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06/29/2004 02:09:09 PM · #1 |
I am going to be shooting fireworks this weekend and I have no idea what setting to use on my camera. I am afraid if I wait till they start to figure out the best setting for capturing them, they will be over before I get a good shot. I would think to use a fast shutter speed, but a few months ago I was trying to make some cityscapes at night, the fast shutter made the buildings turn out really dark, but in night mode it was great. The night mode setting on my camera means the shutter is really slow, so the fireworks would be blurry, correct? Any advice/suggestions? Thanks!
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06/29/2004 02:17:40 PM · #2 |
Always use a slow shutter speed in nightshots such as fireworks and cityscapes. I usually use the manual mode, set it to ISO 100, and try 5, 10, 15 second exposures.
Good luck... |
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06/29/2004 02:21:47 PM · #3 |
Yes, I have shot fireworks and they came out great. It's pretty easy!
What you want to try is to stand in a dark area (no lights around your camera if possible).
If your camera has manual settings, set the aperature on f.8. Try some some 5.6 too, but I mostly do f8.
If you have a bulb settign for your shutter speed, use it! It's easier than selecting the time each time a new blast is in the air.
Get a good sturdy tripod and shutter release cable so you don't have camera shake.
Press the shutter button just as long as the blast / burst is up in the air (including the trail if you like). Then close it. Make sure your film speed is set to 400 or higher.
If you want multiple bursts, just use a black cloth or paper to put in front of the lens between bursts, or leave the lens open during the finale to capture lots of bursts at once!
Viola!
Every camera is different, so tell me more about yours and do some tests on cars driving by at night if you want. see if yours is better on f4, f5,6 or f8. See if you like your photos iso 400 or 800 (if you can change that setting). Timing is easy, just go with the bursts. :)
Can your camera go to 400 ISO? |
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06/29/2004 02:23:21 PM · #4 |
| Use a tripod and longer exposure times. |
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06/29/2004 02:23:51 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by tyt2000:
Always use a slow shutter speed in nightshots such as fireworks and cityscapes. I usually use the manual mode, set it to ISO 100, and try 5, 10, 15 second exposures.
Good luck... |
When I use 100 ISO, I have to keep my shutter open longer, which often lets in lights from nearby stores and homes. Also, I find that i have to add contrast to the shots in Photoshop afterward due to the dimness of them. I have a similar camera. Do you have much experience with this? I have done this for years and have had excellent results with 400, but have only used 100 once and haven't tried it again... |
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06/29/2004 02:51:55 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by mirdonamy:
Originally posted by tyt2000:
Always use a slow shutter speed in nightshots such as fireworks and cityscapes. I usually use the manual mode, set it to ISO 100, and try 5, 10, 15 second exposures.
Good luck... |
When I use 100 ISO, I have to keep my shutter open longer, which often lets in lights from nearby stores and homes. Also, I find that i have to add contrast to the shots in Photoshop afterward due to the dimness of them. I have a similar camera. Do you have much experience with this? I have done this for years and have had excellent results with 400, but have only used 100 once and haven't tried it again... |
I never photographed fireworks, the only long exposures i've tried are of cityscapes/buildings. I always use ISO 100 because I can then control the light coming in with the sutter speed, I never go below 5 secs or above 15 secs, and I seem to get very good results. I haven't had trouble from nearby light sources simply because of the locations I shoot at. I always adjust them in PS to make them look like the real scene, but thats only minor editing.
I took this one with ISO 100 and a 15 sec exposure:
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06/29/2004 03:49:34 PM · #7 |
I shot the fireworks in this pBase Gallery last year with my point-and-shoot cameras. I have no remote nor bulb mode, and a maximum exposure time of 1/2 second. I think I mostly pre-focused and held the shutter button halfway, and tried to time the ascending rocket trails to depress the shutter as the blast went off.
