Shooting Fireworks
Posted by: AamirJun 30th, 2007 • Category: Eye Candy • Tags: events •
Independence day is around the corner and i’m sure most of us are eagerly waiting for the spectacular fireworks. Here are some pictures i took last year and few tips on how to shoot fireworks.
From my experience, here are some tips for shooting fireworks.
- Tripod is a must. Don’t even bother shooting pictures without it.
- Cable release or remote is desirable, not a must. I did not use one
- Check weather before you leave. If it is foggy or cloudy, there is nothing much you can do. Dress appropriately, it gets really chilly some places.
- Check for wind direction and pick spot appropriately. This will help avoid the smoke from the fireworks from getting into your pictures.
- Park your vehicle a couple of blocks away and be prepared to walk a bit. Expect roadblocks and heavy traffic near the event venue.
- Shoot as many pictures as you can.
- Post Process your images. I used Photoshop to process my images.
Here is how i set my camera (EOS 30D + 28-135mm lens) to shoot the fireworks
- ISO: 100 (If you have 50 on your camera, use it)
- Focus: Manual Focus (manually focussed on a building nearby and adjusted focus again with the first burst of fireworks. Do not touch the focus ring after this)
- Camera Mode: M (Manual)
- Aperture: 8-16 (experiment with few bursts to get the right value)
- Exposure: Reduce/increase exposure compensation by couple of steps depending on intensity of fireworks and shooting distance.
- Shutter Speed: Bulb (I had the shutter open from 3 to 6 seconds max. Experiment with the first few bursts to get an idea)
- Noise Reduction: Off (Turning it ON makes the camera take approx 5-8 secs to process the image and write to the card. This means you miss many fireworks)
- Focal length: 28-50mm (I cropped the pics later)
- White balance: Auto
- Metering mode: Doesnt matter. I chose pattern
- Image Quality: Large + Superfine (No RAW)
- Storage medium: Ultra II flash card. Not sure if using a micro drive would have given me faster write times
More tips here…
Digital Photography School
Photographing Fireworks in California
Posted by: Aamir
Jun 30th, 2007 • Category: Eye Candy • Tags: events
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June 30th, 2007 at 11:11:
1
Lovely work as always :).
June 30th, 2007 at 22:46:
2
Hi Ari
Loved the fireworks!
Wonderful!
Thank you!!!
Hope all is well with you.
Enjoy the 4th!
I bet you’ll be taking some more great pictures!
HUGGGGGGZ from your friend in Colorado!
Margie:)
July 6th, 2007 at 17:23:
3
those tips will certainly help me.. i was really baffled trying to get good pics of firework displays or even a candle for that matter!
the first and the last pics are especially lovely!
PS: forgot to mention, that there’s been a change of blog. i will now be found at:
http://browneyedkiyoshi.blogspot.com/
July 7th, 2007 at 07:00:
4
Heyyyy how are you? beautiful firework shots! Richard and I never buy fireworks to play with…but we love watching them light up the sky! we got married on the 4th 🙂
July 8th, 2007 at 09:27:
5
These look lovely! How exactly did you process these images, though?
July 14th, 2007 at 18:20:
6
This is so awesome buddy.
July 31st, 2007 at 03:30:
7
Spectacular,Ari! Loved all of them.
Well, i’m back to blogging. but you can reach me at a different url..
How’s everything?
take care
Gangadhar
August 2nd, 2007 at 23:22:
8
ah haa….
Finally!!
I knew your URL had some camera sound (shutter) in it..but was not able to figure out the exact one…had to dig in ma comments 😛
Boy…4 months break sure had made me dumberer and dumbest
Now that am ahere…Lemme check out the fireworks 🙂
August 2nd, 2007 at 23:24:
9
Breath taking snaps….goood work there gal!!
Awesome dedication!!
Here is how i set my camera (EOS 30D + 28-135mm lens) to shoot the fireworks
This is lot of hard work :O
Its been a year now and I havent even purcahsed proper cover for ma sony digi cam. Since past couple of days I cant even see it anywhere around…think it fell down somewhere behind the bed 😀
Thats my dedication 🙂
August 6th, 2007 at 18:56:
10
you always have great captures .. very unique and pleasing. Not like the stuff that one finds on photography blogs these days. The pictures are amazing, no blur even at night time, awesome. What do you use to ensure that?
August 12th, 2007 at 12:47:
11
Very cool stuff man. Thanks for the tips.
Joel
August 12th, 2007 at 15:24:
12
WOW! Awesome pics!! Keep going…
August 16th, 2007 at 01:20:
13
Thinking of ya Ari, and missing ya!
Sending you warm hugs!
Margie
August 17th, 2007 at 21:35:
14
I came across your blog through a google search while looking for monarch photo references.. you have some absolutely gorgeous images!! I just wanted to say keep up the fantastic picture taking, I’ll be keeping my eyes on your blog for more! 🙂
August 29th, 2007 at 19:42:
15
I have been looking at your blog for a while. I love your shots. I hope you dont mind if I add you as link on my photoblog.
September 17th, 2007 at 05:50:
16
The fireworks, called “fuegos artificiales” on Spain, are the light of my dreams.
Un fuerte abrazo, Ari.
🙂
October 5th, 2007 at 12:11:
17
it has been a while since I have visited your great site I am seeing what all talents I have missed seeing! These are no exception just great!