How to shoot fireworks?

[Coppatop85]

Now, I'm sure a thread has been here before about this, and I know I have read it. But I have some examples of some fireworks I shot, and want to know what was wrong with them. These were shot handheld (I know that is wrong now) with a canon XTi, and 50mm 1.8 II.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/Coppatop/Rocky%20Horror/new%20pics/fireworks2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/Coppatop/Rocky%20Horror/new%20pics/fireworks1.jpg

Now, these were my two best ones. Here are the problems I had. Are these in focus? I don't think so, but my problem might have been something else. How do I focus on fireworks? I attempted to look through the view finder and do it, and they looked in focus to me, but apparently not.

Since I shot these handheld, I boosted the ISO up to 800, took the aperature down to 2.8, so I could have the shutter speed around 80 (For handheld).

Now, I've heard that low f stops are BAD for fireworks, and long exposures are good? I also know I need a tripiod now (Which I obtainted recently). I'd like some tips on how to better my horrific fireworks photography before the 4th rolls around. C + C welcomed, and thanks.

[rammy]

Well your EXIF on the pics shows a decent speed (1/80 and 1/160) but the aperture is at F1.8. So you used the 50mm F1.8 on these? Well the EXIF states the lens as that anyway. Too wide really, you're not getting the DOF and not sure where the focus point was either.

I've never done or seen firework shots done well without a tripod or a closed down aperture.

[PAS Photography]

You need to set your focus on manual and set it to Infinity, thats why your shots are out of focus.

[Coppatop85]

How can you see my EXIF data?

[E-Dude]

Last year was the first year with my Rebel. I used the kit lens, tripod and remote shutter release. Most shots were from 2-5 seconds and arounf f/14. The grand finale was shot at f/22.

Last years pictures can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/ernie.haller/CoplayFireworks

I am sure that I'll be posting more in a week or two.

[rammy]

How can you see my EXIF data?

Voodoo magic, and a little help from Thor and the demons of hades :lol:

Download IEXIF internet explorer integration tool from Opanda: http://www.opanda.com/en/download/index.html

:D

[rammy]

Last years pictures can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/ernie.haller/CoplayFireworks


Very nice :-) Well done!

[bishop13]

I ran across this article while researching a couple of days ago...

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

[PhotoJourno]

actually, take the focus to infinity and bring it back just a hair.
you need more DOF as well, so crank up the ISO, and do your thing.
It should come out alright. Good luck !!...

[Coppatop85]

How about exposure times? I've heard anywhwere from 4 seconds to 4 minutes!

[E-Dude]

How about exposure times? I've heard anywhwere from 4 seconds to 4 minutes!

I use a remote shutter release and set the shutter to 'bulb'. I find that 2 to 5 seconds is good to get a single firework. If you go to long on the shutter you will get to much noise. Not noise in the camera but too much smoke and other things in the sky.

I also use ISO 100 and the light trails turned out pretty crisp.

[drjiveturkey]

It depends on what you want the fireworks to look like, but first do the following

Put camera on a sturdy tripod.
Set focus to infinity (may need to adjust depending on location)
Set aperature to desired DOF---I recommend above f8

Now depending on how much "trail" you want in your shots you need to experiment with shutterspeed & ISO combinations to get the right exposure & trail size

[ShotByTom]

You'll want to set your ISO to 100 to reduce noise, here's a good link that I found helpful..also shows what to do with all of those firework shots you're going to have:

http://www.photodex.com/training/howto/howto_fireworks.html

[braduardo]

Use a tripod, and focus before it gets too dark. Don't move your focus point. Set at ISO 100. Set up in Manual mode, Av f11, Tv 2-6 seconds. If you don't want to have to trip your shutter constantly, set your camera up to bracket exposures, and set it for 1/3 stop over and under. This way, you will get 3 shots in a row and only have to trigger it once.

Here's one of mine! (http://img151.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img151/7339/1152083792y3v.smil)