Re. fireworks, here's what I figured out the one time I tried.
Use a tripod and low ISO (100 or 200). Even though it's night, the fireworks bursts are pretty bright. Use a wide angle lens or zoom setting (like 18mm on a 1.5 factor DSLR, makes it easier to aim and get all the action).
Use manual focus, and zone it in ahead of time by focusing on the area of the launch tubes if possible, or on the first few bursts. If you are far enough away, you can set it to infinity.
For single bursts, use "bulb" mode and a remote shutter release. Use a high aperture, around 11 or 13 or more (or a little less, depending on your ISO). Press the bulb release when the mortar shot fires, hold until the burst, then release - about 1.5 seconds. You can use a shutter speed of 1.5 seconds if you don't have "bulb" mode.
Check your image review and histogram, adjust aperture accordingly for under/overexposure. Slightly underexposed is probably better to get dark sky background.
For the grand finale (which is much brighter) use a wider aperture, like 4 or so, and faster shutter speed, like around 1/4 or 1/8 second, and take multiple exposures.
P.S. Shots from early in the show are usually better because there is less smoke.
Submitted by Brian A. on Sat, 2008/07/05 - 5:37pm.
Tripod: check
ISO 100: check
Manual focus: check
Bulb mode: check (although I don't have a remote shutter release--wonder how much difference that makes?)
Timing: I may have been holding it for longer than 1.5 seconds.
Aperture: initially set at 11. Perhaps I should have adjusted?
Another problem was that I didn't know where the fireworks were going to be and I had to move because a building was blocking the view. It helps to be prepared in advance.
As for the turnout, it seemed good. I hadn't been to this event the last couple years, so I couldn't make a comparison. The weather interruption hurt (people left) but quite a few returned after the break.
Submitted by R. Neal on Sun, 2008/07/06 - 12:15pm.
Sounds like you had all the right formulas in place.
Maybe what you're talking about is the sort of overexposed/foggy look to the two you posted here?
Could be the long exposure, but I'm also wondering if high humidity was also a problem, causing more light diffusion or something. That second crowd shot looks like some incredibly high humidity or even fog. Is it possible your lens had fogged up a little?
Not using a remote shutter release shouldn't be a big deal on a long exposure like that if you're careful. These shots don't show any signs of camera shake.
Anyway, does this Photoshop tweaking look closer to what you were expecting?
Used the "shadows/highlights" tool to reduce the exposure on the highlights and increase the contrast. You can get a similar effect by adjusting the curves downward on the high end, but the shadows/highlighs tool is easier and it's smarter than me. Sounds like maybe overexposure?
Submitted by Brian A. on Mon, 2008/07/07 - 10:02am.
Thanks for the feedback, Randy. I gather if I hold the shutter open too long it causes the colors to be bleached out?
I read a recommendation to begin shooting right before you anticipate the shell will explode, then hold it until the explosion reaches its peak size. I'm not sure how long that typically takes. It's too long?
As for the "fog," there was a grill on one side that was billowing out quite a bit of smoke. But I suspect a more likely cause is that it was getting late (after 8:15 pm), I turned up the ISO, had a slow shutter speed, with probably some movement. So that may be why those pictures aren't as clear.
By the way, if one of you photo gurus can show me how to take good fireworks pictures sometime, I'd like to learn how to do it.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Just caught this list of firework photo tip sites on Yahoo:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/97614
Good turnout.
We were at Springbrook yesterday, the weather was great. Just a little breeze to keep us cool.
Watched a little bit of the Washington, D.C. show on tv last night. I think I'd like to attend that event at least once.
Thank for the photo report!
Re. fireworks, here's what I figured out the one time I tried.
Use a tripod and low ISO (100 or 200). Even though it's night, the fireworks bursts are pretty bright. Use a wide angle lens or zoom setting (like 18mm on a 1.5 factor DSLR, makes it easier to aim and get all the action).
Use manual focus, and zone it in ahead of time by focusing on the area of the launch tubes if possible, or on the first few bursts. If you are far enough away, you can set it to infinity.
For single bursts, use "bulb" mode and a remote shutter release. Use a high aperture, around 11 or 13 or more (or a little less, depending on your ISO). Press the bulb release when the mortar shot fires, hold until the burst, then release - about 1.5 seconds. You can use a shutter speed of 1.5 seconds if you don't have "bulb" mode.
Check your image review and histogram, adjust aperture accordingly for under/overexposure. Slightly underexposed is probably better to get dark sky background.
For the grand finale (which is much brighter) use a wider aperture, like 4 or so, and faster shutter speed, like around 1/4 or 1/8 second, and take multiple exposures.
P.S. Shots from early in the show are usually better because there is less smoke.
Tripod: check
ISO 100: check
Manual focus: check
Bulb mode: check (although I don't have a remote shutter release--wonder how much difference that makes?)
Timing: I may have been holding it for longer than 1.5 seconds.
Aperture: initially set at 11. Perhaps I should have adjusted?
Another problem was that I didn't know where the fireworks were going to be and I had to move because a building was blocking the view. It helps to be prepared in advance.
As for the turnout, it seemed good. I hadn't been to this event the last couple years, so I couldn't make a comparison. The weather interruption hurt (people left) but quite a few returned after the break.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Sounds like you had all the right formulas in place.
Maybe what you're talking about is the sort of overexposed/foggy look to the two you posted here?
Could be the long exposure, but I'm also wondering if high humidity was also a problem, causing more light diffusion or something. That second crowd shot looks like some incredibly high humidity or even fog. Is it possible your lens had fogged up a little?
Not using a remote shutter release shouldn't be a big deal on a long exposure like that if you're careful. These shots don't show any signs of camera shake.
Anyway, does this Photoshop tweaking look closer to what you were expecting?
Used the "shadows/highlights" tool to reduce the exposure on the highlights and increase the contrast. You can get a similar effect by adjusting the curves downward on the high end, but the shadows/highlighs tool is easier and it's smarter than me. Sounds like maybe overexposure?
Thanks for the feedback, Randy. I gather if I hold the shutter open too long it causes the colors to be bleached out?
I read a recommendation to begin shooting right before you anticipate the shell will explode, then hold it until the explosion reaches its peak size. I'm not sure how long that typically takes. It's too long?
As for the "fog," there was a grill on one side that was billowing out quite a bit of smoke. But I suspect a more likely cause is that it was getting late (after 8:15 pm), I turned up the ISO, had a slow shutter speed, with probably some movement. So that may be why those pictures aren't as clear.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
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