Bonfire night photography help needed please
Oct 26, 2013 10:29:19 #
If you're able to, and have time before the big fire, build a small fire, and practice different settings.
Oct 26, 2013 10:38:16 #
NeilL
Loc: British-born Canadian
cthahn wrote:
You have to learn how to use your camera. Everyone purchases these new sophisticate camera systems and then gets on this site and asked how to use them. No one can tell you how to take a photo as every situation will be different. T he camera can not does this for you, you have to tell the camera what to do.
Two of the major purposes of this forum are to learn and to HELP. This was a very legitimate and pertinent request. Please take these snarky answers elsewhere. Thankyou!
Oct 26, 2013 10:42:58 #
Arbutus
Loc: The Beautiful Coast.
Each time your about to take a photo ask that no one make a move a few seconds before taking the photo, no blur. It is nice to get quality shots if someone else has asked that you take them. But then again, you are experimenting. Have a blast. Friends of mine have a 200 acre farm and they do this burning once a year, it's a huge fire out in the cow field where every one wears gum boots, quite the party.
Oct 26, 2013 11:54:41 #
The F1 Photographer wrote:
Hi to you all, I have been asked to take some pict... (show quote)
F1, I think what mogul has suggested makes a lot of sense.
As for Bonfire Night:-
Remember remember the 5th of November
Gunpowder Treason and Plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."
For all our American friends. :-D :D
Oct 26, 2013 12:31:05 #
OK, Try this. ISO 400 (YES!)WB: 5600K. Apeture f/11 - f/16 and Bulb or B shutter speed.You will also need a piece of black card, tripod and shutter release cable.
Set the camera up on the tripod fairly wide angle of view. When things are about to start open the shutter with the card held just in front of the lens but NOT touching. When a firework starts then just move the black card shutter let in the light and then put back in front of the lens. You can either then add the next burst to the same shot or close the shutter and open again with the card as your shutter. Shoot all in raw and post produce in LR. As you are on a tripod you can merge shots if needed. Good luck - trust me it works!
Set the camera up on the tripod fairly wide angle of view. When things are about to start open the shutter with the card held just in front of the lens but NOT touching. When a firework starts then just move the black card shutter let in the light and then put back in front of the lens. You can either then add the next burst to the same shot or close the shutter and open again with the card as your shutter. Shoot all in raw and post produce in LR. As you are on a tripod you can merge shots if needed. Good luck - trust me it works!
Oct 26, 2013 12:45:56 #
A good place to start might be to walk over to a person and get a reading off their face, then set to manual and shoot--looking at what the camera shows you--you might need to tweak it a bit, but you should be close--with flash you will be dealing with two colors of light--but balancing for the skin and letting the fire do whatever it wants might be ok--
Stan
Stan
Oct 26, 2013 13:31:39 #
CTHahn: You could learn from my late mother's advice; "If you can't say something nice, say nothing. If your comment doesn't help SHUT UP".
NeilL wrote:
Two of the major purposes of this forum are to learn and to HELP. This was a very legitimate and pertinent request. Please take these snarky answers elsewhere. Thankyou!
Oct 26, 2013 17:12:12 #
I wouldn't use a flash at all. I've shot the fire in my fireplace a few times and it was really good without any flash at all.
Oct 26, 2013 19:03:27 #
Old Redeye wrote:
CTHahn: You could learn from my late mother's advice; "If you can't say something nice, say nothing. If your comment doesn't help SHUT UP".
Some of you might remember the Muppet Show. Sitting up in the balcony were two old guys who hated everybody and everything. Whenever I see a reply from cthahn, I'm immediately transported back to the 80's, waiting for a grumpy reply.
Oct 26, 2013 22:42:10 #
The F1 Photographer wrote:
Thanks for that info, I will be sure to try out your suggested settings and will let you know how I get on. Would you reccomend spot focus or something else and what white balance would you go for. Cheers in advance.
Bonfires can vary in heat and color temperature. Wood burning with an orange (medium) flame can reach 1200℃, which will have a color temperature around 1500°K; with hardwoods or hotter fuel, you may need to go as high as 2000°K. And yes, I would recommend spot focus so far as necessary to avoid focusing on the fire. Narrowing your focus to 5° (if you can vary your focus) will allow you to exclude portions of the scene without locking in on too small an area. If you can't narrow your focus to at least 10°, use zone focus. Good luck.
Oct 26, 2013 22:49:03 #
cthahn wrote:
You have to learn how to use your camera. Everyone purchases these new sophisticate camera systems and then gets on this site and asked how to use them. No one can tell you how to take a photo as every situation will be different. T he camera can not does this for you, you have to tell the camera what to do.
And how would you take the photos, Uncle Know-it-All? Or is criticizing other members all you know how to do? Come on, put your considerable knowledge and experience on the line. Let us know how it should be done. Several of us have offered our best counsel; you have offered nothing but derision. Now tell us how it should really be done. Either put up or shut up!
Oct 27, 2013 00:25:01 #
The F1 Photographer wrote:
Hi to you all, I have been asked to take some pict... (show quote)
Get out there and shoot. Good advice here. Take what you have confidence in and just do it. There is nothing like getting out there and trying. It doesn't seem to me you are under the gun here. And have fun!
Oct 27, 2013 00:48:41 #
You mentioned two key items in my mind. RAW and Lightroom. If you shoot RAW, you can fix a lot of the white balance and noise issues in post. I have had very good success shooting high ISO pics in RAW (ie fireworks), and then making some nice adjustments in Lightroom. I would suggest taking several pics lit only by the fire, rather than using the flash on everything. You can get some dramatic shots with just firelight. Especially those with the fire between you and your subject. Also, take a few from low and high angles to get interesting shadows on faces. Good luck and have fun with it.
Oct 27, 2013 03:18:01 #
cthahn wrote:
You have to learn how to use your camera. Everyone purchases these new sophisticate camera systems and then gets on this site and asked how to use them. No one can tell you how to take a photo as every situation will be different. T he camera can not does this for you, you have to tell the camera what to do.
I was in fact asking this question in order that I learn, If I wanted to be insulted I would have asked for it. The fact that you have merely replied in the manner that you have tells me you have nothing to offer, in which case why bother to reply.
Oct 27, 2013 03:20:12 #
LarJgrip wrote:
Hi Keith
Got nothing regarding night/fire shots other than I like moguls latter suggestion, it might render some cool shots.
On another note, your avatar. I am a HUGE F1 fan, I don't suppose you could share some of your race / paddock shots on another thread.
-Larry
Got nothing regarding night/fire shots other than I like moguls latter suggestion, it might render some cool shots.
On another note, your avatar. I am a HUGE F1 fan, I don't suppose you could share some of your race / paddock shots on another thread.
-Larry
Hi Larry unfortunately my Avatar is in name only, I love F1 and Photography and just combined the 2. Sorry for any confusion and for any misleading.
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