4th July Fireworks anyone else shoot any?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bmadau

Do you tihnk you can post something from last night? What equipment were you using? Maybe some of us can be of help. I actually find shooting fireworks to be pretty easy. WAY easier than events or portraits...

I can't stand shooting people...

BM

---

Well, it hit me last night that I had forgotten to switch the lens from auto focus to manual, so there's a large part of my problem, right there. I should have realized it at the time, but I was so mad I couldn't think of anything else.....:lol:
Live and learn, I guess.

I didn't get to see any fireworks until Sunday night, when the race track I shoot for had a fireworks display after the racing program.

I've been reading everything I can find on shooting fireworks, and this year I was actually somewhat prepared. I'd borrowed a tripod, and was ready to get the type of shots I have been wanting to get for the last several years. I set it right next to the door so I wouldn't forget it while I was getting everything ready to take to the track (orders, albums, gear, etc.). Of course, when we got to the track I realized that the tripod was still next to our door...

Oh well, back to hand held shots once again.

Because I'm the track photographer, I had to be on the track to shoot the final victory lane shots of the night. Within 10 seconds of taking that very last shot, the lights went out and the show began. So once again I was stuck shooting from a vantage point of less than 20 feet from where the fireworks were being launched, not exactly the optimum angle.

Anyways, shooting hand-held, from that angle, produced mainly the results that would be expected, in other words, mostly garbage. Here are a few that were at least marginally acceptable, but I'm still not happy with them. At least I know what I did wrong, and hopefully the next fireworks display I'll actually remember the tripod. Fortunately, here in western PA, I won't have to wait too long for another chance, as this region loves their fireworks....

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-01.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-10.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-02.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-03.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-04.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-05.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-06.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-07.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-08.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-09.jpg

http://oyleractionphotos.com/images/fireworks-11.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Addies Granddaddy

Well, it hit me last night that I had forgotten to switch the lens from auto focus to manual, so there's a large part of my problem, right there. I should have realized it at the time, but I was so mad I couldn't think of anything else.....:lol:
Live and learn, I guess.

---

I'm sure that was quite a bit of it - since the camera didn't see anything in focus, it wouldn't shoot (depending on what mode it was in if it's a Nikon SLR, anyway). Funny how frustration over the situation doesn't let you think clearly. This is why I always recommend that people shooting a wedding have a second camera...

Great shots posted here (including bmadau's remote flash shot). Although I did see some in the distance, I saw more rain than anything else...

Great job on the fireworks guys. You all got some awesome shots. Joy and I opted to hit the recliners with a glass of wine while our kids took the grand kids to the fireworks. It had been a big family day with everyone at home for a July 4th bar-b-que and the old folks just needed some down time worse than we need the stimulation of fire works. But thanks to you guys I got to enjoy them too with out all the noise and hassle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GeraldTheMouse

Some of my pictures; they kind of lost quality after uploading them.

---

They look pretty good to me, Gerald. If they appear to change after you upload them, that means you've got a a color settings issue with the software you're using to edit them. Post a new thread about it on the Photography Software forum and I'll try to help you sort it out.

I was planning to take pretty traditional fireworks shots, but I wound-up camped out in the fallout zone. So I switched to my 50mm macro lens and pointed it nearly straight up. I kinda like the results...they're somewhat celestial.

Two More images

For those of you who haven't noticed (look at the "Latest Pro Reviews" promo in the right-hand column), last week I added a short article on taking fireworks photos. It has links to a couple of great fireworks photo resources on this site. And if you know of other good fireworks tips pages, feel free to add a link to that article page! The more links, the better that page will be.

Fireworks Photography Guide >>

Anyway, here's my one decent photo from this year's 4th of July fireworks. I was pretty lazy and just took my point-and-shoot. I wasn't sure if I'd get anything. But I like this one ok. It was shot handheld with the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS. Out of about 15 photos, this is the only one I like. Of course, I should have taken a DSLR and tripod. But it was vacation, right!?

