1
SET-UPUnlessyouwantyoursubjectto
holdthelights,whichisn’tidealwithslow
shutterspeedsin lowlightasit increasesthe
riskof recordingsubjectmovement,you’ll
needtofinda waytosecurethemaround
yoursubject,anda clearumbrellais the
perfectsolution.It won’tblockanyambient
lightorcreatecolourcasts.Drapethelights
aroundtheumbrellaandwraptheoneendof
the lights around your lens or hold close by.4
POSITIONYOURSUBJECTBybacklighting
yoursubject,you’reeithergoingto
renderthemin silhouetteasyourcamera
compensatesforthebrightbackground,
oroverexposethebackgroundtocorrectly
exposethesubject,in turnlosingtheimpact
of thefairylights.Positionthesubjecttoface
thelightsinsteadsotheambientlighthelps
toexposethefaceandthebackground is
naturally underexposed.2
EXPOSURESetaperture-prioritymode,
yourlens’swidestapertureandcentre-
weightedmeteringsoyoucanexposefor
thesubject’sskin.IncreaseyourISOuntil
youreacha shutterspeedthatallowsyouto
shoothandheldsteadily.Exposeyourscene
basedonyoursubject’sskintonetoavoid
overexposingareasnearthelights.Doingso
shouldunderexposetheambientlight more
and enhance the look of the lights.5
FOCUSINGToincludetheforeground
lightsasbokehyouneedtofocusbeyond
themandontoyoursubject’seyestoensure
they’resharp.Beverypreciseasyou’re
workingwitha verythinplaneof focus.In
low-light,autofocuscanstrugglesoyou
mayfindswitchingtomanualfocuseasier.
However,thiscanbetrickywhenalsoholding
thelightssotryrockingyourbodyback and
forth until you find focus instead.3
LIGHTINGTimingis everythingforthis
technique:toomuchambientlightand
thefairylightswilloverexposeandblendwith
theenvironment,lesseningtheirimpact;
toolittleambientlightandyouwon’thave
enoughlighttoilluminateyoursubject.If
you’vemagicallightlikea sunsetorstreet
lightsaroundit’stemptingtousethemas
a backgroundandbacklight,butthis can
confuse the camera’s metering.6
COMPOSITIONYou’llwanttoplaywiththe
positionof thelightstoseewhatangle
createsthemostflatteringforeground
interest.If yourlightsarecopperwired,try
wrappingthemaroundthebarrelof yourlens
togetbigforegroundbokeh.Sometimesthe
lightscanhelpilluminate,leadtowardsand
framethesubject’sfacebutothertimesit can
obscureanddistract.There’snorightway,just
try to find what works best for your set-up.Beautiful bokeh
36 DigitalSLR PhotographyJanuar y 2020
I
T’STHATTIME ofyearagainwhenwefind
ourselvesembroiledin a tangleoffairy
lights.Theselittletwinklinglinesofmagic
areamazingforcreatingbokeh,atmosphere,
interestandfortryinganyone’spatience.No
matterhowcarefullyyouputthemaway,
they’realwaysa messwhenyouneedthem.
Consequently,makesureyouprepareyour
lightsbeforeyouleaveforthisnight-time
shoot,soyou’renotuntanglingin thedark
or when you’re losing precious light.It’sbesttousebattery-operatedclearor
copper-wiredfairylightstotrytominimise
thedistractionofthecable– green-cabled
lightsyouputonyourChristmastreewillnot
beasaestheticallypleasing.Toshowthe
beautyoftheselights,you’rebestshootingin
lowlightforcontrast.An urbansceneor
sunsetcanprovidenecessaryambientlight,
oryoumaywanttogoheavywiththefairy
lightsandusea fewstrandstohelpcastlight
on the subject. You’ll also need a ‘fast’ lens tomaximiseonthebokeh;a 50mmlensona
full-framecamera(35mmonAPS-C)can
workwellandis usedhere.Thelongerthe
lens,thebetterthebokeheffectwillbebut
thelongerthelightswillneedtobetooas
youincreaseyoursubject-to-camera
distance,whichisn’talwayspractical.A wider
lens,suchasa 35mmona full-framesensor,
willgiveyoutoomuchdepth-of-fieldat
wideaperturestorender the bokeh from the
lights big and bold.