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07/06/2006 04:34:21 PM · #1 |
so how many of you shot your fireworks without a tripod/monopod, ect?
I started out with one, then decided to go without. The ones without actually turned out better. Pays to not drink coffee in the later afternoon and have a margarite before going to the show!
oh and I had the shutter speed set at a 1/2 second and ISO 100. Just held VERY still. Quite a few of them I got that jiggle effect or the little squiggles in them. But the one I entered for the challenge I didn't and it was shot without the tripod.
I felt so professional all setting up for it lol. Had a friend with us who used to do a lot of bw and stuff back in the 80's so he helped too. Had the shutter set at 2secs at first and he asked if I could go to a 1/2 and I did. Made a big difference too.
Message edited by author 2006-07-06 16:56:55. |
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07/06/2006 04:37:08 PM · #2 |
I used a t-pod the entire time.
edit.
was driving so the Margarita was not an option.
Message edited by author 2006-07-06 16:37:53.
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07/06/2006 04:41:23 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by Bugzeye:
I used a t-pod the entire time.
edit.
was driving so the Margarita was not an option. |
You were driving while using a tripod taking photos of fireworks. That is a sight I wish I had seen. |
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07/06/2006 04:47:26 PM · #4 |
I mushed my camera down on top of my camera bag and hoped for the best aim-wise.
In 30+ years of taking pics, I've never owned a tripod, but will, that way I won't have to sharpen my pics so much :) |
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07/06/2006 04:51:53 PM · #5 |
| In many cases, you want a 2-3 second exposure for fireworks. If you're hand holding the camera, you'll see "jaggies" in the light streams from the fireworks. Those jaggies look unnatural (different from wind blown streaks which are smooth). So that's why I would prefer to use a tripod. |
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07/06/2006 04:54:50 PM · #6 |
We were standing on sand so the tripod kept sinking on me. I then propped it on the fence, got a few good shots that way till someone kept leaning on the fence and the thing kept moving.
I'm pleased with my entry though. Scoring isn't too shabby considering it's my first ever fireworks shoot and I did it freehand for the most part. Almost to a 5.4 now!
I haven't used my tripod nearly as much as I did when I first had my dSLR. Strange, but I'd rather shoot freehand. If I do sunsets I use it, but haven't shot any of them in a long time. |
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07/06/2006 04:54:55 PM · #7 |
I set up my tripod with extra weight to hold it steady.
I then settled in behind the tripod in a lawn chair with a remote shutter release in one hand and a gin & tonic in the other. When I saw something I liked, I shot. When I didn't, I drank.
Most relaxing photo shoot I can remember. |
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07/06/2006 04:56:19 PM · #8 |
I was feeling too lazy to set up my tripod, so I shot them without one. Of course, having seen all the excellent photos submitted to the challenge, I know why I should have!
Oh, well... live and learn. |
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07/06/2006 04:58:23 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Nobody:
I set up my tripod with extra weight to hold it steady.
I then settled in behind the tripod in a lawn chair with a remote shutter release in one hand and a gin & tonic in the other. When I saw something I liked, I shot. When I didn't, I drank.
Most relaxing photo shoot I can remember. |
goodness, I wish there had BEEN room for a lawn chair lol. WOud have had to have been down there at 3pm to get a seat like that. Not an option with the heat index at 108 that day.
Gentlesoul- helps to have a good show to take pictures of too. Ours was lacking big time. I was very disappointed. The grand finale was not so "grand" lol.
Message edited by author 2006-07-06 16:59:10. |
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07/06/2006 05:03:42 PM · #10 |
Well, who says you need to use a tripod anyway?
From last year:
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07/06/2006 05:09:50 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Nobody:
I set up my tripod with extra weight to hold it steady.
I then settled in behind the tripod in a lawn chair with a remote shutter release in one hand and a gin & tonic in the other. When I saw something I liked, I shot. When I didn't, I drank.
Most relaxing photo shoot I can remember. |
Just goes to show NOBODY can shoot pictures just the way I can :-)
R.
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07/06/2006 05:15:01 PM · #12 |
I used a tripod and a remote release. Best fireworks shot I ever got in my entire life. Way more useable ones then I could have ever gotten without it. I wouldnt shoot without eiter again. My 6+ score in the fireworks challenge tells me it was a good choice on my part.
MattO
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07/06/2006 05:37:01 PM · #13 |
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07/06/2006 05:41:08 PM · #14 |
Pretty cool. Hope you have something that nice in the challenge being voted on now. ;^) |
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07/06/2006 05:50:21 PM · #15 |
I used a tripod, but I didn't have the release and didn't want to use self-timer for obvious timing reasons. Results are a little softer than I wanted, but not bad.
I had to pick my spot early due to a contest running in town and I wanted a particular feature in my shot. I ended up finding an excellent little elevated spot that was about 4'x 7' and there were three photographers w/tripod on it (me included) before the fireworks started. I was there first, so I did have room for the small chair I brought. I don't think I'd want to try to shoot fireworks without the tripod. |
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07/06/2006 05:54:36 PM · #16 |
| I used my tripod and plunger and sat on a bench while they blew. The field I was in had a spectacular view and was pretty much empty so I had no one distracting in front of me and I wasnt distracting anyone behind. |
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07/06/2006 05:59:22 PM · #17 |
| I used a tripod and a 1.5-3 second shutter...I changed it a bit here and there. IMHO if you are not going to use a tripod then go for some of the creative effects like Pug got...those are really neat images! |
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07/06/2006 05:59:43 PM · #18 |
i have a photo like that in my portfoio of some fireworks i seen on the way home one night didnt have anything but my camera with me so i leaned out the window, after I pulled over that is.. for the most recent fireworks I also pulled over, even got out the car. I named the photo No Pod.
I use a manfrotto tripod and head the legs are designed for video so it is a very stable unit. I have 2 heads for it one with liquid motion other is a ball. i usually hang my gear bag from the bottom to give it extra weight as well...
Originally posted by dwterry:
In many cases, you want a 2-3 second exposure for fireworks. If you're hand holding the camera, you'll see "jaggies" in the light streams from the fireworks. Those jaggies look unnatural (different from wind blown streaks which are smooth). So that's why I would prefer to use a tripod. |
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07/06/2006 06:45:52 PM · #19 |
I used a tripod.
I don't have a remote shutter release for my camera (yet) so I set things to f22 and 30 sec exposure. Then I used my baseball cap to cover the lens when pushing the shutter button. I would also use the hat to block headlights from passing cars as I was setup next to a road shooting fireworks being setoff from a safe fire area (an area were people take they fireworks they just bought and fire them off).
I wasn't completely happy with my shot but submitted it anyway because of the effort I went through. Glad I did because it seems the voters like it better then I do as it is a 6+ and currently the highest scoring photo for me yet (yeah).
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