Festive lights photos
 

In the run-up to xmas, we'll all see buildings decked out with amazing (tacky?) light displays, maybe your own house...though clearly WPF members will be tastefully illuminated ;)
If you see any, take a photo and show your photos on this thread.

cheers,
Andy

This is the first time I have attempted to photograph this kind of subect,but nothing ventured,nothing gained. This is the pub opposite our house taken through glass.

That's an impressive array of lighting, John. Pity the photo isn't a bit larger in size.
cheers,
Andy

The original photo is 1360x1020 pixels at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch,with a file size of 268kb, but I was not sure how to resize it for this forum Andy. Cheers John.

800px along the longest length is about ideal and we do have quite a generous maximum for the actual file size (300kb). There's a handy free programme here http://www.irfanview.com/ that will allow you to do all sorts to your image if you don't have the software already.

cheers,
Andy

Draining the National Grid
 

In the begining we had one poor demented local who felt the need to outdo everyone else: :rolleyes:

Attachment 34

but then about 18 months ago a new neighbour arrived opposite the afforsaid gentlemen and felt the need to compete. Last year on a fairly lowly level, but this year more effort has been expended. I am only sorry that my first attempts at this sort of scene cannot accurately portray the illuminated nodding Santas in the downstairs window! :cool:

Attachment 35

however since last year we have gained a dog. Whats this got to do with lights - well not much accept my nocturnal wanderings have to go slightly further afield - whereupon I discovered this skulking down a local side road.
On the left is the back, and on the right the side and front. :eek:

Attachment 36 Attachment 37

Haven't quite worked out the purpose of the twin rails over the roof - Santa's landing lights :confused:

Oh dear, xmas light war ... it can only escalate :( Those two strips up the roof look very odd? in fact it's all a bit messy imho, but I'm not a connoisseur and it may be the bee's knees ;)

View from the inside.Thanks to Stuarts advice on settings and using tripod,no flash,and a remote,not too bad an effort,'tho I could have removed the standard lamp!!!!

Looks very inviting, Christine - we'll all be around for drinks on Christmas morning!

That looks a very welcoming site on a dark cold evening. Nicely taken shot, Christine, very festive.

this is my neighbours offering... taken in the day, but at night he lights up!

Is that Santa Simpson or Homer Claus

Mick

Do they allow that sort of thing in Norfolk? I was hoping to retire to Norfolk one day, now I'm not so sure,

I know it's a bit scary isn't it - the worst thing is that normally during the day it is semi-deflated so looks like it's dead, so not very festive...

We are a lively bunch here.


Don

Guilty or tastefully done.
Gone a bit mad in the workshop lean too though. I dug out every lightset I could get to work, some over 20 years old, and put them in one area.

Could not do what some do though.

I remember a radio show last year on the subject, where someone in Scotland had so many, airline pilots where using it as a nav point.

Don

That looks gorgeous Christine. Very inviting indeed.

Just back from Thursford Christmas Spectacular and I don't want to put you off Norfolk Duncan so we will call him a visitor........

Did not have a camera as I only have an SLR so this image will have to be a mental one.

White transit van.
On the roof a double row of reindeer and sleigh - in white rope light.
Side windows - coloured lights.
Bonnet - coloured lights.
Inside back divide panel - coloured lights.

And he was a genuine punter and not from the Thursford Collection.

Don

Some from a few nights ago at a drive-thru light show. I'm not sure what the cowboy and blue ox have to do with a Christmas light show!

Canon 20D - ISO 1600 - Canon 28-135mm IS lens at f/5.6 - hand held
Attachment 84Attachment 85Attachment 87Attachment 86

When I first saw this house from a distance, I thougt it was just that the owner had got a bit enthusiastic. Having got closer to it to take a picture, I could see that it had been decorated to help raise funds for the local air ambulance.

Whether you regard it as tasteful or not, you have to appreciate the effort that's gone into it. He'd raised £600 by tonight. And yes, I donated.

Upper Canada Village - Magic in Winter
 

this is a few pics shot at Upper Canada Village in Ontario, Canada


You can see more here: http://www.pbase.com/rachelita/ucv

I remembered this thread from last year.

Here is my this evenings effort. The entrance to my workshop. :D :D

Don

This house usually puts on a bit of a show.

Don

I would love to see their electric meter whizzing around :D

I'm a bit late coming to this thread but have a few shots to post. We had Christmas dinner at the house of some friends and after dinner someone mentioned that the fishing village of North Rustico had an extrodinary display of lights so we piled into several vehicles and headed out for a look. The attached shots are only a sampling of the light displays. Some were being used to collect donations for the Children's Wish Foundation.

Pretty impressive display Dan.

We have not been qite so lucky here, Stevie and I went out last night to see if I could add to the festive lights pics.

Living out in the sticks there are not many opportunities and despite a 30 mile round trip no luck. Weather was a bit poor, mist and drizzle.

A bit downhearted I was playing with the camera and realised its amazing low light A/F capability given it does not have an A/F illuminator.

I managed this shot of a building on the way home and included the dashboard lights to jazz it up a bit.

D2X, 12-24 f4 lens, ISO400 1/6 sec at f4 hand held. A/F point of focus is just below BBC R2 on the radio. ( that channel proves we are TOGS :D )

Don

Rain here tonight so no chance of getting out although I was almost out when rain started.

I thought I was a fully fledged TOG until I found this quiz the other day. If you complete it then you are a TOG. Sadly I could not answer all questions (I must be too young) even though I am a Terry Wogan listener when in the car. Ah well, I have to be satisfied with being a TYG until I am accepted. :D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wo...ads/r2quiz.exe

There are a few nice ones in Shefford, im going to go out later and take some pictures. I will post some here. We never got round to putting any up on our house.

Don,
Im not normaly one for lots of lights but i actualy like your house.

Kirkland Close in Castle Donington has every year put on a great show. People are obliged to donate toward the local air ambulance and there are money bags in front of most houses. Below is a wide shot of the close and selected houses. There are around 30 houses all putting on a great show, some musical others animated - all very amusing :)

All taken at ISO800, D2Hs, 17-35 f2.8 at 1/20 - 1/30 f3.2 using monopod.

I know It's a bit late, Here is my effort
This house is about 2 miles away, And as you can see visitors stop and walk round the front garden to have a closer look.

Now thats what I call an impressive display. Well done Foxy Bob.

I am getting jealous, they must be a miserable lot around here, I haven't seen any kind of displays like you all have been photographing.:(