night pictures

[jenr812]

Great thread OP I have a Kodak DX7590 that I'm practicing on til our trip. I have definitely learned that stability is key!

 

[disneyworldgirl]

I used a mini tripod for Wishes and set it up on top of a trash can for stability.
I only had one finger on the shutter button and kept my hands off the rest so as not to shake the camera at all! There were a few blurry but extremely happy with most!
One of my pics is in my signature below!

Beautiful pic! And thanks to everybody for all the tips. I'll be practicing my photography skills this summer (hopefully I'll be an expert by the time I get to WDW next year!).

 

[the kabuki]

Thanks guys for the tips!!!

 

[WillCAD]

I used a mini tripod for Wishes and set it up on top of a trash can for stability.
I only had one finger on the shutter button and kept my hands off the rest so as not to shake the camera at all! There were a few blurry but extremely happy with most!
One of my pics is in my signature below!

Bonnie, if your camera has a self-timer, set it for the shortest interval (3 seconds will do it) and use it when making a long-exposure shot with the mini-tripod. The 3-second delay gives the camera a chance to shop vibrating from your finger pressing the shutter release befroe it actually shoots, and will result in a much sharper picture.

You can also use a remote sutter release if your camera has one.

 

[Godwyn]

I really appreciate the tips too. I just bought a Fuji FinePix s3100 and was wanting to take fireworks pictures with, but didnt know excatly how. I never had any luck with my 35mm canon rebel (but i only tried a couple of times). At least with my digital i won't be wasting film.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Bonnie, if your camera has a self-timer, set it for the shortest interval (3 seconds will do it) and use it when making a long-exposure shot with the mini-tripod. The 3-second delay gives the camera a chance to shop vibrating from your finger pressing the shutter release befroe it actually shoots, and will result in a much sharper picture.

You can also use a remote sutter release if your camera has one.

Thanks for the tip.....My camera's a Canon Powershot A95 and I haven't even sat down to see what it does or does not do yet ...I'm not exactly the "sharpest knife in the drawer" when it comes to technology

 

[disneyworldgirl]

I've been considering taking a tripod along, but I'm not sure if I want to be lugging it around (of course, there are always lockers). Also, I'll be getting a new camera sometime in the next few months. My current one is shot (no pun intended).

 

[Kelly Grannell]

On the A95, go to the SCENE mode, and scroll through (using the button next to the LCD) and you'll find "Fireworks" mode and a handful other useful modes.

 

[grimgrinnin]

Good advice so far. As already stated, you either need to crank up the ISO, or get a tripod. Increasing ISO is the least desirable of the 2 options on a point-and-shoot camera. It will increase noise to unacceptable levels. Also, higher ISO will reduce the shutter speed, so you won't get the long trails you see in good fireworks pictures. Also keep in mind the longer the exposure, the more noise you will have.

Definately get a compact tripod. Here's an inexpensive example. This one might be TOO compact. I have this one and it works well. Fits in my backpack and is pretty light. It's a little wobbly with a 20D and 17-40L, but it will work fine with any P&S.

Using a self timer is also a good idea (even with a tripod). Even better is getting a remote cable release for your camera. You can take more shots, and trip the shutter exactly when you want with one of these.

This is a 4 second exposure taken on a tripod with a P&S, so it had a lot of noise. I then used Neat Image to help clean it up (Noise Ninja and Noiseware mentioned by Kelly Grannell are also good). I lost quite a bit of detail in the castle due to the noise reduction.


Just make sure to practice before you go - it's not like you have to pay for film!


grim

 

[crazee4mickey]

Absolutely gorgeous photo!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Oh, my Gosh, grimgrinnin & crazee4mickey -- Your photos are magnificent!!! These are great tips and, it all else fails with my baby tripod and Kodak DX4530, I'll just come back here and stare at your photos!!

 

[disneyaggie]

We have a digital camera & I am not a photographer! Could someone please give me tips on how to take good (not blurred) pictures of the firework shows and more particularly "Spectro"?? Do you use flash or zoom? Thanks for the help!

My best advice to you is to talk with someone at Wolf Camera. The one here has some very savvy camera experts who usually know your camera and what settings are best in what situations.

Not sure where you bought your camera, but if a camera store like Wolf sells it, you can still go in and ask for advice. I have found them VERY helpful! I am still learing about mine and I got mine almost a year ago! I am still one of these old fashioned gals who likes to point and shoot. It seems like these new-fangeled digital cameras has too many buttons and choices.