Here I am, just sliding into view on your computer screen. I’m playing with my favorite camera settings for the holidays. I love to mess around with lights in rooms and ISO settings on my camera to see what I get!
The tried and true bokeh effect comes from turning on all the lights in the room while it’s dark outside. Set the camera to manual mode. Set ISO to 200. Focus on an object that is closest to you and then hold your camera really steady and click. Look at what (I) you capture.
I love the blurry effect of the lights in the background and the yellow glow from the surrounding lights in the room itself. The yellow effect is not for everyone, maybe I should adjust the light in the room setting too?
Anyhoo…
Then the real fun comes in when I realize how hard it is to hold the camera steady, especially with a moving target like a cat.
So next, I go for the lights on the tree.
Or move in different directions as you click and release.
Then try different ISO settings to focus on the ornaments and move fast again.
Ornaments are trickier to get clear photos of. But I try nonetheless.
Until you change the ISO to 1600 and focus on just one ornament. Then you can do it. It isn’t quite as abstract.
Switch locations up and do a different kind of multi-selfie photo of yourself. Yikes…abstract overload! 😉
Post Inspiration – Lens-Artists #74 where Patti invites us to share our version of Abstract photos.
PS – Do you prefer perfect photos of the objects or do you get a kick outta the blurry and crazy and abstract stuff? What is your favorite trick for catching bokeh photos? Did you learn something new with your camera this week? Do tell…!
Your experiment with lights and bokeh is great, Shelley. I love the patterns you’ve created with the Christmas lights. Your selfie is fun, too! I’m glad you took a break from your reno work to join us!
Thank you, Patti! It’s a special time of year to focus on play instead of stress, that’s our hope anyhow. And your prompt triggered fun! Thank you for the opportunity to play along.
I’m glad you had a chance to play!
Me too!!!
Shelley…love this abstract Xmas photoart!
Now that I know you a little…I really think you’ll enjoy my wonderful and talented friend Fraggle’s blog. She is amazing, you won’t be disappointed
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Aw, thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Yes…Fraggle’s blog is delightful, thank you for the referral!!!
What fun ideas! I will try them – it is frustrating to shoot in low light and get a focused photo (without hauling out the tripod, which I am not inclined to do). Your photos are so festive. I am still learning the settings on my camera, so my results vary. Thanks for the lesson 🙂
Yay – glad you like the ideas/lessons. Manual setting can be very fun. I rarely use auto anything on my photo. And, I get a LOT of blurry shots too. The delete button is a lovely feature. Your angel and bride tree photos turned out lovely!
Thank you – and yes, the delete button is quite handy. 🙂
I tend to find many of the ‘blurry for abstract effect’ and maybe I could use it someday kind of photos in the bunches I take. I need to be ruthless and delete more often.
All these are really cool looking. Glad you’re having fun making them. 🙂
Thank you, Barbara! I’m glad you liked them. Your flower of the day today photo brightened my day!!!
These are wonderful photos Shelley! Nice abstracts and bokeh too. I love the kitty photo with her four eyes. 🤙🏻🥰😎
Thank you, John. I had a hunch you’d get a kick outta Dessy’s photo! 😉
Very cool. I love the blurry ones. I’ll have to give that a try!
Yay – glad you liked it. Yes, have fun and play with your camera!
Wow! As someone who is totally inept at taking photographs, I find this amazing!
Aww, shucks thanks Rebecca! If I can do it so can you!!!
These are all pretty cool effects.
Thanks, Dan. Lights are fun to play with.
I did that last year with the selfies in the Christmas bulb – one of the memorial trees at the Park is always decorated with glass bulbs, so that was fun. The color lights that were blurry looked like beads in some photos – reminded me of the when we went to a New Orleans-type restaurant and their decor had a lot of the beads like are thrown at Mardi Gras.
Yes – I remember that post of yours. I loved it! I’ve never been to New Orleans, but I can see beads too when I look at the photos.
I noticed it when walking, so had to stand there on a sunny day to take “bulb selfies” which was fun. I have never been to New Orleans either, however, we had a restaurant called Fishbone’s that used to specialize in Cajun food and atmosphere. When I worked on site, if someone was leaving or some other reason, it was our go-to place to eat. Great food and atmosphere and they always draped a few strands of beads around your neck when you got there – apparently they throw beads at the Mardi Gras parades – I asked the significance.
Oooh. Nice. Love the lights in particular, but where did you ever get a four-eyed cat?! 🙂
Thank you, John! She’s evil…or at least she comes out during this time of the year when she’s fueled by tinsel! 😉
Shelley – enjoyed playing along with you (via post) and your camera with holiday shots – and two favs were going up and going down.
This was colorful and fun
Thank you, Yvette – I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them.
😊