How to shoot fireworks

[NateNLogansDad]

Code, thanks for the advise! I'll have those saved before I get to the parks that morning! Guys, thanks a bunch, seriously

 

[3prettyprincesses]

My DH just got me this camera because I couldn't stand my Canon Powershot anymore!

I'm having trouble figuring out which setting will allow me to capture sharper fireworks images. Any ideas? Thanks!!

 

[BBQMonster]

My DH just got me this camera because I couldn't stand my Canon Powershot anymore!

I'm having trouble figuring out which setting will allow me to capture sharper fireworks images. Any ideas? Thanks!!

Have you tried the Fireworks setting in the Scene Mode?

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh my gosh! I had NO idea that I could scroll through settings once I'm in the scene mode! Wow! It does lots more than fireworks too! Thanks so much! Can you tell I just got it?

 

[YesDear]

A number of you post on this board the question of how to take pictures of fireworks at Disney. We all have told you to do it you will need a tripod, a shutter release, patience, and a DSLR and lens you can set to manual. We have told you it will take a 1-2 second exposure to get good pictures. Well we lied to you sort of and I proved it last night by mistake!

DW and I were at the MK. We met Gdad and his amazing family and had a great time doing some stuff with them. I had brought my shutter release and tripod expecting to put it in a locker and getting it for wishes. Well later that evening I was too tired or lazy to go and get it, so I just said I would watch the fireworks. At that point I did not care if I took shots or not. We did not find the Gdad crew again so DW and I ended up at the popcorn stand at the tomorrowland side just before the circle at the castle.

I had my camera with at 10.5 on it and the iso cranked to 1250. I set the meter on spot meter and took a couple of shots of the castle at about 1/50 of a second at f5.6. Checking the image at 100% I thought not too bad. I knew the big flashes of the fireworks would put off pretty good light. I then proceeded to shoot a lot of shots. Having seen Wishes many times I had a good feeling on when to take the shots. The one below is just one of them. The original image is pretty small because of the 10.5, however, cropped to 50% I think it looks pretty darn good to be a hand held shot of fireworks.

I will post more as I get a chance, but it just proves in photography there are many different ways to get a good shot. Play, experiment. That is part of what makes digital so cool. Of course not everyone can crank their iso to 1250 and not get a great deal of noise and the 10.5 is an unconventional lens to take fireworks with. Were it not for the little girls head in the way, it would be even better!

 

[handicap18]

I always say it depends on what kind of firework pictures you want.

Ideally the tripod with remote shutter is best. Thats is with or without a dSLR.

Because of their size, PnS camera's are hard to get the kind of shot you got. The sensor is VERY small and many don't go very high on the ISO. Those that do have tons of noise. The D300 at 1250 is better than any PnS at 800.

Your shot is very good no doubt.

I also agree that people can get very nice fireworks shots with a little patience and some practice even they don't have a tripod and are using a PnS. Timing has A LOT to do with it. Knowledge of their camera is the big key though. Those with PnS camera's that have IS/VR can do and have done very well with the short burst type shots handheld.

Nice work. 1/8th shutter speed handheld is not easy to pull off.

 

[Quicklabs]

Wow! Great shot, John. That castle is so crisp and clean! I am really, really enjoying your newest postings. I didn't think to try to crank up the ISO (these at 200)--I was so worried about noise, but I could have gone a little higher with my handhelds. Both these taken with the dirty thirty, but not nearly with as nice a result. (My hands just aren't that steady yet)
Note from one newbie to the others: It also helps to have John's technique if you are going to go without tripod, remote, etc....LOL
BTW, with all that great glass you're carrying, how much did you end up using the 18-200 this trip?

 

[YesDear]

Here are a few more.

I agree that the tripod and shutter release is best. I was actually surprised at what I got. I had an 8gb card and figured what the hey!

At first I was wondering what all the small lights were in the audience until I realized it was their video and camera screens!

I really like this one, not so much for the fireworks but more for the audience in the ambient light!

Quicklabs: While I have it with me, It has not come out of the bag. I purposefully wanted to really give the 50mm 1.2 a try and took the 10.5 and a 60macro for the flowers at flower and garden. I did pull out the 70-200 for pictures from our room at epcot to make wife happy! And yes my bag is heavy this trip!

 

[Todd_H]

I really like this one, not so much for the fireworks but more for the audience in the ambient light!

Love this shot!

 

[handicap18]

Here is one I got with my 18-135 at ISO1600, f/4 and 1/30th with my D50 handheld at Holiday Wishes in '07:

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Does anyone have any pictures of the fireworks from CBR? I heard you can see fireworks from the beaches but wanted to see how good you can see them.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Here is one I got with my 18-135 at ISO1600, f/4 and 1/30th with my D50 handheld at Holiday Wishes in '07:

That shot is amazing... I just bought the 18-135mm lens 2 weeks ago in preparation for my next trip.... I have a D60 and am trying to do some research on firework shots... Last trip, I got some decent shots, but would love to improve.... Here are a few shots I took last year at Epcot and at MK during the MNSSHP... I was sitting too close to the castle thinking it would be better, and these are on night mode, quick burst, and without a tripod... I didn't bring a tripod last trip, and so most shots of the fireworks came out blurry... I am trying to learn about Aperture and Shutter speed settings and figure out what i need to use to get the best shots... I will be doing a lot of reading before I go back this year...

 

[boBQuincy]

I have long maintained that fireworks photos are not a problem without a tripod, unless we want those long trails. Otherwise some good fireworks photos can be taken either handheld or with a monopod.

This one is 1/8 s, f/4.5, 22mm, ISO 800, *P mode*, ec -2

 

[JR6ooo4]

I'm sure there will be better, hehehehehe.

It was my first trip to Disney and just about my first time holding a camera. We heard a noise one night when we were back at the room early. Went out on the balcony and watched through the trees.

Mikeeee

 

[Golf4food]

How good? Eh, not great. Besides, Illuminations isn't exactly fireworks intensive - nothing at all like Wishes. I don't consider Illuminations a "fireworks" show, truly. You can see the taller works over the top of the trees on the other side of the lake, but you are 1/4 or 1/2 a mile at least from the World Showcase Lagoon - maybe a little further - from the southern beaches of CBR and there are a lot of pine trees in between. It isn't at all like watching Wishes from the Contemporary or anything. Still nice if you want to grab a drink and relax a bit, but certainly not worth going out of your way to do if you have the chance to do something else...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This isn't the greatest quality picture. I was standing at the Jamaica quiet pool when I heard fireworks (I hadn't even realized you could see them from there). So I ran out onto the beach to take some shots, but it seemed like as soon as they started, they stopped, and this was all I got. Here you go, FWIW.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Wait a minute, Mikeee - are you sure you didn't photoshop those in?

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Thanks folks... I was just searching the boards under Resort pictures, and found a link with a movie clip of the fireworks... Seems like you can see a good amount of the fireworks...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spot9008/2572276242/

 

[Tonda]

On July the second, we´re embarking on our third trip to Disneyworld, and this time we thought we shouldn´t miss the fireworks (as for various reasons we have on our earlier trips). Also, a couple of years ago, I bought my fiancee a Canon EOS 20D, but haven´t had the chance to use it on fireworks yet. So, here´s the question: Anybody got any tips on how to take great firework photos?

 

[saturndb]

Check out this great forum thread on how to shot fireworks

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1474329


Dave