Fireworks on Film for the Fourth!

[drg]

Get out those tripods! Grab the remote shutter release or check to be sure your timer is working. Most importantly - - -

Film selection. Black and white isn't going to do it. You need color, color, color. Doesn't have to be fast, doesn't have to be expensive but stock up now (or a roll or two). Order now or shop ahead if needed!

I brought this up to remind everyone that another filmable Holiday is rapidly approaching. The special part of course are the fireworks.

Let see how many take the opportunity to test their skills. Numerous posts about taking firework pictures have been done and overdone, so lets just shoot some photos.

I've got Astia slide film ready and waiting. The fast wide lenses are clean and set to go. There's various speeds, manufactuers, and emulsions of color print film also available in the freezer.

One other technique I'm planning (as there are 4 potential shows, weather permitting, I could easily attend) is to try using very long focal length (200-600) lenses from a distance. There's everything from zooms to mirror lenses in the old arsenal so I'm going to pull one or two out and set them up.

Any other fiery film shooters out there??

[fx101]

Fireworks nescessitate film (especially negative film). I'm shooting a Leica M4 with the 50mm f/1.0 Noctilux lens, the WATE (16-18-24mm Leica triple prime lens) and the finder, Fujicolor 800Z, and a nice gitzo tripod to back it all up. The M4 is an old camera but it takes pictures (using an external meter) that rival or beat just about any new camera out there

[Xia_Ke]

Would love to get some fireworks shots but, with work I don't think I'll make it to any this year If I do I have a about 40 rolls in the freezer of 35mm Astia and Provia another 10 or 11 rolls of E100G and E100GX in 120. The Ektachrome I think is going to be a bit too slow for the Rolleis though. What's this remote control thing you mention?...LOL I always have my trusty cable release in the camera bag :thumbsup:

[walterick]

If anyone is interested in a great fireworks photography guide, here are our official PR scribblings:

http://www.photographyreview.com/fir...oguidecrx.aspx

[drg]

The first fireworks show concluded within the past two hours.

So far so good and I only forgot to take an extra QR plate for the tripod I was using. It was sitting on the shelf and I just forgot to stick in a bag! I made it with just one.

Other than a low battery in a remote release and dropping a lens cloth in the dirt (I carry more than one) all went very well.

It's E6 (Fuji Astia) so it will be a few days before I've got anything to post. I may wait until after the rush of shows later in the week to have all the film together.

Plans now include some various print films too.

One interesting footnote (and I'm going to blog on this I think), this is the first day in years that I've only shot film. That'll change tomorrow at work.

Thanks Rick for posting the link to Sebastian's Guide.

[mjs1973]

I still have a Yashica TLR that I borrowed from a coworker many months ago. My goal was to get it back to him by the end of this month. Then I realized I have a roll of Provia 400 that I need to use up before I give it back. I think I will use it up this weekend on some fireworks.

I have a roll of Agfa Scala yet too. I wonder what fireworks would look like in B&W...

[drg]

Minor delay, the wrong chemistry was delivered. I'm waiting on a new ship date as I have a new rep. May have to take it to a competitor and their same day E-6 lab. Yes, they still exist! Else it will be a couple more days. Bummer.

[mjs1973]

My roll is sitting on a table in my office. I will have to gather all of my E6 and send it out one of these days. That could be a while... I should have them back by the 4th of July next year.

[drg]

The right chemistry finally came in, time was available to process, and I had scanner time the other morning.

All of these are 2-4 second exposures at f/16 with either a 28mm or a 200mm lens. I tried some different focal lengths and lenses but these came out the best.

These shot on Fuji Astia, a 100 ISO slide film! An experiment.

Clickfor a 'mini-gallery' of 5 photos. Or click on a thumbnail.

Enjoy

[Xia_Ke]

Those came out great drg. I particularly like that first one :thumbsup:

[drg]

Those came out great drg. I particularly like that first one :thumbsup:

Thanks Aaron.

I've caught up with the backlog of film sitting around and I'm sorting as time permits. There is a new film photo or two in the gallery in addition to the fireworks. I'm sorting through and considering several others!