PopUp Times

Do you have any pictures of unusual Christmas light displays to share? To get things started, here is a picture of how Santa arrives out here in farm country. His sleigh is a little different than you might be used to:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2121924882_4133f89f04_o.jpg)

K
and_I

That is so wrong. Santa Clause would NEVER be seen on a green tractor. It would have to be a red one.

Why are John Deere's green?

So they can hide in the cornfield when the Farmall's go by.

Sorry, it really was green. I have the proof. But, on a non-partisan note, here is another photo of a Christmas light display. These folks run a Christmas tree farm, and each year they decorate up their little corner of the world. You can drive through the barnyard to get up close and personal. (I don't know what color of tractors they use)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2126294070_e674f63748_o.jpg)

K
and_I

No other posters? Maybe everyone's out camping. Well, here's another I took last year. These folks decorate up their home very beautifully every year. They have a 3 story turrent on the front corner of their home, and put a Christmas tree in each floor. I've always admired the house.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2128997928_08afc4e370_o.jpg)

K
and_I

Does anyone mind if we ressurect this thread? Hopefully there will be more contributors to it this year. I *KNOW* there are excellent photogs on this site.
To start out with, my camping buddies (granddaughters) would like to welcome you all to this "brought back to life for another year" thread.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/3076392400_a3a39f4799_b.jpg)

Still no other posters? I know you can't all be camping this time of year. I'll prime the pump again. This is the covered bridge in downtown Frankenmuth, MI.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/3094575310_202a64346a_o.jpg)

I'll post a picture.
 
 
 
(http://pics.uglychristmaslights.com/2002/bright.jpg)

Thanks for participating, Bonnie. That's a lot of lights. Any details on the picture?

Here's a link to one with 176 control channels and 45,000 lights. Turn up the sound on your PC and enjoy the show.

http://www.flixxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display.htm

That qualifies as unusual. Thanks for sharing.

These pics (or videos) are so much fun - keep them coming!

A neighbor's house. This is a log style home that they decorate up so nice each year.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3103116681_ffb0fc2051_o.jpg)
It was snowing when I took the picture- I hope that shows up OK here.

Quote from: K_and_IStill no other posters? I know you can't all be camping this time of year. I'll prime the pump again. This is the covered bridge in downtown Frankenmuth, MI.

Hi K_and_I,
Great photos! Keep em coming. I don't have anything to contribute right now but you've got me in the mood. I'll try to catch some christmas lights around town and see what I can come up with. It's snowing in the NW today. Maybe a chance for some real Christmas type shots.

Until then, I'll keep enjoying your photos.

Wayne G

Thanks for posting, Wayne. I hope you will post some photos. I have always enjoyed photography, but especially at Christmastime.
Here is another view from Frankenmuth, from the bridge on main street, looking down the river:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/3092738041_bfc23ef180_o.jpg)

BTW, I'm the "and_I" in my signature. :D

Still no new posters. Tell you what I'll do- I'll have my camping buddies (granddaughters) bake some Christmas cookies for you if you'll post some pictures. Of course, you'll have to find a way to get them :D

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/3093578256_75e221e9a1_o.jpg)

Quote from: K_and_IBTW, I'm the "and_I" in my signature. :D

Sorry, I should have noticed.

Great photo of those camping buddies of yours. Looks like you have a little home studio. Great pic!

I never made it outside to photograph the lights, but instead, I set up my camera and took a bunch of closeups of DW's Christmas town she sets up every year. I'll follow up soon with a pic from those.

BTW, does 'I' stand for anything other than 'I'?...like 'Iggy'?

Here's one of several pics I took of DW's Christmas town display.

(http://waygard33.smugmug.com/photos/438475517_fv7QL-L.jpg)

This pic is off the thread but still in the Christmas theme...DW has her friends and their children over to make and decorate Gingerbread houses. Here's a pic from that group.
(http://waygard33.smugmug.com/photos/437436217_gxFos-L.jpg)


If anyone is interested, you can see all the pics I took of Christmastown here:
http://waygard33.smugmug.com/gallery/6855794_3g7Ap/1/438475517_fv7QL

Thanks for posting the pictures. The Christmas town display looks like a *LOT* of work. I did go to your picture site and looked them all over. She really did a nice job.

We have a couple of places in the house we can shoot pictures. I have a regular backdrop setup in the basement, but I don't like shooting with flash. The camping buddies picture was taken in our sun room (a small room off the back of the house with 3 walls of windows). I just block the light from coming through one of the windows and hang a black (or other color/pattern) bedsheet and use the natural light. I like that much better.

