July 4th advice Thread.

[Pistol Pete]

I know we are all going to be shooting the fireworks on the 4th so i decided to make a thread to ask questions and give advice to on the specific topic.

Tip link I found on Digg

I am in San Diego and if anyone can reccomend a location that would be great

Thanks a lot.

 

[scu]

Great article. I was thinking about this very issue today.

I will be in Olympia, WA and if I make it in time from Olympic National Park, I hope to take some fireworks shot. If they are descent I will trip to post a couple here.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Shooting here in San Diego can be tricky. First off you have lots of shows to choose from - there's at least 5 up and down the coast from Coronado up through Del Mar.

Secondly, I've found the marine layer and/or still air can make it really hard to get decent shots. When there's no wind the smoke just kind of sits there and the 'works are sort of obscured.

My suggestion is to try to get up high (Mt. Soledad maybe) with a decent zoom or get along the water on the Shelter Island and get some nice reflections of downtown (they're shooting from Petco Park, I think).

Have fun!

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Thanks for the link.

I am working that day. I don't get off till 6PM. So it is tough doing the "main event" on the Mall here in DC. I might try to see if I can brave the crowds in Fairfax City.

 

[cgratti]

Shoot at about f/11, this will probably leave the shutter open from 8-10 seconds, this will help you nail those shots. You will need a tripod.

 

[jared_kipe]

Shoot at about f/11, this will probably leave the shutter open from 8-10 seconds, this will help you nail those shots. You will need a tripod.

'05 I was shooting f5.6 and .8 seconds. So if we said it was 1 second, then at f11 it would be less than 4 seconds.

http://www.sailbyair.com/photos/fireworks/index.html

 

[Counterfit]

Shoot at about f/11, this will probably leave the shutter open from 8-10 seconds, this will help you nail those shots. You will need a tripod.

Or at least a handy car to lean on.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I think i have decided to go to shelter island in san diego. has anyone have any opinions on that?

Thanks a lot. I just dont want to be in the wron place...

 

[Pistol Pete]

Found This Link.


Anyone Know exactly where this was taken?

Thanks a lot gang.

whew i am nearing 500.

 

[Rower_CPU]

That shot looks like it was taken in Point Loma, up near Cabrillo and Fort Rosecrans. You'll definitely have a good view of the whole city from there, unless we get a freak marine layer.

 

[cgratti]

'05 I was shooting f5.6 and .8 seconds. So if we said it was 1 second, then at f11 it would be less than 4 seconds.

http://www.sailbyair.com/photos/fireworks/index.html

Depending on how dark it actually is where you are shooting from, if you have city lights below or something then the time will be less, but in almost total darkness it should be around 7-8 seconds. No need to be technical about it, the point I am trying to make is that if he shoots a lower f-stop then the shutter stays open longer and he will catch the 'trails' from the fireworks and wont miss any.

 

[mromero]

1.Use a Tripod
2.Use a Remote Switch (If you can)
3.Shoot in Manual Focus
4.Set the ISO to either 100 or 200
5.Set the Aperture to something between F/7.1 and F/11

 

[amemoryoncelost]

1.Use a Tripod
2.Use a Remote Switch (If you can)
3.Shoot in Manual Focus
4.Set the ISO to either 100 or 200
5.Set the Aperture to something between F/7.1 and F/11

best advice yet, lol

any advice on setting focus when it's so darn dark out?

 

[seenew]

I live too far out to see any large shows, so I'm gonna be running my own fireworks. No time for a camera.

 

[Pistol Pete]

1.Use a Tripod
2.Use a Remote Switch (If you can)
3.Shoot in Manual Focus
4.Set the ISO to either 100 or 200
5.Set the Aperture to something between F/7.1 and F/11

Sorry to be such a noob. The Majority of the time when i shoot is at night, so i consider myself experienced.

all i use is the programmed night shot on my d50.

what am i missing out on?

 

[Counterfit]

Use mirror lockup if you have it! If your camera doesn't have a mirror (hooray TLR!), you don't have a thing to worry about.

 

[amemoryoncelost]

Not sure if Im allowed to post pics here since I haven't really posted here, but here is one of my results, plus two more linked...

http://www.destroybmx.com/dustin/001.jpg

http://www.destroybmx.com/dustin/003.jpg