Is it time to start a Fireworks thread?

[davev]

If it is, here's one of mine.

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/169009071-O.jpg

[ian408]

Heck ya!

Do you have any tips for the budding Fireworks Shooter?

TIA!

[davev]

None that you should really listen to.:wink

If your area is having a display for more than one night, (we're getting them for 6 nights in a row) go out the first night and try a couple of things, see what you need to do, look around, see if you're at one of the better spots for taking them.
I'll give you the EXIF on that shot, maybe it will help.
I Shot in manual mode, 6 sec, f20, ISO 100, frame a little larger than you need to, and crop down to size.

Your earlier shots on a calm night will have less smoke in them, than the later shots. For the grand finale, drop the shutter down some, with all the explosions, it really blows out the shot.

I used a Canon 30D with a Canon 28-300is lens for my shots.

Some folks like to have the "trail" going up to the explosion, some don't.

A couple more from Monday night.

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/169009066-O.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/169009083-O.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/169009088-O.jpg

[Skippy]

If it is, here's one of mine.



Man I love fireworks shots :clap and I love these ones too Dave :clap
.... Skippy
.

[davev]

Thanks Skippy.

[ShepsMom]

These are great!!! I'm going to try and see what i can come up with. Never shot fireworks before, but will give it a try. :D

[Awais Yaqub]

Beautiful shots :clap love fireworks

[PhilH]

Absolutely superb, roll on November 5th :thumb

[davev]

Thanks folks.

Add some of your own shots, and try a few things in post, like B&W.

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/169447948-L.jpg

http://davev.smugmug.com/photos/169450166-L.jpg

[SitterS]

Dave that last one is really nice. :thumb Like these in BW.

Shane

[com3]

good stuff! i've never taken firework shots before...hoping i can get something mildly decent tonight. :)

[Zanotti]

Sometimes its neat to have a non classic (ok, mistake) shot of fireworks:

http://zanotti.smugmug.com/photos/169620762-L.jpg (http://zanotti.smugmug.com/gallery/3101849#169620762)

http://zanotti.smugmug.com/photos/169620830-L.jpg (http://zanotti.smugmug.com/gallery/3101849#169620830)

I liked the two colors and shapes, so I combined them in Photoshop:

http://zanotti.smugmug.com/photos/169620675-L.jpg (http://zanotti.smugmug.com/gallery/3101849#169620675)


I hope you guys think these are a cool as I do -

Z

[StevenV]

Boy, with all the great photos so far in this thread I feel pretty inadequate.

Here's Wills Park, Alpharetta GA USA (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Alpharetta,+GA+30004&ie=UTF8&ll=34.069867,-84.30891&spn=0.023,0.029011&z=15&om=1):

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/722719290_8bcce816d7_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1170/722719184_2805757d2d_b.jpg

more at http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenv/

[ABCaptures]

here is one.. i have the rest on my flickr account if you would like to see more. this is one of my more favorites..not as well done as a few others but i was pretty pleased concidering i havnt been doing this for more than 6mos manually. This was also my first attempt at fireworks:clap

I switched between M & A/V to get different effects. my settings were ISO 100, AV 8.0, 1/8
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/722383850_f12bbb1013.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/abcaptures/722383850/)

heres my link for the rest!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abcaptures/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/abcaptures/)

[tlee]

Just for the fun of it......


The Diva of Fireworks

http://studioTphotos.smugmug.com/photos/169685604-L.jpg

[Dalantech]

Some really excellent shots!! :clap

[ajgauthier]

Just for the fun of it......


The Diva of Fireworks

http://studioTphotos.smugmug.com/photos/169685604-L.jpg


:clap

She looks like a Fraggle (Fraggle Rock for those who remember)

[pjb923]

I'm really loving all the variations. The black and white and out of focus shots are really interesting.

