11 replies to this topic

[Kitegirl]

Yo,

How's tricks?

So am new here, and will probably a little infrequent due to busy life schedule, but I'm hoping to make one of the bigger shows this year, probs Southport due to me being from The North.

Where's the best place to find out about firework photography? I'm interested in it, but only have the Fuji S5000. I know I gotta get my tripod back as the shots I've taken have had shake, but am hoping to see an event over water as I also like reflections.

Who decides who pushes the button/lights the fuse?? Cor, setting light to a ?200 single ignition box was awesome enough, I can't imagine how excited I'd be about setting off a big display..

Go big,

Dee

[chemicalwazi]

Yo,

How's tricks?

So am new here, and will probably a little infrequent due to busy life schedule, but I'm hoping to make one of the bigger shows this year, probs Southport due to me being from The North.

Where's the best place to find out about firework photography? I'm interested in it, but only have the Fuji S5000. I know I gotta get my tripod back as the shots I've taken have had shake, but am hoping to see an event over water as I also like reflections.

Who decides who pushes the button/lights the fuse?? Cor, setting light to a ?200 single ignition box was awesome enough, I can't imagine how excited I'd be about setting off a big display..

Go big,

Dee

Welcome on board Dee, cant help you with the photography side, but there are a few folk around here who are rather good at it.
Im sure you will have some interesting threads started soon. Have a look at some older posts, you may get some ideas.

[Karl]

Welcome to the forum, Dee! I hope you enjoy your stay!

[pyrotrev]

Where's the best place to find out about firework photography? I'm interested in it, but only have the Fuji S5000. I know I gotta get my tripod back as the shots I've taken have had shake, but am hoping to see an event over water as I also like reflections.

Welcome Dee! Try this site - it has some of the best photos I've seen: http://www.japan-fir...y/egallery.html or do a search on Yahoo for "firework photography" - if you ever want something to practice on you're welcome to come and photograph some of our shows. Good firework things happen here up North too!

Edited by pyrotrev, 28 March 2006 - 07:21 PM.

[Creepin_pyro]

Hey Dee

You're a little restricted with that camera, but you should still be able to get some great shots; both long and short exposures. The maximum shutter speed of 2s means you will have to be careful when you press the shutter, but if you anticipate a shellburst well, 2s will just enough to capture a whole burst, as long as it isn't a very large, or long-hanging effect.

Use ISO 200 for long exposures, and start with F8.0 (A steady shutter finger and sturdy tripod will help enormously!) Tungsten white balance will work best if the camera has it. You'll need to use manual focus - set it to infinity, and if there's no infinity mark/setting, focus on a bright faraway object and lock it. For a close-up of the action try cranking up the zoom and ISO, and using F2.8 and spot metering to get a faster shutter speed.

There are a few old threads on this board that might give you a few more tips, and Tom Calderwood has a great website you should take a look at too.

Good luck.

[PYRODUDE!!!]

Welcome Dee! Your lucky to get a nice welcome since I got yelled at by a bunch of 30-year-olds as my welcome

[pyrotrev]

Use ISO 200 for long exposures, and start with F8.0 (A steady shutter finger and sturdy tripod will help enormously!) Tungsten white balance will work best if the camera has it.

One of the problems I've found is the enormous dynamic range of fireworks, it's difficult (maybe impossible?) to capture both the very bright colours and the more subtle willow/brocade effects with the same settings. On my trusty old Olympus the above settings would work fine for the latter but would burn out a lot of the brighter colours if you were up close (<100m). For such use I've gone for ISO 100, f8....10 and an 80B filter for colour temperature correction (this approximates to halogen light which seems to give the best colour balance for silver).

Have fun

* It's best to get quite a distance away if you can.

[Kitegirl]

Wow!

What a friendly bunch y'all are

Thanks for all the information, those Japan photos sure are awesome... wish I could get a shot half as decent as any of those!

I'd love to come to any displays, particularly those in the north... If you know of any except the Southport ones could you please email me: kitegirluk@yahoo.com

I may not be on here too often, but hey, all your welcomes and info are muchly appreciated

Go big,

Dee

[Spyrotechnics]

You should try to get to Shugborough, voted the best UK Fireworks event for the past couple of years.

Its a festival of fireworks rather than a competition so you seem to get a more relaxed atmosphere and, if you know who to talk to, you can often wangle a tour behind the scenes courtesy of the organisers (Jubilee Fireworks)

Whereabouts "up north" are you based?


Cheers

Stuart

[karlfoxman]

Shugborough is a fantastic display, a few of us lot go to it so would be nice to meet up. Last year was lovely weather and the day was fantastic. If you can make it this year please come along!

Karl

[ChesterPFX]

Who decides who pushes the button/lights the fuse??

Dee

Normally rock paper scissors but sometimes it comes down to a death match
Way before the display date we decide who is the display manager and who is going to crew. Normally the most experienced firer will act as display manager and fire the show but depending on the show one of the newer crew might fire it under supervision (sometimes of course, all you do is press one button and the programme takes over but you still have to hang over the box and watch the firing like a hawk)

Of course if it's hand firing, the newest firer deals with the biggest shells.

Are you interested in set up photography too or just the actual display?

[pyrotrev]

I can't imagine how excited I'd be about setting off a big display..

Yes it is a fantastic buzz, having a huge pile of pyro at your fingertips . Even so, I try to make sure other crew members get to fire stuff sometimes (if they're not too nervous about it - which is sometimes the case).