shutter speed question

[tinkabella627]

I am new to the dslr world and am trying to get quick tips for our trip to disney this week. I read the "how to shoot fireworks" thread and I am getting confused. Some people say to use a 2 second and others say 1/40... if I am looking at my camera settings am I picking the shutter speed 2'' or am I going with 1/2 or something else? Someone pleeeease give me a quick, general idea of what numbers i need to be seeing!

[AndrewWG]

A 2 second exposure (2) will give you some nice trails of the fireworks as they make their way up to the sky and then explode. The pic will have the trail and the explosion. A 1/40 exposure will most likely not have the trails, just the colorful explosion.

[tinkabella627]

Thank you...since I do not have a tripod and am going to use a trash can or railing to hold my camera (I have done this before and it worked well for me at the time lol) my best option would be the 1/40 and get the colorful explosion right?

Can anyone post a picture at 2'' and one at 1/40 so I can compare the difference between the two?

TIA

[AndrewWG]

I would think (although I haven't tried it) that you would probably be able to get a good 1 second shot (at least) from the top of a trashcan. Bring along a small bean bag to keep the camera level and steady on top of the trashcan. .

[ukcatfan]

I do not know the reason for no tripod, but if it is cost, you can use a cheapo $20-30 Walmart special in a situation like that. Since you do not need a nice lens (i.e. heavy) for fireworks, the cheap tripod will work. Add on a cheap remote shutter release and you are set for less than $50.

[tinkabella627]

I do not know the reason for no tripod, but if it is cost, you can use a cheapo $20-30 Walmart special in a situation like that. Since you do not need a nice lens (i.e. heavy) for fireworks, the cheap tripod will work. Add on a cheap remote shutter release and you are set for less than $50.

We don't have one and are leaving tonight. I haven't got time to shop around for one that won't be a hassle to carry around. And the remote for my camera has to be ordered online.

[ukcatfan]

We don't have one and are leaving tonight. I haven't got time to shop around for one that won't be a hassle to carry around.

The cheap ones are certainly not easy to carry around. They are better off left in the room or in a locker until night when you plan on using it. If you are going to have a car, there is a Walmart and a Target within 10-15 minutes of DTD on Apopka-Vineland Rd. (Good to know about these stores for many reasons!)

[Groucho]

2 seconds will almost always be better. Ideally, you'd use a remote shutter release which allows you to vary the time depending on the number of fireworks going off. Two seconds of the single "when you wish upon a star" firework is a lot different than two seconds of the grand finale! The lighting of the castle changes during the fireworks, too, so you can't even depend on that.

Try these settings as a starter:
Manual mode
ISO 200
Aperture: F8
Shutter speed: 2 seconds

Use the shutter speed to adjust how long the trails are.
If the firework trails seem too bright, try setting the aperture to F11.
If the firework trails seem too dark, try setting the ISO to 100.

You will also want to set the camera to manual focus. Try focusing on the castle then go just slightly past it towards infinity. Take one or two test shots to make sure that the castle is still sharp. You are focusing a little bit past it because most of the fireworks are far beyond the castle.

Good luck!

[tinkabella627]

2 seconds will almost always be better. Ideally, you'd use a remote shutter release which allows you to vary the time depending on the number of fireworks going off. Two seconds of the single "when you wish upon a star" firework is a lot different than two seconds of the grand finale! The lighting of the castle changes during the fireworks, too, so you can't even depend on that.

Try these settings as a starter:
Manual mode
ISO 200
Aperture: F8
Shutter speed: 2 seconds

Use the shutter speed to adjust how long the trails are.
If the firework trails seem too bright, try setting the aperture to F11.
If the firework trails seem too dark, try setting the ISO to 100.

You will also want to set the camera to manual focus. Try focusing on the castle then go just slightly past it towards infinity. Take one or two test shots to make sure that the castle is still sharp. You are focusing a little bit past it because most of the fireworks are far beyond the castle.

Good luck!

