Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

I recently purchased a Nikon D7200 and, due to circumstances, the evening of the 4th will be my first night shooting opportunity. I'll be in a boat shooting fireworks in Bar Harbor, Maine. I'd like some pointers on how to achieve superior images, please. My kit includes all Nikon lenses with AF and VR: 18-200mm, 70-300mm, 105mm, 35mm 1:1.8G, 18-55mm, 55-200mm. My first choice would be the 18-200 but will defer to recommendations from those of you who have experience shooting fireworks.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Using a boat for a shooting platform is going to be a handicap for starters. Your next decision will be whether you want to freeze the action of the fireworks or produce images of blurred streaks of multicolored lights. That decision will affect the choice of shutter speed you need. Fireworks, depending on your distance to them, tend to take up a considerable area, thus a less than telephoto lens is going to suitably provide the field of view you'll need. All that said, my biggest concern would be the stability of the boat.

Additionally, not having used the camera prior to the event is another handicap, as you'll not be completely familiar with settings and nuances of the camera. This can lead to a lot of hit or miss photos.
--Bob

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Good tips can be found all over the internet with a quick google search....

Here is a good start....

Sturdy Tripod, wide lens, f/11, low ISO, set camera on bulb and use wired remote to trigger it, turn auto focus off and manually focus to infinity where the explosions of light will be. Experiment with different shutter open lengths thru the show. You may need to turn VR off using a tripod - depends on the lens. 200 mm will probably be too long... I have gotten my best with an 18-55, now I would probably use my 17-50 or even a wider 11-16 or possibly even an 8mm.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/article/fvttrrsx/taking-pictures-of-fireworks.html

Often, opening the shutter when you hear the rocket launch and closing it just after the explosion happens will result in good captures, but it will vary, so experiment with differing settings.

You also might want to look at a site like Flicker for fireworks shots that also list the EXIF data so you can see what settings others have used. Many strip exif data to hide their settings - that bugs me ;)

Here is a Flicker Album of my fireworks shots over a few years - they should all show the exif with camera settings - the first ones are not great, but I think they get better as time goes on ;)

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjATjKMd

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

PM Sharpshooter, or search here for some of his posts. All you need to know there.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Personally I used my 18-200mm set on the wider end around 30mm. Guess it depends on how close you are. Set on tripod, focus set to infinity, f/11 to f/14, ISO100, shutter speed to 4 to 6 seconds then just released every time I thought a firework would explode. I used a shutter release cable as well. Piece of cake
Important to check exposer from time to time. 6 seconds works great, but if lots of brightly lite buildings in the background, then 4 seconds works better as you have less blown out areas in the background. Also when you get closer to the finale lower the shutter speed again as you will get to many blown out areas as you have tons of super white explosions..

Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

Many thanks. Terrific images by the way. I'll likely be shooting free hand but I think I'll be ok.

Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

Many thanks.

Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

Many thanks.

jmsail365 Loc: Stamford, Ct

[quote=rmalarz] All that said, my biggest concern would be the stability of the boat.

Totally agree with this. In order to shoot fireworks you need a long exposure and your camera needs to be on a tripod for stability. A boat in water is never going to be a stable platform. Even the people moving around on the boat will rock it a bit to say nothing of currents, wakes from other boats and swells depending upon the body of water you are on.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Handheld will not get you great results. You need to use a shutter speed of about 2-5 seconds to get the bursts right. If you are moving, then you will definitely get interesting results, but nothing like the ones posted. Let's just say they will be abstract and leave it at that.

The aperture and ISO will be whatever you need it to be to allow the colors to come through. If you make a test shot and the bursts are all white, use a smaller aperture and/or lower ISO, and if they are too dark, then open it up a bit and/or use a higher ISO. The distance will also factor into your aperture/ISO setting to some degree.

1.2 sec, F22, ISO 200, 24mm Nikon D700

(Download)

Cryppy Loc: Gouldsboro, ME

Wow - what a superior image! Thanks for the tips. I will reconsider a tripod but space aboard the boat will be exceedingly tight.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

ppy, I brought my fireworks post out of hibernation! Maybe you can glean some useful info on fireworks. Hope it helps you.
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

RWR, thanks for the referral AND the reminder of what time of year it is!!
Thanks
SS

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

[quote=jmsail365]

MtnMan Loc: ID

Free hand not good at the necessary slow shutter speeds. Will blur.