A typical exposure: 1/2 second, f2.8, ISO 200
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06/29/2004 04:08:04 PM · #8 |
| in my "night time shooting" guide, it says to have ISO 100, 1second, f2.8 |
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06/29/2004 04:14:38 PM · #9 |
| Fireworks and nightime shooting are two very different things. Best to experiment with fairly small (f11 or so) openings and long enough shutter openings (bulb controlled) to catch multiple blasts. Using digital allows chimping and lots of opportunity to adjust. |
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06/29/2004 04:15:45 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by longlivenyhc:
in my "night time shooting" guide, it says to have ISO 100, 1second, f2.8 |
I think that works out to the same as mine :) |
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06/29/2004 04:20:32 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by dickwilhelm:
Fireworks and nightime shooting are two very different things. Best to experiment with fairly small (f11 or so) openings and long enough shutter openings (bulb controlled) to catch multiple blasts. Using digital allows chimping and lots of opportunity to adjust. |
i was referring to the fireworks section in my night time guide. and yes general, they do work out to be the same ^_^ |
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06/29/2004 04:23:40 PM · #12 |
I read somewhere that it's easiest if you shoot in AV mode and set the smallest aperture possible. This will give you deep DOF and long exposure. This is what I'm planning on doing. Just my 2 cents.
June
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06/29/2004 04:30:07 PM · #13 |
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06/29/2004 05:06:08 PM · #14 |
These were done at f8 with an 8 second exposure, ISO 100.
Seattle Fireworks
You need the longer exposure in order to get the full effect of the fireworks.
Message edited by author 2004-06-29 17:09:06.
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06/29/2004 05:14:56 PM · #15 |
Doing similar research myself this year, as it is my first using digital.
The NYIP article posted above is the one I also selected as my main guide. "Shooting Fireworks with a Digital Camera" by Jim Barthman appears to me to be a good start. Even includes an ISO/aperature chart. Good info.
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06/29/2004 05:48:54 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by dickwilhelm:
Fireworks and nightime shooting are two very different things. Best to experiment with fairly small (f11 or so) openings and long enough shutter openings (bulb controlled) to catch multiple blasts. Using digital allows chimping and lots of opportunity to adjust. |
I am with you. I have shot quite a few fireworks shows and always have excellent results with f8 (not quite f11, but not far) and bulb settings. I do use 400 iso though (which on digital cams doesn't have grain like film cams do). :)
Arie |
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06/29/2004 06:13:42 PM · #17 |
Looks like people are all over the map on this one. For those of us in the US, lets go shoot Sunday night and compare notes next week.
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06/29/2004 06:29:25 PM · #18 |
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06/29/2004 06:32:12 PM · #19 |
| I think I'll try everyones settings and see what happens. |
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06/29/2004 07:00:48 PM · #20 |
| i'll attempt to take some of the new york city ones, hopefully this year i will be able to see them from my roof |
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06/29/2004 07:05:56 PM · #21 |
I've only tried it a couple times, but I found 1-2 second exposures with small apertures to work well. I'd recommend manual mode. After a few tries, you should get an idea of what settings to use.
I took these 2 shots in 2002, hopefully get some good ones in Pittsburgh this weekend. Good luck
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06/29/2004 09:04:45 PM · #22 |
Click here
Message edited by EddyG - Edited URL for brevity. |
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06/29/2004 09:31:16 PM · #23 |
Thank you so much for all you help. I can only hope to get shots half as good as some of these! Great Photos Guys! Your advice and the article by Jim Barthman has taken away a few of the butterflies. Only thing I am worried about is this cable release. I do not have one and there are None made for my camera (fuji s5000), I would run out and buy one tomorrow if I could. I can set the timer, but its 10 seconds and I am worried I might miss something! I hope I'll be able to be still enough to get some good ones :) I'll post what I get next week. Thanks again! :o)
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06/29/2004 09:54:25 PM · #24 |
Dana,
Without a cable release try this...Set the exposure time to 3 to 5 seconds. Wait until the balistics take off (usually you can hear them and sometimes you can see them) then carefully press the shutter release and hope for the best. I will bet that with a little experimentation, you will be quite pleased.
Dick
Message edited by author 2004-06-29 21:55:24. |
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06/29/2004 09:58:29 PM · #25 |
| I think I have just seen the longest querystring ever! |
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