Firework display season .......

paulyoung666

paulyoung666

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Paul
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......... will be on us soon , any hints and tips for a first timer :lol:
 
Sniffing1987 said:
I'll sit and wait for a reply on this one too:popcorn:
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If your not willing to answer a simple question why waste your time to put a stupid face eating popcorn! Yes I know what your doing ! But is there any point. some one needs some tips and hints. Next time just don't bother writing anything this is why alot of forums go to pot because of stupid ANSWERS like this!

Really annoys me!:bang::bang:
 
Dominic5749 said:
If your not willing to answer a simple question why waste your time to put a stupid face eating popcorn! Yes I know what your doing ! But is there any point. some one needs some tips and hints. Next time just don't bother writing anything this is why alot of forums go to pot because of stupid ANSWERS like this!

Really annoys me!:bang::bang:
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Easy tiger! maybe the guy was replying as it was quicker than going through the hassle of subscribing, also he is showing people who are thinking of replying that they will be helping a few people with the same question.........Why did you reply? It is also because of people like you forums go down the pan :boxer::popcorn:
 
My tips:

tripod
shutter release
bulb mode
f/8
black card to cover the lens when no explosions are happening - trails will nearly always burn out brilliant white
 
Uneducated Rick: are you hinting at exposing the shot for 30+ seconds to get multiple fireworks in? that didn't even cross my mind before now :bonk:
 
Dominic5749 said:
If your not willing to answer a simple question why waste your time to put a stupid face eating popcorn! Yes I know what your doing ! But is there any point. some one needs some tips and hints. Next time just don't bother writing anything this is why alot of forums go to pot because of stupid ANSWERS like this!

Really annoys me!:bang::bang:
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I haven't answered a simple question because I don't know the answer, I replied because it automatically subscribes me to the thread and shows that more than just one person would benefit from an answer. The little man eating popcorn was added as I'm watching the thread, like you eat popcorn when you watch a film at the cinema.... if people aren't supposed to use it why is it one of the standard smilies?

If it's such a simple question to answer why have I not seen an answer from you yet?
 
Gerods: thanks I've just read the link and there seem to be some useful tips on it:thumbs:
Uneducated_rick: any reason for using F/8 specifically?
Paulyoung666: sorry for crashing your thread
 
I think rick is saying is put your camera in bulb mode, and expose as many explosions as you think will work.
Could be wrong though.
 
There was some good advice in the link earlier, but for a beginner, I'd steer clear of the Bulb setting otherwise you could end up with a white blob if too many explosions are recorded. If it is a large organised display, 6 seconds is usually long enough to get a the firework rising and exploding. (Timing is obviously improved with a remote control) ;)

I normally set f16 and 6 seconds and see how the exposure is. If there are any buildings or significant landscape in the scene, then set the correct exposure for that, but keep to about 6 seconds. Works OK for me. :thumbs: :)
 
anyone know of any displays around oldham/manchester??

also the one advice i can give is... take a tripod!!
 
I did a couple of shots hand held at one of the Blackpool ones. Only a few though as I got there late. Was not too bad. But tripod is a must. Settings, just play.
 
From bitter experience....

If it's windy stay up wind from the fireworks for two reasons:
1. If you're downwind the smoke will drift everywhere and ruin your shots
2. If you're off to either side you will get the fireworks drifting through your frame (especially with longer exposures) causing blur...

Carl
 
CReid said:
From bitter experience....

If it's windy stay up wind from the fireworks for two reasons:
1. If you're downwind the smoke will drift everywhere and ruin your shots
2. If you're off to either side you will get the fireworks drifting through your frame (especially with longer exposures) causing blur...

Carl
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Stops you being hit by rocket sticks too ;)

Some really helpful tips in here, thanx to all who have advised!

i take it that as a tripod is being used, ISO can be kept to 100?
 
from reading other tips , ISO 100 is indeed the way to go :thumbs:
 
There was another thread here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=171487http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=171487 a few days ago.

Keep your ISO low, and play with your aperture to stop the colours from burning out. The bursts are only short, so stopping down is the best way to stop them blowing out.

Make sure you put something of interest in the frame, and COMPOSE your shot. Just because it's fireworks (or traffic trails, or star trails) doesn't mean it's a good photograph.

Too often people take shots of black skies with coloured lines in them.. not very interesting.

Dominic5749 said:
If your not willing to answer a simple question why waste your time to put a stupid face eating popcorn! Yes I know what your doing ! But is there any point. some one needs some tips and hints. Next time just don't bother writing anything this is why alot of forums go to pot because of stupid ANSWERS like this!

Really annoys me!:bang::bang:
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Helpful as always Dominic.
 
Jayst84 said:
Make sure you put something of interest in the frame, and COMPOSE your shot.
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hopefully i will be able to rock upto the display site the day before they go off , get the camera setup and try to get some preshow composing done , well thats the plan anyway :lol:
 
Thank you Gerods, the link was informative, as were the posts from Redhed17, Rick and CReid. There was some sound info and some good and dont's, I'm very good at the dont's but learning. From previous threads and from experience I will also ensure that the lens stabilization is off, as it can introduce shake when using a Tripod.
 
I love taking photos of fireworks, and all sound advice above. One thing I would repeat is that foreground interest can REALLY make the shot.



EXIF
Focal Length: 12 mm
Exposure: 15 sec
Aperture: f 10
ISO: 100

Included the exif as it shows that is a 15 second shot, which is WAY more than I would normally think of using. But wanting to get the boat and bridge etc exposed I had to up the exposure and blow out the colour in the fireworks. It is all a bit of a balance really. Colourful fireworks or details in other areas of the shot. The basics are pretty basic (as have been said already)...Camera in Manual, Tripod, Remote release (or timer), low iso, spot of focus (normally infinity) and then it is just a case of playing it by ear. Hard to compose the shot until the display begins, unless you know exactly where the fireworks are gonna be. If you want to get great shots, in my experience, you can't stand there and watch the fireworks, you need to keep taking shots and checking them and making adjustments....It can ruin a good firework display to be honest :p
 
Jimmy, when i saw that for the first time, i instantly noticed the blown out fireworks, but then when i scrolled down and saw the reflection i LOVE it!

The sacrifice of the firework to get the boat and bridge seems to have kept the detail of the firework in the reflection.

With regards to an interesting foreground, any advice for an event in a field, with fields behind and to the side? :shrug:
 
is it worth using mirror lockup as well ??? :)
 
Would photographing a light display need the same practicalities as shooting fireworks?
 
ive never tried togging fireworks but fancied a go this year. i was going to go down the route of bulb mode on tripod. However to stop the trials blowing the shot out was thinking would an ND8 filter or something do any good? I thought it would allow the firework 'brightness' to come through but hopefully cut out horrible 'orange streetlight' etc.


Whats peoples thoughts?
 
I fancy having a go this year too. Each year I go to Kenilworth Castle for bonfire night and the fireworks. They usually put on a fantastic display, certainly the best in this area. I will probably try standing in Abbey Fields on top of the hill (near to the Cenotaph) as this should give a good vantage point, but I doubt that I will also get the castle in shot from there. So, a bit of a longshot - has anyone here successfully managed to shoot Kenilworth Castle fireworks?
 
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