Shooting fireworks with IS

[Skids]

Hi.

I know shooting fireworks has been covered numerous times before and I have found some very useful information from searching the forum but I just wanted peoples thoughts on the following:

I am going to a display on Saturday where there is not anywhere suitable to set up a tripod.

Could I expect reasonable results if I use the Image Stabiliser on my Drebel or should I not bother at all?

Many Thanks for any advice.

Darren

[Red Squirrel]

I wouldn't bother - you need to keep the shutter open for at least 1s to get decent trails and IS won't help you there.
Can't you even use a monopod?

[nosquare2003]

Yes, a tripod is needed by such a long exposure in fireworks.

[Skids]

OK Thanks guys.

I will take my tripod in the hope that I can find somewhere to set up.

Is TV mode the best mode to use?

[blinking8s]

OK Thanks guys.

I will take my tripod in the hope that I can find somewhere to set up.

Is TV mode the best mode to use?

i prefer manual for such a shot, and try to set the Av on f8...then the shutter speed to bulb...and use a cable release if pissble, you can change your timing on the fly and try different things out easily...

also a tip i picked up here around the 4th of July, use a black notecard and keep the shutter open, you can expose for multiple burst...

I dont own a cable release, so i was using the bulb setting and holding the shutter open right off the button, most were in focus and turned out fine, but a cable release would prevent any possible blur...

[gmen]

A sturdy tripod is vital.

Take a piece of thick card with you. Set the camera to manual on a slow ISO setting of between 50-200. Set an aperture of between f/8 to f/16.

Put the card in front of the lens - pop the camera onto bulb exposure - then remove it as the fireworks are going off - replacing it afterwards. Your total exposure will probably not need to exceed 10-15 seconds. Obviously you can repeat this and build up different explosions on the same frame if you wish. Avoid too many bright white ones though.

Give it a test run first - review your result - this will help you determine your aperture more accurately depending on whether you want to show any other detail in your images other than just the fireworks.

Have a look at this thread also: http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=10400

Hope this helps.

[Jim_T]

FWIW, I also shoot fireworks in Manual with the exposure set to bulb... You pretty well have to.

As others have mentioned, you have to mount the camera on a tripod..

I use the Canon remote cable to activate the shutter on my 10D.. I point the camera in the area the fireworks are exploding with a wide enough angle to cover a large area. (You don't always get them positioned perfectly, but you can crop later). After seeing a few launched, you can judge when to activate the shutter. I hold it open from just before the burst until the light starts to fade..

The remote avoids any camera shake.. But the card trick gmen mentioned will definitely work quite nicely and will cost less too :)

[cmM]

just get one of those vests that says "press" on the back and make sure you carry a lot of equipment, people tend to move out of your way ;)

Tripod is a must, I'd say.

[Jesper]

OK Thanks guys.

I will take my tripod in the hope that I can find somewhere to set up.

Is TV mode the best mode to use?

Tv mode: it depends, if it's going to be completely dark, Tv mode will be useless. Use M mode instead.

Search Google for "fireworks photography". Here's one link I found which looks nice: Photographing Fireworks (http://www.calphoto.com/firework.htm)

[Vinny454]

I have read many of the photographing fireworks links and followed all of the links. The one thing I have yet to see anyone mention is focusing.

What is everyone using. Auto or manual? Center point or all points? What metering mode?

[Transfix]

Last time I shot fireworks was ontop of the tallest building in Lubbock, TX. I shot with a Canon 1D w/ 70-200 2.8L IS USM and tripod. I did not use the IS feature, and you can see some shake in my photos. Focus was manual. Here are some samples:

http://gallery.mikestrong.net/photo.php?photo=512
http://gallery.mikestrong.net/photo.php?photo=511
http://gallery.mikestrong.net/photo.php?photo=510