Lights on the Lake holiday drive thru held each year at the Onondaga Lake Park near Liverpool, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/30s, f/3.5, ISO 6400, EV 0, 32mm focal length, cropped.
For the 21st year, the popular Lights on the Lake holiday display is being presented at Onondaga Lake Park near the village of Liverpool, New York. Normally this is a drive thru by automobile from Thanksgiving evening to early January. Before it is open to cars, Onondaga County has two previews where people can walk the 2 mile long route. This gave me an opportunity to photograph the displays.
This also is an example of how NOT to photograph night lighting displays. Unlike the tips given in my last post, I was not able to photograph the display around dusk as the Sun sets too early these days for me to get to them after work. Because of the number of people there with many walking their dogs on leashes. I decided not to bring a tripod which is what is needed to get good, clear photos of such displays. I relied on the Nikon 28-300VR lens, hand holding techniques like Da Grip and the stellar high ISO capabilities of the Nikon D700 SLR camera to get sharp photos. As you can imagine, many had to be discarded.
This was taken across from the park’s marina which currently is barren of watercraft.
Deck the Bowes with Lights and Holly. A cruiser light display across from the marina on the Lights on the Lake path. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/30s, f/5, ISO 1600, EV +1.0, 28mm focal length.
This next photo needs some explanation. Back in the 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s, cars were allowed to park along the Onondaga Lake Parkway. Parents would tell their kids when asked about all the parked cars there on Friday and Saturday nights that people were watching the submarine races. 😉 Cars can no longer park along the lake but this display is in homage to those bygone days.
Light display in homage to the days when people parked along the Onondaga Lake parkway to watch the submarine races. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/30s, f/5, ISO 1600, EV +1.0, 28mm focal length.
L. Frank Baum, the author of the Wizard of Oz, grew up in upstate New York. The town of Chittenango each year has an Oz Feast in honor of Mr. Baum and the living cast of the movie. Lights on the Lake has a whole section dedicated to the Land of Oz.
Wizard of Oz characters Dorothy and her dog, Toto, on the lighted yellow brick road to Oz. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/15s, f/5, ISO 1600, EV +1.0, 28mm focal length.
While I have yet to have moose in my backyard like my friend, Mike, does up in Alaska, I did meet this large bull moose on my trek along the Lights on the Lake.
A moose in the Fantasy Forest portion of the Lights on the Lake holiday display. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/5.3, ISO 3600, EV 0, 98mm focal length.
Once we get some snowfall, I will again go see the Lights on the Lake, by car this time, and enjoy the lights with some holiday tunes playing from the stereo.
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I really like the “Wizard of Oz characters Dorothy and her dog, Toto” photo. I’m waiting to photograph Christmas light displays that do it up at their towns. I noticed yesterday out and about in several small Kansas towns, folks were out stringing lights. The Christmas light displays at the city parks are way too busy and you have to stay in a slow moving car. So, towns it will be to try photographing Christmas lights. 🙂
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Of course, you do, Anna. You are from Kansas after all. 🙂 Looking forward to seeing your Christmas light photos. Normally, this is an auto tour but they have a couple of days for people to walk it before the cars start.
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I sure like the way the D700 handles those high ISO’s!
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The D700 did great. It’s the photographer trying to hand hold in windy conditions at 1/15th and 1/30th of a second. I got some keepers. Thanks, Terry!
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It would be hard to walk past this place and NOT photograph. Great shots.
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Thanks, BM!
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Great shots! But…. it’s too early for Christmas lights. This past year has flown by, and I’m not ready for it to be Christmas again already.
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Too early? Have you been to a store in the past month? 🙂
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I can’t decide between “The Wizard of Oz” and the moose. I like them both. 🙂
Submarine races…lol!
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Thank you, Robin! No submarines in your bog? 😉
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Wow such beautiful scenes, I love Christmas 🙂
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I could tell you love Christmas from your recent post, Consuelo. Hope to see more!
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I love the Wizard of Oz and the moose in the Fantasy Forest. I know it’s difficult without a tripod but would like to try Da Grip method for the Christmas lights.
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I felt it was not a good idea to bring the tripod. I got good photos though so I can not complain (too much). Da Grip works great and is a good technique to learn.
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Da Moose for me, eh? Nice shots. They remind me of long-ago rides to see the lights in Rhinelander. Those magical displays were much less ambitious. It was a simpler time I suppose. And yet, exactly the same.
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Christmas lights are magical, Gerry, whether simple or more ambitious.
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And all this time I thought “watching submarine races” was something my parents made up about cars that parked near the Connecticut River in Springfield, MA!
This reminds me of a similar display in Springfield, but it is only a drive-thru. I’d love to be able to take pictures, but I’m quite sure I won’t have the chance to get anything decent.
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