How to shoot fireworks

[Cargo]

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.


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

thank you for your help, . that's really good info and that's one godo advice without asking me to get a tripod. Thanks so much

this is the type of help i need, . . general info about what to set exposure or shutter or ISO. That helps me a lot!

 

[Cargo]

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.

ugh, . now i'm kinda, . . mad, . . I'm not choosing to not listen. I recognize that getting a TRIPOD is the BEST THING TO DO FOR FIREWORK PICTURSE. but i might not get one becuase i don't know if i want to get a tripod, waste my money, bring it around, and set it up, etc, etc. I'm not a professional photographer. I'm not NOT listening. And again, i did learn from this thread that A TRIPOD IS THE BEST SINGLE THING TO DO TO IMPROVE YOUR FIREOWRK PICTURES. buttttt, i'm weighing my options of getting a tripod for better pictures or NOT getting a tripod and getting okay pictures.

Yes it is a waste of time for me to get only 10 pictures out of 200 but thats just a rough number, . . that's why i'm asking you guys to help me., . . is there no other advice i can get from you guys but that i need a tripod. Its sad that some people choose to help but come off really arrogant about their knowledge.

anyway, . . . thanks a lot for the help you guys have given me, . but i think i'm just going to take firework pictures now on my camera with whatever i can and the other advice that people have given me. If they dont' work, then too bad, . . i didnt' get a tripod. BUt i guess that's just the way things are

and i'm sorry, . . . if i bursted, . . but that's just my thoughts

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Cargo, don't go away mad. This is one of the FAQ around here.

The big issue with taking pictures of ANYTHING moving is that you will get blur much of the time. Doubly so if the camera moves as well as the object you're photographing. It's a near impossiblity to get good shots. So one trick is to keep the camera very still. That's where the tripod comes in - because short of using that, it's difficult to keep it really still. (You could try leaning it on a railing or trashcan, but it's likely to fall over by itself.)

Now nobody's expecting you to carry a huge tripod around. Many of us don't, either. But they make these tiny little tripods (which cost under $20) that are even smaller than a small pair of scissors that can fit right in your pocket, purse or camera pouch. You just screw it into the bottom of your camera just before the show, place it on a trashcan, and you're good to go. That's what people are talking about, not some gargantuous thing.

Good luck. Unfortunately, there's no magic bullet here. Just knowledge (which people are trying to share) and practice.

 

[Master Mason]

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

We aren't suggesting a big tripod. Something like this would probably work just fine for you http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...anford_MINIPOD3_Minipod3_Tabletop_Tripod.html

It folds to 6 inches and weighs only 6 oz, you can set it up on a garbage can. With that and useing the time delay on your camera, you'll get a lot more than 10 keepers.

 

[PixieDust32]

I learned the hard way. I didn't take my small tripod on my last trip to the parks and all my fireworks pictures looked horrible, blur and horrible
So now I know, if I want good pics I need the tripod. The gorilla one is not too expensive and it looks great.


Good luck

 

[PixieDust32]

 

[Cargo]

ok guys, . . Let me just apologize, . . i was kind of at the end of my string and felt attacked previously, . . i had a bad day

i REALLY appreciate the help and i will SERIOUSLY consider buying a tripod

but, . it's possible that it will be the next trip before i can take beautiful fireworks pictures

I'm going to disney in 3 days now, . . . haha

 

[Cargo]

We aren't suggesting a big tripod. Something like this would probably work just fine for you http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...anford_MINIPOD3_Minipod3_Tabletop_Tripod.html

It folds to 6 inches and weighs only 6 oz, you can set it up on a garbage can. With that and useing the time delay on your camera, you'll get a lot more than 10 keepers.

thank you for that site, . . . . it looks like a good idea and a good buy there, . . ok i'll go check some out tomorrow and see if any is available for me. If not then that's that, . . . tripods for next trip haha

 

