Fireworks - Help me to improve!

Jamauk

Jamauk

Jamauk

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Joined
16 Mar 2004
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Oxford
Earlier tonight I took this photo:

firework.JPG


It was taken on a Nikon D50 - ISO 200, 2 sec exposure, F18, I used a tripod with the Nikon ML-L3 remote to reduce the chances of camera shake.

What can I do to improve on this?
 
Use bulb mode with low ISO and keep shutter open for the duration of the firework. Cover lens with black paper between launches if you want to catch multiple fireworks in the shot.

We set a load off on the farm last week. This is how my mate took the shots with great results :)
 
Gungnir said:
Use bulb mode with low ISO and keep shutter open for the duration of the firework. Cover lens with black paper between launches if you want to catch multiple fireworks in the shot.

We set a load off on the farm last week. This is how my mate took the shots with great results :)
Click to expand...


I'm going to some fireworks events so would appreicate some advice too! When you say keep the shutter open for the duration of the firework, do you have any idea how this is done on the 350D? Can you also do this with a remote shutter button?
 
i would also like to know about how to best setup a 350d, i have no idea what most of the settings do yet as i only got it on thursday and is my first slr
 
on the 350d, set M and keep turning the scroll wheel to the left it's the next setting past 30". Set the appature by holding the Av button next to the screen and turn the scroll wheel to the value you want. The remote cable can be used for Bulb and should have a button lock - press down and slide up.

Hope that's of some use!

Kev

edit - don't know the correct Av value myself but I've heard f8 banded around. last month's practical photography mag had some good tips and another post on the forums here did too....

edit - ah! http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17644952
 
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on the 350D set the mode to manual and rotate dial to the left untill "bulb" is showing on lcd panel then select a suitable aperture, anything from about F16 and up. You can use a remotebut remember that the exposure will start 2 seconds later and will last untill you hit the button again. hope this helps ;)

typical, typing to slow & post got pipped lol :o
 
Thanks Chief and Flogger (just beaten to it Flogger!!). Never even noticed the bulb setting before so thats really useful knowing! Pity I missed the frickin fireworks show! Typical it not being on the actual fireworks night :rolleyes:

Setting the shutter to 1/4000th is so quick! Never knew it could go that quickly. Wonder what on earth ud use a shutter speed of 4000 for as it doesnt seem to let any light in!!

EDIT: Just one more question, I've been searching the forums and people say to put a piece of black card in front of the camera? Whats this all about? If its on manual surely blacking it out wouldnt change any settings anyway?
 
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placing the black card/paper across the front of the lens stops the ambient light increasing the exposure (i think thats right) :confused: but also allows you to take multiple shots of fireworks on 1 exposure. sure some1 on here probably has a better explanation ;)
 
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