New 10D & Fireworks

[dsze]

Well now that my 10D is here, just in time for fireworks Saturday, does anyone have some tips for shooting the show in the sky? I've never a fireworks show before, but I'd like to get this one. We'll be out on a 21ft. ski boat on the lake with fireworks over our heads. Any tips or cool ideas for a situation like this? It may be tough because a tripod really isnt a feasible thing. The other limiting factor may be that I now only have the 70-200 f4L as I sold the kit lens with the 300D today. I don't have a wide angle.

thanks,
daniel

[sGu]

manual focus, steady tripod, cable release, and close shutter when the fireworks reaches brightest point, right after the big bang, not when they start to dying down, they will look better on your screen, from my experience.

[dsze]

Thanks.. So, open shutter when they explode and close shutter when its at its brightest point? OR were you saying to open the shutter when its at its brightest point?

-d

[sGu]

open shutter just before it explode, and close it when fireworks reach its brightest point, but, it's just my experience, so use ur LCD do a quick check just to make sure you happy with the results and adjust settings accordingly, try shoot raw if you have enough storage.

also check how far they'll reach in the sky, make sure none of the nice bits go out of your frame, so don't zoom in too much, again, after first few shots, there will be a few adjustment you need to make

[dsze]

thanks... Should be fun.

[rickyd]

I am a licensed pyrotechnician and help out the local fireworks company during the 4th of july. Ive photographed many shows and would recommend: shoot from a tripod from as dark an area as you can while still being as close as possible. Use the remote shutter release with camera set on bulb. Open the shutter when the aerial shells streak out of their launch tubes and hold it open 4-10 sec to get multiple bursts. Open too long and you could get noise with 10D. F stops at F8-F11 work well for me with my 24-70F2.8L. ENJOY! :D http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNDU4MTYzNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

[rickyd]

I am a licensed pyrotechnician and help out the local fireworks company during the 4th of july. Ive photographed many shows and would recommend: shoot from a tripod from as dark an area as you can while still being as close as possible. Use the remote shutter release with camera set on bulb. Open the shutter when the aerial shells streak out of their launch tubes and hold it open 4-10 sec to get multiple bursts. Open too long and you could get noise with 10D. F stops at F8-F11 work well for me with my 24-70F2.8L. ENJOY! :D http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNDU4MTYzNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

[dsze]

Cool. Thanks. Nice Shot too. Unfortunately, I don't have the remote for my new 10D yet and using a tripod on the boat may be tricky. We'll see. It'll be fun to try regardless.

-daniel