Photographing Jack-o’-Lanterns

Exposure Time and Light

Taking photos of jack-o’-lanterns isn’t difficult, but there are tricks to capturing shots with all the drama and interest your eye sees. Here are a few pointers:

Tip 3: Use a long exposure. Set your camera to Auto, focus on an area of the pumpkin not brightly lit, and use the spot metering system on your camera (if available) to gauge the exposure time. Because slow shutter speeds increase the chance of camera shake, use a tripod or brace the camera against a stationary object.

Tip 4: Avoid shooting when it’s totally dark. Although a shot of the glowing portions of a jack-o’-lantern alone can be very beautiful, the shot is more effective when the pumpkin’s overall shape is still evident. Try shooting just after sunset when the sky is still a deep blue, or simply turn on a porch light and arrange the jack-o’-lantern so the area behind it is softly lit.

Get more Halloween photo tricks

More to check out:
Create multiphoto designs
Design all-about-me layouts
Work with basic cardstock