Use a long enough shutter speed to anticipate the next round and capture the entire sequence. Something like 5-10 seconds should work. Pyrotechnics are quite bright so aperture is to taste - I recommend bracketing to find what you like.
The attached was shot at f11, 5 sec, using 50mm at ISO100. Canon 20D with tripod.
1) Set your ISO to 100
2) Use a Wide Angle Zoom
3) Set your lens to focus to infinity ( manually focus)
4) Set your exposure to manual between 3-5 seconds at at least f/ 16
5) Release the shutter to make multiple bursts
If the image is too dark - open up to F11 to F8
( Make sure image is sharp---Zoom in if you camera has that advantage)
ALWAYS Shoot with a tripod - it will give a more natural cascade of light
USE AN ELECTRONIC RELEASE if possible--be careful not to move the camera at all when releasing the shutter.
Definitely use manual focus. Autofocus, except possibly on a pro body, is really iffy with fireworks. I'm not sure why but I've shot fireworks with four different Canon bodies and none of them have been real happy about it.
Focussing at infinity works well, but again, you need to do it manually. The infinity focus mark on the lens isn't always 100% accurate, plus autofocus tends to hunt before settling down that far out. By then, the shot is over with.
F11 at ISO 100 is the usual baseline exposure - adjust from there. A lot of it depends on if it is single burst (or just a couple of bursts), or a large number going off at once, such as in a finale. The latter case *will* require stopping down.
Assuming that you are shooting digital, check the exposure on the first couple of bursts. You won't miss much and you'll be sure nothing is blown out.
Lens choice can be almost anything, depending on where you are seated. I usually arrive late, so a 70-200 tends to be a favorite of mine for this. It doesn't help that I tend to compose fairly tight as well.
I have a preference for using bulb, with fixed aperature, rather than manual. It allows you more control over when to end the exposure, which can be helpful at times.
Hmmm, as I think about and recall some of Jack's fireworks shots I have seen, he may be sitting closer than me. That would explain the half stop difference in starting aperature (think light falloff with flash).
NO CHIMPING!!!! Just keep shooting.
You might occasionally need to check focal length and composition. Depending on where you are sitting relative to where they are being set off, and how large of an array they are using, it is possible that the burst will gradually go out of the frame.
If you can shoot in a downtown area, try to take some wider shots of the buildings and the atmosphere around you.
Note: Once you find the proper aperature, the fireworks are self-illuminating. Since they are moving, you won't get over or under-exposure for one or two bursts, regardless of shutter speed. ONce you layer several bursts on one shot, localized over exposure is possible. Just keep shooting!
Discussion
3 repliesThe attached was shot at f11, 5 sec, using 50mm at ISO100. Canon 20D with tripod.
1) Set your ISO to 100
2) Use a Wide Angle Zoom
3) Set your lens to focus to infinity ( manually focus)
4) Set your exposure to manual between 3-5 seconds at at least f/ 16
5) Release the shutter to make multiple bursts
If the image is too dark - open up to F11 to F8
( Make sure image is sharp---Zoom in if you camera has that advantage)
ALWAYS Shoot with a tripod - it will give a more natural cascade of light
USE AN ELECTRONIC RELEASE if possible--be careful not to move the camera at all when releasing the shutter.
Have a blast!
JG
Definitely use manual focus. Autofocus, except possibly on a pro body, is really iffy with fireworks. I'm not sure why but I've shot fireworks with four different Canon bodies and none of them have been real happy about it.
Focussing at infinity works well, but again, you need to do it manually. The infinity focus mark on the lens isn't always 100% accurate, plus autofocus tends to hunt before settling down that far out. By then, the shot is over with.
F11 at ISO 100 is the usual baseline exposure - adjust from there. A lot of it depends on if it is single burst (or just a couple of bursts), or a large number going off at once, such as in a finale. The latter case *will* require stopping down.
Assuming that you are shooting digital, check the exposure on the first couple of bursts. You won't miss much and you'll be sure nothing is blown out.
Lens choice can be almost anything, depending on where you are seated. I usually arrive late, so a 70-200 tends to be a favorite of mine for this. It doesn't help that I tend to compose fairly tight as well.
I have a preference for using bulb, with fixed aperature, rather than manual. It allows you more control over when to end the exposure, which can be helpful at times.
Hmmm, as I think about and recall some of Jack's fireworks shots I have seen, he may be sitting closer than me. That would explain the half stop difference in starting aperature (think light falloff with flash).
NO CHIMPING!!!! Just keep shooting.
You might occasionally need to check focal length and composition. Depending on where you are sitting relative to where they are being set off, and how large of an array they are using, it is possible that the burst will gradually go out of the frame.
If you can shoot in a downtown area, try to take some wider shots of the buildings and the atmosphere around you.
Note: Once you find the proper aperature, the fireworks are self-illuminating. Since they are moving, you won't get over or under-exposure for one or two bursts, regardless of shutter speed. ONce you layer several bursts on one shot, localized over exposure is possible. Just keep shooting!