Fireworks question

I've never photographed fireworks, but a neighbor said he gets a permit every year and sets them off in his backyard. These properties aren't all that big. For example, some homes have no more than 12 feet between them (side-by-side), and the backyards aren't huge by any means either.

Since I've never done any fireworks, do you have any suggestions on which length lens to use? I wouldn't want to get neighboring houses in the pictures yet I've read fireworks should be done with wide angle lenses. He won't be doing any until New Year's Eve, and I doubt I'd be out at that time. So the time after that won't be until next July 4th. Lots of time for me to find out some info. What suggestions do you have? Thanks!

This is what I would do.

Set the camera up on a tripod, Switch to manual focus, remote trigger if you have one.

I would leave ISO on 100 and adjust aperture as needed.

A couple of links for you.

How to Photograph Fireworks

http://nikonites.com/low-light-and-...photos.html?highlight=fireworks#axzz4EDGj6Ygo

Depends on how you want to shoot the fireworks. You do want to somewhat treat it just like any long exposure shot and like light painting. So with that being said, a wide angle lens would be ideal for the shot depending on what kind of fireworks will be used.

Wide is good if you are that close. Try to include points of interest other than the fireworks. Makes it w lot more interesting. Set it on bulb and press when you see it start to go up and hold it till the burst is finished and goes to black. That way you see the entire firework. Aperture is going to depend on the available light in the area. ?Here is one I did on the 4th

Don Kuykendall said:

Wide is good if you are that close. Try to include points of interest other than the fireworks. Makes it w lot more interesting. Set it on bulb and press when you see it start to go up and hold it till the burst is finished and goes to black. That way you see the entire firework. Aperture is going to depend on the available light in the area. ?Here is one I did on the 4th

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Don's pretty far away from the action and shooting at 50mm. A buddy of mine has a fireworks license and has a big party every year, where he shoots them over his lake. The past 3 years, I've gone ultra wide to capture more than just fireworks. This shot is at 16mm. I shoot manual, ISO 100, BULB at 2-11 sec, f/5.6. (aperture can vary) and cable release. Luckily, you have almost a year to figure it out and/or buy something

The wide shots are the best. A couple great examples above. I was shooting a concert last night when fireworks starting going off. Handheld. I didn't have time to switch and we were in a parking lot so the surroundings weren't that impressive.

singlerosa said:

Don's pretty far away from the action and shooting at 50mm. A buddy of mine has a fireworks license and has a big party every year, where he shoots them over his lake. The past 3 years, I've gone ultra wide to capture more than just fireworks. This shot is at 16mm. I shoot manual, ISO 100, BULB at 2-11 sec, f/5.6. (aperture can vary) and cable release. Luckily, you have almost a year to figure it out and/or buy something

View attachment 220570

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Thanks for the info. I figure we'd be sitting almost underneath them. I have a 14mm f/2.8 prime and the 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G zoom. Ii'm hoping the zoom will be suitable so I can zoom in or out as needed because I don't want to include the backyard into the photos.

I'll say "Get close and go wide!" for fireworks.

Whether you shoot horizontal or vertical depends upon the display and venue.

WM