The "and_I" just stands for me. I answer to the name of Ron, but here I'm my DW's sidekick ;>)
Don't be bashful about posting more pictures. I really enjoy looking at what makes other people stop and shoot.


(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3115136196_28e423be45.jpg)

This came from a neighboring town. It is a small gazebo just big enough for this tree. It caught my eye one evening, so here is the result.

The time for enjoying Christmas lights is so short. I'm still waiting for more to join in here.
This is a shot of a row of 5 pine trees. This is the first year the homeowner has decorated them.

This isn't really a Christmas light picture, but I was driving past our county salt storage building the other night. I've driven past it many times, but have never seen it with the inside lights on and the payloader parked centered on the door. I thought it looked rather dramatic, so out came the tripod.

I would still love to see examples of what others think is beautiful at Christmastime.
This is a house in a neighboring town. I hadn't noticed it before this evening, but had to stop and take a shot. I call it:

Quote from: K_and_II would still love to see examples of what others think is beautiful at Christmastime.
This is a house in a neighboring town. I hadn't noticed it before this evening, but had to stop and take a shot. I call it:

The House On The Hill

Another great shot Ron. The colors really pop.
Merry Christmas!

Another from Frankenmuth. If you're hardy enough (and dress warm enough) you can get a horse drawn carriage ride through the village:


I would still encourage others to post before the fleeting Christmas season is behind us.

It's January 3rd, and probably time to move on to other things. If anyone has any Christmas light pictures they would like to post, I hope they will. Otherwise, I'll post a parting shot for now. This is not really a Christmas light picture, but it has to do with light, and the end of the holiday season. I got up New Year's day before sunrise, and watched the sun begin to come up. It quickly became clear that this was going to be a beautiful sunrise, so I grabbed the camera and ran out into the front field:


Until next year....

Ron,
More great shots. I never did get out and catch the neighborhood Christmas lights but I'll throw in a couple of sunsets I took just a few days ago at Mt. Hood. We're at Timberline lodge.

This shot is down the mountain from the front of the lodge.
(http://waygard33.smugmug.com/photos/449717387_d9pSd-XL.jpg)

This is Mt Hood, behind the lodge.
(http://waygard33.smugmug.com/photos/449724807_uQVxV-XL.jpg)

Wayne G

Absolutely beautiful, Wayne. Did you stay at the lodge? We have some close friends in the Salem area, so when we visit them, we often plan a few extra days to hike/sightsee around the Portland area. You live in a very beautiful part of the country. I don't think I've ever been there when there was that much snow on the mountain. We were there in Sept. of this year:


This view is of Mt Hood across Mirror Lake. As you can see, there is much more dirt than snow.

Thanks again for sharing.

Quote from: K_and_IAbsolutely beautiful, Wayne. Did you stay at the lodge? We have some close friends in the Salem area, so when we visit them, we often plan a few extra days to hike/sightsee around the Portland area. You live in a very beautiful part of the country. I don't think I've ever been there when there was that much snow on the mountain. We were there in Sept. of this year:

Beautiful shot across the lake. I've never been to Mirror Lake. We usually head to Trillium Lake which also has those beautiful views of the mountain.

We moved here from Chicago about 6 years ago. You're right, it's unbelievably beautiful. From the mountains to the coast, there's a lot to photograph. I'm just an amateur beginner. You and other 'real' photographers do a much better job. I enjoy playing along though.

We didn't stay at the lodge. I drove my 2 boys up to snowboard twice last week. It was an adventure with the storms we were having. The usual 1.5 hour drive was 3 hours. :morning:

If you want to see some other pics of the area, here's a link:
http://waygard33.smugmug.com/gallery/7014017_MRYxr/1/449062527_N9PDR

Also, it sounds like you're really into photography. If you haven't already, you should check out //www.dgrin.com.  It's a great photography forum. I really enjoy looking at all the great pics in there.

Thanks again Ron,
I also look for your photos in the photo thread.

Wayne G

What a year it has been. We've done a lot of camping, but even better, we were blessed to have 2 more camping buddies added to our family. I hope no one minds if we bring this thread back to life again. I hope others will post their Christmas light pictures, too. To start it out, here is a picture of our 4 camping buddies:


Now, it's your turn.

