Fireworks anyone?

Sam Posten · 07-05-2007, 11:11 PM

Anyone get any good snaps? Here's my best so far this year as well as last years lousy best one. Last year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/185829867/
That was only one of 100 I took that was even worth sharing.

This year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/721919177/

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Damn Tree and flag are still in the way on many shots but the colors and stability are soooo much better. I had a BLAST taking fireworks pics yesterday. This year I brought the tripod with me and it made ALL the difference:

I experimented with the 17-40 and 28-75, ISO 400, Bulb, and about F8 on most.... The remote controller is awesome for this stuff, just sat back and relaxed and varied the exposures to the action. Some came out great, others not so hot but I learned a LOT and it really came down to timing.

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Scott Merryfield · 07-06-2007, 07:34 AM

Nice shot, Sam. I have not tried to photograph fireworks yet. How long of an exposure (i.e. shutter speed) did you use at f/8?

Sam Posten · 07-23-2007, 03:17 PM

I used Bulb and winged it, some came out too bright, most just right =) I used the TC-80N3 so its easy to just have the camera on a tripod and press a button, review, and try again. Here are the full sets from both nights:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/...7600724830048/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/...7600939466227/

Fireworks shots on the boat was very frustrating, but a few were salvagable. Wondering how much IS would have helped =)

Sam

Scott Merryfield · 07-24-2007, 06:59 AM

I had assumed you'd used bulb. I was just wondering if you knew about how long you held the shutter open? Not a big deal, I was just curious since I have never tried to photograph fireworks, but always wanted to try.

jss8422 · 07-25-2007, 12:12 PM

Very pretty.

homthtr · 07-26-2007, 10:40 PM

My Favorite Taken at the Big Bang using Canon EOS 20D, full manual mode with ISO set to 1600, no Tripod used.

homthtr · 07-26-2007, 10:49 PM

All taken at the BigBang Fireworks show in Milwaukee, WI using Canon EOS D20 in full Manual. 1/20th sec./F3.5 ISO 1600

homthtr · 07-26-2007, 11:07 PM

ok just one more

Sam Posten · 08-01-2007, 09:33 PM

I'd say anywhere from 4-12 seconds. Usually the shorter the better, but you have to catch the bursts just right for that.

Sam Posten · 07-04-2008, 01:26 AM

Big bumpage, blast (heh!) from the past!

I had a ton of fun with the fireworks tonight. Back to 'Kaboom' on the Navesink (Pronounced NAY VEH SINK, not NAH VA SINK, dont be a benny!) in RedBank/Middletown NJ. Wasnt even supposed to go, my family was all messed up with different trips we were taking this weekend and nobody was gonna be in Red Bank for fireworks, and my Dad rolled an ATV over his ankle so he never got his boat out, but at the last minute things came together and I wound up on the RedBank to Middletown Bridge.

Last year's best image is so far my most viewed picture in Flickr out of the thousands of trash I have posted I am most proud of this one:
Red White and Blue Fireworks on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

And the whole set:
07 Red Bank Fireworks - a set on Flickr

Tonight I took over 350 shots, varying the time on Bulb and wasnt sure I was gonna get many I like. I don't know if their is one as 'iconic' as my red white and blue shot from last year but I think on the whole I took better looking more interesting shots. Flipping through em in Lightroom I 'picked' 210 of 350, which is way too many of course, but I really do like a lot of em. I didnt have my 20D with the L lens either, I was using the consumer 18-200VR on my D300, and I really dont think the gear made all that much difference, but having a couple of years under my belt making mistake after mistake really did.

Here's the first batch:
08-Fireworks - a set on Flickr

And the two I like best so far are these ones:
08-Fireworks-7068 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
08-Fireworks-7088 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

JohnRice · 07-06-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield

Nice shot, Sam. I have not tried to photograph fireworks yet. How long of an exposure (i.e. shutter speed) did you use at f/8?

The thing to remember with fireworks is that the actual exposure is controlled by aperture only (of course, ISO factors in) and the length of exposure controls the length of the trails. You kind of have to throw out how you conventionally think about exposure. You also don't really need to crank up the ISO.

Plus, Steve, you have to use a tripod for fireworks.