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Taking Great Halloween Pictures
Halloween is spooky and fun and capturing the mood in pictures is
not as difficult as one may think. From the scary glow of the
jack-o-lantern to the pretty princess or scary skeleton, this
holiday can present some very unique picture-taking opportunities.
To rise to the challenge of taking great Halloween pictures, follow
the simple tips below.
Tell a Story
Take pictures designed to tell the whole scary story, from sweet
preschooler to devilish trick-or-treater. If you keep the camera
handy, the entire process can be captured on film and the results
will be a wonderful catalog of most kids’ favorite night of the
year. Remember to take the camera with you when you are out in the
neighborhood. If you can get the kids to hold still long enough,
their delighted faces will show the excitement of the night and the
prints will be a wonderful keepsake of the holiday.
Keep the Glow in the Jack-o-Lanterns
To turn up the glow of the jack-o-lantern, turn off the flash on
your camera. The camera user guide will have instructions if you are
unsure of how to do it. Pay no attention to the warning lights or
beeps designed to alert you to insufficient light and hold your
camera very steady or use a tripod as you focus on the face of your
pumpkin masterpiece. Use a very slow or manual shutter speed. Try
taking the picture outside around dusk to take full advantage of the
natural and artificial light. Or take the picture in total darkness
to create a ghoulish silhouette.
Add Light to your Subject
Use a flashlight or two to safely brighten the light in your
pumpkin. Remember that candles can be very dangerous, especially
when taking pictures of young trick-or-treaters next to jack. Make
sure to adjust the angle of the flashlights and camera so no direct
light will hit the lens. The glow of the flashlights has its limits,
though, so play around with room or porch lights to illuminate the
background the way you want it. Try dimming overhead lights or
turning on lights in adjacent rooms. Kids can also shine a
flashlight on the pumpkin to cast interesting shadows or give it
highlights or reflections.
Bigger is Better
If you are pretty sure you will be taking pictures of your finished
jack-o-lantern, carve it with the camera in mind. Bigger openings
for eyes or mouth will cast more light and give a better finished
product. Larger openings will also cast an impressive glow on
bystanders and small trick-or-treaters. So remember: bigger is
better, and the bigger the pumpkin, the better the holes!
Getting in the habit of taking pictures of family on the major
holidays will give a wonderful history of your family during the
fleeting growing-up years. No family can have too many pictures, and
comparing kids’ growth from one year to the next in print is a great
way to rekindle fond family memories.
Source information adapted from
www.kodak.com , “Taking Great Pictures.”
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