Here are some I took in Alamogordo,, N.M. on our way home from a Colorado vacation. I didn't have a remote shutter release with me so I wasn't able to use the bulb setting on my D200. I ended up using shutter speeds of between 10 and 30 seconds at different f/stops and I set my white balance to Auto.

Since I was really close to where the fireworks were being set off, in order to get away from the crowd of people and most importantly the street lights, I had my Nikon 18 - 200mm VR lens set at 18mm. I wanted to get more of the foreground in, but I was too close to do that and get all of the bursts in (even at 18mm).

As I mentioned in the photo critique forum, I was so close that the burning embers were falling from the sky all around me and the fire department made me move back when they saw where I was set up.

These are my favorites from the 50+ shots I took. They are uncropped.

John, that is a beautiful shot! All of these are matter of fact, maybe I will try next year!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dylan8i

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...y/DSC_0849.jpg

---

Dylan,

That shot is awesome!

stormgirl, love those.

Sebastian, don't you usually shoot them too? Where's yours?

We didn't even see them this year. Girls made plans with friends, and we were lazy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by adina

Sebastian, don't you usually shoot them too? Where's yours?.

---

I went out of my way to not take any.

Behind the curve, as usual, here are a few of mine. Shot from our dock, lake Logan Martin.

All those lights are boats coming to see the show. My family is getting ready down on the dock.
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/phot...50971_4908.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/phot...50974_5733.jpg

Unfortunately, it was a bit smokey
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/phot...50978_6905.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/phot...50979_7196.jpg

The neighbors shot some pretty impressive ones as well. For scale, look right above the first "0" in my signature - that's a person!
http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/phot...50981_7799.jpg

My favorite single firework
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/phot...50984_8419.jpg

Great Photos, I was dead to the world during the evening on the forth. In the morning we picked up hay from the field for daughters horses (3 tons), then in the afternoon, went out and helped the farmer get in another three tons with our truck for a total of 6 tons by us. Help had to get home so after dinner I crushed and burned. It was a nice day.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sebastian

Dylan,

That shot is awesome!

---

thanks seb, means alot hearing that from you. :thumbsup:

our "neighbors" on the beach where shooting those off and i had already tripped my 15 sec shutter in the other direction so i only caught about the last half of that set, from like 20 feet away. but its def my favorite of the night.


everyone else has beautiful burst shots, but id like to see more with foreground elements in them.....

Brad, those are awesome! NOW I know where to go next year, I miss fireworks on the water!

WOW! These are AWESOME!!!

Wow! Some of these rocked my socks off.

My 4th of July was spent traveling home from an all-state football game. We rolled in early evening and our fireworks show came out of a box! lol

http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/pho...72_Yyi4N-M.jpg
http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/pho...90_YepBS-M.jpg
http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/pho...21_e6KLk-M.jpg
http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/pho...82_93qEL-M.jpg
http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/pho...38_wbJA3-M.jpg
http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/pho...90_YepBS-M.jpg

Great photo's everyone!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lori11

Brad, those are awesome! NOW I know where to go next year, I miss fireworks on the water!

---

Thanks Lori! Logan Martin is a good place to be b/c we always get two shows - one from Pell City on the 4th of July itself, and one from Clear Creek marina on either Friday or Saturday night (depending on when the 4th falls).

I was pleasantly surprised once I cropped my pictures down out how well they turned out (hence it taking so long for me to post them!). I think I was more excited about the fact that I managed to get the settings all set up to do this. They are a long way from perfect, but I was proud :D The problem I found in a lot of the pics, minus us being to close and completely screwed up my aiming, was that there was a lot of smoke and it interffered with producing clear shots.

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0017_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0017_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0020_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0020_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0022_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0022_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0061_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0061_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0071_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0071_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0073_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0073_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0085_cropblur.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0085_cropblur.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/?action=view&current=DSC_0086_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn245/natgaines/fireworks/DSC_0086_crop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>