Likley my last picture post of 2007. We had heard about this house in the northeast part of Edmonton and tonight we decided to check it out. It was amazing. Every outside window had something christmas related displayed. You have to see it in person. I took about 30 shots and that was not enough to show it all. When I came back to look at my 20 strands of lights, and various reefs and solar snowmen - well I felt let's say somewhat inadequate

Here are a few samples

The side of the house


Even the roof had a dozen displays


Front of the house (yes a lot of people stopped to see - they had a donation set up for diabetes so that was good)


A few yard displays cause the house did not have enough






Well I hope that gives you an idea (there was soo much to see) wow what a display and power bill !

Happy New Year !

[Heinrich Lohmann]

Hi Dave, that is very good photography of what I think is a little over the top display. Just glad it's not my power bill.

Take care, Heinrich

[roentarre]

They are in deed beautiful. These lightings are just amazing

[Pentaxtic]

Ha ha ha!

I finally remembered who the Griswalls are!

Chevy Chase and his family in the National Lampoon movies!

[SCGushue]

Dave,

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year.

Wonderfully captured series of images. Felt like I was there.

Stephen

[m8o]

What an execution of house christmas light photography. Were these handheld or tripod? I love how sharp each little light is, without smear or blur. Really great and quite the lesson in how to do it.

Regarding the subject, I like the side of the house a lot more then the front. That house was very well done inn all; somewhat over the top, but not hideously so like some of the houses around here. I'll have to go out and shoot them next year.

Merry New Year to all.

[Mechan1k]

Now this is how you capture Christmas lighting ... and just prior to the sky turning to black from dark blue/purple .... well done.

Indeed a phenomenal display ... and power bill to boot.

Thanks for sharing though ... I ahve enjoyed looking at these ... Christmas lights during winter work more effectively than our setups during Summer in Australia.

[spyglass]

I was just waiting for a picture of a red glare as the hydro cutouts let loose, or the hydro meter blew off the side of the house. I bet the neighbors just love the vehicles and crowds that this display pulls in. You just have to love the bigger is better approach.

Nice photographs (it looks like it was almost as bright as daylight - ha ha)

[JCSullivan]

Gaudy? Maybe, but not as much as some others I've seen. It must be a corner lot and what looks like a major intersection so I don't think the neighbours would really mind. Although most probably they would get involved.

Photography is great Dave - seems you hit the exposure RIGHT-ON. Many recommend that these type of shots are taken BEFORE it gets fully dark and I think this is how you did it.

[axl]

Beautifull shots Dave. I just think that the decoration is... how to put it... slightly excesive
But the shots are really nice, and well executed...

[Eastern Shore Charlie]

Nice Christmas light Shots...beautiful colors....

[daacon]

Hi Dave, that is very good photography of what I think is a little over the top display. Just glad it's not my power bill.

Take care, Heinrich

Thanks Heinrich - while for me it was over the top as well, I will have to admint it did not look guady , it was well thought out. And no kidding although they had flyer hand outs about the house with some corporate logos' (Home Hardware) and for the diabetes donations so maybe some of it was subsidized otherwise yeah I could see a $1k bill for electricity alone !

They are in deed beautiful. These lightings are just amazing

Thanks James my thought exactly.

Ha ha ha!

I finally remembered who the Griswalls are!

Chevy Chase and his family in the National Lampoon movies!

Bingo! Clarke Griswall in National Lampoon's Chirstmas Vacation - a classic I was hoping most have seen that movie.

Dave,

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year.

Wonderfully captured series of images. Felt like I was there.

Stephen

Thansk Stephen - I will post a few more in the next reply.

What an execution of house christmas light photography. Were these handheld or tripod? I love how sharp each little light is, without smear or blur. Really great and quite the lesson in how to do it. The

Regarding the subject, I like the side of the house a lot more then the front. That house was very well done inn all; somewhat over the top, but not hideously so like some of the houses around here. I'll have to go out and shoot them next year.

Merry New Year to all.

Thanks m80 - These were hand held while bouncing on a pogo stick with one leg - Ok I will admit I have taken a few shots of my lights at night so I knew to bring the tripod. Becuase of all the lights most shutter speeds were between 0.3 - 1 sec so someone with a steadier hand than me may have been able to pull off hand held.

The Exif data is intact. There were all taken with what has become my favorite lens lately the DA 12-14 most wide open at f4 and at 12mm - I did wish I had the DA 10-17.

Now this is how you capture Christmas lighting ... and just prior to the sky turning to black from dark blue/purple .... well done.

Indeed a phenomenal display ... and power bill to boot.

Thanks for sharing though ... I ahve enjoyed looking at these ... Christmas lights during winter work more effectively than our setups during Summer in Australia.

Thanks Simon - we have been meaning to get there for a few days and yesterday we had to drive my son into the city around 04:00 pm. The sun set yesterday around 04:23. The first picture was taken about 05:11 so almost an hour after sundown. It was by chance and not design but I agree the lighting is much better than let's say a couple of hours later.

[daacon]

I was just waiting for a picture of a red glare as the hydro cutouts let loose, or the hydro meter blew off the side of the house. I bet the neighbors just love the vehicles and crowds that this display pulls in. You just have to love the bigger is better approach.

Nice photographs (it looks like it was almost as bright as daylight - ha ha)

Thanks spyglass - I should have looked at the power meter side of the house and watched how fast it was spiining ! Chewing up killowatts big time.

Gaudy? Maybe, but not as much as some others I've seen. It must be a corner lot and what looks like a major intersection so I don't think the neighbours would really mind. Although most probably they would get involved.

Photography is great Dave - seems you hit the exposure RIGHT-ON. Many recommend that these type of shots are taken BEFORE it gets fully dark and I think this is how you did it.

Thanks JC it was a corner lot and yes it was on the corner of one of the main north south arteries in the city 97street which is 3 lanes in each direction and 144 ave which is another north end east west main drive (two lanes each way ). I mentioned it was by chance my timing on getting there to Simon but I agree for next year I will do this about the same time an hour after sundown and make it my plan.

Beautifull shots Dave. I just think that the decoration is... how to put it... slightly excesive
But the shots are really nice, and well executed...

Thanks axl not something I would do either - but as I mentioned it looked good.

Nice Christmas light Shots...beautiful colors....

Thanks Charlie - it was indeed a sight and could be seen from quite a ways away (although I don't think from space like the Great Wall )

[Sailor]

I'm jealous too, Dave . . . of your terrific night time exposures. I've never been able to pull shots like these off the way you have.

Happy New Year.

Jer

[channeler]

Excellent exposures Dave. You've really done justice to the displays. They look like a lot of work to put up and NOW a lot of work to take down. I think we can all live with our inadequate displays.

Paul