How to shoot fireworks

[Groucho]

I wouldn't think setting shutter priority would guarantee a decent exposure - won't the camera take a meter reading before opening the shutter, so that if there's a big fireworks burst, it will be overexposed? Conversely, if you open during a big burst, it'll be underexposed afterwards?

If you have a cable release, I really think bulb is the way to go - it's easy for you to time just when you want the shutter to open or close, in order to catch a full burst (or whatever effect you're going for.)

 

[wdwensel]

I wouldn't think setting shutter priority would guarantee a decent exposure - won't the camera take a meter reading before opening the shutter, so that if there's a big fireworks burst, it will be overexposed? Conversely, if you open during a big burst, it'll be underexposed afterwards?

If you have a cable release, I really think bulb is the way to go - it's easy for you to time just when you want the shutter to open or close, in order to catch a full burst (or whatever effect you're going for.)

Yeah, I admit I wasn't using the right settings using shutter priority, but at the time I didn't know better (I've had the DSLR for 10 months now). I'm very much looking forward to my next fireworks show to see what I can do when I'm using what I've learned since then.

 

[Cargo]

OK so i know DISNEY IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF CRAZIEST FIREWORKS ON EARTH, . . and i know a lot of you agree with me

anyway, . i'm no good with the camera but i just wanted to know what settings will make it easier for me to take a good picture

Btw, when i say i'm no good with the camera, i just mean in terms of setting ISO and schtuff like that, . . I"m good at taking pictures (specifically, when it comes to the artistic factor) haha (i'm quite artistic and i'll prove that when i come back from my trip)

but neway, my camera model is CASIO exilim EX-Z1200

here's the site for it:

http://exilim.casio.com/browse_camer...zoom/EX-Z1200/

check out specifications


btw, it does have a 'bestshot' in it, but i've never tried taking best shot pics for fireworks and i'm not sure i want to risk testing it out while i'm watching the most beautiful fireworks displays of my life!!

also, . try to dumb it down for me, . . . i'm not Camera Lingo Specialist!

 

[Cargo]

oh let me explain why i dont' use best shot

maybe i'm just ignorant abt photography but, . it seems to me best shot takes too long to FINISH take the pic which leads me to miss A LOT OF PHOTO OP OPPORTUNTIIES, . . And then, whent he picture comes out, it's BLURRY

am i doing it wrong?

 

[Master Mason]

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

 

[PixieDust32]

oh let me explain why i dont' use best shot

maybe i'm just ignorant abt photography but, . it seems to me best shot takes too long to FINISH take the pic which leads me to miss A LOT OF PHOTO OP OPPORTUNTIIES, . . And then, whent he picture comes out, it's BLURRY

am i doing it wrong?

You need a tripod, the hand shake makes the pictures blurry.

 

[Cargo]

hahaha well i guess i'll have t just try and stay nonshaking, .. can't bring a tripod,. . . don't even have one

neway thanks for directing me to the right place~

 

[seashoreCM]

Preview the picture after you take it to see that the fireworks are the proper color. If the fireworks are unusually pastel but still bright, try decreasing the ISO. Then if you got the ISO down to 100, minusing the exposure compensation comes next if needed.

The combination of ISO and exposure compensation may be different if you start taking the picture after the fireworks start to appear versus start taking the picture (long exposure) while the sky is still black. So you will need two of these combinations at your fingertips.

i'm not sure i want to risk testing it out while i'm watching the most beautiful fireworks displays of my life!!!

The nice thing about a digital camera is that you can experiment and test out things all you want without "wasting money on film".

You would do well to set aside another evening to just enjoy the fireworks. Very few people can wear a photographer's hat and a guest's hat at the same time.

(Don't get me talking about the parent's hat which too can only be worn alone.)

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[DizneyNutz]

hahaha well i guess i'll have t just try and stay nonshaking, .. can't bring a tripod,. . . don't even have one

neway thanks for directing me to the right place~

You can get a tabletop tripod that can be placed on a trashcan or something stable. It is small and in expensive. There is no way you will be able to hand hold your camera if you are trying to capture the burst and trails.

 

[Cargo]

ok i guess i'll go take a look at it, . . . But i really doubt i'll get a tripod. Hmm, after i take pics, maybe i'll post some

My friend's camera is really good, . . . and she's taken fireworks with it and some have turned out really nice before. Mind you it's nothing like professional photography but enough to wow~

thanks for all the good advice people~

 

[tjl1388]

No tripod no remote release/timer= MAYBE 1 good shot out of 40-50

Tripod, no remote release/timer= 10 good shots out of 40-50

Tripod, remote release/timer= 25-30 good shots out of 40-50

Numbers don't lie sorry.

 

[Cargo]

hahahah last time we were at a fireworks show, we took nearly 200 pics EACH, hahahaha so i'm sure we'll be able to find at least 10 good fireworks pic. We use digital with large memory

and trust me, . . the cameras are good, . . . again, it's not professional quality but they do a really good job

 

[Master Mason]

hahahah last time we were at a fireworks show, we took nearly 200 pics EACH, hahahaha so i'm sure we'll be able to find at least 10 good fireworks pic. We use digital with large memory

and trust me, . . the cameras are good, . . . again, it's not professional quality but they do a really good job

I am confused, you come and ask how to get good firework pictures, and everyone tells you that the single best thing you can do is to use a tripod. Then you say your fine with 10 out of 200 pictures, so I am unclear on why your asking how to get better ones.

