This is the submission page for the “Photographing the Holidays” course with Barb Kreutter. If you have trouble uploading or sizing images to 800 pixels wide just email them to Barb at kreuworkshop@gmail.com
Here is an image I took last year at “Zoolights”
Taken on a tripod with Canon Rebel XSi, f/27, 3 sec, ISO 100, with a 18 to 55 mm zoom lens
First second stationary at 55 mm then slow zoom for 2 seconds to approx 35 mm
Right away, I had to try out a “Bokeh” experiment. First plain old Bokeh, turning my lens to maximum “out of focus” at the largest aperture I could get, f/4. Shutter speed was 1.5 second at ISO 800.
Here is a 4 second Bokeh zoom experiment at f/8
I really like this. It looks like rods of light
We just put our small Christmas tree in the family room. Here is a bokeh image. Interesting how the bokeh balls in the center are perfectly round while the ones on the sides are oval.
Here is the same image with a “zoom” effect
Here is an attempt at a portrait close up with bokeh effect. I am a bit disappointed with the size of the bokeh balls. The stuffed puppy was lit selectively with 2 led floodlights at minimum strength.
I am not happy with the sharpness of the puppy nose. This is the problem with close ups. I wanted to maximize the bokeh so going with a smaller aperture was not an option. I am going to try focus stacking tonight and see what Photoshop’s focus stacking utility does to the image.
An ICM image taken at Zoo lights
ISO800, 19mm, f/8, 1.3 sec.
Beautiful composition and effect Barb!
The same tree, but using a composer pro sweet 35 lensbaby on my canon 6D
ISO640, 1/25sec. hand held
What a neat Bokeh effect in the perimeter of the image. I have seen some “dreamy” wedding photography using this lens. Very intriguing, something I have to look into.
ICM where the camera was moved straight up and then held still
ISO800, 19mm, f/8, .8sec
Using one of my automatic modes called Star
The star pattern gives it sparkle for sure, and a frosty, cold feel.
Here is a different composition with our stuffed puppy. The experiment is trying out maximum sharpness at close range through focus stacking. With the large aperture and the shallow depth of field it requires 2 images stacked together in order to get the nose and the eye sharp. Image stats f/4, 1 sec, ISO 100. The second objective was to get the maximum Bokeh size on the christmas lights. Distance to Christmas tree was 3 m, distance from camera to puppy nose was 45 cm. The size of the bokeh balls is affected by the zoom factor as well.
Very nice. One of these days I will have to try focus stacking.
Bokeh from our new outdoor Christmas Tree. Image stats f/4, 1/4 sec, ISO 100
More bokeh from the outdoor Xmas tree. Image stats, f/4, 1/4 sec, ISO 100.
What light types are these Henri? Are they LED?
They are LED inside a traditional Christmas light bulb.
Here is a zoolight image from Jan 2018. I am re-posting it because I think it is a great example of “hold and zoom”
Beautiful colours. I think this is the same tree as my multicoloured ICM above that I did this past week.
Here’s ICM from Zoolights Nov 28/18. ISO 400, F 6.3, S 1/13, intentionally moving the zoom lens inward during the exposure
Focusing on the reindeer through the green lights so the bokeh is in front of the image ISO 400, F 6.3, 2 s exposure, AP
Reflections. I was focused on the chair. ISO 400, F6.3, 22mm, 4 sec exposure, AP, used tripod
A local house with blue light sky. Used Luminar AI to up the exposure so the dog on the top of the steps could be seen.
I like how the sky looks in deep blue hour lighting
Debra’s cat in front of the Christmas tree.
Nice composition Debra. Lights add sparkle to images especially against dark backgrounds. Well done.
Table runner with LED lit tree lights as only source of light. Shot at ISO 1000, f 3.5, ss 1/15
The beads reflect well but this is one of 12 tries to get the lighting to show on most of them.