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.
outer columns supporting the roof. They represent the 12 months of the year and the 12-year cycle of the Chinese calendar. Closer to the center of the room are 4 columns representing the four seasons. These columns support a beam, representing Earth, which is topped by a round beam, signifying Heaven. I showed you this recently when I 
Books: whether you get them as eBooks or use the links below to the age old bounded versions, photography books are visually and mind stimulating.
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