Fireworks

[rewell6]

I thought I would share a few pics from tonights show. It was a little short, but a thunderstorm was coming up behind us. The kids loved it anyway and that's what it is all about.





The light streaks are the boaters heading out to race for the ramps to avoid the thunderstorms

[uspirate]

very very sweet!

[Sapperwhite]

nice!

what's the exif data on those. our fireworks are tonight, and i'd like to know what settings to start at and adjust from there. i don't want to blow half the show just figuring out where to start and what looks good. i was thinking of starting with sharper images, and then slowly adjusting to get longer exposures for milky trails as the show goes on. thanks.

are those handheld, or tripod?

[rewell6]

I have tried this for 2 or 3 years now and I get a few good ones each year. It's tough to take pics with little kids walking in front of the camera, and sitting in your lap. I am getting better. According to google earth it is about 1.2 miles from where we sat

The best advice I can give is to learn how to use full "Manual mode" on your camera.

All shot with a Nikon D70 18-125mm f/3.3-5.6
Manual focus
white balance: Cloudy
ISO 200
focal length 100mm
"Bulb" setting - Nikons shutter speed setting for long exposures
On a tripod
Manual exposure mode - auto settings just don't work very well


In order
f11
12.8 seconds

f11
10.9 seconds

f11
23 seconds

[Sapperwhite]

wow, 10 seconds was your shortest. I was thinking 5...... shows what i know. I don't have a tripod yet either, so mine will all most likely be blurry.

[rewell6]

My tripod was a short one just big enough to hold the camera up. An SLiK Mini Pro all of about 8" tall. If you don't have a tripod take something to set it on like a small bucket and something to put under it to adjust the angle maybe pieces of cardboard. If you hold it they will all be blurry just like the year I tried to take some fireworks pics from a boat.



One other thing I almost forgot. I used a remote trigger release. If you don't have one you can hold a small piece of cardboard in front of the lens, push the shutter release, wait a second to make sure the camera has stopped moving, remove the cardboard for "x" seconds, put the cardboard back and push the shutter release again to close it. Thus removing any shake when you touch the camera.

If you can't figure out how to make the shutter stay open, pic a long shutter setting like 20 or 30 seconds and use the cardboard trick above to control the time. If you do this you won't be able to close the shutter by pressing the release, just cover the lens till it closes on its own.

[Sapperwhite]

I have a Canon 40D, so I can lock the mirror and delay the shutter for vibration control, if I had a tripod that is. No big deal though. I'm saving up for the right tripod and head rather than blow money on a junky one I will end up replacing later. I probably should get a nice mini for the time being though.

Remote shutter is on the list right after the tripod.....

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why don't i get myself a cheap hobby