love lights

I set up my tripod on the loose gravel at the base of the trail. I take a few shots to start with, I'm just so curious these days about experimenting with photography that I almost can't wait to get started. {counting breaths counting seconds counting minutes... through this new obsession, I learn the zen of long exposure photography} It's cold but not too cold, so I take my time and think about the view from the top of the trail. It's pitch black when I make that steep rocky climb with my tripod and my gear.

I feel giddy, like a kid again.
Photography, I love you.

This is the part of city life I am often drawn to: the edge of it, the cliffs, the overlook. Being above and removed from it gives me permission to view it's wonderment with space and silence. It's just what I needed. I hiked slowly back down, sure of my footing, bringing home with me exactly what I had come looking for.

Light.

'Tis the season, right? I seek it in many forms. Fairy lights, city lights, holiday and festive lights, reflections, or firelight. They are all equally beautiful and warming. Today, please share with us your favorites, and enlighten us all.

Comments

[Marcie]

Oh..this is such a wonderful image Meredith. Everything about it - the colors..the motion..the light.
Here's one of mine. More words than image...but about the 'festival of lights'..and what's passed from one generation to another:
http://visionandverb.com/2010/12/things-they-carried/

[Jennifée]

Such a wonderful sense of movement and life in that image! I'm all about light these days myself - it's so important to chase away the dark of the season! From a spectacular lamp-lit tree rendered in bokeh
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5231867190/,
to the morning light shining through my dirty windows.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5226049702/

[Jill F]

http://fingerontheshutter.com/2010/12/06/decorating-2/

I, too, love the lights this time of year (as long as they're not blinking)

[Rebecca]

Awesome pic!

I definitely need to work on low-light situations, and NEED a tripod.

Here are just a few that were taken in the last few days.

I love this first picture for the story: baby Lucas born with only half a heart (HLHS), and he is getting ready to celebrate his first Christmas with mom and Dad. It was just a really cold, cloudy, dreary, Sunday morning, fire lit, tree lights in the back-- and he was snuggled next to his mum--just watching her every move.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5240526823/in/photostream/

The next two I love because it's my two miracles--29 weekers, who spent their first Christmas in the NICU weighing less than 3 pounds and now we are celebrating turning 7!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5240526289/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5240526545/in/photostream/

[Beth]

Gorgeous city light and movement!

It's amazing how my way of seeing has changed - now every time I look at my tree, all I see is bokeh!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14632491@N07/5239546672/

[Jess]

This long exposure of the moon is one I took last March, but it still gives me chills. (Second photo on the post)

http://the-old-nichols-farm.blogspot.com/2010/03/hopeful.html

[Dorean Beattie]

When I was little my dad would always stretch the strings of Christmas lights out across the floor and plug them in to make sure they were all working before putting them on the tree. I would flop on the floor, getting as low as possible, studying their beauty and the way they reflected on the hardwood floor. It made my heart sing! It never felt like Christmas until this magical moment!

Three years ago we moved into an old house, and the floor of the room that was to become my studio had floors identical to the floors of my childhood. As Christmas approached I remembered those early years of being awestruck by the beauty of the lights on the floor, so made a series of shots of Christmas lights on the floor. Here's the first one I published on my blog: http://capturedbylight.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/christmas-lights/

[kristin]

you inspire me. next time we get to be together a night hike and long exposure lesson please. :) xo

[DY]

I love this shot (and the others). I used to work out off of 2222 and still remember that drive as being the most pleasurable commutes to work ever.

[claudia]

My camera is awesome for hand holding low light, but I really want to work on long exposures when it warms up! Your shots are fabulous!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/5229328031/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/5239883351/

[Bettina]

I need to grab my tripod and head over to Treasure Island and try some long exposure shots of the bridge and city scape!!! You are inspiring! For now, here is a shot of some twinkly lights and twinkle toes!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/5237390704/

[Brooke]

Sunlight. When it's a certain way it can be absolutely perfect.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterboo502/5095341952/in/set-72157625256675202/

[Stephanie]

I'm loving the lights on my christmas tree so much right now I decided to make a little heart bokeh filter to show it! http://bigmariolife.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-tree-love.html

[Denise]

I have WAY too much fun with long exposures and lights.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/4451848186/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/5126298348/

[Corinna]

I love this photo and all the different ways that light plays in it. Well done!

This time of year there's so much fun light to play with! Just last night I was experimenting with the holiday candles, their reflections in the window and the beautiful glow it casts on everything. Yum.
http://www.birdwannawhistle.com/blog/2010/12/7/religious-education.html

[Angela]

Last summer I went out after dark hunting Aurora Borealis, but it ended up being too cloudy. I started playing with my camera: zooming in or out while the shutter was open. Here's what happened:

http://angela-hemming.blogspot.com/2010/08/in-search-of-night-lights-above.html

[Lennie]

I have a wee set of holiday photographs on Flickr and I think my favourites within this small set are the ones of lights!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alphabetsoupstudio/sets/72157625425216095/
Holiday lights are, to me, the most comforting lights of all :-)

[WorthIt!]

I'm hoping for a tripod under the tree this year :)

In the meantime, I love the way light comes in through old stained glass windows - here's one I took at the cathedral in York a few summers back.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5241396159/

[Mary Vican]

So magical....thanks for the feature! I can't wait to string up the rest of my holiday lights, of course, they're cool to photograph alone, but I love the soft colorful glow they give to my white walls and other things in the house too. I'm loving celebrating the holidays with everyone's photos! ~ Mary

[bekkah]

Gorgeous shot!!! I've only recently started to play around with longer exposures...I've got a long way to go...

Thank you very much for including links to my images :)

[Angela]

Beautiful! I want to get out and do this soon, especially since it's so dark here at this time of year. ;)

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[Jessica]

Beautiful photo!

We haven't gotten many ornaments up on the tree, but we do have lights:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goaliej54/5242827239/

[Aia]

with daylight so scarce this time of year i have been forcing myself outdoors at night.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclamp/5243262806/

[shirley]

This is the best time of year for those night shots. Extra special with snow!

http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2010/12/flocked-with-real-snow.html

[Edith]

Great shot.

At the moment I am fascinated by candles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/5244335017/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/5244335017/

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[packshot 360 photography]

Some part of the photo was taken with a very slow shutter speed...i wonder how it was done...

[Rachel Elizabeth]

Love it. I've been doing some similar experimentation myself.

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