Amsterdam shines brightly once again this winter! The third edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival which runs in December & January is a great spectacle for young and old. This international festival set in the historical centre of Amsterdam features light sculptures, projections and installations by contemporary international artists.
Light festivals are increasing in popularity all around the world. They transform cities and act as a catalyst to inspire both residents and visitors.
The boat tour takes visitors through Oosterdok, Nieuwe Herengracht, the river Amstel, Herengracht & Brouwersgracht. The official boat tour sponsor is Stromma but all the main canal boat companies run the same route. The start and end point of the tours is situated just in front of the central train station. Tickets are in the region of €20 for an adult. Photographers may find it frustrating trying to shoot night-time photos from the canal boat. They don’t remain still at each exhibit and you have the added challenge of shooting through closed windows. Most of these exhibits can be experienced on foot from the banks & bridges of the canals. Therefore, serious photographers should also make time to explore the boat route on foot or by bike.
The walking route is more compact than the boat tour route. The exhibits are set in the Plantage part of the city centre. The Illuminade artworks include projections onto historical buildings, installations on the street and displays in public parks. Some of the exhibits such as Triangolini by Charles Eames invite participation from members of the public. The metro from Amsterdam central station to Waterlooplein will take you to the heart of Illuminade.
The Amsterdam Light Festival first started in 2012. It is a joint venture between the cultural institutions, local government, knowledge institutes and businesses in Amsterdam. It has been granted charitable status and received further income from crowdfunding. It’s also made possible by the many volunteers who work enthusiastically day & night.
Add some light and warmth to the cold winter nights and experience these unique illuminated artworks in person. Also, check out visitors photos on Instagram with the hashtag #amsterdamlightfestival.
photo tips
- If possible, use a tripod. The shutter speed will be lower than usual and a tripod will minimise lens movement resulting in a sharper photo.
- Use the timer function. The slight movement caused by manually pressing shutter release button can cause blurry photos.
- Use manual focus. Autofocus can struggle in low-light conditions because they work on the basis of contrast. Use the LiveView mode and focus manually.
- Camera Settings. With a tripod, use a low ISO such as 200 to minimise noise. As a starting point, set the aperture to around F11. With no tripod, raise the ISO and increase the aperture (eg f3.5) to give a faster shutter speed.
- Clean the lens and remove any filters. This will prevent any flare or reflections.
- Shoot in RAW mode so that you can make adjustments in editing software such as Lightroom.
- Fully charge your batteries and bring spares. Batteries lose their charge faster in low temperatures.
- Wrap up warm! Amsterdam can be cold in December and January.
- Stay safe – be aware of your surroundings and watch out for cyclists and other traffic. Take extra care near the edges of canals!