Fireworks Fail: I took pictures of the New Years Eve Fireworks. I thought I did everything that I was supposed to do....but they are terrible. They were taken through our hotel room...

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

I took pictures of the New Years Eve Fireworks. I thought I did everything that I was supposed to do....but they are terrible. They were taken through our hotel room window, not sure if that matters but I would appreciate any help.

D7000
24-70
ISO 100
F6.3
1.8 sec
wired remote on tripod

thanks

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Focus issues, perhaps?

Also, with a shutter speed that slow, you won't have sharp looking firework details, if that is what you were going for.

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

Probably, time for glasses I think!

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

http://digital-photography-school.com/15-tips-for-successful-fireworks-photography/

This is what I used for a guide!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

lensenvy wrote:

http://digital-photography-school.com/15-tips-for-successful-fireworks-photography/

This is what I used for a guide!

Does your camera recommend turning off image stabilization when using tripod?

If it's not a movement issue, I guess focus. I should have stayed out of this topic as I haven't shot fireworks for decades - lol.

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

It does but the 24-70 does not have VR stabilization. I wish it did! thanks for the reply.

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

Did you manually set up the focus? If you did, did you just set it beyond infinity? That might be the problem. You need to make sure you are seeing the cleanest focus possible. Infinity has a pretty big area around it. My lenses focus best at infinity just about mid point of the infinity symbol.

If the camera is trying to focus, it is not catching it at the sharpest point.

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

Flyerace wrote:

Did you manually set up the focus? If you did, did you just set it beyond infinity? That might be the problem. You need to make sure you are seeing the cleanest focus possible. Infinity has a pretty big area around it. My lenses focus best at infinity just about mid point of the infinity symbol.

If the camera is trying to focus, it is not catching it at the sharpest point.

OH...You are so right! that is exactly what I did! thanks so much!

We booked that hotel months in advance so I could get some good shots....haha maybe next year!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Nothing is in focus - including the city lights - so whatever method of focussing you were using, it wasn't working. And there are reflections (just to the right of the firework burst) coming from somewhere (probably inside the lens). How close to the window were you? You should have been as close as possible, to minimise the chance of getting any reflections from the window (and not just reflections of the fireworks).

JD750 Loc: SoCal

First don't be too hard on yourself. You gave it a shot! Fireworks are actually one of the more difficult things to shoot. It takes work, planning, experience and some luck to get good results. Count it up to experience. Think about what you did that didn't work and what to do differently next time.

Read up a little bit on the topic of shooting fireworks. The link posted above by lensenvy is a very good place to start. I recommend reading it.

Another good good article on fireworks is at:
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-fireworks/

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

Thanks for all the feedback, its much appreciated!

Happy 2016!

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

lensenvy wrote:

I took pictures of the New Years Eve Fireworks. I thought I did everything that I was supposed to do....but they are terrible. They were taken through our hotel room window, not sure if that matters but I would appreciate any help.

D7000
24-70
ISO 100
F6.3
1.8 sec
wired remote on tripod

thanks

The last time I shot fireworks I used manual shutter at
5-seconds, ISO 100 and let the camera decide the rest. I don't have a remote so I used my 10-second in camera delay because the display was quite long. Here's one photo I got... this with a
Fuji point and shoot.

Fuji 5200 in 2007

(Download)

Robin19966

I like the photo, next time drink more champagne, happy new year. Go new york yankees! just guessing you are a red sox fan

R.G. Loc: Scotland

lensenvy wrote:

......We booked that hotel months in advance so I could get some good shots....haha maybe next year!

In the meantime, if this is all that you have, a bit of cropping and boosting might just save them from the recycle bin. Till next year anyhow....

-

(Download)

lensenvy Loc: Boston Mass

I wish I let the camera autofocus! Nice shot

jimmya wrote:

The last time I shot fireworks I used manual shutter at
5-seconds, ISO 100 and let the camera decide the rest. I don't have a remote so I used my 10-second in camera delay because the display was quite long. Here's one photo I got... this with a
Fuji point and shoot.