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06/19/2003 03:44:58 PM · #1 |
Well, it's nearly that time of year. I was wondering if folks might share their tips for photographing fireworks.
Shari
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06/19/2003 03:51:34 PM · #2 |
Great idea. You guys have the 4th of July ... we have Canada Day on the 1st of July. I'm going to try my hand at photographing fire works. I think I'm going to set varying long exposures ... 1 - 15 seconds (if the background isn't too well lit) with a narrow aperture and set it up on my tripod (so I can drink beer and enjoy the show too).
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06/19/2003 04:49:57 PM · #3 |
Im have heard that about an f4 to f8 and a shutter speed between 10 and 2 seconds is good.
just depends on the amount of light polution and how close you are to the fire works
Im going up to canada to pratice friday night at Niagara falls
James |
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06/19/2003 04:54:33 PM · #4 |
Best environment for fire works (that I have found):
Wind (this moves the smoke out of the way)
No moon (dark night)
3-5 sec exposures are good if you get them timed right
dont take too many bursts together (it just looks cluttered)
Practice makes perfect (but with digital the learning can be done on the spot)
Good luck |
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06/19/2003 05:10:37 PM · #5 |
I took these last year, with the following settings:
2.0 seconds @ F7.2
13.1 mm focal length (relatively wide angle)
hand held (!)
ISO 100
The framing is pretty poor. I think I will use my wide angle adapter this year and shoot on a tripod with a release cord. I'll use wider framing and crop later, so I'll give up a bit in resolution, but I don't think that will hurt the quality much at all.
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06/19/2003 06:22:38 PM · #6 |
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06/19/2003 06:24:05 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by brentg3:
Are these upside-down?? |
Believe it or not, they are definitely rightside up!
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06/19/2003 06:37:44 PM · #8 |
I've heard tell that the best approach if you can do it is bulb mode and to use a sheet of black card to cover the lens.
This way you can set a really long exposure and cover the lens inbetween bursts, to build up a more complex image of multiple fireworks.
I've been meaning to try it but every opportunity seems to co-incide with the availability of large quantities of alcohol. |
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06/19/2003 06:44:10 PM · #9 |
Alcohol = double exposure time :)
Originally posted by Gordon:
I've heard tell that the best approach if you can do it is bulb mode and to use a sheet of black card to cover the lens.
This way you can set a really long exposure and cover the lens inbetween bursts, to build up a more complex image of multiple fireworks.
I've been meaning to try it but every opportunity seems to co-incide with the availability of large quantities of alcohol. |
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06/19/2003 07:29:30 PM · #10 |
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06/19/2003 07:36:16 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by paganini:
Alcohol = double exposure time :)
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Actually, thinking about it, the last time I took a shot while quite drunk was this one:
Had to lie down so I wouldn't fall in the river. |
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06/19/2003 08:06:10 PM · #12 |
| I really like that drunk shot it amazing...I that Melbourne, Australia?? |
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06/19/2003 09:02:12 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by brentg3:
I really like that drunk shot it amazing...I that Melbourne, Australia?? |
yup. |
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06/19/2003 11:13:27 PM · #14 |
Those are great shots kirbic!
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06/20/2003 11:22:37 PM · #15 |
| I haven't ever really read PhotoAlley but noticed an email I'd gotten from them recently, highlight this article on photographing fireworks. Might be helpful. |
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06/21/2003 12:50:41 AM · #16 |
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06/21/2003 07:57:55 AM · #17 |
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06/21/2003 09:09:09 AM · #18 |
I shoot my fireworks in macro mode with lots of sunshine. :oP
Ok, ok, it's early Saturday morning and I haven't had my orange, pear, banana juice yet!!! ;o)
Message edited by author 2003-06-21 09:09:53.
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06/21/2003 12:39:29 PM · #19 |
i have yet to try photographing fireworks, but i received this email from NYIP that looks helpful...
photographing fireworks
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06/21/2003 03:05:34 PM · #20 |
I had the same question to Bryan Peterson, my exposure class instructor (also featured in this months Popular Photography Magazine). Ofcourse, he shoots film so just convert it.
"Here is the answer-with the camera on tripod and with an ISO of 100, set the aperture to f/8 and point to the sky where the fireworks are going off and leave the camera shutter open to 'B' for time exposure for a maximum of two firework bursts-in other words, if you've recorded one full burst, from the time it opens up until it fizzzles away, you can do another on the same frame or release the shutter 'b', let the film a advance and do it again. The trick with fireworks is composing since one is never sure where or how big the explosion will be."
I had this shot without a tripod on my first try. Be sure to know the exact position of the fireworks as mine was a mistake and competing with the ferries wheel. |
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06/21/2003 04:24:52 PM · #21 |
1 - ALWAYS use a tripod
2 - Don't be afraid to underexpose. You won't.
With those two tips, I think you should be well on your way. If you feel particularly inclined, you could always have a look at my photography gallery. All those shots were taken with a Canon D60 on a tripod, using a 28-105 lens. I found myself using the zoom end of the lens, so the next shoot I will be doing with my 70-200.
Have fun!
Haje
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06/21/2003 04:30:31 PM · #22 |
Also, if your camera will allow it, experiment with zooming while using long shutter times and shooting fireworks. Subtle zooming works best. You can find an example of this technique here.
HJ
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06/22/2003 08:16:14 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by jimmyn4:
Never shoot from a boat. |
Never say never! You just can't do it in choppy water, or for as long an exposure. My brother shot this from my boat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a couple years ago:
(The actual link to the paper's online version is here.)
And Gordon's idea of using a black background for blocking portions of the exposure is a good one... I've seen it done by quite a few people here in Pittsburgh. They say that you should leave the exposure open for an extra long time, and get several bursts in one shot.
Also, I might add that it's good to learn which way the wind is blowing and try to get on the other side of it before the display, if possible. Or at least anticipate that your best shots will be at the beginning of the show, before everything gets clouded up in smoke.
Message edited by author 2003-06-22 20:17:02. |
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