Here are a few pics of my Xmas lights....
(http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/3211/2130341640083858256S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://family.webshots.com/photo/2130341640083858256eHSPuc)
(http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/45759/2425647140083858256S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://family.webshots.com/photo/2425647140083858256jhGiBP)

This is the best that we've ever seen...a mile of lights near Pittsburgh, PA.  Pictures don't do it justice.  They've taken a county park and made a drive-thru lights display.

http://christmaslightup.com/Home_Page.html

Grizzly, that looks like a lot of work, but looks nice. Dthurk, thanks for posting the link. I live about 3 hours from Pittsburgh and may take that trip this year. We've been to see the displays at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, which is also about 3 hours away. The biggest benefit to going to Wheeling is that Cabela's is close.

I posted this scene as the first post in this thread, but the owners changed the display this year, so I shot it again:

I seem to be having a real problem finding time to get out and shoot pictures this Christmas season, and I haven't been overly happy with the ones I've gotten. Here is one from an area home:

I encourage others to add to this thread.

My husband and I really enjoy the lights they put up in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN every Christmas.  Here's a shot from "Patriots Park", where they have a display representing each branch of the military plus scenes from around the US (like the Statue of Liberty, and this well recognized memorial):

(http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv114/TiffytheWiffy/100_3544.jpg)

Tiffany,
Thanks for posting- what a great shot of a great subject. As you know, nailing the exposure on night shots isn't easy.

I've tried to get back out for some more shots. As busy of a time as it is, it goes by so fast. Here is a picture of a computer actuated light display- you drive by, dial in the music on your radio and watch the lights dance to the music. I had to go with a fairly long time exposure to get all of the lights in:


Any more?

The water in the pond was frozen, so the reflection isn't sharp, but you can't have everything.

Your turn.

Another Christmas light display at a house in a town nearby

Your turn

K and I, you really know how to take some great night time photography!

Thanks for your kind words, Fallsrider. I'm still hoping for others to join in. In this next shot, Santa delivers gifts to this home in a manure spreader. I hope that is not a commentary on the quality of the gifts :)


Anyone else?

The following 2 pictures are not Christmas lights as such, but a village square dressed up for Christmas- Chardon village in NE Ohio. I couldn't decide if I liked the wide view showing the old style stores in the village or the closeup of the gazebo, so I'll show both.


We're running out of time- get your Christmas light shots in now :)

Merry Christmas to you all.

I hope everyone is having a joyous holiday time so far. The days are going by so fast. I'll try to get a few more up here before time runs out. This is a tree decorated in a marble monument in a neighboring town.

It's not the best shot, but it is a Christmas light picture :)
I would still like to see pictures from others.

It's amazing how a little bit of snow can enhance a night photo.

Your turn.

A home in a neighboring town.

The snow makes such an improvement.

Another house from a neighboring town.

Lovin' the pics K and I. Just haven't been able to get any myself. Another great job this year and keep it going. No reason to stop just cause Christmas is over.

Wayne in Oregon

Thanks, Wayne. I wondered if you were still here. I hadn't heard anything from you since the latest revival of this thread. I hope you'll get a few in before the season is over.

A red and white forest:


Now, your turn.

More deer:

Happy New Year to all of my Pop UP Times friends. I hope the year goes well for all of you and all of your camping wishes come true.

I was hoping for another new year's sunrise like we had last year, but it didn't happen. I've posted what I had taken this year. Unless I get the chance to get out again before the decorations have been taken down, this will wrap up this season's photos. Of course, you all are encouraged to post any you wish to share. While this parting shot is not Christmas lights, I thought it might substitute for the sunrise shot that did not happen this year:


I'll try to do a better job of supporting the other photo thread in the coming year. I hope you all will, too.

Maybe I'm too stupid to know when to quit :)
I pulled into the parking lot of Sam's Club this evening and was greeted to this. It does remind me of Christmas:

Maybe I should quit now!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pics..........now I'm off to jump into my nice warm bed....:frosty:

I'll quit soon, I promise. It's just that we didn't have snow for Christmas. The snowy pictures here were the weekend after Christmas, and now we're getting even more Christmasy (is that a word?) weather. Today, the pines were even more dramatic as we got more freezing mist and new snow.


I can't decide which one I like best.

Freezing mist/rain is a bear to deal with, but it sure is beautiful!

Quote from: K_and_I;213821I can't decide which one I like best.

I like the tighter crop best. Both are great pics!

Don't quit...Who says Christmas is only 1 day a year?

Wayne in Oregon

all those nice pictures, but only 1 shows a manger......