Red-Ringed Tupperware Party with (ineffective) Tin Foil Hats

It's on the menu...

Lightstream wrote in post #2436663
Another reason why I and my guys started calling the green box "Tourist mode".

Folks like me will pack a tripod to go on low light fireworks shoots, much to the amazement of the tourists. So happens I'm quite a dedicated fireworks chaser with reasonable results to show for it (sadly work took me away from home during Fireworks Season).

As the fireworks go off, they are echoed by the nonstop flash blasting of all the tourists in the hotel towers in the area (which offer the best views)...

I know for a fact that the auto modes on P&S and even SLRs usually set 1/60, flash, widest aperture or f/4.0. GOOD LUCK getting anything....

One evening, just for kicks, I set my 350D to green box mode in those conditions and took the shot just to see what the tourists would see. The end image was UTTERLY unuseable. I pushed the living daylights out of it in JPEG (You'll never get a RAW out of tourist mode), you could see one or two buildings and the grain looked like the picture had been placed on the road and run over several dozen times.

I wouldn't mind trying some fireworks shooting. But my problem is I don't feel there is any where close to me I would feel safe taking photos of fireworks on new years eve. (don't have a lot other options other than new years eve) People are dangerous to be around that night.

Woolburr wrote in post #2436717
It's on the menu...

I am sure it is. I just haven't paid attention to it.

Fireworks are fun and easy to shoot...no rules...I tell people to experiment and have fun. Even handheld can produce some interesting images....like this one.

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tommykjensen wrote in post #2436720
I wouldn't mind trying some fireworks shooting. But my problem is I don't feel there is any where close to me I would feel safe taking photos of fireworks on new years eve. (don't have a lot other options other than new years eve) People are dangerous to be around that night.

Hmm, that bad? I notice people tend to be more tame and friendly during big events like this (where I am).... but I am on the other end of the world. Home is nice, quiet and safe. That's the thing I love about it.

Anyway, a nice hunk of aluminium tends to deter the nasties

(fireworks shooters by very nature of the subject carry tripods)

Woolburr wrote in post #2436733
Fireworks are fun and easy to shoot...no rules...I tell people to experiment and have fun. Even handheld can produce some interesting images....like this one.

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That is true, actually... due to the nature of the light streaks against an extremely dark background, shake is not so detrimental as it is to normal images.

The only real fireworks here are big shows put on by professionals....not a real danger. I do remember one New Year in Germany...that got a bit crazy...everyone was setting stuff off...long after midnight and long after having had more than a few beers.

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Also - just wanted to ask you guys - RAW or JPEG for fireworks?

I was thinking RAW gives me more flexibility to recover blown highlights as often occurs during fireworks shooting.

I usually shoot jpg.....there isn't a tremendous market for fireworks shots except the one or two the newspaper wants after every show...they want it in jpg...so no need to overly complicate the process for me.

Lightstream wrote in post #2436734
Hmm, that bad? I notice people tend to be more tame and friendly during big events like this (where I am).... but I am on the other end of the world. Home is nice, quiet and safe. That's the thing I love about it.

I live in the middle of Copenhagen and this night people deposit their brain in the bank before going to the parties. So when they go out and shoot fireworks of they act stupid and dangerous. They hold fireworks in the hand, they throw things in the direction of other people. Even kids act very irresponsibly with fireworks. Many people and kids get hurt every year. Some loose fingers others loose eyes.

If I went down in the streets and setup my camera on tripod I bet people would just come closer to me holding the fireworks for closeup photos

Yeah I'm usually Lazy JPEG Shooter for the vast majority of my work but I don't hesitate to use RAW where there are tangible benefits.

There really is a surprising amount you can do with JPEG, as you mentioned. And I have spent that time finding out (out of necessity sometimes )

tommykjensen wrote in post #2436779
I live in the middle of Copenhagen and this night people deposit their brain in the bank before going to the parties. So when they go out and shoot fireworks of they act stupid and dangerous. They hold fireworks in the hand, they throw things in the direction of other people. Even kids act very irresponsibly with fireworks. Many people and kids get hurt every year. Some loose fingers others loose eyes.

If I went down in the streets and setup my camera on tripod I bet people would just come closer to me holding the fireworks for closeup photos

Oops.... I thought you were worried about being mugged.

Over here the displays are run by the pro's who light off millions of dollars of shells. The most dangerous stuff they let non-professionals have are the sparklers. I would rather watch the pros anyway.. much nicer displays too, if for no other reason than the mega-scale budgets!

All the shots I posted were shot at 10mm. I managed to get so close to the displays that the shells were almost overhead (although the 10mm does not give that away). Any closer and I thought we were gonna get hit - but there was still adequate separation distance, fortunately!

tommykjensen wrote in post #2436722
I am sure it is. I just haven't paid attention to it.

First menu screen...right under white balance...jpeg quality...