Going for the abstract with Christmas Lights
Going and strolling around Christmas lights displays is not really fun or entertaining for me, unless I bring my camera and a large aperture lens, in this case my new Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master, the largest aperture lens I have ever owned. I personally think Christmas lights look better in photos out of focus, so that the frame is nearly entirely bokeh. I purposefully tried to make the photos out of focus to get the most bokeh in every shot and highlight the color and shape of the lights. Which one is your favorite?
Read MoreBringing the River of Lights into the City in ABQ 2020
One of the annual holiday traditions in Albuquerque is the River of Lights at the ABQ BioPark, which is a vast Christmas lights display. I went back in 2018 with a 50mm lens and photographed dinosaurs, a sleepy cowboy, and all sorts of flora and fauna. WIth Covid-19, the usual crowded light viewing experience is not possible, so the park shared some of its illuminated creations with store fronts in the Nob Hill area of Albuquerque. This is why the T-Rex now stalks freely in the city, horny toads eat plants in consignment shops, and a train crosses right over Central Ave.
Read MoreChristmas lights better off of focus
One of my own personal favorite photos of all time that I made involved Christmas lights. These shots are quite different from that one, but one thing remains, I like Christmas lights out of focus better than in focus! Strings of lights make are an excellent opportunity to test out the bokeh quality of a lens, and my new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens impressed me with roundness of the light circles due to its 9-blade design. I took the lens mounted on to my Sony a7R IV on a stroll around Old Town Albuquerque during the annual tree lighting event, but the tree itself was not interesting to me to photograph. Much more interesting were these hidden shots I found around small stores and down old alleyways. Scroll down for a top photo tip!
Read MoreRiver of Lights mostly on land!
I have been to a fair few holiday Christmas light displays, but never one quite like what the ABQ BIoPark puts on with its River of Lights. This is not just a bunch of lights strung up on trees. These are lights come to life in the form of dinosaurs, zebras, and much more!
Read MoreDarth Vader and Rudolph in the same parade!
My second time photographing the annual Twinkle Light Parade in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Various types of vehicles adorned in a variety of twinkling Christmas lights slowly drive down Route 66 (aka Central Ave) to the delight of thousands of on-lookers. The usual favorites like Rudolph and The Grinch are always present, along with some twists like Mr. Potato Head and Darth Vader!
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