Fireworks Settings

What do you guys use for settings for fireworks??? I know a tripod and release are a must. Was just wondering what settings to start with.

We had that come up just the other day.

The general consensus was that you need some long shutter like 2-8 seconds, assuming ISO 100, and whatever aperture (probably near wide open) will give you an exposure solution.

You need _some_ time to get the movement of the rockets. You wouldn't want to freeze the motion of the rockets, so tiny fractions of a second would not make sense.

For one celebration, I was sitting up on top of a hill that overlooks a major portion of the San Francisco Bay. If I kept the shutter open a very long time, then I was getting too much "evening glow" from the horizon. But I wanted to keep the shutter open long so that I could get multiple locations of fireworks in the same frame.

---Bob Gross---

I would suggest 100 ISO, f6.5 to 8, for 5-10 seconds.
Stopping down will ensure good exposure for the fireworks and leave your background black.
If you want to see more sky/clouds open the lens up a bit.

Take some test shots before the fireworks begin. You want these to be dark, because when the shots go off they will paint the sensor, one streak at a time.

For the grand finale, you need to shorten the exposure or stop the lens down some more to f11. The grand finale is tough, because it is really bright...

Hope this helps, a little.

We were shooting fireworks last year, and we made the mistake of situating ourselves on a golf course directly underneath the explosion part of the sky. There's a lot of smoke and ash raining down, and that does not add positively to your image.

For one year, I got up very high, and there was a smooth water surface below. I got the fireworks exploding in the sky and a faint reflection on the water.

---Bob Gross---

Here are some photos I took. Guess which city this is.

Thanks guys

This was my first attempt and you guys helped me get some. Not as good as the previous ones. but glad I finally got some. Denny

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10D, f/8.0 @ 4 seconds. NYC, July 4th 2003.
Some camera shake - I got a better tripod this year

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Here are 2 handheld, 1600 ISO, 70-200 with IS on

I was on a family vacation and did not have a tripod. I cranked the ISO up to 1600 and shot away.

http://public.fotki.co​m …y_cruise/10dcrw​_5668.html

http://public.fotki.co​m …y_cruise/10dcrw​_5645.html