 

[Bete]

I am confused, you come and ask how to get good firework pictures, and everyone tells you that the single best thing you can do is to use a tripod. Then you say your fine with 10 out of 200 pictures, so I am unclear on why your asking how to get better ones.

Fireworks is probably one of the hardest things to get good, consistent quality pictures. I feel this site has been wonderful in directing others on how to do a better job with their pictures. It's sad that some choose not to listen to get the best results. What a waste of time to do 200 pictures to maybe get 10 that are acceptable.

Myself, I've gotten into higher resolution with video and doing fireworks. It seems easier to me and better; because, you get the full impact of the fireworks.

 

[elizke]

Another thread on the subject....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1800525

I have had some success, and some failure with my manually controllable point and shoots. I posted some where I was successful in that thread.

I'm not a tripod person either, but there are other ways. If you can prop your elbows on something, use the optical viewfinder, and steady the camera against your face, it can do a pretty good job. Take a breath before the shot too. Sounds silly, but it can work well.

 

[handicap18]

You need a tripod to get the best results. You can get decent results handheld though.

Here is one handheld. ISO 1600, 1/30th second shutter at f/4:

Then this one with a tripod. ISO 200, 6.4 second shutter at f/11:

Anything slower that 1/30th or so you'll need a camera with some sort of Image Stabilization. Even then you'll only be able to get down to about a 1/15th sec shutter. You'll still need to use a high ISO, but that will introduce a lot of extra noise and make the picture look very grainy.

When I take Wishes photos at WDW. I put a small tripod ontop of a trashcan. The tripod is only about 13" tall and fits into a backpack and its very light. Last trip I took about 45 fireworks shots and got about a dozen or so that came out good.

After a tripod, the next important thing is timing.

 

[PixieDust32]

hahaha well i guess i'll have t just try and stay nonshaking, .. can't bring a tripod,. . . don't even have one

neway thanks for directing me to the right place~

Good Luck on that, but it doesn't work like that. You want good fireworks pics you DO need a tripod, if you can't take bring one, then you'll have blurry pics.

 

[PixieDust32]

You need a tripod to get the best results. You can get decent results handheld though.

Here is one handheld. ISO 1600, 1/30th second shutter at f/4:

Then this one with a tripod. ISO 200, 6.4 second shutter at f/11:

Anything slower that 1/30th or so you'll need a camera with some sort of Image Stabilization. Even then you'll only be able to get down to about a 1/15th sec shutter. You'll still need to use a high ISO, but that will introduce a lot of extra noise and make the picture look very grainy.

When I take Wishes photos at WDW. I put a small tripod ontop of a trashcan. The tripod is only about 13" tall and fits into a backpack and its very light. Last trip I took about 45 fireworks shots and got about a dozen or so that came out good.

After a tripod, the next important thing is timing.

Thanks for the tips! I love your pics.

 

[PixieDust32]

This is the first of a series of posts focused on how to shoot different shows, attractions, rides, and events at Disney Theme Parks. The purpose is to help people learn how to shoot those things with their camera and what they can reasonably expect from their camera. If it works as well as I hope, it can also be a way for people to see what they might get for spending more money and learning time on different cameras.

On this forum, we run the gamut from cell phone cameras to high end DSLRs with rediculously large lenses. I'm hoping that we'll get a variety of posts from people with cameras in all ranges. Even if you feel that your photos don't measure up to what others have posted, please post some samples anyway. We're all at different levels of gear and skill and we can all learn from each other. A typical S3 user will probably learn more from your S3 shot than they will from Oblio's latest masterpiece.

Other posts in this series include:
How To Shoot: The Safari Ride
How To Shoot: Parades
How To Shoot: Indoor Shows
How To Shoot: Cinderella's Castle

This first subject is probably the most asked about photo opportunity on this forum. How do I shoot fireworks? Sadly for me, it's also one for which I don't have any decent digital photos, so I'll be primarily a spectator.

Please post your tips on how to shoot fireworks along with examples of shots where you followed those tips. Don't be afraid to show screwups either. We can learn just as much from seeing what not to do and we can from seeing what to do.

Thanks for all the tips. I love your pictures.

 

[Cargo]

I am confused, you come and ask how to get good firework pictures, and everyone tells you that the single best thing you can do is to use a tripod. Then you say your fine with 10 out of 200 pictures, so I am unclear on why your asking how to get better ones.

Sorry to confuse you and i totally recognize what you guys are suggesting to me. But i'm not sure if i'm ready to waste and lug around a tripod on my trip just for the sake of better pictures. I was wondering if there was anyway to do it without the tripod. If there isn't, . . . i guess i'm stuck with bad pictures until i get a tripod and i understand that. I said that i'm fine with 10 out of 200 pictures b/c 10 pictures for me that's good is better than no pictures at all. I'm not a professional photographer soo, . .yeah

I really appreciate all you guys help, . . . . and i will consider getting a tripod but i'm just expressing that i might not get one. I"m sure you guys are all excellent photographers but like many, i'm just a tourist

The thing is, . . is getting a tripod the ONLY wya to take "okay" pictures of fireworks? If it is then it's okay, . . . I don't think i'm ready to get that serious with fireworks photography. But please haha u guys are making me feel bad for asking this question . I didn't know it would cause so much trouble and strong feelings