8 Christmas photography tips from Nige Levanterman

Monday 24 December 2018, 15:51 by Michelle Peeters | 6,676 views | 3 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

In this article, Canon photographer and social influencer Nige Levanterman shares eight photography tips. They focus mainly on photographing in difficult lighting conditions, which is useful during the dark festive season.

They also cover finding the best locations and choosing the right settings to capture different Christmas scenes as well and as uniquely as possible.

Nige Levanterman / Instagram: @Levanterman
Christmas lights and markets can be challenging to photograph, especially when locations are full of people, the lights are flashing and you have to work in difficult lighting conditions.

Nige Levanterman uses a range of Canon cameras for his photos, which are often taken in low light and with long exposures. Nige explains that cameras such as the Canon EOS 2000D or Canon EOS M50 are an excellent choice for taking quality photos at Christmas.

Nige Levanterman / Instagram: @Levanterman

1. Favourite Christmas markets

I like photographing in places with lots of charm, character and energy. Christmas markets are ideal for this. I particularly like the way Christmas markets in Europe are laid out.

The cosy wooden cabin stalls, sparkling lights, colourful fairground rides and obligatory Ferris wheel, along with plenty of freedom of movement and space, make it possible for me to take my distinctive long-exposure photos.

Nige Levanterman / Instagram: @Levanterman

2. Long-exposure photography

Contrary to popular belief, long-exposure photos do not always require a very long exposure time. There are actually no rules.

You can expose your photos for just one second or for longer periods, depending on the result you want. It depends on how quickly your subject is moving.

That is why I recommend experimenting by taking as many photos as possible of the same subject with different exposure lengths. You can then compare the results and keep adjusting them.

Patience is essential when taking a long-exposure photo. Play with the exposure settings and leave room for trial and error. The most common advice I give is: try to be unique and try something new, even if the subject is a popular urban landmark.

Nige Levanterman / Instagram: @Levanterman

3. Find a viewpoint

In busy city locations, it can be difficult to take the perfect photo because people often walk in front of the camera or get in your way as they pass.

If possible, look for a slightly elevated viewpoint to get the camera above the crowd. Stairs or a stable wall could sometimes already provide the solution.

Consider switching off continuous autofocus and changing to one-shot AF mode, rather than servo AF mode. This allows you to set your focus precisely and keep it in the right place.

4. Avoid the flash

When photographing at Christmas markets, I choose not to use a flash. This may surprise you because a flash can sometimes be important in low light. However, a flash can overpower the atmosphere and unintentionally highlight subjects in the foreground.

5. Use the right settings

There are lots of sparkling lights at Christmas, so to get a starburst effect, I can use both a small and a large aperture opening to shoot Bokeh sparkles. If you use a tripod, of course, choose a low ISO, such as ISO100.

A low ISO value gives your photo vivid colour depth and minimal noise. When I hold my camera, I like to use shutter priority mode and select Auto ISO. This keeps the exposure time exactly where I want it and automatically provides the ideal exposure.
 

6. Avoid motion blur

A tripod prevents camera shake and can save a photo, but if you are walking around busy Christmas markets, you are better off leaving it at home. Set your camera to M(anual) to prevent motion blur.

For example, when I use a 50 mm lens, I find that I can keep my hands still for just long enough for a shutter speed of 1/50 second. However, not everyone has a steady hand, so you need to practise and see how long you can keep your camera still. This can be a challenge!

To prevent blur caused by pressing the shutter button and moving the camera, you can set the camera to drive mode, use a two-second self-timer and keep the camera as still as possible while it takes the photos automatically.

Nige Levanterman / Instagram: @Levanterman

7. Use the Viewfinder

Finally, I also recommend using the Viewfinder rather than the Live View LCD screen. You can hold the camera much more steadily when you press it against your face, with your elbows tucked against your sides.

8. Shoot Bokeh

Beautiful bokeh adds a touch of magic to your photos, especially at Christmas, and there are several ways to achieve it.

On the Canon EOS 2000D or Canon EOS M50, for example, I suggest using the widest aperture your lens supports and photographing your subject from close up. A long focal length on a close subject compresses the subject against the background.

Nige Levanterman

For more information about Nige Levanterman: https://www.levanterman.photography/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/levanterman/?hl=en

Nige Levanterman's photos were taken with Canon cameras, including the Canon EOS 5DS and Canon 5D Mark IV.

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