question on shooting fireworks

[Jason.C]

Do any of you guys know how to shoot fireworks and what shutter speed should I use? manual or auto focus?
9 out of 10 times, eaither i get the picture blury or the trails of fireworks not long enough.

 

[pdq5oh]

It's gonna depend on the amount of light pollution you're dealing with. I focus manually to near infinity. Set Aperture to f8 or 11 and use bulb. Open the shutter before the firework is fired. Close when you want. You can get multiple fireworks in one frame by not closing the shutter until a few have been fired.

 

[480sparky39 38]

Tripod.

Shoot wide.

No set shutter speed.... I use Bulb.

Don't use viewfinder... eyeball aiming the camera.

Estimate where the bomb will explode, stop moving the camera & open the shutter. Once it's over, close shutter.

Don't expect 100% perfect results. I can take 100 frames and only 1 or 2 are keepers.

 

[Big Mike]

The specific settings will depend on a few things, mostly...how you want the photos to turn out.

Firstly, I'd suggest using a tripod so that the camera won't move during the exposure.
I'd suggest manual (exposure mode) and manual focus mode would probably be a good idea as well (just AF on something as distant as the fireworks and then turn of AF)
I'd suggest starting with an aperture of F8 and a low ISO like 100 or 200. Depending on how much fire work trail (or how many bursts) you want to capture, adjust the shutter speed accordingly. I'd maybe start with one or two seconds...maybe try longer for a different effect.

If you're getting too much exposure, then use a shorter shutter speed or a smaller aperture (higher F number). If too little, then do the opposite. It may take some experimentation but once you find what you like, it should be pretty easy.

Here's one I took many years ago...

 

[Jason.C]

Thanks very much!

 

[Jason.C]

Do I open the shutter speed before the ''bomb'' explored?

 

[Jason.C]

will the fireworks trail get darken and invisible if I open my shutter for 10sec long?

 

[Dominantly]

Set your tripod up in the area the fireworks will be flyin, manually focus, low ISO, mid range aperture, shutter in BULB mode with remote in hand. You can open just prior to a shot, and then close after your satisfied with the burst, or you can leave it open for a few. It really is just pure luck, so take a ton and keep checking your LCD.

More here

 

[Jason.C]

Wow beautiful specially the second one. The three-layers color on the trail is image processed? or just come out naturally?
very nice!!!

 

[Forkie]

You need a tripod to start with.

I usually set the ISO to 200 or lower and the aperture around f/8 - f/11 to keep the sky dark and have the shutter set to 2-3 seconds and click when I hear the "thump" of the rocket lifting off. That way you should get the trail of the rocket and resulting splash nicely. You could use bulb, but unless you have a remote there's the risk of camera shake, even with a tripod.

 

[Dominantly]

Wow beautiful specially the second one. The three-layers color on the trail is image processed? or just come out naturally? very nice!!!

Thank you.Those are pretty much just straight out of the camera.

 

[12sndsgood]

ive tried going with around a 4-6 sec exposure versus the bulb technique. ive yet to try that but i think you should be able to get good results either way. i would focus before they started and then switch to manual when they started so your camera isn't trying to focus. i used a remote so i didn't have to hit the button and shake the camera. and as said, take allot, trial and error.


DSC_0243 by Sndsgood, on Flickr


DSC_0231 by Sndsgood, on Flickr


DSC_0210_1 by Sndsgood, on Flickr

 

[RyanSands]

ive tried going with around a 4-6 sec exposure versus the bulb technique. ive yet to try that but i think you should be able to get good results either way. i would focus before they started and then switch to manual when they started so your camera isn't trying to focus. i used a remote so i didn't have to hit the button and shake the camera. and as said, take allot, trial and error.


DSC_0243 by Sndsgood, on Flickr


DSC_0231 by Sndsgood, on Flickr


DSC_0210_1 by Sndsgood, on Flickr

Wow!! These are fantastic images! Bravo! Makes me want to go out and try my hand at photographing some fireworks now : )