Fireworks

[dixonduke]

I was hoping that some of you could help in preparing me for taking photographs of the firework show that is coming up on the holiday weekend.

Where I live (The Woodlands), each year they put on a pretty spectacular show. This year I would like to try and capture the show in pictures, but am aware that I am in for a challenge.

Low Light calls far a Slow Shutter Speed right? But I think that would end up with blurry / streaking light trails from the fireworks.

So speed up the shutter speed, which I think will end up with under exposed pictures

So, shutter speed is speeded up, and I open up the aperture, but will this not now OVER expose the pictures?:headbang:

Anyone have any tips?

Thanks in advance.
Duke

[M38A1]

I've been poking around on this subject a bit and came across this using google for "photography shooting fireworks". Seems to cover the bases.

http://www.dphotojournal.com/how-to-shoot-fireworks/

http://www.dobsoncentral.com/articles/fireworks.htm

Most of my stuff has been with the P&S on Auto and did fairly well. This year will be my test to see if I can pull it off with the DSLR.

.

[dixonduke]

Thanks Scott.

I really did google prior to posting, all I got was a bunch of sites that were bragging on the final results, but now "how to"..... grrrrr....

Your google powers are strong my friend...

[M38A1]

Here's another one I had bookmarked. When I found it a while back I thought "Gee, section 3's picture looks familiar". Turns out, it's Lake Austin just below the Pennybacker bridge looking at the golf course.

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-fireworks

Re-reading these links all reinforces a few key points to focus on.

.

[DFW_Warrior]

I could teach you how to setup the show and shoot them off... but photos....... not really.

[Tracker]

Thanks for the tips... :thumb:

http://photos.leavelles.net/photos/582175148_CkKUM-L.jpg (http://photos.leavelles.net/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=8793632&AlbumKey=xc6BQ)

[dixonduke]

Great Capture.

I just got back from the show, and I am very happy with what I was able to get. I even have one that although maybe not the most technically correct photograph, it is probably my favorite of all (900+) I took tonight. I am uploading to smugmug now and will share a few before too long.

[Tracker]

That's amazing. Looks like some oriental lion's face. Did it look that way live, or just captured on film.

[dixonduke]

It is a smiley face. that is how it looked captured with the long exposure, in real life the smiley face started small, and grew larger (increased diameter) and went out.

This one was taken at f8, ISO100, 4.5 secs @ 24mm.

http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582211614_uGRkS-XL.jpg

[dixonduke]

f11, iso100, 2.5sec @50mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582212094_x62sw-XL.jpg

[dixonduke]

f5.6, 2.4 sec @ 42mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582216279_NXR8U-XL.jpg

[Tourmeister]

Looks like it was pretty windy down that way... Our show was about 15 minutes long. Pretty good for a small town like Huntsville. The finale was quick, maybe a minute or so, but it was actually pretty cool. The color variety was really good. I did not try to take any shots, but there was a lady next to me trying to get shots with a P&S for a photography class!

[dixonduke]

The wind was moving at a pretty good clip. More so than I was expecting. The wind would move the tripod and I ended up hanging my backpack off of the tripod to give it more weight, which seemed to really help in aiding stability.

Our show was around 25 min, the finale was maybe 2 mins... I videoed it but forgot to open up the aperture so it is a little dark, but still ok in my book. I will post a link up to it when it is finally loaded.

All of these are RAW files that have had no post processing (but for a crop on the smiley face). I am sure I will be up for some time tonight playing with these in Lightroom... :rider:

Brief video of the very beginning of the show (http://duked.smugmug.com/gallery/8793574_w3fyh/1/#582171528_2nFJq-A-LB)

[dixonduke]

I had my camera set to BULB mode for the shutter release and used my wired remote. I played with the f stop probably more than I should have, but for my first ever attempt at capturing fireworks, I am pleased. I would enjoy reading what critiques you all may have (Sharkey, STScott are you listening?)

See the entire gallery here.... (http://duked.smugmug.com/gallery/8793574_w3fyh)

100% Crop, f11, iso100, 1.2 sec, 42mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582274045_PL6Ko-XL.jpg

Link to a longer video, from the middle of the show. (http://duked.smugmug.com/gallery/8793574_w3fyh/1/#582292245_s5yop-A-LB) Again, I forgot to open up the f-STOP and it is a little dark. Its so/so (ok?) I guess.

f11, iso100, 5.8sec
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582262790_HuTAe-XL.jpg

f5, iso100, 1sec
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582269243_B57Xg-XL.jpg

f8, iso100, 1.8sec
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582266509_XGzBP-XL.jpg

f11, iso100, 1.8sec
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582263581_9GeRA-XL.jpg

f5.6, iso100, 2.1sec
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582228682_hWttt-X2.jpg

f11, iso100, 3.5 sec, 200mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582247792_nWmNW-XL.jpg

f11, iso100, 7.3 sec, 46mm
http://duked.smugmug.com/photos/582243003_g5mcx-XL.jpg

Link to video of the finale (http://duked.smugmug.com/gallery/8793574_w3fyh/1/#582305838_2dTyR-A-LB), same story as the previous two videos... aperture is to stopped down, I should have opened it up some so it would not have been so dark....

[dixonduke]

.

[sharkey]

Nice shots. Looks like you learned what you needed to know. 900 shots????

Geez, I don't even take that many doing a wedding. Thank God for flash cards instead of film! :mrgreen:

[sharkey]

Thanks for the tips... :thumb:

http://photos.leavelles.net/photos/582175148_CkKUM-L.jpg (http://photos.leavelles.net/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=8793632&AlbumKey=xc6BQ)


Nice composition.

[Tracker]

Nice composition.

Thanks. Throw enough spaghetti on the wall and some will stick. :lol2:

[Brotha J]

Also, part of taking a good picture is getting a really great seat...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0683.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0683.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0173.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0173.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0170.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0170.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0169.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0169.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0044.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0044.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0773.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0773.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0772.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0772.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0771.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0771.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0719.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0719.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0718.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0718.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/th_DSC_0717.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brothaj55/TWTex%20Stuff/?action=view&current=DSC_0717.jpg)

Nikon D80: Shutter speed priority at 1600, manual focus...

Taken by an amatuer wannabe photographer from a moving freaking boat about 1/2 mile from the pilot dock where the fireworks were being lit!