How to capture good fireworks shots?

unanimos · 15th July 2007

I'm currently using Sony DSC-W50 cybershot. Can somebody teach me how to use this camera to capture the best fireworks shots? Cos everytime it's either the shots get delayed when I try to capture fireworks shots or the image gets fuzzy.

yehosaphat · 15th July 2007

Do a search around the forum, there is another discussion at the canon thread. Basically, you need:
1) Wide angle lens
2) Tripod
3) Bulb mode or timer mode

Settings:
Aperture: f8-11
Shutter: Depending on your preference. Can range from 0.5s to 2s
ISO: 100 or the lowest

glennyong · 16th July 2007

Thread not related to DI

Thread moved to newbies section.

westwest2 · 16th July 2007

Originally Posted by yehosaphat

Do a search around the forum, there is another discussion at the canon thread. Basically, you need:
1) Wide angle lens
2) Tripod
3) Bulb mode or timer mode

Settings:
Aperture: f8-11
Shutter: Depending on your preference. Can range from 0.5s to 2s
ISO: 100 or the lowest

this setting will work???

yehosaphat · 16th July 2007

Originally Posted by westwest2

this setting will work???

you wanna try?

westwest2 · 17th July 2007

Originally Posted by yehosaphat

you wanna try?

sorry...i not a pro or what...so i asking...you got sample to show? for exposure at 0.5 to 2s at f8~11 ISO100...i like to see...maybe you can teach everyone in cs a trick or two...

yehosaphat · 17th July 2007

Here are some shots taken some time back with the different shutter speed used.

#1 - abt 0.5s

#2 - abt 4s

See the difference?

kebeye · 18th July 2007

thats nice. are those this years fireworks area??

yehosaphat · 18th July 2007

Originally Posted by kebeye

thats nice. are those this years fireworks area??

No idea man

westwest2 · 18th July 2007

Originally Posted by yehosaphat

Here are some shots taken some time back with the different shutter speed used.
See the difference?

sorry...not a pro...cannot tell the differences at all...maybe you can explain...so everyone can learn from you...can help us newbie...

Madmax · 18th July 2007

Originally Posted by westwest2

sorry...not a pro...cannot tell the differences at all...maybe you can explain...so everyone can learn from you...can help us newbie...

With smaller aperture, you need longer exposure. The trails are finer. However, if they shoot too many fireworks altogether, you can get 1 big blur. That is why I really hate the final climax.

Here is one shot of mine taken during SFF06. Shot with F14, 6 secs. Anyway, I count manually...one thousand....two thousand....

tkbonz · 19th July 2007

A question, as the range of shutter speed as mentioned earlier (0.5s to 6s) is rather wide and that the aperture is fixed, won't you get different exposures? What I'm trying to say is, won't the background be overexposed at say 6 seconds when 2 secs at f11 is the correct exposure?

NOt sure i phrased my questions clearly enough...

jnet6 · 19th July 2007

Originally Posted by tkbonz

A question, as the range of shutter speed as mentioned earlier (0.5s to 6s) is rather wide and that the aperture is fixed, won't you get different exposures? What I'm trying to say is, won't the background be overexposed at say 6 seconds when 2 secs at f11 is the correct exposure?

NOt sure i phrased my questions clearly enough...

It would be easily to get your background properly expose with photoshop and a properly expose background picture.
However fireworks is not so easy to get once it fireoff, concentrate on taking the fireworks and get the background done behind the scene when possible.

tkbonz · 19th July 2007

As in take a properly exposed shot of the background before any fireworks? And then to merge them (or something similar) in photoshop? Good idea!

hohoho32 · 19th July 2007

Err... I always expose for the buildings at f11/13, iso 200, bulb mode, usually 2 - 6 sec for the begining and mid, 1 - 2 sec for the finale..

Most of the time the pictures are decent though not pro la..

OT abit...

