Every year I say I’m gonna take some time off at the end of the year to actally focus on the Christmas events without glass to my face. This year is no exception, and as always I don’t.

Small town Christmas, camera to eye, no other way to enjoy.  Well there is I just can’t. Year after year I shoot with one thing in mind a simple Christmas.  So that’s how I shoot it, and this year I realized that the reason I go to all these things is because I am shooting.  The impact is always greater for me behind the glass, and not sure how many I would go to if I wasn’t shooting.

This year I tried something new, the wife and I just attended the functions enjoyed and shot.  No fancy lighting equations, not really any artifical lighting at all, minimal equipment and just had a blast. There’s no other way to enjoy  a small town Christmas, a simple shooter Christmas through the eyes of others!

I do have to say that all the events, in their different contrast and light sets and scenarios, it’s a great way to challenge thyself, not as much so as the years past.  Due to technology, but still the same, a changing of mental modes on the fly!

All the shots this year put the new Nikon  D3s to the test of available light, (with the exception of the first and last photo, and  still kept to a minimum) ….. it passed!  All shots were shot at least 1600 ISO, some were upwards of 3200, as long as you don’t under expose, or try to lighten up the blacks too much it is awsome!

Although equipment is not everything, it sure helps when the light goes down!

For the rest of Wise County Christmas events 2009