Fireworks Photography

[Thabird689]

Ok fellow photographers I kinda need some help on this one ok. Well this fourth of july I planned on shooting some fireworks at the park and i was just wondering if any of you have done this before and have some good advice on the film speed and the aperature and shutter speed and my equipment that i am going to be using is a Nikon FE camera with either a 35 or 50mm lens on it. I was just wondering what you guys have done in years prior. thanks and i also have a 70-200mm lens also if that helps in answering my question. thanks again and see ya

[h2oskierc]

Ok fellow photographers I kinda need some help on this one ok. Well this fourth of july I planned on shooting some fireworks at the park and i was just wondering if any of you have done this before and have some good advice on the film speed and the aperature and shutter speed and my equipment that i am going to be using is a Nikon FE camera with either a 35 or 50mm lens on it. I was just wondering what you guys have done in years prior. thanks and i also have a 70-200mm lens also if that helps in answering my question. thanks again and see ya

I, too am interested to hear. I think that I remember seeing somewhere to use Bulb, and start when the fireworks start, and finish the exposure when they have started to fade, but I have no idea what aperature to use, or if that is correct.

[Grandpaw]

I think I used Kodak 200ASA film at F2 at 30 of a second. I guess it all depends on the effect you want. I always hand hold my camera and do not use a tripod. I try and take the picture just as the fireworks explodes and burst into different directions. Remember to watch for the explosion to time your picture because if you go by the sound of the explosion you will be too late. The sound travels much slower than the light will and you will miss the picture.

With a 1/30 sec exposure you get the effect of some movement without have the colors being smeared all over the picture. Everyone likes different effects but if you use bulb as your exposure, even with using a tripod, I think you will just get the effect of all your colors running all over the picture. I personally don't like it like that.

I think it is all in what affect you want to achieve. Remember it doesn't matter how dark it is outside, it matters how well your subject is lit up. In this case you will be taking pictures of light and should not have a lot of problems.

Also you need to save a few shots for the finally at the end of the show when the send up several at the same time.

You may get a totally different answer from some of the other folks here but this works for me. Good luck.

Try several different techniques and that way you will have a better chance of getting a few good ones.

[another view]

Chris, this is a cross-post from Viewfinder. There are several replies here:

Fireworks Photography

Hope it helps. I agree about shooting a lot of film using different techniques but always use a tripod and long shutter speeds. Kind of like shooting a waterfall, at least technique-wise.

[Grandpaw]

Because you would be assured of a steady camera for the longer exsposure times. I have had very good luck hand holding my camera but a tripod would eliminate any possibilities of movement and would be a sure thing. I don't use long enough exsposures that I can't hand hold mine.

I would definitely try at least a few at 1/30 and 1/15 to see if you like it. The longer exposures just seem to get to much of a light trail for my taste. Try several and see what stikes YOUR fancey.

Be sure and keep up with your exsposure settings (Speed and F stop) for the different shots so when you get your pictures back you will know what to use to get the effect you want the next time.