Fireworks but no tripod - possible?

[pigtailpat]

Hi all -

I'm going with my family to a minor league baseball game for the 4th and they're having a fireworks show after the game. I'll have no tripod with me (I don't own one). I do have a monopod but they probably won't let me in with it at the ballpark (I think it would be considered dangerous). I'll have the 70-200 2.8 IS with me.

Since I'll be sitting down, instead of standing, any chance you think I can hand hold the lens with minimal camera shake to get useable fireworks shots? Everything I have seen about fireworks shooting usually points to having a tripod. In my situation I don't have one yet, and even if I did, the situation at the ball park would preclude using it.

[braduardo]

Maybe a Bean-bag pod? Only around $20 or so.

[FZ1dave]

I think that would be pretty tough with no tripod, but I'm a novice a shooting fireworks. Be sure to let us know how it went regardless.

[rammy]

Agree with Brad. Try setting it on the floor between your feet pointing up. Maybe your camera bag will be good enough?

You won't be able to get any "decent" shots as you will need to use an exposure length of over 3 seconds at F8-F11 to get any decent streaks. Alternatively, place it on your legs and hold very still indeed :-) You may need to switch of the IS as it may oscillate when put on a solid non-shaky surface.

Another option is to brace it on to something like the seat in front of you or on a railing.

[SkipD]

Hi all -

I'm going with my family to a minor league baseball game for the 4th and they're having a fireworks show after the game. I'll have no tripod with me (I don't own one). I do have a monopod but they probably won't let me in with it at the ballpark (I think it would be considered dangerous). I'll have the 70-200 2.8 IS with me.

Since I'll be sitting down, instead of standing, any chance you think I can hand hold the lens with minimal camera shake to get useable fireworks shots? Everything I have seen about fireworks shooting usually points to having a tripod. In my situation I don't have one yet, and even if I did, the situation at the ball park would preclude using it.First of all, your 70-200 is much too long for most fireworks shots. You'd be using it at 70mm and wishing you had something shorter, especially if the fireworks display has multiple simultaneous bursts going on.

You really should have a tripod so that when you pop the shutter you can keep the camera still. Otherwise, the fireworks images will have "wiggles" that don't look at all like what you see with your eyes.

You could go to your local Wal-Mart and get a cheapie tripod that would work fine for this purpose. Bear in mind that, for fireworks, you probably aren't going to be locking up the tripod but will be keeping your hands on the camera/lens at all times. With the tripod set for a little friction, I just look through the viewfinder or even just across the top of the camera and follow the shell up. As it starts to slow, I trip the shutter and keep the camera still.

[pigtailpat]

First of all, your 70-200 is much too long for most fireworks shots. You'd be using it at 70mm and wishing you had something shorter, especially if the fireworks display has multiple simultaneous bursts going on.


Skip -

I'm expecting delivery today of the EF 50 mm 1.4. Would this work better then the 70-200? I also have the 24-105, but that's a F4 lens and I would think in low light it won't perform very well without a flash.

I will check your suggestion of the cheapie tripod from walmart, but I'm going to be in one of those tight minor league ballpark stadium type seats. Not much leg room. Not even sure I can get the tripod in the ballpark. If I could, have you used one in that setting?

[Coastwatch203]

I shot some fireworks just the other night, was going to use the 70-200 f2.8 but opted for my 16-35 f2.8 and cropped. used a Tripod and times needed were up to 5 sec's or so. Most were around the 3 sec's. C & C welcome, thanks, Mark.
Ok, so how do i post piccy's here?? lol

[Coastwatch203]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa138/Coastwatch203/fireworks22.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa138/Coastwatch203/fireworks22.jpg

[Coastwatch203]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa138/Coastwatch203/fireworks2.jpg

[Coastwatch203]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa138/Coastwatch203/fireworks33.jpg

[Jim7226]

Nice shots, Mark!

[Coastwatch203]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa138/Coastwatch203/fireworks99.jpg

[Coastwatch203]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa138/Coastwatch203/flaming-palm-fireworks-8x10.jpg

[Coastwatch203]

Thanks Jim!

[SkipD]

Skip -

I'm expecting delivery today of the EF 50 mm 1.4. Would this work better then the 70-200? I also have the 24-105, but that's a F4 lens and I would think in low light it won't perform very well without a flash.

I will check your suggestion of the cheapie tripod from walmart, but I'm going to be in one of those tight minor league ballpark stadium type seats. Not much leg room. Not even sure I can get the tripod in the ballpark. If I could, have you used one in that setting?Since you need to be at roughly f/11 with an ISO setting of 100, your 24-105 should be your best choice of lenses among your collection.

Put the camera into M mode. Set the ISO to 100. Set the aperture to f/11. Set the shutter speed to something between two and five seconds (or the "bulb" mode).

