Two quick fireworks questions: It’s last minute, but I’m going to try my hand at fireworks tonight. My questions: What white balance? I shoot raw so not crucial, but I’d rather get it...

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

It’s last minute, but I’m going to try my hand at fireworks tonight. My questions:

What white balance? I shoot raw so not crucial, but I’d rather get it right in the camera if I can, and;

Live View or viewfinder?

Thanks!

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

I never change my WB so for my first attempt last week I left it along and set my iso at 100. I moved my aperture between f/8 and f/11and varied my shutter speed. And don’t try live view from what I read it’s not good for fireworks. good luck, post pics.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Resqu2 wrote:

I never change my WB so for my first attempt last week I left it along and set my iso at 100. I moved my aperture between f/8 and f/11and varied my shutter speed. And don’t try live view from what I read it’s not good for fireworks. good luck, post pics.

Thank you!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Two quick answers:
A. Fireworks go BOOM!
B. You should not hold them while they go BOOM!

Most use long shutter speeds so you get multiple bursts in one frame. So putting it on a tripod helps and then if you are sitting or standing the live view will be easier to use to frame it ahead of time (you don't need to be looking while the long exposure is going)- you don't look like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame and your back won't hurt later. And in RAW the WB setting doesn't count at all, it only comes into play with JPEG and therefore what you see in live view or the view finder.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Tie score: Live View 1-Viewfinder 1

BebuLamar

You don't need neither to frame them. Frame before hand. But use whatever mode with the least shutter lag. It's important to open and close the shutter at the right time. Open long shutter to get several bursts would get the trails too long and may not look good. Multiple exposures of short duration shots may yield better results. Of course shoot RAW and adjust the white balance later for best color but daylight is OK.
Also use the base ISO and do test shots if possible and aim for somewhat underexposure.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Rab-Eye wrote:

Tie score: Live View 1-Viewfinder 1

Time for a shoot out!

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

BebuLamar wrote:

You don't need neither to frame them. Frame before... (show quote)

Thank you!

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

BassmanBruce wrote:

Time for a shoot out!

😂😂😂

Larryshuman

When I shoot fireworks I use a tripod, set camera to manual, set aperture to F:11, set ISO to 100, set shutter to bulb and set the 24~120 to about 37mm. This really depends on where I'm at. When I fire the camera I'm mentally counting one thousand one, one thousand two & etc. I check viewer and adjust time from there.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Rab-Eye wrote:

It’s last minute, but I’m going to try my hand at fireworks tonight. My questions:

What white balance? I shoot raw so not crucial, but I’d rather get it right in the camera if I can, and;

Live View or viewfinder?

Thanks!

FWIW -

Tripod always, viewfinder always, ISO 100 always, manual focus always, aperture between f/8.0 and f/11, (although my last bunch was shot at f/22!), shutter between 1 and 5 seconds using a remote wired or wireless trigger depending on the shells bursting, white balance - I use auto, but I shoot raw so I can change it as needed later, sometimes I end up using daylight to enhance the colors in Lightroom

Check my flicker feed for a few shots from a show on Sunday (link in signature)

Or, here is an album of my learning over the years (hopefully learning, at least experimenting)

https://flickr.com/photos/30290744@N06/sets/72157630728995850

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Rab-Eye wrote:

ItÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂs last minute, but IÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂm going to try my hand at fireworks tonight. My questions:

What white balance? I shoot raw so not crucial, but IÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂd rather get it right in the camera if I can, and;

Live View or viewfinder?

Thanks!

D610 with a 35-300 lens. I was in manual and bulb mode I set the focus to infinity with a tethered shutter release cable. I did keep the shutter open when there was more than one going off at a rapid pace. Just a few.

lbjed Loc: New York

I recently shot fireworks and these were my settings: Raw, manual focus to infinity, ISO 100, F11, Shutter on BULB, Remote cable, tripod. Most shots between 2 and 5 seconds. To get multiple bursts covered lens while holding shutter open then removing the cover for additional bursts for a total of up to 15 seconds on some shots. Nikon D7200, 18-140 lens, Zoom adjusted as needed.

Here are a few of mine shot the other night. Good Luck

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

lbjed wrote:

I recently shot fireworks and these were my settings: Raw, manual focus to infinity, ISO 100, F11, Shutter on BULB, Remote cable, tripod. Most shots between 2 and 5 seconds. To get multiple bursts covered lens while holding shutter open then removing the cover for additional bursts for a total of up to 15 seconds on some shots. Nikon D7200, 18-140 lens, Zoom adjusted as needed.

Here are a few of mine shot the other night. Good Luck

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

traderjohn wrote:

D610 with a 35-300 lens. I was in manual and bulb mode I set the focus to infinity with a tethered shutter release cable. I did keep the shutter open when there was more than one going off at a rapid pace. Just a few.

Nice.