Photography: New Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve is an exciting time. It is full of festivities that make great photographic opportunities. Here are some ideas for taking advantage of this once-per-year photo shoot.

Plan ahead of time. Consider what you are doing for the evening, and then pack the appropriate equipment. Do you want or need a small camera or your SLR for better photographs? Do you need a flash? Will you need a wide-angle lens or a telephoto lens? Remember to pack spare batteries and an extra flash card or film. To be prepared, pack your items a few days ahead of time so you will be instantly ready to go.

Fireworks. Some New Year's Eve celebrations include outdoor photographs. If you plan to attend fireworks, remember to bring a tripod. If you have access to where you will be for the fireworks, check out the location ahead of time. Think about where you want to stand and arrive early on New Year's Eve to get your spot. In the winter, you will need to consider the weather. Dress appropriately and keep your camera safe from rain, snow and low temperatures. For tips on photographing fireworks, see the article Capturing the Rockets' Red Glare by Trish Dykes.

Stills. The objects that surround the New Year's celebration make great still photographs. Some objects to photograph include the clock, balloons, a party invitation, confetti, party hats, and streamers. Physically get close to the objects. Take photographs that leave out the extraneous background. To get a nice background for your still, place the item on a tablecloth or bring a small cloth in black or white as a place to set the object.

Food and Drinks. Take photographs of the food and drinks. They can be photographed on a plate or napkin or in the serving dish. Focus on the object and its details like the bubbling of the champagne. For more tips on photographing food, see Photo Challenge: Food by Denise Gormish.

Countdown. The countdown is the most pivotal part of the evening. To get the feeling of the countdown, photograph the clock throughout the evening. Take a photograph of your location at the same time. It will provide a great timeline of what is happening as the evening progresses.

Candid shots. People are in motion during a New Year's Eve. Get photographs of what they are doing. Consider photographing activities such as singing, toasting, and kissing. Candid shots often look better with an aperture setting f-4.5 or larger. This will allow the subject to remain in focus while the background is out of focus. This keeps the object of the candid as the focal point of the photograph.

Plan your photograph opportunities ahead of time and keep those New Year's Eve photographs coming all night long. They will provide great memories of your evening into the next year.