A Glimmering Glow

A Glimmering Glow: Tips for photographing holiday lights

During the holiday season, the nights are illuminated by strings of lights. White and multi-colored bulbs sparkle in the darkness, adding a feeling of magic to the air.

Explore creative ways to capture these lustrous decorations.

— Play with Blur —

Create a dreamy bokeh effect by using a Blur tool to make holiday lights glow. Select the Blur tool while editing and use the circular option to isolate what part of the image you want to be out of focus. Make the circle smaller for an all encompassing blur.

— Illuminate falling snow —

For those near snow, use holiday lights to illuminate falling snowflakes by shooting directly into the source of light.

— Play with motion —

As you press the capture button, move your phone at the same time to create a blurred effect. Use slow movements for a more subtle result and faster motions to capture longer streaks of light.

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