Solstice Lotus
It’s the winter solstice, here in the northern hemisphere, and our days will now start getting longer, which matters a lot in the north. This ceramic candle holder, made by Cathi Jefferson and decorated as a lotus blossom, was sitting on our stove top last night in anticipation of the solstice.
This is not as dramatic a shot as last year’s Gonzales beach solstice photos which are among my all time favourite photographs but I find it calming and a nice way to mark the day. If the weather and timing is cooperative, I might be out again tonight trying for some more photos like I took last year.
It is amazing how much light a candle throws out, though in this case it took 30 seconds to capture it. The stars are not software-created but a result of a closed aperture and the perfect angle of light on the lens.
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Canon 5D MkII, Canon 50mm/f1.4 lens, ISO1000, f8, 30 seconds.
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burnt embers 
Lovely! And happy solstice—it’ll be so nice to see the light coming back.
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Hi skadhu – thanks so much. I am looking forward to that light as well – it is so much darker on the kind of days we have been having this past week or so.
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Nice star effect – and without that plug-in. Also, nicely off-center framing in the top photo; you know how I am about that.
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Hi Melinda – I like the star effect since it is not contrived. I took several shots trying different arrangements which also involved moving the candle around a bit , or rotating it. This is the only one with a star effect. Off centre in this case is out in left field.
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These shots are part of a wonderful series and tradition. Don’t stop.
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Thanks Ken! I was back out for the candles on the beach this year. A bit disappointing due to a steady drizzle and arriving a bit late – no starry sky. But, a few shots worthy of showing so you will see I have not stopped yet over the next few days.
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I love the reflection of the light.
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Hi littleislander – thanks! It is a good way of getting (seemingly) much more out of a single light!
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Awesome image!
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Hi Marcel! Thank you, I hope you have a good solstice.
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Brilliant! Lovely light! Lovely orange-red!
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Hi Alicja, welcome to my blog! And thanks so much for your comment.
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