P3D Holiday Lights

[markaren@xxxxxxxxx (Karen Obusek)]

The X4 should be great for holiday lights this year. I plan to try
oriented star filters and " live" dodging and burning using black
cardboard etc.
I like F8 or F11 from 4 sec to 20 seconds. Since my old Sekonic is
worthless in low light I shoot by instinct most of the time. I like the
Kodak T160 slide film for a cooler, natural look. I plan to compare
Velvia ( using 80A filters) vs the T160. I don't like the warmer look
using daylight films without correction. It's damn cold out there when
I'm taking these shots and T160 puts the "chill in the bones" when I
look at these images.:-) Last year I placed those novelty cardboard
glasses over my Realist lenses. ( the glasses that produce stars and
snowflakes while looking at a light source) and created some interesting
effects. I'll probably take shots of the neighbor's houses again this
year ( last year I placed viewers in my neighbor's
mailboxes.......holiday light photos) and this year I'll use the SV1
viewer and a larger image.......should be a real crowd pleaser.:-)
Oh yeah........tripod, cable release, and of course a manual camera to
brave the elements.
This ain't S1 country!!               Mark Dottle