This shot has eluded me my entire photographic career. I have spent years trying to perfect this image, there are so many variables you don’t even think about. It’s a really touchy image, but when it all lines up, the result is out of this world… literally. I have drawer full of transparencies that I have shot over decades that just didn’t cut it. I tried all the variables; different lenses, exposures, compositions, times, then much to my frustration the results back from the lab were always disappointing.
The remoteness of a shelf in my living room was an obvious choice to finally nail this elusive image; no clutter on it, and positioned somewhat in front of the Christmas tree. I had been watching the two Playskool rescue personnel that my son received as a Christmas gift in one hand, and a large ball of lint in the other. I had a specific composition in my mind and I searched for days to line up these two dudes with the lights of the Christmas tree. An hour or so before the challenge deadline I lned it all up and hoped it all came together. It was a long night but I knew at some point my perseverance would be rewarded.
I was white-knuckled as I set up the 85mm lens, filling the viewfinder with this balanced scene, the two dudes framed amongst the tree lights, with the shelf serving as the dance floor, hitting home the boogie-down aspect that this had to have in order to work. The living room silence was stunning, my pulse raced, I could hear the blood running through my veins. Then, I saw the tree lights starting to glow. The multicolored spheres slowly appearing in front of me. I was totally stunned. I couldn’t believe it. So connected to this illuminated conifer and two dancing dudes that I was trembling. Such an impact on my life. I pressed the shutter, a feeling I’ll never forget. The dudes, the tree lights, the shelf.
I hope to share with you this amazing connection I had on this special evening, and that it affects your lives. It certainly affected mine.
True story, with inspiration from Peter Lik.
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Congrats on the blue! I enjoyed the read too. That was good use of the tree lights as well.
The Nikkor 85 1.8 is a fab lens. I have the manual version and love it for portraits.
Boogie Nights
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