Try including some buildings or interesting foreground whenever possible, coz fireworks themself are overshot and boring if just taken alone.
It looks nice when you're seein it live but a mth later when you look at the pics again, it'll just look like another fireworks from anywhere else on the planet.

theveed · 19th July 2007

Tripod, pre-focus, relatively small aperture (f/8 or smaller), timer (or remote), long exposure (depending on what kind of firework)

westwest2 · 21st July 2007

Originally Posted by Madmax

With smaller aperture, you need longer exposure. The trails are finer. However, if they shoot too many fireworks altogether, you can get 1 big blur. That is why I really hate the final climax.

Here is one shot of mine taken during SFF06. Shot with F14, 6 secs. Anyway, I count manually...one thousand....two thousand....

wah...nice photo...btw...care to help newbies in taking more firework as national day and the SFF is coming...

saw this photo online...

what kind of setting is used? cause it looks very under exposed

kirkchua79 · 21st July 2007

can only use manual focus tune to infinity?

yehosaphat · 21st July 2007

Originally Posted by kirkchua79

can only use manual focus tune to infinity?

Usually so cos you got no other subject for pre-focusing as everything is dark!

unanimos · 22nd July 2007

nice shots man. so base on those reply can i assume that you need a professional camera to help take fireworks and a normal camera like my Sony DSC-W50 cybershot will never be able to capture good shots?

16th July 2007	#3
glennyong Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: ClubSNAP Posts: 5,552	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? Thread not related to DI Thread moved to newbies section. __________________ blog. http://blog.touchstudios.com.sg

17th July 2007	#7
yehosaphat Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North Posts: 2,596	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? Here are some shots taken some time back with the different shutter speed used. #1 - abt 0.5s #2 - abt 4s See the difference? __________________ Canon 5D mkII\|24-105mm F4 IS L\|70-200mm F4 IS L\|580EX\|and more coming! :P

18th July 2007	#8
kebeye Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tampines Posts: 279	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? thats nice. are those this years fireworks area??

19th July 2007	#12
tkbonz Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jurong West Posts: 876	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? A question, as the range of shutter speed as mentioned earlier (0.5s to 6s) is rather wide and that the aperture is fixed, won't you get different exposures? What I'm trying to say is, won't the background be overexposed at say 6 seconds when 2 secs at f11 is the correct exposure? NOt sure i phrased my questions clearly enough... __________________ Dun blame the camera...blame the one behind the viewfinder :bsmilie: My Flickr..pls leave comments!

19th July 2007	#14
tkbonz Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jurong West Posts: 876	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? As in take a properly exposed shot of the background before any fireworks? And then to merge them (or something similar) in photoshop? Good idea! __________________ Dun blame the camera...blame the one behind the viewfinder :bsmilie: My Flickr..pls leave comments!

15th July 2007	#1
unanimos New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4	How to capture good fireworks shots? I'm currently using Sony DSC-W50 cybershot. Can somebody teach me how to use this camera to capture the best fireworks shots? Cos everytime it's either the shots get delayed when I try to capture fireworks shots or the image gets fuzzy.

19th July 2007	#15
hohoho32 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 182	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? Err... I always expose for the buildings at f11/13, iso 200, bulb mode, usually 2 - 6 sec for the begining and mid, 1 - 2 sec for the finale.. Most of the time the pictures are decent though not pro la.. OT abit... Try including some buildings or interesting foreground whenever possible, coz fireworks themself are overshot and boring if just taken alone. It looks nice when you're seein it live but a mth later when you look at the pics again, it'll just look like another fireworks from anywhere else on the planet. Last edited by hohoho32; 19th July 2007 at 04:11 PM.

19th July 2007	#16
theveed Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 925	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? Tripod, pre-focus, relatively small aperture (f/8 or smaller), timer (or remote), long exposure (depending on what kind of firework) __________________ ______________ >>> Free Photography Articles!!! <<<

21st July 2007	#18
kirkchua79 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 294	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? can only use manual focus tune to infinity?

22nd July 2007	#20
unanimos New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4	Re: How to capture good fireworks shots? nice shots man. so base on those reply can i assume that you need a professional camera to help take fireworks and a normal camera like my Sony DSC-W50 cybershot will never be able to capture good shots?