Are Christmas lights just for decorations, or a gift box just a container for a gift? This festive season, instead of photographing the ubiquitous Christmas trees and decorations, use festive objects such as acorns and artificial snow to create your own set of images that can even be made into Christmas cards for your loved ones.

 

Shred the Acorn

Instead of hanging acorns on your already teeming Christmas tree, use them to recreate a mini wooded landscape. Shred the leathery shells into pieces by using a pair of scissors or knife and then lay them flat on a surface. The shredded seed can also be used as a prop to give the visual a sense of scale and height.

EOS 6D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4.0, 50mm, 1/15sec, ISO320

 

Hang the Christmas Lights

Before you put up the Christmas lights (or after you take them down), string them on a piece of cardboard/wall as a background to create beautiful bokehs against your subject. Experiment with different colours for various effects, otherwise use a single colour for consistency. Make sure the subjects on the foreground are not overtly outstanding to maintain balance and proportion.

Learn how to create fun bokehs in How to Bokeh: A step-by-step guide.

EOS 6D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4.0, 70mm, 1/6sec, ISO320

 

Gather the Snow

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? If there is no snow where you are, create your own! Get Instant Christmas Snow from your local kikki.K Stationery & Gifts stores, which is easy to make and last for days, or use coarse/fine sugar as an economical alternative. Pile it up and make sure you have ample light shining (or turn up the camera exposure) on the ‘snow’ to make it realistic.

Get your exposure foundation right in How Exposure Works.

EOS 6D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4.0, 70mm, 1/40sec, ISO1250

 

Look Through the Gift Box

A gift box is just a box unless you try to use it creatively, such as puncturing a hole on one of its sides, and use it to create a frame on your subject. Use a pointed object to puncture the hole to your preferred size (we recommend about 2cm in diameter), place your subject in the box, and shoot through the hole. Ensure your subject is well lit by shining light from above.

EOS 6D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4.0, 105mm, 1/50sec, ISO800

 

Use the Christmas Tree

Create a different perspective on your Christmas tree by zooming in and tightening your shot. Use the pine needles as background and foreground (as a frame) to turn these into a landscape of its own. Pine needles or tall bushes? Leave it to the imagination of your viewers.

EOS 6D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4.0, 105mm, 1/15sec, ISO1600

 

 

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