Here is my contribution. I haven't had a chance to pick through the rest of my shots yet.

http://paulberge.smugmug.com/photos/169610971-M.jpg (http://paulberge.smugmug.com/photos/169610971-L.jpg)

[tlee]

:clap

She looks like a Fraggle (Fraggle Rock for those who remember)


You are right! She does look like a fraggle!:rofl

[com3]

mine are pretty garbage...
http://www.seppes.com/photos/169699468-L.jpg


but i did like the spectator shot (the woman, my kiddo, and his grandma)

http://www.seppes.com/photos/169698711-L.jpg

[~Jan~]

Great shots, everyone! I do remember Fraggles. :)

I found last night that I really suck at firework shots. Wish I'd asked for the settings to use BEFORE going.

Anyhow, I did capture this shot. DOesn't it look like the men are on fire?


http://www.theevanevents.smugmug.com/photos/169762355-M.jpg

[scottV]

Here are a couple of my favs from last night.

http://www.slm-tech.com/fireworks/content/bin/images/large/IMG_9969.jpg
http://www.slm-tech.com/fireworks/content/bin/images/large/IMG_9968.jpg
http://www.slm-tech.com/fireworks/content/bin/images/large/IMG_9994.jpg
http://www.slm-tech.com/fireworks/content/bin/images/large/IMG_0009.jpg

[nikos]

A couple of daisies

http://nikos.smugmug.com/photos/169779288-L.jpg

[ajgauthier]

match your daisy w/ a dandelion (from last year)

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/79844430-M.jpg

[Shima]

I'm still uploading the rest, but here's one to get started:
Will post more after work tonight.

http://shima.smugmug.com/photos/169819871-M.jpg

[rwells]

Here are some of mine... First time try at fireworks.

http://rw.smugmug.com/photos/169857086-M.jpg

http://rw.smugmug.com/photos/169847968-M.jpg

http://rw.smugmug.com/photos/169860519-M.jpg

http://rw.smugmug.com/photos/169861665-M.jpg

http://rw.smugmug.com/photos/169863698-M.jpg

http://rw.smugmug.com/photos/169843449-M.jpg

[mmroden]

Beautiful! I should've looked for this thread before posting my own.

But then again, since I couldn't seem to get the tripod to stop wiggling, maybe it's best not to put my shots next to these :)

[davev]

Great shots so far.

Keep em coming.

[LiquidAir]

But then again, since I couldn't seem to get the tripod to stop wiggling, maybe it's best not to put my shots next to these :)

Gad, yes. I was shooting from quite a distance with zoom at around 200mm and I was having a lot of trouble with camera motion. Toward the end I finally got it to settle down.

Sadly, since I was shooting from a hill above the show, I have a rather cluttered background, but here's a couple shots of the Marin County Fair:

This one is sharp:
http://gallery.liquidairphoto.com/photos/169707839-L.jpg

This one is a bit shakey:

http://gallery.liquidairphoto.com/photos/169707786-L.jpg

[tlee]

A couple of daisies

http://nikos.smugmug.com/photos/169779288-L.jpg




Very Cool!!:thumb

[Travis]

Very Cool!!:thumb

Wow! Futuristic daisies!

[Travis]

This was a fun "assignment" and I was surprised at how challenging it was to frame, time, etc. I am even more in awe of some of the great images that have been posted here! Here are a few from Chesapeake..

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169936727-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169936242-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169935741-M.jpg

[Travis]

This was a fun "assignment" and I was surprised at how challenging it was to frame, time, etc. I am even more in awe of some of the great images that have been posted here! Here are a few from Chesapeake..

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169936727-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169936242-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169935741-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169936727-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169936242-M.jpg

http://owney.smugmug.com/photos/169935741-M.jpg

[MrParts]

Here's a few I got that I thought were kinda cool:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Coolshots3.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Coolshots2.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Coolshots1.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/FireworksWaterStreet2.jpg

This one was published on 7/3/07 in my local newspaper:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/FireworksWaterStreet1.jpg

I have a bunch more that were used on the local TV news station but I have to upload them to photobucket first then to here.

They will be in another post.

[MrParts]

Here are two of the TV photos:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/DADowns3a.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/DADowns1a.jpg

[MrParts]

Did I ever tell you I really love
long exposure photography? :D

Here's a few more and I'll stop LOL!

