Fireworks Photography

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/fireworks.html' target='_blank'>http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/fireworks.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"All you really need in the way of equipment is a camera on which you can manually set focus, shutter speed and aperture. Normally these days that would mean a digital SLR (though a film SLR would be fine too of course), or a high end P&amp;S type digital camera. The reason that you need to be able to manually set the camera is that autoexposure probably won't work, plus you need an exposure of several seconds in order to record fireworks bursts. You also need to be able to set the focus since there may be nothing in the frame when you open the shutter (more on that later), so AF will fail."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/fireworks_photography.jpg" /><br /><br />We had <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10723">posted an article</a> on fireworks photography just around the 4th of July this year which talked about lighting, camera position, AF, aperture and ISO. It was quite comprehensive. This is another article on some more tips that might be useful. What camera do you normally use to shoot fireworks?

[Vincent Ferrari]

Never underestimate the power of IS (Image Stabilization).

In NYC, where tripods are pretty much illegal at all times (unless you have a special shooting permit), IS is your best friend on long-exposure handheld shots.

[Tim Williamson]

Or the ground...last July I just set the camera on the ground angled up towards the sky and used the remote shutter and got some decent shots.

[Kris Kumar]

I have been trying to improve my skills at fireworks photography. The luck element (timing) makes it fun. I use my old Canon Digital Rebel, the first gen.

In NYC, where tripods are pretty much illegal at all times (unless you have a special shooting permit)..

My friend you need The Pod. (http://thepod.ca/) 8) Using The Pod you can dump the tripod, and still be able to take great long shutter shots. The Pod enables you to use almost any surface as the stand. Every photographer must have one.

But I am still impressed that the image stablization works with fireworks. Wow!

Couple of my favorite shots, taken on 4th of July this year at Canandaigua lake. [used a regular tripod]
http://krishnakumar.com/images/Album/Goodones/A000%20-%20Canandaigua%20Fireworks.jpg

http://krishnakumar.com/images/Album/Goodones/A001%20-%20Canandaigua%20Fireworks.jpg

I should crop this one, I like how the fireworks forms a butterfly shape.

[Tim Williamson]

Ok, since we're showing off our fireworks photos...here's a few taken with the camera set on the ground with a remote shutter. Enjoy! ;)

Smiley Face
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5809/396/640/IMG_0506.jpg

Looks like a snowflake
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5809/396/640/IMG_0524.jpg

Grand finale!
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5809/396/640/IMG_0540.jpg

Our grand finale (handheld shot)
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5809/396/640/IMG_0634.jpg