Thanks! I have no idea about manual focus yet (I haven't gotten that far in my book) so will have to read up on that on our 12 hour drive down. Unfortunately, I just found that the remote for my camera is not available in any stores here. I guess by the next time I go to disney in a couple years I might have this all perfected!

P.S. I see you are in Rochester... I am from Buffalo (live in TN now) and went to college at Brockport for 2 years!

[tinkabella627]

The cheap ones are certainly not easy to carry around. They are better off left in the room or in a locker until night when you plan on using it. If you are going to have a car, there is a Walmart and a Target within 10-15 minutes of DTD on Apopka-Vineland Rd. (Good to know about these stores for many reasons!)

Thanks! We will actually have a car so that is good to know if we need it.

So are the better ones easier to carry around? Is there a such tripod that is compact until I set it up?

[Groucho]

P.S. I see you are in Rochester... I am from Buffalo (live in TN now) and went to college at Brockport for 2 years!
Buffalo, eh? My condolences. :) Just kidding!

If your DSLR is a Canon or Pentax and you had a little extra time and a little electrical experience, you can easily make your own remote shutter release... it just uses a 2.5mm phono plug like most cell phones. Short one channel and it focuses, short the other and it takes the photo. You can build one for a few bucks in parts... or just order an ultra-cheapie from somewhere like Meritline or Dealextreme which will be even cheaper!

This is what mine looks like. (Canon and Pentax use exactly the same remotes.) It's actually slightly different now, with black wiring and a slider switch on the side for very long exposures.

http://www.groucho.org/pics/10277-5/TicTacRemote.jpg

[seashoreCM]

For some fireworks the entire trail stays illuminated while for other fireworks only a tiny spot falls through the sky. Usually you want a fast shutter speed for the first kind. Otherwise you choose the shutter speed depending on the artistic appearance you want.

[ukcatfan]

Thanks! We will actually have a car so that is good to know if we need it.

So are the better ones easier to carry around? Is there a such tripod that is compact until I set it up?

I am no tripod expert, but the cheap ones are metal (usually aluminum) and are bigger and heavier. The carbon fiber ones are lighter, more compact and more expensive. When you get into a serious tripod, the attachment head is typically a separate purchase. It all comes down to how much weight you are putting on it, how portable you need, and how much you are willing to spend. That said, a large table top one or DSLR Gorillapod will also work for your camera with a small lens (i.e. kit lens). Place them on something like trash can.

Since you will not be able to get a remote, you can also use the two second timer to prevent the blur from pressing the shutter. You just have to anticipate the shot more.

[GrillMouster]

...This is what mine looks like...
http://www.groucho.org/pics/10277-5/TicTacRemote.jpg

Groucho, that trigger might earn you some unwanted attention from Disney Don and the Mickey Mouse police (sounds like a band). While handling that trigger resist saying things like, "Pop quiz, hotshot!" (R.I.P., Dennis Hopper).

[Golf4food]

Groucho, that trigger might earn you some unwanted attention from Disney Don and the Mickey Mouse police (sounds like a band). While handling that trigger resist saying things like, "Pop quiz, hotshot!" (R.I.P., Dennis Hopper).

I'm just glad I don't see a green wire to cut. :scared1:


I love the ingenuity, though. :thumbsup2

[pgowder]

We don't have one and are leaving tonight. I haven't got time to shop around for one that won't be a hassle to carry around. And the remote for my camera has to be ordered online.

Leave it in a locker! That's what I always do with mine. And just pull it out for Wishes.

If you want good fireworks shots, you really need the tripod!

[Groucho]

Groucho, that trigger might earn you some unwanted attention from Disney Don and the Mickey Mouse police (sounds like a band). While handling that trigger resist saying things like, "Pop quiz, hotshot!" (R.I.P., Dennis Hopper).
A line of silence for Mr Hopper:
...

...
As for the remote - it's been to WDW four times (and going back tomorrow!) and DL once with no issues so far. :) The early version was a little flaky due to Radio Shack's DIY plug being pretty unsatisfactory. I now have it wired to a 3.5mm headphone jack, connected to a 2.5mm adapter, and it is rock solid now!