Fourth of July photo tips, how to shoot fireworks

[SaltwaterServr]

http://www.joemcnally.com/blog/2011/06/13/shooting-fireworks/

Summer’s here! Time to shoot some fireworks. Below is a small instructional essay from the Life Guide to Digital Photography. I’ve shot some of the biggest fireworks displays in history, so I just kind of dove back into those to remember things I did right and things I did wrong. And things I didn’t think of at the time, or should’ve remembered to do. If you read this, or get the book, you might have an easier time than I did, being out there thinking, “Geez, I wish I had remembered to bring….”

Continued at the link...

http://www.joemcnally.com/blog/2011/06/13/shooting-fireworks/

[casmith07]

Hey Salty - can I PM or e-mail you about this? This is something I would like to try this year, especially with the fireworks exploding over the Washington Monument and such.

[WoodysGirl]

Unfortunately, we're in a drought so they're banning most residential fireworks.

[big dog cowboy]

Unfortunately, we're in a drought so they're banning most residential fireworks.
We are right on the edge. Last night the local news reported a burn ban was being considered for this weekend. Some smaller towns around the area already have. We went shopping last night to price some stuff but I'm not buying anything until Sunday.

[WoodysGirl]

We are right on the edge. Last night the local news reported a burn ban was being considered for this weekend. Some smaller towns around the area already have. We went shopping last night to price some stuff but I'm not buying anything until Sunday.
I just looked it up and yeah there's a county-wide thru July 4.

They're still going to have the annual public fireworks display, but that's it.

Sux, major. :(

[Meat-O-Rama]

Getting a good shot of fireworks is a lot tougher than you'd think, before trying it...

[SaltwaterServr]

Hey Salty - can I PM or e-mail you about this? This is something I would like to try this year, especially with the fireworks exploding over the Washington Monument and such.

You can, but I've never tried it myself.

[Kangaroo]

Unfortunately, we're in a drought so they're banning most residential fireworks.

Most of Texas has banned even selling Fireworks do to the drought and wildfires.

[SaltwaterServr]

Most of Texas has banned even selling Fireworks do to the drought and wildfires.

You could probably start a grass fire in Beaumont and that thing would burn until it hit Dalhart. Half the state is a match away from going up in smoke.

[cowboyeric8]

You could probably start a grass fire in Beaumont and that thing would burn until it hit Dalhart. Half the state is a match away from going up in smoke.

And this isn't even an exaggeration

[SkinsandTerps]

Getting a good shot of fireworks is a lot tougher than you'd think, before trying it...

On a good camera, you can record it and capture the images you like.

Or even set up your camera to take multiple shots when you take it.

[SaltwaterServr]

And this isn't even an exaggeration

No, it really isn't. Only Dad's biggest stock tank hasn't gone bone dry with 5" drought cracks in it. Luckily he's got a dang good well.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Half our state is burned down and they just closed Los Alamos National Labs because of fire. I don't guess there will be many fireworks this year. On the other hand, we're already burning down so.........

[Kangaroo]

No, it really isn't. Only Dad's biggest stock tank hasn't gone bone dry with 5" drought cracks in it. Luckily he's got a dang good well.

I live in Houston we got some rain recently but not enough to make up for what we have not gotten. It is been a harsh spring and summer for sure

[WoodysGirl]

I live in Houston we got some rain recently but not enough to make up for what we have not gotten. It is been a harsh spring and summer for sure
That rain was a tease. My area got hardly any. Just enough to wet the ground...and then it was sunny and hot the rest of the time.

[Doomsday101]

No bottle rocket wars? Dang

Growing up me and my friends would have some great bottle rocket wars.

[SaltwaterServr]

I live in Houston we got some rain recently but not enough to make up for what we have not gotten. It is been a harsh spring and summer for sure

Yeah, we got two inches when the front moved through last week but that didn't really put a dent in anything. Only shrunk up the cracks in the fields from 3" to 2" wide.

[cowboyeric8]

No, it really isn't. Only Dad's biggest stock tank hasn't gone bone dry with 5" drought cracks in it. Luckily he's got a dang good well.

Do you farm? My dad farms up in the panhandle. He is hoping insurance doesn't have claim any crops due to lack of water. They got 3/4 a few days ago, enough to not run the wells for half a day.

