Explosion photo shoot - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

04/25/2005 12:37:33 PM · #1

Hi everyone,

There will be a film crew filming a tv program by where I live, and they will be 'blowing up' a shed on a garden. So I'm going along and want to try getting a shot of the explosion. It seems I will just have one attempt at this and any advice would be great. Specifically, I'm not sure of how I should set my exposure. By the time the camera sets auto exposure, the explosion will be finished. I'm concerned about blowing out all of the highlights in the explosion if metering off of the 'pre-exposion' scene. Anyone done this kind of thing before/got any tips?
Thanks
Dave

Message edited by author 2005-04-27 09:17:33.

ebertdj

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8L

04/25/2005 12:41:55 PM · #2

Well - if there is going to be fire involved - you want to make sure you do not over expose the shot - you can bump up the highlights but you can retrieve blown out stuff - if that makes sence??

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

04/25/2005 12:44:25 PM · #3

If you have a burst mode on your camera I would use that. At least one in the sequence should turn out.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/25/2005 12:44:51 PM · #4

Get as close as you can. Use macro. ;-) J/K

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

04/25/2005 02:14:51 PM · #5

Originally posted by kpriest:

Get as close as you can. Use macro. ;-) J/K

Hmm...but I like my eyebrows as they are thanks ;-)

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll try burst mode, dialing in between -1 and -2 exposure control. I understand what you mean ebertdj, thanks.

cghubbell

Nikon D300

04/25/2005 02:20:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by davidx76:

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll try burst mode, dialing in between -1 and -2 exposure control. I understand what you mean ebertdj, thanks.

You'd probably want to add exposure for something bright... As an example, when I shoot a neutral colored bird against a bright sky backdrop, the bird comes out underexposed. I dial in +1 and it's perfect.

If you are trying to capture the shed "pieces" amidst a bright flash, you probably want to let some of the highlights blow. On the other hand, if you want to capture the high ranges of the explosion, you might want to dial in the opposite, or just let the camera ride on even compensation.

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

04/25/2005 03:10:01 PM · #7

Originally posted by cghubbell:

I thought that increasing EV compensation by 1 is equivilent to doubling the light hiting the sensor/film? Therefore the opposite should be true when dialing in -EV? Maybe I'll try to cover all of my bases by using auto braketing mode!

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

04/25/2005 03:24:42 PM · #8

Originally posted by davidx76:

Anyone done this kind of thing before/got any tips?

As soon as I get my aux. HD here, I'll show you what I captured in a fireball explosion once, along with the EXIF from it.
I was in burst sequence and center-weighted auto-metering mode and my E-10 kinda' wasn't fast enough as it
happened VERY fast and was outrageoulsly bright in the night sky.

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

04/25/2005 05:51:53 PM · #9

If you could do that, it would be great! Thanks!!

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

04/27/2005 05:58:49 AM · #10

Found it!

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

04/27/2005 07:01:57 AM · #11

Originally posted by BradP:

Found it!

Very cool. I would just hope that my camera's automatic setting would be able to handle it as I'd have NO clue on how to set it up manually.

Awesome photo.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

04/27/2005 07:27:32 AM · #12

I think explosions would be a good challenge, especially after the Jewelry challenge. Just need to get back on a manly track. Besides, it would give me an excuse to buy or make some explosives & blow something up.

-edit- be sure to post up your explosions!

Message edited by author 2005-04-27 07:28:22.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

04/27/2005 07:31:00 AM · #13

I think you should use RAW, then you can play around with -2 -1 0 +1 +2 etc after you've taken the photo, so you can't mess it up :)

justinbrook

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

04/27/2005 07:31:41 AM · #14

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Just need to watch out. Some users go to extreme lengths to get the picture. Blowing stuff up is a bit risky. LOL