Night of Lights 2009

Mammoth Mtn puts on each Christmas a spectacular on the mtn they call the Night of Lights. It really is a fabulous show. We walk from our home to the Gondola where we get a ride up the mtn to Canyon Lodge. There out in the snow you listen to a live band and then watch a Snow Goomers, Snow Machine, Skier show that’s kicked off by the Redbull Dive Team who skydive in the darkness to land in the crowd. The night is finished off with one of the best firework display you’ll ever see. All of this is done under the stars and on the snow. It’s a great night.

This year a hot air balloon was stationed stage left. I brought the D3s because with its amazing ISO6400 image quality, I knew I would find at least one subject to play with. I started a ways away thinking I might like the overal shot with the stars. Na, I can do better so I moved.

Once I got closer I still kept a vertical format thinking that I needed more of the balloon to make the photo. But after a couple of clicks I realized I was missing the heart of the photo which wasn’t the balloon. So I got closer.

The photo is all about the folks enjoying the warmth of the balloon’s heat on the nippy winter night. It’s a real simple image to take, AWB, -2 exp comp, AF sensor on the basket, just compose and shoot. There’s one piece of advice I often give when I crit someone’s images, “Take one step closer.” Glad I listened to my own advice tonight. It was a gorgeous night out with friends under the stars and in the snow. I love winter!

Photos captured by D3s, 28f1.4AF on Lexar UDMA digital film