ISO sensitivity
The ISO sensitivity is a key pillars in the exposure triangle, you know. This setting, if you know how to use it, can even save a scene with the worst lighting. The problem arises when using very high ISO sensitivity because noise appears in the image. Although to tell the truth, the sensors of our cameras benefit from an increasingly higher quality and they are designed to take into account the appearance of the slightest grain, so opt for high sensitivities if necessary.
Check the diaphragm opening
As we have seen, the ideal would be to use a bright lens, between f / 1.4 and f / 2.8, like a cinema lens. Indeed, most events during Christmas night will take place indoors or during the night, therefore, and it must be said that few streets offer satisfactory lighting for taking acceptable Christmas photos.
Playing on the diaphragm opening will allow you to reduce the ISO sensitivity a bit in the event that excess noise appears. The ideal would be to experiment with different settings until you find the perfect exposure and creativity.
Consider the exposure
You have seen it throughout this post, the examples presented have mostly been done in low key because it is a simple way to give an impression of mystery. Use black backgrounds, without shine, then direct the light of your lamp or flash towards a specific point in the scene to make the subject stand out.
Watch out for white balance!
This element is especially important for all those who will be working indoors. You must have already noticed that during a trip or a tourist visit, for example, the photos took on a yellow tone. This is explained by unfavorable light conditions, hence a white balance that does a bit of rubbish.
On Christmas, we find ourselves faced with completely dark scenes. To prevent your shots from taking on a yellowish or orange tone, manually change the white balance to ensure the best results. If you used the RAW format, the problem can also be fixed using editing software.
