Help! How to take firework pictures?

[cseca]

with a digital camera?

I have a wonderful digital camera but for the life of me I can't figure out how to take good fireworks pictures or castle pictures at night time...

Inspired by the wonderful Disney picture of the day thread, found out that lots of DISers are a pro at taking night pictures. I hope someone could give me some tips?

Mind you I don't have a tripod.

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Amyrlin]

There are several ways that will give different results; these are the easiest;
The first is to prefocus the camera so there is no delay, this will give a longer shutter and can result in blured photogaphs if you move.

This may sound a funny idea, but if you have a sports setting with a fast shutter speed put it onto that and you can get good sharp pictures. Also, if it can take several in a row you can get a good choice of pictures.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, turn off your flash. The fireworks are too far away for it to make a difference anyway.

 

[bballdiva]

I have a canon digital camera and there is a setting on it for fireworks. It works great, I tried it out on the fourth of July. Maybe yours has this settin too.

 

[cseca]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I will try the sport setting and turning off my flash.
My friend told me the flash trick and it worked kinda sorta.

But bballdiva, unfortunately mine doesn't have a fireworks setting.
i wish it does tho...

 

[mking624]

I definitely agree to turn off the flash. It may not produce the most perfect pictures, but they come out a lot better than if you left the flash on. Using a flash will only brighten what's closest to the camera lens...and everything else will be dark.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

No, do NOT use the sports setting. It will use higher ISO setting (more noise) and faster shutter speed (something you do NOT want for fireworks).

If your camera has Night Mode, use that, but DON'T FORGET to DISABLE the flash.

Also, use a tripod.

 

[mommie2angels]

I do exactly what Kelly said. Use night mode and disable flash. I always forget the tripod but the pictures still turn out good. Maybe one day I will remember the tripod and get even better pictures.

 

[kandmwedding]

Also, amek your own tripod. I often snag a spot next to a concrete railing, or near a trash can an set my camera on that to take pictures. Or if I'm setting I put my knees up and rest the camera on my knees as I hold it. Anything you can use to help steady your hand will help the pics not be so blurry.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, amek your own tripod. I often snag a spot next to a concrete railing, or near a trash can an set my camera on that to take pictures. Or if I'm setting I put my knees up and rest the camera on my knees as I hold it. Anything you can use to help steady your hand will help the pics not be so blurry.

That's what I do too.
Another hint is to slowly press down the shutter and don't be in a hurry to take your finger off of it. I'm not sure if I can explain this right, but in low light situations, if you take your finger off when the shutter first opens, it may still be open because of the long exposure time. So, when you take your finger off, you move the camera a little bit and blur the picture.

Also, get to know how long it takes for your camera to "read" the light and actually take the picture. If your press the shutter as soon as you see the light from the firework and the camera takes a long time to take the picture, you might get a picture of the smoke that is in the place the firework was. You might have to anticipate the flash and actually click the shutter before the firework "blasts" to get a pciture of it.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I forgot, use a 2-sec timer (or less, if available) to avoid the shakes when you press the shutter button.

 

[MissionMouse]

Here is a good link to learn how to shoot digital photos of fireworks from a very good photography institute

New York Institute of Photography

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Thank you, MissionMouse.

Please note, however, the aperture : ISO relationship can't really be followed because it uses prosumer dSLR as a baseline. For smaller point and shoot, I personally recommend use the smallest ISO possible (usualy ISO 50 or 80) at f/8 with 1 sec to 1.3 sec shutter speed.

 

[cseca]

Wow!
Thanks everyone.
Now I have to really learn how to change Aperture and Focus on my computer...

I guess there's no better place to try than Disney...

 

[scrappinmom]

I have a canon digital camera and there is a setting on it for fireworks. It works great, I tried it out on the fourth of July. Maybe yours has this settin too.

I have the digi rebel...is there a fireworks setting??? I have no idea..where did you find this?

 

[WeLubDeeDub]

The Digital Rebel does not have a fireworks setting (at least my XT doesn't). I used the shutter priority setting, and used a 1.3 to 2 second shutter speed at ISO400. The aperture usually set itself around F7-F8. I need to post my pics on pbase so that I can share them with you all.

The flash needs to be off, and you definitely need to use a tripod. Maybe you can find ours that I left on the monorail.

 

[deedeew80]

What about those of us who don't have a digital camera??!! I have a 35mm zoom camera, takes pretty decent photos, but at times can come out a little blurry. Fireworks definately don't come out! I have an automatic flash, but I guess I can try turning it off. I don't know a lot about cameras.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Digital or 35mm or APS work in a very similar way.

My favourite setting:
1 seconds
f/16
ISO 100

 

[mking624]

What about those of us who don't have a digital camera??!! I have a 35mm zoom camera, takes pretty decent photos, but at times can come out a little blurry. Fireworks definately don't come out! I have an automatic flash, but I guess I can try turning it off. I don't know a lot about cameras.

We don't have a digital camera either...we have 35mm zoom. Ours is automatic flash, so we have to manually turn off the flash. I highly recommend turning the flash off.

 

[jdonat]

Here's what I've done for years... set the shutter speed to 1/60th of
a second. (this is about the slowest speed that you can hand hold a camera).
Set the camera to shutter priority if you have a camera that lets you. My
Canon S50 has that, so I'm sure that a digital Rebel will.
Turn off flash.

Watch fireworks. Take picture. You should get good pictures. I need to get
my Wishes stuff from last year on the Web so people can see how good they
are.

John