[SaltwaterServr]

Do you farm? My dad farms up in the panhandle. He is hoping insurance doesn't have claim any crops due to lack of water. They got 3/4 a few days ago, enough to not run the wells for half a day.

Not really. Dad runs a few head of beef to cover the taxes on the land. Other than that, it's a family place for us to dove hunt and fish the stock tanks. Supposedly we had a nice crop of copperheads this spring though.

I had quite a few friends that ran spreads all through west Texas and the Panhandle while I was at Tech. Not being able to run the wells is all I need to hear to know y'all are in worse shape than us down here. That's a bad spot to be in.

[theogt]

Some of mine from this evening.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4105/57566703.jpg

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6953/44675237.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1081/76409603k.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7016/55116861.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9938/21056431.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7613/26769560.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3535/97552752.jpg

[SaltwaterServr]

Those are really great! Excellent vantage point to get the comets and bursts with a workable background.

[theogt]

Thanks. Shooting in the dark is, umm, difficult.

[Duane]

I was proud of my neighbors and their kids. I didn't hear anyone shooting fireworks during the ban.

[WoodysGirl]

Thanks. Shooting in the dark is, umm, difficult.How was the crowd downtown? We avoided it because we knew it would be ridiculously large because of the ban. We went to the fireworks show in Sugarland and I'm pretty sure a small fire broke out where they were launching the fireworks.

I was proud of my neighbors and their kids. I didn't hear anyone shooting fireworks during the ban.Probably cuz there was nowhere to buy any. :(

[theogt]

How was the crowd downtown? We avoided it because we knew it would be ridiculously large because of the ban. We went to the fireworks show in Sugarland and I'm pretty sure a small fire broke out where they were launching the fireworks.It was bad. Idiots just walking where they wanted regardless of oncoming traffic. I'd be surprised if some people didn't end up in the hospital. From downtown to my house usually takes about 10 minutes. Took probably 20-30 minutes last night.

[WoodysGirl]

It was bad. Idiots just walking where they wanted regardless of oncoming traffic. I'd be surprised if some people didn't end up in the hospital. From downtown to my house usually takes about 10 minutes. Took probably 20-30 minutes last night.
Sounds like we made a good choice. I think our only real issue was afterwards when they didn't have any shuttles lined up to take people back to their cars initially. It was such a long wait some people decided to trek the 2.5 miles to the stadium.

BTW, you really did get some good shots. None of mine came out even remotely that good.

[CowboyDan]

Great pics Theo, thanks for sharing.

I had a pretty cool experience last night.......from our 2nd floor deck I could see 6 different firework shows going off at the same time. Pretty cool stuff. Sorry I don't have any pics to show.

[bbgun]

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/1wc5.jpg

[danielofthesaints]

Some of mine from this evening.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4105/57566703.jpg

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6953/44675237.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1081/76409603k.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7016/55116861.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9938/21056431.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7613/26769560.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3535/97552752.jpg

what were you working with there? Camera, Lens, ISO, SS, Aperture? Nice shots btw.

[theogt]

Canon Xsi, with the standard lens. I constantly changed settings, trying to get the best result, so it's hard to say on any particular photo without looking at the data. Probably used 200 ISO and f/12 most often. Used bulb setting for SS.

I'm very much still learning, obviously. This is my second attempt at fireworks and this round turned out much better than the last, so hopefully the next will be even better, as there are some things I'll definitely do different next go 'round.

[danielofthesaints]

Canon Xsi, with the standard lens. I constantly changed settings, trying to get the best result, so it's hard to say on any particular photo without looking at the data. Probably used 200 ISO and f/12 most often. Used bulb setting for SS.

I'm very much still learning, obviously. This is my second attempt at fireworks and this round turned out much better than the last, so hopefully the next will be even better, as there are some things I'll definitely do different next go 'round.

Awesome. They came out really well. I just bought a Canon t3i and its amazing how easy it is to take jaw-dropping photos.

[CowboyDan]

Here's another way to shoot fireworks! :lmao:

nd-jWxUl4nc

[casmith07]

forgot my tripod at home :(

[SaltwaterServr]

forgot my tripod at home :(

A few weeks back you were saying you couldn't float on your back in a swimming pool, now it's detachable? Gotta call some ol' ******** on that one. ;)

[casmith07]

A few weeks back you were saying you couldn't float on your back in a swimming pool, now it's detachable? Gotta call some ol' ******** on that one. ;)

:lmao2: