Christmas Light Photography Tips and Advice

We're out taking photographs of Christmas lights. There are so many beautiful displays, and we want to capture them on film. So as we prepare to take our pictures of Christmas lights, we back away so that we can capture the entire magnificent scene within our frame.

Correct. But also incorrect, if that's all we do. And this leads to our first Christmas photography tip for illustrating Christmas light displays.

(1) The best Christmas lights photography captures not only panoramic scenes, but also close-ups of the highlights within the panorama. We want both. Let's say that on the sprawling front lawn of a suburban home, we see Santa on his sleigh in one location, and a Salvation Army bell-ringer in a second spot, and a nativity scene someplace else. In addition to our distant Christmas photograph, we can also zero in on each of those three highlights.

(2) Opt for a high shutter speed. We want to illustrate the lights, not the light that they emit. A wide angle lens is for the panorama, and a macro lens is for the close-ups.

(3) Those Christmas light displays are so brilliant in the deep, dark, Silent Night. Maybe so, but our Christmas photography will be lousy at that point. Our photos will show the lights, but not the property in the background. Or, we'll see the property but we won't clearly see the lights, so to speak. Our best bets are at dusk or at dawn, and overcast usually is better than clear sky.

(4) If we're really dedicated and sticklers for perfection, we'll shoot our Christmas photography both at dusk and at dawn. Great photography of any sort is trial and error. Furthermore, if we show up maybe a half-hour before the optimal time, then we can plan our logistics and our camera angles, so that we're ready when the time is right. Extra time = excellence in our Christmas photography.

(5) Let's see here. We have the lights. We have the various props that go with the lights, such as the nativity scenes or Santa on his sleigh. We have the property in the background. Aren't we forgetting something? Oh yes, the sky. The sky! Look at examples of Christmas lights photography that impress you (or even thrill you) the most, and odds are that the sky will play a prominent role. Seek an angle at dusk that shows an afterglow in the evening sky. To include more sky, shoot from a low angle, upward toward the Christmas lighting display and toward the sky.

(6) People. Where are the people? Just because your subject is Christmas lights photography, that doesn't mean the scene must be devoid of people. Have some children pose in the scene, or better yet, just tell them to go ahead and frolic. This can add a unique element to your Christmas lights photography.

SOURCES

http://www.intofotos.com/photography/2007/11/10/how-to-photograph-christmas-lights/

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-photograph-christmas-lights.html

http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/tips/christmas-lights.shtml

Art in America: The Hudson River School

In the mid-1830s, when America was still a fledging nation, its first true style of landscape painting was born. This style was dubbed the Hudson River School. As with other art "schools," the Hudson River School was not in fact an actual school in the sense of an academic institution. It was, however, an artistic institution, in the way colleagues adhere to a similar style and enjoy each other's company.

The Hudson River School was so named because most of its adherents worked in that region, and the earliest landscapes in the style depicted the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains, and the Adirondack Mountains (The Hudson originates in the Adirondacks and then goes down through the Catskills before continuing its way to New York City and the ocean.) The Hudson River School enjoyed considerable influence among artists of the day, and leaves a lasting legacy, as it flourished for 40 years, until the mid-1870s.

Members of the Hudson River School were friends, and often visited with each other, and also traveled together with their families. They would travel all over New York and New England, and even went to the Middle East and Europe. During the years of America's western expansion, the members of the school also followed the trend. 

They began painting landscapes from Nebraska, the Southwest, Yellowstone and Yosemite. Additionally, some of them headed to Latin America to paint the lush scenes afforded by the tropical climate.

The Hudson River School is thought to have been founded by Thomas Cole, a prominent artist of the time. Other influential and well-known artists belonging to the school include Albert Bierstadt, John Frederick Kensett, Frederic Church, Jasper Cropsey, Alfred Thompson Bricher, Asher B. Durand, and Sanford Robinson Gifford.

The elements and themes that characterize the Hudson River School are in keeping with the general feelings and optimisms of the time. There is a great attention to nature, and a loyalty to its accurate depiction. Favorite themes include those that make use of light at sunrise or sunset or skies that are clear blue. 

Thomas Kinkade's work today is reminiscent of the Hudson River School with regard to its use of light (though not often similarity of subject). Other themes include the evocation of a sense of serenity, presenting America as a new paradise, the incarnation of Eden. The main technical distinction of the Hudson River School is its artists' use of brush strokes that are practically invisible.

Brindisi Students Art and Music Festival

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It’s a sunny afternoon in early May, and while students in other high schools throughout Italy are immersed in reading, writing and a host of other studies, over one thousand students from the Adriatic port city of Brindisi and surrounding area are gathered together to put on a show unlike anything that has been seen in recent times.

