Fireworks and July 4th

[ashiundar]

Hey all,

Seeing how Independence Day is tomorrow, I thought it would be a good time to discuss your ways of shooting fireworks. I figured this is a good place to post this discussion, since fireworks tend to be up in the air and most visible night, like most celestial objects.

I myself have only shot fireworks a few times, to varying results. I once purchased some fireworks (once again legal in arizona!), got a bit carried away and nearly turned my camera to dust haha.

Anyway, how do you guys shoot fireworks? Any interesting tips, or things to keep in mind?

[DF2gadgetman]

I shot some fireworks last night after the Jacksonville Suns baseball game. The settings I used was: Bulb, ISO 100, and f/13. I also used a tripod, and remote shutter for bulb.

Fireworks 1 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWNBW)

Fireworks 2 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWPfE)

Fireworks 3 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWPvq)

Fireworks 4 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWQRE)

Fireworks 5 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWS1f)

[bonzer2u]

I shot some fireworks last night after the Jacksonville Suns baseball game. The settings I used was: Bulb, ISO 100, and f/13. I also used a tripod, and remote shutter for bulb.

Fireworks 1 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWNBW)

Fireworks 2 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWPfE)

Fireworks 3 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWPvq)

Fireworks 4 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWQRE)

Fireworks 5 (http://flic.kr/p/cqWS1f)

How long were the exposures???

[DF2gadgetman]

How long were the exposures???

You have to experiment with the length of the exposure. I think mine were around 3-5 seconds. If you hold the exposure too long you tend to over expose you photos.

[Invertalon]

Best way to shoot fireworks is a tripod and remote shutter using bulb mode. Use a wide lens and set at hyperfocal distances at around f/8 or so. Sit back in the chair and watch and press your remote when they go up and explode. Excellent results doing it this way for me. Exposures range from 2-8 seconds or so. Excuse the annoying watermark on the last ones... Those are quite old and when I used a terrible large watermark!

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6055/5904571255_da36495ae0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/5904571255/)
IMG_1238.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/5904571255/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5314/5905132642_cd7922de0a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/5905132642/)
IMG_1243.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/5905132642/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6027/5904576763_f04de80c39_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/5904576763/)
IMG_1283.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/5904576763/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4048/4536832674_65bc3cbdb1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536832674/)
Thunder Over Louisville 2010 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536832674/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4058/4536123243_1c49603d46_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536123243/)
Thunder Over Louisville 2010 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536123243/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4069/4536197813_801dee0067_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536197813/)
Thunder Over Louisville 2010 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536197813/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2748/4536197449_b2d3d60d86_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536197449/)
Thunder Over Louisville 2010 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/invertalon/4536197449/) by invertalon (http://www.flickr.com/people/invertalon/), on Flickr

[bonzer2u]

Thanks, will give it a try this evening....

[ashiundar]

Wow some amazing photos. Thanks!