Christmas lights can be a lot of fun as a photographer...
One of my favorite things to do is to make them fuzzy little highlights in the foreground or background of a photo. All of these photos involve Christmas lights hung on the side balconies of Terrell ISD's Performing Arts Center.
![lightsblog-50](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uhZQ1O4a5ehWtFpFqWQlsXzub1SXKQZMPYdgBMh0UABvMtZbDatANN5aWIrEoFn1idYpDyxfT8u5byG61GWXNcBZSA5IwdLJx70UFmBCysIxLxkXUuAZ7ySXBV1NZNAqzSlg=s0-d)
Opening up to maximum aperture (in this case, f2.8), will do the trick, especially if the lights are a good distance from the subject. Using longer telephotos make the background look closer, and the out-of-focus effect will be great, like this one from backstage, behind the elves. (just wish I could get some smiling parents in there too... could not find the angle.)
![Lightsblog-3](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s0AzLIBoPTqsIMkKVFqFmEObNKTSL2X03fFb9UJl4OiYkUJOqq2NQmL4d7mbqo1RG5G4kbIfjZYhtx50qibE07eIBw44tqNC1Qd-CKeMyh_KJiv8ghkej8YjYSNSVUXEtjBQ=s0-d)
Canon 40D, 120mm at f2.8, 1/125, iso800
For a really cool effect, put the lights between yourself and your subject. Up on the balconies, you might think that the lights are in the way...
![Lightgsblog-4](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tpTo36vB67XIwxDf00eXO8gzOVpn50qG4V_dc_5wf-zxeFPVnAzzweBjSii3KvwQ3NNWrREYyDvimGM8Qitfc7Bh-8aADrF3HsrBU9--cCQ_PqUJKb0wFWS1e2UAPmVhYScQ=s0-d)
Canon 40D, 115mm at f2.8, 1/200, iso80
... But if you focus through the lights to your subject, the lights turn in to little dots of translucent light over your subject.
Canon 40D, 115mm at f2.8, 1/200, iso800
With some careful composition, you can find a point of interest and frame it with the lights. We cropped this one down a bit for the newspaper, but the group of musicians in the center becomes the focal point when the rest are obstructed by dots.
Canon 40D, 200mm at f2.8, 1/160, iso800
You can also use lights on a tree to frame one side of a photo with lights... this one with colorful lights was on the far edge of the stage.
![lightsblog-2](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sWL8jIbqC37IohhTayaxA1oWzw6HT24y_wjS6WlXMyDhECDaphlgGE7cr6cMb4bh28JRf3fnp3kkuA4s8NSDlwX3-d-A-ulntA8woKMOqnHJEOHq7AULWZivbfr8rB5jqA=s0-d)
Canon 40D, 200mm at f2.8, 1/125, iso800
To make it a really cool photo, you also have to catch a great moment, which didn't happen with the shots above.... my favorite shot from the TISD Christmas programs was during a choir concert... alas, no lights. Poor girl almost got slapped in the face.
![lightsblog-1](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tmZEbP0zk9HZ5phN4-J-njj_jN_WKPAS3OQr6uyQkVn6tAcQCvQxubNXRbVM-rdaW3WGhppAuW7btYNGS6mlkZA80_j_MlFj82BDVVK8aR6yUOOijwuwJ1BtRKYDpaCkaSIw=s0-d)
Canon 5D, 200mm at f2.8, 1/200, iso 1000
Have fun playing with the lights....
don j.