If you're using the "bulb" mode, the shutter will stay open as long as you hold the shutter button down. This is the way I do shutter timing for fireworks.

[Sathi]

Bring in a backpack filled with some t-shirts and use that as a tripod if you don't want to work out a beanbag. I'v tried to handhold (bracing on railing or lap) some fireworks shots and let me tell you, you won't be happy.

[shannyD]

man i just got jealous at how beautiful your photos are of the fireworks. i am stunned. ( in a good way).
shannon

[Woolburr]

Hi all -

I'm going with my family to a minor league baseball game for the 4th and they're having a fireworks show after the game. I'll have no tripod with me (I don't own one). I do have a monopod but they probably won't let me in with it at the ballpark (I think it would be considered dangerous). I'll have the 70-200 2.8 IS with me.

Since I'll be sitting down, instead of standing, any chance you think I can hand hold the lens with minimal camera shake to get useable fireworks shots? Everything I have seen about fireworks shooting usually points to having a tripod. In my situation I don't have one yet, and even if I did, the situation at the ball park would preclude using it.

You can shoot fireworks handheld with a 70-200 and get reasonable images. Give this a shot...Take the lens out of auto-focus. Manually focus on something at the far side of the stadium from you with the lens at 70mm. Put the camera in Av mode...go to f/8 and ISO 100.... shoot away...You might find yourself pleasantly surprised with the results.

[ryant35]

No tripod... Angels game, I couldn't bring my tripod, so when I shot I would zoom in and out quickly as the shutter was open, it's better than nothing since I prefer watching every thing through my view finder.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/ryant35/IMG_0861.jpg

[badams]

Here's a few I got tonight all shot without a tripod. Was being lazy and didn't want to get out of the truck and setup the tripod so I just put the camera bag in my lap and rested the camera on it and used my remote for the shutter. All were shot with the kit lens at ISO100 on bulb mode, some were at f8 and others were at f11 (I think as I just turned it a few times since I couldn't see anything). No post-processing other than resizing.

Fireworks1 (http://myweb.cableone.net/badams1/fireworks07/1.jpg)
Fireworks2 (http://myweb.cableone.net/badams1/fireworks07/2.jpg)
Fireworks3 (http://myweb.cableone.net/badams1/fireworks07/3.jpg)
Fireworks4 (http://myweb.cableone.net/badams1/fireworks07/4.jpg)
Fireworks5 (http://myweb.cableone.net/badams1/fireworks07/5.jpg)

And a 100% crop of Fireworks4
Fireworks4b - 100% crop (http://myweb.cableone.net/badams1/fireworks07/4b.jpg)


ryant, that is amazing. I've never thought about zooming while shooting.

[Coastwatch203]

Nice shots badams! - and great effect with the zoom there ryant!

[Gaunemo]

Guys:

Okay, I have a simple Canon S2IS point-and-Shoot 6-72mm 2.7-3.5 lens. Any Suggestions for getting some good fireworks shots? Yes, tripod included, but no remote shutter, no bulb mode, only self timer. Any thoughts appreciated!;)

[Naturalist]

Gaunemo

If you lack Bulb setting then shoot at lower shutter speeds like 15-30 seconds.

[dekalbSTEEL]

If you have a tripod, you can set a long shutter time, (20-30sec, or bulb) and hold a black card in front of the lens in between bursts to capture multiple explosions in one shot.

[SkipD]

Guys:

Okay, I have a simple Canon S2IS point-and-Shoot 6-72mm 2.7-3.5 lens. Any Suggestions for getting some good fireworks shots? Yes, tripod included, but no remote shutter, no bulb mode, only self timer. Any thoughts appreciated!;)DON'T use the self-timer. That would delay the shutter opening by whatever the timer's time is.

You want to have the shutter open right away as you push the shutter release button so you can catch the beginning of a burst.

[Tom W]

I tripod is definately a plus, but you can sometimes get away without one. Last year, after a Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game, I caught this impromptu fireworks display. The shortest lens I had was the 70-200. I did manage to get a few shots, though not many. I sat on the ground with my legs partially crossed and knees up. I then used my knees as a rest for the camera to help hold it somewhat steady.

This was at 70 mm, f/11, 2 seconds:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/81674901.jpg

Not the best fireworks image in the world, not by a long shot. But it does illustrate that you can sometimes get away with handheld long exposures.

[Gaunemo]

Ahhhh..Okay, thanks!

[_aravena]

What tripod?

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/2407/img0670zv4.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6735/croppedfireworkshu4.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6803/img0660yc9.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3290/img0681vu6.jpg

And these were with the Canon's 70-300 III. Well, all except the vertical one which was the kit lens.