Shooting fireworks

[valkabit]

Need help with shooting fireworks I've got a 40D, planning on using a tripod and probably the 17-40L lens, I'll be bringing the 70-200 f2.8L lens in case I need it. My buddy is more familiar with film than digital, and said for film that I would want to use maybe f5.6 and use bulb for several 'rounds' all in one exposure. Would I do basically the same for digital?

Thanks

[Johnny V]

Rule of thumb:

ISO equals f-stop.

If shooting at ISO 100 aperture should be around f11.
If shooting at ISO 200 aperture should be around f22.

Shoot at ISO 100, use tripod. Set shutter to around 8 seconds or more and use your hand or card to block the lens in-between fireworks if you want.

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

[HaroldC3]

If you are shooting wide then you don't have to use as high of an aperture, 5.6 would be fine. But if you are shooting with a zoom, then f9 - f11 would be ideal.

Bulb is a must and ISO100 to get as little noise as possible.

[[godfather]]

I did one firworks function once. I used 18-55 non-is at that time. At 18mm and I think 200ISO. Did the manual mode with pre-set manual focus.

[valkabit]

Thanks.

[Hulka]

Little late but set your lens to infinity.

[basroil]

Little late but set your lens to infinity.

Guess I'll also chime in for people doing post 4th fireworks.

First, Infinity is not always a good place to set it too, since that may change due to a lot of conditions like humidity and temp. If you have clear shot to the launch area, try focusing there, since most fireworks take place about equal distance from the safe viewing area as the launch area. Given you'll use f11 anyway, even if that's a bit off you'll get them as sharp as your going to.


If shooting at ISO 100 aperture should be around f11.
If shooting at ISO 200 aperture should be around f22.


First is about right, second, no. One stop more than f11 is f16, not f22.

If you are shooting wide then you don't have to use as high of an aperture, 5.6 would be fine. But if you are shooting with a zoom, then f9 - f11 would be ideal.

Bulb is a must and ISO100 to get as little noise as possible.

It doesn't matter about zoom vs prime you know :rolleyes: The point is that at f11, the fireworks are not bright enough to blow out, since fireworks are like studio flashes, a discrete amount of energy released in a certain amount of time, compared to a continuous source. f11 should be good enough for most fireworks, but some, including flares, magnisium clusters, and other really bright ones may be as much as three stops brighter, meaning you'll want to shoot those f22 or higher. You can also just ignore the fact they will be blown out and go about your way with the more colorful ones (who cares about a white spot after all). Let me repeat this, it's not about sharpness as you are thinking, it's about LIGHT.

[dan_bgblue]

Everything you ever wanted to know about capturing fireworks.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=341145

[Johnny V]

> First is about right, second, no. One stop more than f11 is f16, not f22.

It's only a rule of thumb to get you in the ball park. You still need to tweak if possible.

Last night I shot at ISO 100... found f11 a little too bright for the fireworks and closed down to f16. Forgot to pack my dang tripod. Had a few keepers though... I'm happy. Will post when I have time.

[basroil]

> First is about right, second, no. One stop more than f11 is f16, not f22.

It's only a rule of thumb to get you in the ball park. You still need to tweak if possible.

Last night I shot at ISO 100... found f11 a little too bright for the fireworks and closed down to f16. Forgot to pack my dang tripod. Had a few keepers though... I'm happy. Will post when I have time.

Said about right, and it was just to tell you that you need to learn aperture math, i.e. sqrt(2)^stop rather than linear increases. f16 IS ONE STOP MORE THAN f11, f22 IS TWO STOPS MORE. You will find variability in firework brightness (though generally not much, and f11 should be enough to capture detail regardless of the brightness, just need to bring down in post processing), but you WILL NOT find variability in what makes an aperture setting 1 stop higher or lower than another.

[valkabit]

> First is about right, second, no. One stop more than f11 is f16, not f22.

It's only a rule of thumb to get you in the ball park. You still need to tweak if possible.

Last night I shot at ISO 100... found f11 a little too bright for the fireworks and closed down to f16. Forgot to pack my dang tripod. Had a few keepers though... I'm happy. Will post when I have time.

Couldn't use the tripod I brought, it was table top model, and the only clear field of view was out in the open (I didn't want pack the big one on the motorcycle). I may have a keeper or so, not sure.

[avbcon12]

I had the worst time shooting last night in Philly. my first year here and the crowds were out of control! That really limited me in terms of visibility.

[Johnny V]

Said about right, and it was just to tell you that you need to learn aperture math, i.e. sqrt(2)^stop rather than linear increases. f16 IS ONE STOP MORE THAN f11, f22 IS TWO STOPS MORE. ....

Nahhl... I know about aperture math. Been shooting professionally for 30+ years. As mentioned it's just a rule to get you a ball park exposure. And of course if I was shooting at ISO 200 last night, I would have upped the aperture to f22. ;-} See the rule of thumb does work even with bad math!

[valkabit]

I had the worst time shooting last night in Philly. my first year here and the crowds were out of control! That really limited me in terms of visibility.

Where were you in Philly? I was at Philadelphia Park, (Street Road exit, west 2 miles on Street Road). It was pretty nice, visibility was good. Street Road was a pain in the rear end with traffic, but inside of the park itself was good.