[Leica] Re: Fireworks

[sonc.hegr at gmail.com (Sonny Carter)]

A couple things to consider.  I usually eiter use a tripod or monopod,
though with anti shake, I got a few good frames on a Pentax hand-held last
year.

http://www.sonc.com/FW_fant/

On a boat that size, they will probably idle the engines, even if you are at
anchor.  There is likely to be some deck vibration, so think about  some way
to dampen that.

I usually go longer exposure than you, sometimes up to several seconds.  Of
course, I am usually closer to the fireworks than you will be, and  I like
to get other details in the shot, so capturing the fireworks themselves is
usually not my priority.   I try to expose long enough that other things
become evident, So I might have several bursts  in one shot.

I usually shoot at abou f 4 or 5.6.

Here's some more:

http://www.sonc.com/fw_06_02/index.htm#4Sometimes, I  barely show the
fireworks at all.

http://www.sonc.com/watching_fireworks.htm

Sonny







On 6/26/07, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> wrote:
>
> I had given up taking fireworks photos with my P&S digital cameras
> because of the long shutter lag. By the time the camera had focused,
> set the aperture, and snapped the picture, the fire had long turned
> to ash. One of my former clients invited my to view the Macy's 4th of
> July fireworks show aboard his 80 ft. yacht anchored in a choice
> location in the Hudson River. I've been a good union member for 30
> years but I have never been aboard an 80 ft. yacht so it was an
> opportunity I couldn't pass up. Swallowing my egalitarian pride I
> accepted his invitation. I hope they serve good caviar with the
> champagne as a compensation for my feelings of guilt.
>
> I will be taking my Oly 500 DSLR. What lens openings and settings
> should I use? The Oly lag is pretty short but I'm afraid that the
> auto exposure settings will tend to over expose the fireworks in
> adjusting for the dark background. With Kodachrome in my M3, I simply
> set the lens at f4.0, the shutter at 1/50, and blasted away. Any
> advice on fireworks settings?
>
> Larry Z
>
> _