4th July Fireworks 2013 - Biscayne Bay - Florida

I thinking that my fireworks photography s a 'hit and miss' affair and it does not help that I am present at fireworks once or twice a year. If anyone knows a link on fireworks photography I would appreciate it. I set my Sony to the fireworks setting, looked at the result and then checked to see what shutter speed, etc the sony used. I was then guided by that to set my D300. Some were over exposed, some were underexposed and some were on the button like this. I think i had set the D300 on manual.

I have put this under landscape because I was not sure where to put it

but if anyone has a good link on fireworks photography tutorial or

some straight advice, it would be appreciated.

Looks to me like you nailed it.  I can never get fireworks to work for me.  Maybe you should write the tutorial.  What did you do?

I found these useful- tried it out with most recent firework ones.

http://www.adorama.com/ALC/Article.aspx?googleid=0012601&alias=8-Tips-For-Mastering-Firework-Photography-AdoramaTV&utm_source=RSYS&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email070413FOJ1Day&j=Email070413FOJ1Day

http://www.adorama.com/alc/0008080/article/Fireworks-photography-basics

G

These look absolutely amazing!

I can't help with a link to a tutorial, but one observation I would venture is that fireworks seem to vary in brightness and intensity, therefore I'm not sure that any single setting would cover all requirements.

It imagine it gets even more difficult when you don't know the sequence of fireworks.

Cheers Tony!

Alf

This is a great shot!  I didn't read the links above, but references I've seen before (and that worked for me) say to use manual mode, ISO 200-400, f/8, and a remote shutter release.  I would watch for the slight trail of the rocket as it ascended, trip the shutter and hold it open until the burst is complete and then release.  Worked great, see my Singles Folder.  Regardless, a splendid image...  Mike

Lynne - Thanks. I got lucky with this one and to make it more interesting, the links below all say I should use a tripod and I was unable (sadly so) to take it with me on my brief Florida trip. And without it, I felt naked.  PS I am ashamed to load the over-exposed firework images I did.

Gregory - that was really useful information. I did not know about Adorama TV and I just spent the last 30 minutes viewing their videos.

Alf - thanks again - I think I am now in a better position to execute a little better when the next photo op presents it self.

Mike - Thanks - your info was very useful. I looked at your single folder images and found some very nice firework (and other genres) images.

All the best to everyone,PS I would encourage to visit Adorama TV but here is one set of advice based on their tutorial: Tripod, Cable release, wide-angle lens, Focus just short of infinity, F10 approx, Slow shutter speed (3-6 seconds) or Bulb, ISO at 100 or 200.

As much as I highly recommend my technique of closing my eyes, pressing the shutter and praying, you seem to have arrived at a workable solution. The last time I ever took fireworks photos was with my film camera, which had only manual controls. Tripod, f8, 11 or 16 (no partial stops available) and held the shutter open from the first time I saw the flare of the impending pyrotechnic for anywhere from 5 to 10 seconds, the longer times obviously gave a lot of trails which had some interest as well.

It's such a hit or miss proposition, 50% would be a very good average, imo. This shot is a great one.

Hi Tony,

I have shot too many fireworks to recall, but I do recommend that you use a good lens set wide open.

There is absolutely no need to stop down and loose definition, as wide open offers many advantages:

1] Shorter exposures and normal ISO allow for hand held work. Much more effective to follow various displays going off . You can react much more with a camera in hand than on a tripod. You will get much higher clarity level , too.

2] If you want trailing, low ISO settings and use one stop less than wide open. the trailing fireworks will not be over exposed because of their motion. If the fireworks are not large, keep the aperture wide open. 

3] Higher ISO, hand holding, wide open aperture allow you to pan on the firework and take many images allowing for some very nice sequences and special effects to result.

My average yield, based upon 200 images is 95% for displays that I have no prior knowledge about. I generally use one fixed focal lens , but bring along a short range zoom, like 2:1.

Best Regards, Mike

Tony, as you can see, there are as many ways of shooting fireworks as there are photographers. I will post some shots I too recently just for comparison. I usually shoot them 3 - 6 times a year and have tried several techniques, each with some success. I have read some of the tutorials on Adorama and other sites for guidance as well, but then adjust for the effect I want. I have done both longe exposures and quick shots. Both can work. In my most recent foray I experimentd using a fixed focl point lens which I preset when it was light outside. I then looked at my first shot and made some minor adjustments. I shot at 160 ISO, f13 or f16. Tripod mounted with focus on a specific point that I knew most of the fireworks would go off in. (I did move the camera up and down to capture some different shots or angles. I used a remote release on bulb setting. I listen for the fireworks to shoot off and watch for the trail on the way up. I press shutter release just before I think the burst will go off and hold the shutter open for as many bursts as I want. Sometimes a single sometimes multiple bursts. The trails and flow of the fireworks will vary depending on a lot of different factors, so exprimenting is good. BTW this is a very nice capture, possibly a bit soft. Nice colors and multiple bursts.

Tony, I have now created a folder on my space with shots from my most recent shoot. I have also placed a composit folder from last year just below it. This is not a definitive posting of shooting fireworks, just a way to look at various settings for shooting. The metadata is there for teh shots. There are also a couple "manipulated" images in the folder just to show what kinds of fun you can have with the images once you have them. All the best, and good shooting. Charles

Hi Tony,

  Beautiful image with amazing colors & details.  Take care, Patsy

Tony,  As Lnne said, you nailed this one.  Nice shot.  Landscape works for me, but documentary or street photos might also work, depending on the statement you want to make.   Thanks for your e-mail   Larry

Mike P, Charles M, Michal M, Alf, Patsy, Larry:

Wow! It has been a while since I asked for help and certainly everyone has been very generous with advice and links. It is highly appreciated. I had my ISO as high as 1000 and I now see it should have been 100 to 200 ISO and with a tripod. I now know that if I shoot at ISO 1000 and hand held I will get some unorthodox striations.

Thank you again,