The event is called BAMS - “Brindisi, Arte, Musica and Spettacolo” and showcases the talents and creativity of students attending the Brindisi Liceo Artistico (Academy of Arts) and other upper-level institutions of higher learning in and around the city.

But far from just being a day spent in the sun showcasing arts and crafts, and listening to high school bands, vocalists and dancers - the theme of the BAMS festival touched a nerve in every student involved: “Better Art Than the Mafia”.

The Mafia - unfortunately - is alive and well in Italy and perhaps thrives strongest in the South. Students with no future to speak of will always be a reliable resource for underworld activities. The BAMS festival sought to demonstrate that there ARE students who care and who want something more out of life.

Guglielmo Carrozzo , President of the Puglia Board of Education, thinks a festival of this kind demonstrates solidarity among students. Remarked Carrozzo, “…The BAMS festival wasn’t just held in Brindisi, but in areas all over the Puglia Region. The student unions suggested it and I thought it was a good idea, but the kids had to put in the effort to coordinate the event in order for it to come together...”

Coordinating this festival was no easy task. Two student-representatives from each school in the region were responsible creating a work force that would garner participation, get the necessary permits, and assist in setting up the stages in addition to a dozen other jobs necessary for getting this event off the ground.

Adds one student, “...the city is showing its support by allowing this festival to happen, but it’s just the first step. The only way to get rid of the Mafia influence by demonstrating that the city is proactive in it’s obligation to young adults…”

Amid the blaring sounds of electric guitar and hip-hop dance demonstrations, the student union set up a kiosk to collect signatures to present to city hall along with a letter of intent to the Mayor.

Adds Caroozzo, “…one of the aims here was to get the support of local businesses to agree to try and underwrite a meeting place for the students. Not just a place where they can hang out, but a youth center of sorts where the students can come and feel free to be creative and in general have a sense of purpose. Hopefully, the Commune (city hall) will take a look at this and realize that it serves a deeper purpose than just spending a day out of school...”

In an area spread out in a piazza above and on a portion of port of Brindisi, two stages, 20 bands, dozens of artists, dancers and singers converged for a day that passed all to quickly.

Added physical education teacher Giulia Lezzi, “…The students wanted this and they deserve all the credit for pulling it off. It came together pretty good and the students behaved themselves which is important…”

Only time will tell whether this festival has any lasting impact, but at least for now, area students in Brindisi can enjoy knowing that voices were heard and that their hard work coordinating this festival was worht it.

Baby Shower Gifts for a Second Baby

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While the practice of giving a baby shower for a second baby may not be as common as a baby shower for the firstborn, they do seem to be growing in popularity. Co-workers may want to throw a baby shower for a fellow employee even though this may not be her first baby. I have recently been invited to a baby shower that the guest of honor already has one baby. There are circumstances where a baby shower for the second baby makes perfect sense. Since she lives in another state this is really her first baby shower to be thrown by her friends in her hometown. Because of this scenario, it seems fittingly to have a baby shower for her second baby.

As I went shopping for a gift, it occurred to me that this friend already has many baby items thus making it difficult to buy something she truly needs. As a new Mom, I have learned that there are some items that you can never have too much of. I relied on my personal experience to find the new baby a gift.

With my friend, I did have sort of an advantage. Her second baby is a boy while her firstborn is a girl. This opens a door for buying something to wear since probably most of the items she has are for a girl. I did wind up buying a couple of crawlers that are for a boy.

This is the best-case scenario when you are invited to a baby shower for a second baby.  If the baby is not the same sex as the firstborn, then buying a gift just became a lot easier. If the baby is the same sex, buying a gift takes a little more time and effort. If the second baby is close in age to the firstborn, then chances are good Mom has many items for a baby. There will be items that she will need for her newborn. She may need a new infant seat or a tandem stroller. Since these are big tickets items, you may want to go in with a few friends to purchase one. If all else fails, gift certificates are never a bad choice. This way Mom gets exactly what she needs.

If the second baby is a few years apart from the firstborn then chances are less likely Mom has a bunch of baby items. Depending on the age difference, buying for the second baby might be like buying for a first baby in that a lot more items will be needed. Ask Mom if she has registered for baby items she needs.

There are always the standard baby gifts that work well for a first or second baby. Diapers and baby wipes are always gifts that are needed as well as receiving blankets, bibs, and crawlers.
Bath
products such as hooded towels and disposable wash clothes are a big hit. A new diaper baby, a bouncer, or an exersaucer are also good choices for a second baby.

Buying a baby shower gift for the second baby does not have to be difficult but can be as much fun as buying a gift for the firstborn. It just takes a little planning and research. Whichever gift Mom receives will surely be put to good use.