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Posted (edited)

You use a tripod for firework pics, right?

 

What shutter speed works best?

edit: I found this info on the link you posted, 3 seconds.

 

NICE PICS!

 

edit2: That camera is like $800 right? Great pics of the flood also.

Ever try taking pictures of lightning?

Edited by NiftySHIFTY
Posted

You use a tripod for firework pics, right?

 

What shutter speed works best?

edit: I found this info on the link you posted, 3 seconds.

 

NICE PICS!

 

edit2: That camera is like $800 right? Great pics of the flood also.

Ever try taking pictures of lightning?

 

Yes, I used a tripod. The shutter speed varies from picture to picture. The shutter speed setting I used is called "bulb mode." What that means is the shutter is open for as long as I have the shutter button pressed. So I don't get camera shake on the tripod while activating the shutter, I used a remote cable release.

 

As for camera settings, I used manual mode, f/11 (f/8-11 works best for fireworks), manual focus (pre-focused to infinity), shutter speed bulb mode, tripod, and remote shutter release. Believe it or not, this was my first time photographing fireworks. I may go to Dorney Park tonight to photograph those.

Posted

Wow, very good for first time.

 

My camera is just a Kodak EasyShare DX7440, 4 MegaPixels, but I'm determined to get some good firework pics. The camera is extremely user friendly, and has 16 different settings, one being a fireworks setting. I don't really know a thing about cameras, but when I set it on the firework setting it says f5.6 and next to that is 2.0", which I'm guessing is 2second shutter speed. Last year 2 seconds didn't seem long enough to get some of the big fireworks, so this year I'll try the manual setting and bump it up to 3 seconds.

 

Post the Dorney pics if you go, I'll take my snowgun off the tripod and set up my camera tonight also.

Posted

The two issues to watch for in shooting fireworks and lightning are kind of the same. As long as it's well past dusk, you can use the bulb setting, which, especially for lightning, takes away the guesswork. But, the flashes that aren't really bolts, but light up the clouds will trash your photo. Same with those bright 'boom' fireworks. Both things will wipe out any good bolts or fireworks that are on the image.

 

The hardest thing about fireworks---and lightning---is to include a reference point. Something in the foreground to add another dimension. For example, the shots of the Statue of Liberty, with the fireworks around it. And lightning over buildings, or whatever. It's a heckuva lot easier to cheat doing it with Photoshop, though...but it's not the same.

 

Because I moved around from newspaper to newspaper, I was always the new guy on staff that got stuck working holidays, like the 4th...

 

Great shots, empt!

Posted

The two issues to watch for in shooting fireworks and lightning are kind of the same. As long as it's well past dusk, you can use the bulb setting, which, especially for lightning, takes away the guesswork. But, the flashes that aren't really bolts, but light up the clouds will trash your photo. Same with those bright 'boom' fireworks. Both things will wipe out any good bolts or fireworks that are on the image.

 

The hardest thing about fireworks---and lightning---is to include a reference point. Something in the foreground to add another dimension. For example, the shots of the Statue of Liberty, with the fireworks around it. And lightning over buildings, or whatever. It's a heckuva lot easier to cheat doing it with Photoshop, though...but it's not the same.

 

Because I moved around from newspaper to newspaper, I was always the new guy on staff that got stuck working holidays, like the 4th...

 

Great shots, empt!

 

I couldn't get anything in the foreground or background, I was too close to the fireworks. The CamelNazi's were out in full force and had everything blocked off and cattled everyone where they wanted them to go like sheep. I wanted to shoot from the SunBowl, but they would not let anyone down there. I wound up shooting from the parking lot just above sunbowl.

 

These fireworks were the worst I've ever seen in my life. They only lasted like 25 minutes and the finale lasted like 25 seconds. Where I was standing, not a single person clapped when they were over- that's how bad they were. I was very disappointed.

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