Help with shooting NYC July 4 Fireworks

I’m interested to shoot the July 4th fireworks here in NYC. I’m planning to get a tripod and remote trigger at B&H this week beforehand. So I had a few questions:

1) Is this the correct technique? I was planning to just shoot around f/8-11 since I don’t want a shallow DOF. Keeping shutter speed slow (probably 20-30 seconds) and ISO probably around 300-500. Will be using the 16-35L for most of these shots. Maybe throw in the 15mm Fisheye for some fun shots.

2) When you are shooting fireworks do you generally over/under expose or just shoot at whatever the meter deems as ideal exposure?

3) Know of any unique spots to shoot the fireworks here in NYC? PM me if you don’t want to spread the word. If I don’t hear back I plan to just go where the crowds are at.

4) Anything I need to prepare while shooting fireworks? E.g. danger of crowds, dealing with smoke from fireworks, getting the venue early (not sure how early) etc.

I really appreciate any suggestions you can give me! Thanks!

20-30 seconds may be too long. You would end up shooting at f/22 or so to get an exposure that long. I usually shoot around 5-10 seconds.

As for smoke, be sure you are up wind so the smoke doesn't get between you and the display.

I'm lucky enough to by Disneyland and they have fireworks every night so I'm going to stop by the area and get some practice in before Friday. It's been a while since I shot fireworks.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5820808
I was planning to just shoot around f/8-11

f8 is good. f11 is better.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5820808
Keeping shutter speed slow (probably 20-30 seconds)

20-30 will be probably be too long. Depending how fast they shoot off the fireworks, at 30 seconds you will have quite a jumble of light. Try it though, it could yield an interesting result. I would recommend shots between 2 to 10 seconds.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5820808
and ISO probably around 300-500.

Try ISO 100. At higher ISO's you have a greater chance of blowing out the highlights and capturing the smoke in the air.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5820808
Will be using the 16-35L for most of these shots. Maybe throw in the 15mm Fisheye for some fun shots.

That should work just fine.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #5820808
When you are shooting fireworks do you generally over/under expose or just shoot at whatever the meter deems as ideal exposure?

You don't really have to meter. Shoot in manual mode, f11, 2-10 seconds, ISO 100, focus at infinity, use the remote and a tripod.

RTMiller wrote in post #5821630
focus at infinity

Forgive my newbieness, but what does this mean? I presume it applies to manual focus?

13inches wrote in post #5823396
Forgive my newbieness, but what does this mean? I presume it applies to manual focus?

On lens there is a window that shows what distance your lens is focused to. The last value is the symbol for infinity. Set manual focus and select infinity.

13inches wrote in post #5823396
Forgive my newbieness, but what does this mean? I presume it applies to manual focus?

Yes. Sorry. I knew I forgot something.

Using auto focus, focus on something far away. Or manually set the focus to the infinity mark on the lens (it looks like an 'L' on the focus scale). Then switch the lens to manual focus. At f11 you should have some depth-of-field-margin-for-error.

f8.0, ISO 100, time says 13.5 seconds but it's actually a recompose. All the fireworks were going off in the same area so I opened the shutter(bulb mode) and exposed the fireworks on the left then covered the lens with my hat then moved it left on the tripod and removed my hat to get the few that show in the right of the shot. Each exposure set was approx 4 to 5 seconds without the hat.

Here's one...

Exposure Time 6s Aperture f/11.0 ISO160 Focal Length24mm

For fireworks, set the ISO to 100, aperture to f/8 or f/11, and use whatever shutter speed you care to use. Most folks like to use long exposures to get all of a burst or series of bursts. Personally, I use the "Bulb" setting and - with a remote shutter switch - hold the shutter open as long as I like what I am seeing in front of the camera.

I strongly suggest using a tripod. I almost always have the head on my tripod set so it's a bit loose (but not floppy) and I look OVER the camera - not through the viewfinder - as I move it with the firework during the lift stage. When the firework is about to burst, I usually stop moving the camera and hold it steady for the entire burst (or series of bursts).

Changing the shutter speed will NOT change the exposure of the burning fireworks like it will with conventionally lit scenes, as the light source in a fireworks shot is the individual pellets of burning material. The little light sources are all moving, and thus over time expose different parts of the image. Remember, you are photographing actual light sources and not objects which are illuminated by the light sources.

SkipD wrote in post #5823706
I use the "Bulb" setting and - with a remote shutter switch - hold the shutter open as long as I like what I am seeing in front of the camera.

Correct (that's two things I forgot to mention).

RTMiller wrote in post #5823738
Correct (that's two things I forgot to mention).

... and I forgot to reinforce the pre-focusing at infinity and leaving autofocus turned off.

I guess somebody should edit all the posts together...

Have you been to the NYC shows? I foresee your biggest problem to be keeping folks from kicking/knocking into your tripod.

Skrim17 wrote in post #5823782
Have you been to the NYC shows? I foresee your biggest problem to be keeping folks from kicking/knocking into your tripod.

LOL, yeah. And try to find a location that has light foot traffic traffic for this and people walking in front of the camera while you're shooting as well.
Forgot to mention I was using a remote release also.

Shutterbug Doug wrote in post #5823860
LOL, yeah. And try to find a location that has light foot traffic traffic for this and people walking in front of the camera while you're shooting as well.
Forgot to mention I was using a remote release also.

That is definitely one of my concerns as I sort of stated in my first post. My roof deck has a decent (but not great) view of the fireworks. I'm going to see if I can get the tripod/remote release sorted out before Friday...