When we take photos of lighted illumination, the results are often time not so excited or fascinated if we do not explore some shooting options.

This note covers some available options when you take photos of lighted illuminations such as Bellevue Botanical Garden, or Wildlights at Woodland Park Zoo. I went to Wildlights in the evening of 29th of December, 2013. I found several subjects are worthwhile exploring shooting options.

Zooming ring move example (stops 3 times): ISO100, 95mm, f/10, 6.0sec

Since it is under night sky condition, followings are common and essential:

• A tripod and remote release are necessary.
• Lights are usually LED lights and intensity and color per bulb are quite high.
• The more open aperture, the greater blurriness (Bokeh) you can attain.
• The smaller aperture, the longer shutter speed you can use.
• Sharply focused simple object tends to be boring.

Followings are suggested shooting options:

• Try to find the object with some foreground lights if available in juxtaposition.
• Use larger (open) aperture to maximize blurriness so that each light becomes colorful dot (circle).
• Move focus ring while shutter is open. (In focus to out focus)
• Move zoom ring while shutter is open. (Closer to further, or further to closer)
• Pan the camera while shutter is open. (Swivel camera head)

Depending on your setting of Aperture, Focal length, Shutter speed, Focus ring speed, Zoom speed, Panning speed, Timing of movement, number of stop motions, and so on will create variety of resulted images. It is challenging to predict exact result, therefore we will need try-and-error processes.

Focus ring quick move example: ISO100, 170mm, f/7.1, 3.0sec

ISO100 200mm, f/71. 3.0sec

Focus ring slow move example: ISO 100, 140mm, f/10, 2.0sec

ISO100 140mm, f/10, 2.0sec

Zoom ring move (stay start position for a half of exposure time, then move  and stop until shutter close) example: ISO100, 120mm, f/9.0, 1.3sec

Panning example: ISO 100, 80mm, f/14, 2.0sec

You can see more results under the following link:

http://www.seattledigitalphoto.com/p781997568

Also a slideshow can be found under the following link:

http://www.seattledigitalphoto.com/p299181713/h27e64a2f#h27e64a2f

As you can see, the results are somewhat fascinating and varies depending of tiny bit of adjustment when it was shot. This implies you can create your own unique results even you try to duplicate someone's image.

You can find the information for Wildlights and Garden d"Light with the following link:

http://www.zoo.org/wildlights#.UsIXK624uKk

http://www.gardendlights.org/