[Master Mason]

thank you for that site, . . . . it looks like a good idea and a good buy there, . . ok i'll go check some out tomorrow and see if any is available for me. If not then that's that, . . . tripods for next trip haha

No worries, most places that sell cameras should have something similar, and around the same price. I think the one I have cost me 10 bucks at the time. If you can get one you'll be pleasently surprised with your outcome. If not, as you said, just another reason to go back

 

[Pea-n-Me]

They sell them at the camera stores in the parks, too.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Okay, can someone please explain to me their thoughts on ISO for fireworks. If you go to the How to shoot fireworks stickey, it recommends shooting as low as possible but there are rather nice pics with 1600 ISO!!! Can someone explain the contradiction to me?

 

[Jengonz1982]

Hey Everyone,
I used my mom's Kodak easy share camera. I don't remember the model number but its just a reg point and shoot dig camera.
Some of them came out good,most of them were blurry though.

Feel free to move the thread if its in the wrong place. I couldn't find out where to post them

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[ghost1000]

I think the high iso shots are probably quick shutter speeds that freeze everything while being handheld and low ISO shots are for longer shots on a tripod that show "more" of the fireworks.

 

[handicap18]

If your going to shoot fireworks handheld then you'll need to use a high ISO to help gather as much light as you can. Since you'll only be able to get about 1/30th or so shutter speed you need the high ISO to help compensate.

With a tripod, you can hold the camera still with no issues so you use a low ISO with long shutter speeds (upwards of 10 seconds) and also it cuts down on noise. If your using a tripod for this type of subject then the shutter speed is what gets you the extra light.

 

[msr709]

I know my husband came across this same problem for our trip last December. He recently purchased a Pentax K100D after the advice of some great guys on here, but was having some difficulties keeping it steady. Having said that, the best investment (other than the camera) that he bought was a tripod and remote. The tripod was less than $100 and the remote was less than $10. He also had some problems with bulb mode, so before the show started he set up his tripod, chose a 2 sec shutter, and then lined everything up to where he wanted, ie focus, exposure, etc and then LISTENED TO THE MUSIC. Disney puts a lot of work and effort into their shows, and one of the biggest components is the music. If you pay attention to the music you can time it pretty well on when to snap the pictures. Here's a couple of his:

Thanks Pooh Girl, I'm going online now and see if I can find a remote, I didn't know they were that cheap, I honestly didn't even know they existed LOL Thanks again!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thank you

 

[Cargo]

GOOD NEWS
talked it out w/my friends
turns out their sister has one and i convinced them to bring it!!

i'll be back with some pictures on june 8th

thanks for all your good advices~

 

[seashoreCM]

Many fireworks have tiny isolated moving points of light. If you use a fast shutter speed you get a short trail. If you use a slow shutter speed you get a long trail. You choose the shutter speed depending on how you want the picture to look artistically. If you want to capture the entire trails you may need a shutter speed of more than two whole seconds. The exposure itself (i.e. to yield the best brightness and color) depends on ISO and aperture a lot and shutter speed very little compared with most other photography subjects.

More on the photographer's hat...

Professional photographers do shoot and shoot expecting that only a few of the pictures, although usually more than ten in 200, will be worthy of exhibition and/or sold to their clients.

That flexible tripod pictured above looks intriguing but I'm not sure about how long it will last after numerous flexings. It might be one of those things that you expect to replace every so often.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Great illustrations, Pixiedust.

 

[Lancer]

[QUOTE

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

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.[/QUOTE]


Handicap18,

I have been experimenting with wishes on the last couple of trips. Each trip I pick a different location. On the last trip it was at the ferry landing at the TTC. On the next trip I want to try a spot similar to yours above. Rather than a trash can it looks like you are in the middle of main street across from the ice cream shop. Is this the case? If so, how successful were you in keeping the crowd from bumping into your tripod? Also what lens did you use for this pic? Did you use the bulb setting with a cable release?

Thanks,

Lancer