Photographing Yard Decorations a Bit of Advice

 I have found that taking photos of holiday decorations can be tricky. Some elements are visible during the day, but the lights look best in dark. So, to take a good photo of my decorations I need a time when it is both day and night. (Spoiler Alert, if you have never seen the movie Ladyhawk skip to the next paragraph.) If you're a Ladyhawk fan you know that there is a time when it is both day and night; during an eclipse. Unfortunately, I am not willing to track the timing of eclipses, and doubt one would happen while I'm standing in my yard with a camera.

Fortunately there is another time when the light is right for taking photos of yard decorations. It is the hour after the golden hour. The golden hour is highly prized in photography and movie making. It is the hour just before sundown or if you're an early bird just after sunrise. There is a golden hour calculator on line, but during the golden hour is too bright to effectively see or photo graph exterior illumination.  So, I wait.

I discovered there is also a medical golden hour: when someone has a traumatic injury the hour immediately following the injury is the best time to get life saving treatment, so do not hesitate to call 911.

Video Warning: here's an interesting note, video needs more light than photographs. If you want to video your decorations, you'll need to start your production twenty to fifteen minutes earlier than if you are taking photos.  

You can use this progression of photos of this year's Independence Day decorations taken with an Iphone 4s, no flash. You can use them as a guide for the best time to take your photos.

Taken during the afternoon, home faces west.

...during the golden hour; trees cast shadows,

at dusk,

about 30 to 40 minutes after dusk,

more than 50 minutes after sunset there are a few stars in the sky,

 it's dark.

The lights were purchased at Christmas time and zip-tied together to imitate bunting.  

Yes, I realize that cameras have exposure settings that can be adjusted and photo editing can help brighten photos, but I like to keep things speedy. 

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