Handheld fireworks photograhy with 18-55 IS?

<p>I am planing to see the famous Sydney fireworks for NYE.<br>

While I was searching the articles on how to capture fireworks, I came across below article<br>

<a href="http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/fireworks.html">http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/fireworks.html</a><br>

This article describes that one would have to use tripod and at least 2-4 seconds of exposure for capturing fireworks...<br>

Well, for this particular event there will 100's of thousands of people gathering at the vintage point. I think it may not be possible to setup the tripod in this crowd. Also I am not sure if tripods are allowed at the site - it is not mentioned in the communication.<br>

Is it possible to get reasonable pictures with Canon 350D camera and 18-55 IS lens hand held? I guess I can hand hold it upto 0.3 seconds. Ocassionaly I can handhold upto 0.5 secs. Is this exposure enough to get at least some bursts?<br>

Does anyone have specific experience for NYE fireworks shooting at Sydney harbour?</p>

<p>My guess is no, you won't get decent pictures. You need a few seconds for the firework trails to show up. With short exposures you won't get the full effect. Fireworks are basically moving point sources. The last thing you want is a short exposure. I have a gallery of images at <a href="http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/Gallery/fireworks/index.html">http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/Gallery/fireworks/index.html</a> and there's shutter speed info there. You'll see most are at 4s or 8s. If you imagaine the same images, but with the trails maybe 1/10 the length, you'll get some idea why short exposures probably won't work very well. It would also be quite difficult to time the shot with a short exposure.<br>

<p>

You'll certainly get something at 0.3 seconds (if you can really handhold at that speed), but I don't think the results will be very pleasing. You'd also need to be zoomed out to 18mm for such a long shutter speed, and I've generally found myself using longer focal lengths (around 50mm).<br><p>

 

If you can't take a tripod or monopod of course, then you have no option. Maybe a small "table top" tripod would be OK if you can find a wall or some other structure to set it on.</p>

<p>As Bob was saying with a 2-4 sec speed you would not see the crisp "particles" of the fireworks, you get the more traditional fireworks shots. I personally like the shorter crisp look. Bob already explained his way to shoot fireworks, but if you want my style, Id say bump up your ISO to 400, and shoot at 3.5/4 at around 1/60th. (and adjust your shutter from that, remember your exposing for the bright flash of the fireworks, not the night sky, so make sure your in manual). As I see it some people like the trails on fireworks, but for me I like the crisp look, it reminds me of how they looked at that moment. </p>

<p> The shot below was taken at 1/200th of a sec. at f/2.4 at ISO 800, at 85mm.<br>

<img src="http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9762/img5674ahk7.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>100% crop </p>

<p> <img src="http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8370/picture1qn1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

<p>Thanks Bob and carnagex for the answers.<br>

carnagex - I think I could try your style.. do you use manual focus or auto focus? I am asking because your shot looks like a focused one and does not look like pre-focused manual focus shot? Or was it?</p>

<p>What about you show up really early and set up the tripod before the crowd arrives?</p>

<p>Trouble is folks grab their spot early morn, and when they let go of the coat hanger she`s bright. I`d use raw 1/30~1/80 f5.6 as a start. leave manual focus at inf as the lens will hunt and stuff your timing. the trails not like a tripod shot this my wife took handheld couple weeks ago from our front veranda, school is 1/2 mile away :)</p><div></div>

<p>I prefer 2 - 6 seconds. Any longer than 6 seconds and you risk having too much fireworks. If you can tuck your elbows in, and possibly shoot sitting down, I guess there's a slight chance at 1 - 2 seconds.</p>

<p>Also, if you get the chance, I think you should take a close look at the Gorilla pod, and a remote release, just in case. :)</p><div></div>

<p>"carnagex - I think I could try your style.. do you use manual focus or auto focus? I am asking because your shot looks like a focused one and does not look like pre-focused manual focus shot? Or was it?" --- I actually focused on the stardust hotel (after getting that part focused in, I switched the lens to MF. Since I was going to be standing in the same spot for the next 15 min. there was no point in refocusing). </p>

<p>With the fireworks visible from so many places, surely you'll find a spot where using a tripod is not a problem.<br>

Consider zooming the lens during some of the exposures, if you have a tripod, for effects like those in my photo, linked to below:<br>

<a title="Fireworks Photo" href="../photo/7516936&size=lg" title="Fireworks Photo">Fireworks photo</a></p>

 

<p>Tripod is really the best option, I tend to use 4-6 second exposures...more typically is too much. And it isn't hard to stake out a small area, sit down with the tripod right in front of you pointed up. Most onlookers should be out of the field of view anyway due to the height of the fireworks. </p><div></div>

<p>In my little town, they tend to set off stuff fairly low, so that there is a need for wide coverage. So <a href="../photodb/folder?folder_id=751984">last year</a> I used a Sigma 10-20mm lens at ISO 800, f/16 at 2.5 sec mostly at 10mm on a 20D. I experimented and got usable results at other speeds, but 2.5 tripped off with a remote and on a tripod gave the longer trails.</p><div></div>

<p>If you can't set up a tripod you may use a street lamp or the like: Press the camera against it while you shoot. This will eliminate most of the camera shake and you can take shots up to some seconds. It is not as good as a tripod of course but much better than hand held with IS.</p>