Christmas Lights

[Kaye Leggett]

The weather in England has been dull and grey for over a month, thankfully the Christmas Lights are up and provide some interesting photographic opportunities.

Here is my take on The Royal Pavillion in Brighton - the only Royal Palace not in Royal ownership - Queen Victoria didn't like it, so sold it to The council for £50,000 in 1850. It's a lovely building, constructed by George 111 in an Indian Style outside and Chinese inside - two places he never visited but had a fantasy image of. No photography was allowed inside, so only the Indian exterior here with a seasonal skating rink on the front lawn

C&C and tips welcome, particularly for processing and night-time photography

1 Ghostly figures (again)



2 A wider view



3 The turrets



4 - The ice was cleared and the freeze machine out - leaving me with some lovely reflections to capture

[Geoff F]

Very difficult subjects, Kaye. I have had several attempts at Christmas Lights recently and I'm still not happy with the results.

Maybe have a go at 'squaring up' #2. I think you should have sufficient space to distort the verticals into being upright then cropping again.

These certainly have good clarity without excessive 'noise'.

[bnnrcn]

I really like #4 Kaye IMO you should rotate the image anticlockwise as it seems tilted towards right a bit.

[mknittle]

#4 is excellent Kaye. Nice to have some info too.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Kaye,

I'm another that would rotate to correct any camera tilts and de-converge verticals.

I concur; #4 is also my favourite.

That kind of lighting I find tricky to shoot in, well done.

Cheers, Dave

[Rebel]

I absolutely love the first two!

Perfect!

[Kaye Leggett]

Very difficult subjects, Kaye. I have had several attempts at Christmas Lights recently and I'm still not happy with the results.

Maybe have a go at 'squaring up' #2. I think you should have sufficient space to distort the verticals into being upright then cropping again.

These certainly have good clarity without excessive 'noise'.

Thanks Geoff. I am persevering with the lights, Mousehole the destination after Christmas. I didn't have my tripod for Brighton but there was a lovely fence to rest on around the ice rink with my little bean bag on it and a cable release meant I could keep the ISO high.

I will definitely look at squaring up no 2.

[Kaye Leggett]

Hi Kaye,

I'm another that would rotate to correct any camera tilts and de-converge verticals.

I concur; #4 is also my favourite.

That kind of lighting I find tricky to shoot in, well done.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks Dave. Binnur and Mark. It was worth hanging around for the reflection shot - we were just enjoying the atmosphere and watching (as you do) and then I realised the reflections were opening up in front of my eyes as the machine made it's progress around the ice. I'll give it a rotational tweak - thanks for the thought.

[IzzieK]

Whoaaa....I am late again in commenting? Sorry. I am a fan #4 too for all the reasons already been said, typed.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, good control of lowlight settings and action.