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/FireworksWaterStreet3.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Normalfireworkphoto1.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Fireworks13groups.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Fireworks10groups.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s171/DuanesDesigns-2007/Fireworks/Fireworks11groups.jpg

I have two more shows to go to this weekend.

Don't worry, I won't post those.

[davev]

Here's a few more and I'll stop LOL!



No you won't.:D

More great shots, who going to be next?

[Shima]

A few more from me:

http://shima.smugmug.com/photos/170002339-M.jpg

http://shima.smugmug.com/photos/169826971-M.jpg

http://shima.smugmug.com/photos/170000245-M.jpg

[greenpea]

Amazing photos! :clap

Great shots everyone!!!

I had the camera ready to go, the right lens, the tripod, but forgot the quick release plate for the tripod. :cry So instead, I grabbed a beer and (for a change) just enjoyed the fireworks. :D

[anwmn1]

There are some amazing shots on here!

I'll post a few from my small town event-

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/169978766-L-1.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/169977270-L-1.jpg

These ones remind me or Sea Urchins
http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/169976734-L-1.jpg

[GREAPER]

Here's one of mine.

http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/169936396-L.jpg

[greenplasticdave]

I love firework shots. Here are a few of mine. I think I need to get further away to get a better composition.

http://www.photoblog.com/photos2/1544-1170026510-3-l.jpg
Australia Day fireworks, Brisbane
http://www.photoblog.com/photos2/1544-1170026510-1-l.jpg

Regards

-Dave-

www.mirkwoodcottage.typepad.com/davidjamesphotography

[mntnbkr]

Yearly 4th of July party at my parents house. My first time shooting fireworks. These are a few of my favorites.

http://kunze.smugmug.com/photos/168380861-M.jpg

http://kunze.smugmug.com/photos/168514502-M.jpg

http://kunze.smugmug.com/photos/168527624-M.jpg

http://kunze.smugmug.com/photos/168539580-M-1.jpg

Adam

[davev]

Great job everyone.

[ziggy53]

Just a few more:

http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/170758182-O.jpg

http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/170758207-O.jpg

http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/170758238-O.jpg

http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/170758266-O.jpg

http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/170758301-O.jpg

http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/170758325-O.jpg

Full gallery (sorry about the watermarks):
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/gallery/3119135#170801769

[trippy64]

I have promised myself several times to go to my local show. It's done on a lake and with the boats i always see a cool pic in my head, but the camera sees a different pic. In the viewfinder i look like i am in focus, but in the screen they are OOF. I contribute some of that to wind (you see that in the water). Any one have suggestions?

http://trippy64.smugmug.com/gallery/3184044#175261829

[pug8]

Amazing photos! :clap

Great shots everyone!!!

I had the camera ready to go, the right lens, the tripod, but forgot the quick release plate for the tripod. :cry So instead, I grabbed a beer and (for a change) just enjoyed the fireworks. :D

That's what I did - forget the quick release plate, I mean. Even so, I shot off over 600 pics. Many of them were no good, of course. Mind you, I go for more abstract images, as you can see in my portfolio.

[Awais Yaqub]

Great work everyone
great shows :thumb

[LiquidAir]

I have promised myself several times to go to my local show. It's done on a lake and with the boats i always see a cool pic in my head, but the camera sees a different pic. In the viewfinder i look like i am in focus, but in the screen they are OOF. I contribute some of that to wind (you see that in the water). Any one have suggestions?

http://trippy64.smugmug.com/gallery/3184044#175261829

I took a look at some of your orginals and focus (as opposed to motion blur) does seem to be the problem. I can see the tell tale airy disc pattern of out of focus points of light.

Getting accurate focus in very low light is not easy. My camera has a mode where I can move the focus to a separate button (the * button) so the camera does not refocus each time a take a frame. I use that and I hunt for something at near infinity that I can pick up focus from (the moon is a favorite of mine). If I can't find anything to grab focus from, I get as close as I can from the viewfinder and the markings on the lens and then chimp and adjust until I get it spot on.