Comments on: How to Shoot Fireworks

By: Jeff Mandell

Jeff Mandell — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:57:47 +0000

Dustin,
What do you mean mean by your comment:
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Thanks.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:13:16 +0000

I’ll have to keep f11 in mind and try it out tonight. So far these have been some of my results: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tyleringram/tags/fireworks/

By: Dustin

Dustin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:44:37 +0000

I got a bunch of great fireworks shots on Saturday night. Most of my shots were between 3 and 5 seconds long and around f11. I’ve tried using Bulb in the past but when the fireworks display is massive such as the ones in Pittsburgh there’s really no way you can time the fireworks because they’re shooting like 5 of them off at nearly the same time– it’s not 1 by 1 like little firworks shows. I basically just find an exposure setting I like and let it rip for the entire show. I didn’t have a cable release either so I just used the 2 sec timer, worked great.

Here are some of the keepers I got.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcgrew/sets/72157620990281134/detail/?page=3

By: Dave Snyder

Dave Snyder — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:59:17 +0000

I saw this post prior to going out to shoot our local fireworks display. It was most helpful.
Because of the setting, I wanted to capture more than just the fireworks. I made a black card so that I could capture multiple bursts on a single exposure. I set the shutter on bulb and used a cable release. I quickly learned not to expose the moment of ‘explosion’ on a rocket as it created a large ‘blow out’ that was distracting. The multiple explosions produced suffieient light to slightly illuminate the USS Alabama and create a nice glow on the water of Mobile Bay. Most of my exposures were at least ten seconds but that is misleading because of my covering the lens with the black card.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skepticaldad/3693863541/

By: Josh G

Josh G — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:27:03 +0000

F/11 worked great for me. I used my tripod & cable release and just shot trial & error at the start of the show. I learned which fireworks required a shorter (1 or 2 second) shutter speed and left the lens open for up to 13 or 14 seconds for others. I was disappointed at the end of the show because I was getting the hang of the timing! Thanks for the pointers!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chompers66/sets/72157620841161631/

By: Joseph Flores

Joseph Flores — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:17:12 +0000

Thanks for the advise here Scott. This was my first year shooting fireworks and what you had to say really helped as a starting point. 4 seconds was too long, and even 3 seconds was too long. I shot mostly at 1.6 seconds! But I recognize that you are just giving a starting point suggestion and it is up to us to dial it to our liking. Thanks again man!

By: Dee Wescott

Dee Wescott — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:26:19 +0000

Thanks Scott….I have gotten pretty good results with the ‘hit or miss – and mostly miss’ technique I have used in the past. This will be WAY better! Thanks also to Richard C – I will be trying your technique too.

By: Marianne Bush

Marianne Bush — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:21:57 +0000

Thanks so much for the refresher course, Scott. I’m in Portland and left my (your) book at home. What would we do without you?

By: Kevin Zdyb

Kevin Zdyb — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:12:21 +0000

Set your lens to manual then turn the focusing ring to all the way to the infinity symbol. It looks like number 8 on its side.

By: Christina Aubin

Christina Aubin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:01:29 +0000

I got great shots at WDW using your technique Scott.

Andrew, I see this tip often but have never understood so I am going to ask, how do you ’set to infinity’?

By: Joe Hendricks

Joe Hendricks — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:54:54 +0000

Thank you for this! ..will have tripod and Rebel out tonight to keep trying till I get it right!

By: Karen Stannard

Karen Stannard — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:06:24 +0000

Thanks, Scott! I’ll give this a try!