BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

How to shoot fireworks

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June 23, 2002

Before I echo what was said in the article, what type of camera have you got?

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June 23, 2002

Equipment required:
a. Sturdy Tripod
b. Cable release
c. Camera body: requires a "B" (bulb) or "T" (timed) shutter speed
d. Camera lens: modest wide angle about 35mm usually works best; also used the 35-105/3.5~4.5 near the wide end
e. Film: daylight ISO 50 to 200; 64 or 100 usually works best

Procedure:
1. Mount lens on camera and set lens aperture for film speed used
ISO Aperture
50 f/5.6
64-100 f/8
125-200 f/11
250-400 f/16
2. Set shutter speed to "B" or "T"
3. Attach to tripod and do rough aiming
4. Attach cable release
5. Use first couple of sky bursts to fine tune aiming
6. Hold shutter open for several sky bursts, but no longer than about 8-10 seconds. More than one can be more interesting, but too many in one frame will be cluttered
7. Recheck aim occasionally

There is an element of luck in this as sky rockets are somewhat unpredictable, even if you know in advance what they will use and their general trajectory. I listen for the soft "whump" sound when they are launched and open the shutter when I hear it.

Notes . . .

"B" (bulb) shutter speed:
Shutter opens when shutter release is depressed and stays open only as long as it remains depressed.

"T" (timed) shutter speed:
Found on some older cameras. Shutter opens when shutter release is depressed and remains open even if shutter release is not held down. Shutter release must be depressed again, or some other switch activated to close shutter. Handy for very long timed exposures if cable release lacks a "lock" to hold shutter open in "B" position.

These are based on Kodak's recommended methods, those used by others, and what has worked well for me in the past.

-- John

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June 25, 2002

http://www.nyip.com/tips/topic_firewk2002.php

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June 25, 2002