How to shoot fireworks

[Belle Ella]

What are some good tips to shooting fireworks? I haven't had the opportunity to get any "practice" time in as far as fireworks are concerned since I got my SLR and would love to learn a couple of tips/tricks to capturing good images for my trip in a month.

 

[MissionMouse]

You might review these two sources to get an idea of what is involved:
http://www.nyip.com/ezine/holidays/firewks.html
http://www.nyip.com/ezine/holidays/digfirewks.html

 

[ukcatfan]

This is a very regular question on here, so we gave it a link in the Photo Techniques sticky

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

 

[kenny]

What are some of the spots people prefer to shoot firework pics at MK.

I tried the path in front of the plaza towards the rose garden/tomorrowland. While I initially thought it a great spot and got there early so I had a clear shot, from that angle the fireworks were mainly to the right of the castle.

Also tried infront of Casey's but the bottom portion of the pics has too many people standing in front (maybe I need a taller tripod).

Just wondering what other area's people have used.

Of course that is if you don't feel like you are giving away your secret spot.

Thanks

 

[Todd_H]

One spot I like to shoot Wishes from is on the other side of the street from Casey's, right beside a trash can. There is a street vendor cart about 10 or 15 yards up on the right from this spot. However, it's kind of tough to get a clean shot of the castle with no one's head in it from here.

25mm (40mm crop eq), f/11, 4 sec., ISO 200

 

[Suburbanmom]

Looks like our spot was similar to the one above. For the parade, we had seats in front of the bakery. Before the fireworks started, I moved to the center of the street. I had my DH and and sons stand in front of me until Wishes started, then move away, so I had some open area in front of the camera.

Nikon D50; ISO 200; 3.4 seconds; f/11

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

My favorite is in front of the crystal palace, I put my tripod in the bushes on the other side of the railing so it does not get kicked!....

Second favorite is on the terrace near tomorrowland noodle station...

Your going to want to get to the terrace 1.5 hours before wishes, it a very popular spot!

 

[handicap18]

I like just up from Casey's right next to a trashcan near the Info board. Got that spot on 2 different trips:

June 2006:

Dec 2007 (MVMCP Holiday Wishes):

 

[JoWiJo]

Clearly one problem that happens frequently is that people get in the way of fireworks. I don't get to go WDW very often, so I want to make the most of my opportunities when I go there this summer. Since the railroad at Main Street U.S.A. is elevated, I'd like to know if there is a place to set up my camera and tripod and use the powerful zoom on my camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28) to compensate for the distance from the castle. If so, would you recommend this as a good location?

 

[amykay9377]

Clearly one problem that happens frequently is that people get in the way of fireworks. I don't get to go WDW very often, so I want to make the most of my opportunities when I go there this summer. Since the railroad at Main Street U.S.A. is elevated, I'd like to know if there is a place to set up my camera and tripod and use the powerful zoom on my camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28) to compensate for the distance from the castle. If so, would you recommend this as a good location?

I've read that it's not really a good locale because they don't shut down the lights on that third of the street, or at the Station itself--you may get interference.

(I am SO not a pro photog, so I could be steering you away from great pix....Anyone else shoot from here?)

 

[boBQuincy]

Clearly one problem that happens frequently is that people get in the way of fireworks. I don't get to go WDW very often, so I want to make the most of my opportunities when I go there this summer. Since the railroad at Main Street U.S.A. is elevated, I'd like to know if there is a place to set up my camera and tripod and use the powerful zoom on my camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28) to compensate for the distance from the castle. If so, would you recommend this as a good location?

A few notes:
people get there *early*! Even on a very quiet February evening folks had already taken most of the front row spots by 6:15, for the 8:00 "Wishes".
The flag pole is right in the middle of the shot, it generally is only taken down for a few days around the Christmas Parade taping.
The lights may be an issue.

Here is a view of the proposed shot:

 

[JoWiJo]

Thanks for the info to the both of you. The photo is especially informative. Not a place I'd want to take photos of the fireworks, I suppose, but your photo certainly stands out on its own merits.

 

[Groucho]

Clearly one problem that happens frequently is that people get in the way of fireworks. I don't get to go WDW very often, so I want to make the most of my opportunities when I go there this summer. Since the railroad at Main Street U.S.A. is elevated, I'd like to know if there is a place to set up my camera and tripod and use the powerful zoom on my camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28) to compensate for the distance from the castle. If so, would you recommend this as a good location?

The zoom would not be necessary (not wanted, probably)... because you're farther away, the fireworks will appear much larger in your photos and the castle will appear smaller. Remember that most of the fireworks are shot off from a good ways behind the entire park, they actually are not near the castle.

In other words, the distance will "flatten" the image; note in Bob's photo how short Main St and the hub look compared to the area in the foreground.

 

[Cap'n Keel]

Moonlit night - couple of chaise lounges or curled up in a hammock for two - on the beach at the Polynesian - mixed drinks in hand - thankful not to be sardine on main street - priceless.

 

[WillowBelle]

I staked my claim of spot just behind the partners statue. Next trip I'm going to back down Main St. a bit and see how those turned out.

 

[WillowBelle]

Was wondering if anyone has taken photos of the fireworks with a fisheye lens. I am renting a Canon 15mm/f2.8 lens to use on my 50D for my upcoming trip to the world.

I have never used one of these lenses before. Am renting it over Easter weekend, while we camp, to try to get a feel for it. I have a Lomo fisheye (35mm) toy camera, so get the jist of how they work, just curious if this would be a cool effect to use with the lens.

If anyone has taken photos with a similar lens, would you mind posting it so I can have an idea of what they look like. Also open to any suggestions how to use the lens while I'm on my trip.

Thanks so much!

 

[ukcatfan]

My guess is that you would need to get really close to the action b/c otherwise you will end up with too much background and not enough fireworks.

 

[jann1033]

not the fisheye pro groucho is but i find i like the results better when there is a strong linear aspect in the photo to get the effect of the curve. ie a shore line, mono tracks, something that will give an obvious distortion. also to really get a good fisheye i like it closer to 10( mine is the tokina 10-17) 17 on my crop camera isn't all that fishy to me
like ukcatfan said you might have a giant street and lose much of the effect of the fireworks. i think the main attention would be more on the street, the fireworks more of a "also in this photo are some fireworks"

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Do any of you 'clean up' the background areas of your fireworks photos? I noticed that some of your photos are so nice. The background is often all black and the fireworks look like they are coming out of the computer screen! I'm just wondering because in my photos I see a lot of smoke from previously shot fireworks, and it seems to distract from the photo. If you do clean up your photos, how do you do it? Do you simply increase the blacks in the RAW file or do you clone them out or??? If you don't have the RAW file, how would you correct this?
Thanks for any tips!
DSF

 

[ukcatfan]

Some of it can simply be the luck of how the breeze is blowing relative to where you are.