Photo Friday: Big Bright Light Show in Rochester, MI

Rochester, Michigan, is one of the brightest spots in metro Detroit these days with the kickoff of the city's annual Big Bright Light Show on December 1.

This spectacular display includes over one million twinkling LED lights blanketing buildings in the downtown business area and as part of several special displays like 70 or so giant lighted snowflakes dancing in sync with holiday music across an old knitting mill's brick wall.

The Big Bright Light Show plays Rochester through January 3, with light displays staying on until midnight each evening.

These are a few hand-held shots I managed get as we strolled the primary eight-block display area along Rochester's Main Street with the opening night crowds.

Everyone showed up to check out the light show, including this fellow I spotted going into a store!

We're hoping to get back later this season to shot with our tripods, and I hope to try out my Flip to see if I can catch some decent images of the animated light displays.

Check out my story at Urbane Reflections for more details about the Big Bright Light Show.

Thanks to Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby for creating and coordinating Photo Friday to link travel photos and blog posts across the Web.

© Dominique King 2009 All right reserved

Comments

[Jen@TwoKidsandamap]

Wow! My kids would be in heaven here! We are having to slow down as we drive by any house with lights!

[Amy @ The Q Family]

How neat!!! Wish my town will do something like this. It must be magical to walk around the main street and check out those stores with such a display.

[Cate]

Pretty!! Kids must love the place. Looks like it takes forever to get those lights hung, but thats Christmas I guess.

[Dominique King]

Jen-Kids and adults alike seemed to love these lights. My photos don't come near doing the entire display justice!
We were there during the city's Lagniappe event--lots of specials in the stores, Santa was on hand to see the kids, they had some live reindeer in town that night--but the main attraction was still the lights!

Amy-Driving through town is special enough, but walking Main Street to see the lights up close really -is- magical.
I shot hand-held that night (cranking the ISO up to 400 and using the lens on my big Canon that has the image stabilization feature). We want to go back at a less busy time and try some shots using our tripods.

Cate-It takes workers about two months to complete the entire display. The husband of the city's Downtown Development Authority commented on my story over at Urbane (link above), telling a little more about the start of the project and the hard work that goes into keeping all of those lights lit each season :)

[Helly (Travel by the Calendar)]

They look amazing and you've done very well with a handheld camera - they must be super bright. Love the Northern hemisphere Christmas lights, just not quite the same down under.

[Sharlene]

Those lights are awesome! I love Christmas lights. They just make everything seem so special.

[Wanderluster]

Kids Schmids. I would love to see this myself! Though I'd hate to see the electric bill for all those lights!

[Abi]

Wow! No holding back here..
I absolutely love the last shot - it looks as though you've papped Father Christmas!

[Heather on her travels]

I love the Christmas lights, it makes everything so festive and these just about cover everything in sight!

[Dominique King]

Helly-My photos don't come any where near showing how spectacular this light display really is! Eight solid blocks of lights on both sides of the Main Street does make for a bright night!

Sharlene-Awesome is the word for it. Great display, and I'm hoping to go back several more times this season.

Wanderluster-The LED lights should draw at least a little less electricity. Rochester seems to think it's worth the investment in the end.

Abi-I happened to turn around at just the right time to catch Santa walking into the store :)

Heather-There isn't much empty space f'sure. The light strings are strung 4 or 6 inches apart (depends on what source you consult). I can't wait to go back and try filming the dancing snowflakes with my Flip camcorder, though.