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04/28/2007 08:49:53 AM · #1 |
They had some fireworks in Sydney this weekend and I took the opportunity to learn and practice different techniques.
I had to use a fairly high ISO with my 70-200 f/4 lens to get a decent shutter speed which means there is a fair amount of background noise.
Is there anything I could have done differently with these shots?
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04/28/2007 09:16:37 AM · #2 |
Nice shots.
In the past I went with faster shutter speeds. This year I wanted to go another rout with a longer shutter speed, same lens (70-200 F4L) similar camera (XTi).
Settings
Aperture F32
ISO-200
4 second shutter.
Hope this helps give you other ideas..
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04/28/2007 09:51:34 AM · #3 |
The thing is, you should really use a low ISO, as low as you can go. Aperture at f8, tripod, cable release and a longer shutter speed.
These could give you some ideas too:
  
(I'm getting a consolation prize of some kind from a newspaper's photo contest I entered of a fireworks shot I did last year - on slide film. The exhibition will be in a couple of weeks.) |
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04/28/2007 10:01:36 AM · #4 |
1 sec @ ISO 100, f/3.5 at about 20mm.
I don't worry about depth of field this far from the fireworks, so I open the lens as wide as possible and drop the ISO. The length of the exposure + higher ISO against a black sky is just begging for digital noise.
By the way, what were your settings? |
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04/28/2007 10:09:55 AM · #5 |
nice ideas pug
Kadi - to be honest I was not prepared for the fireworks and was shooting out the window with no tripod so long exposures were out of the question. My settings were ISO 800 with Av set at f4 to get a decent shutter speed to minimise camera shake.
I like the idea of using long exposure, next time I will have to find out about the fireworks in advance and set myself up properly beforehand with tripod and shutter release cable
Shouldn't be too long before the next fireworks, they are always having them here, any old excuse to make lots of noise I reckon....
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04/28/2007 11:02:34 AM · #6 |
I've watched many of these threads in the past and have shot firework with a moderate degree of success. My question is how do you minimize the effects of the smoke from the fireworks? I've seen some amazing firworks shots that have little or no smoke in them, but anytime I've seen or shot fireworks they're going off in the last bursts' smoke.
What do you do? |
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04/28/2007 11:17:38 AM · #7 |
I'm not sure that you can do anything about the smoke.
It just depends on the weather/atmospheric conditions. I try to scope out which way the wind is blowing and shoot accordingly if possible.
My fireworks shots |
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04/28/2007 11:18:24 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by _eug:
I've watched many of these threads in the past and have shot firework with a moderate degree of success. My question is how do you minimize the effects of the smoke from the fireworks? I've seen some amazing firworks shots that have little or no smoke in them, but anytime I've seen or shot fireworks they're going off in the last bursts' smoke.
What do you do? |
It is an adjustment of shutter speed and f/stop that captures enough light to get fireworks, but not enough to get the smoke which typically is many f/stops dimmer. In some cases smoke cannot be avoided.
Something you want to do is take test exposures before the fireworks start to try and find the "sweet spot" of focal length, shutter speed and aperture.
Message edited by author 2007-04-28 11:19:38.
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04/28/2007 11:18:44 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by _eug:
I've watched many of these threads in the past and have shot firework with a moderate degree of success. My question is how do you minimize the effects of the smoke from the fireworks? I've seen some amazing firworks shots that have little or no smoke in them, but anytime I've seen or shot fireworks they're going off in the last bursts' smoke.
What do you do? |
Smoke does present a problem. Weather conditions play a major factor...cooler, dryer air with a slight breeze tends to carry smoke away. Shoot early in the display. Aim away from where the smoke is going.
And when all else fails, hope that you can fix it in post-process.
My quick edit reduces the smoke and some of the noise through a second layer set to "soft light" and filtered with Artistic > Cutout which was subsequently blurred. (I suppose "Neat" type software can create similar results, but I don't have experience with those.)
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04/28/2007 11:41:02 AM · #10 |
| This thread has gotten me. I have no fireworks opportunities, but many questions. Does anyone have a preferred lens? I've only gotten the 50mm in the last 6 months. I'm thinking it'd be good for getting nice sharp fireworks shots. |
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