Thanks Jay and Squeezer.
OK Hogs, where are all you fireworks shooters? I know you're out there. Don't be shy.

A little more info on the compo shot.
Fireworks tend to get really crowded, and standing in the crowd makes photography tough.
Here's what I did. This shot was actually planned way in advance. I went there the day before to scout out my location, knowing it would be really crowded. I picked my area. I had brought a 5 foot ladder with me and chained it to a tree nearby, since driving in would not be possible. Arriving the next night, I retrieved my ladder to which I clamped a plywood platform onto which my tripod would stand. In this way I could be behind all the people and not be in their way, and they not in my way, since I was above them all. Afterward I changed the ladder back onto the tree and retrieved it the next day.
Yes, it took a little logistical planning, but I got the shot I came for.

Now I just need you guys to start to give up your fireworks trade secrets and post away!! :lol:
SS

Fellow Hogs, my second post!
In about a week or two, we are going to be flooded with requests on how to shoot FIREWORKS!
I know from past posts that some of you are very good at it, and that some of you have special techniques using zoom and defocus etc.
Lets all put together a comprehensive guide on shooting fireworks. There have been a lot of new Hogs joined in the past 12 months that I'm sure may find this very useful.
I'm also sure there is plenty in the archives, but we all know how much we Hogs hate to use the search feature.
Show us your favorite technique and tell us how you achieve it. Maybe we can all learn from each other and try something a little different this coming 4th. :lol: We can revive this post every July.
So lets have at it!!
I shoot three main categories, 1, a single blast, 2, multiple blast and 3, building a shot using the blast and incorporating the environment to produce a stronger pictorial composition. My examples are the latter two.

I shoot everything on Bulb at ISO 100 with a somewhat smaller aperture to control the brightness of the blast. Most critical is the white-hot explosion. I use my blinkies to let me know when I've got too much blowout, and adjust the f-stop rather than the time. I always use a tripod, and auto focus on a distant infinity object, then, turn AF off, but check it periodically. Stats are as follows:
Both shots with Canon 5Dmkll @ ISO 100, on Bulb Mode.

Shot #1, Lens, 24-105L @24mm
Time, 3seconds
f-stop = 22
Date 7/4/2011

shot #2, lens 17-40L @ 17mm
time, 3 seconds
f-stop = 8
Date, 7/4/2013

Thanks, SS :wink:

Fellow Hogs, my second post!
In about a week or two, we are going to be flooded with requests on how to shoot FIREWORKS!
I know from past posts that some of you are very good at it, and that some of you have special techniques using zoom and defocus etc.
Lets all put together a comprehensive guide on shooting fireworks. There have been a lot of new Hogs joined in the past 12 months that I'm sure may find this very useful.
I'm also sure there is plenty in the archives, but we all know how much we Hogs hate to use the search feature.
Show us your favorite technique and tell us how you achieve it. Maybe we can all learn from each other and try something a little different this coming 4th. :lol: We can revive this post every July.
So lets have at it!!
I shoot three main categories, 1, a single blast, 2, multiple blast and 3, building a shot using the blast and incorporating the environment to produce a stronger pictorial composition. My examples are the latter two.

I shoot everything on Bulb at ISO 100 with a somewhat smaller aperture to control the brightness of the blast. Most critical is the white-hot explosion. I use my blinkies to let me know when I've got too much blowout, and adjust the f-stop rather than the time. I always use a tripod, and auto focus on a distant infinity object, then, turn AF off, but check it periodically. Stats are as follows:
Both shots with Canon 5Dmkll @ ISO 100, on Bulb Mode.

Shot #1, Lens, 24-105L @24mm
Time, 3seconds
f-stop = 22
Date 7/4/2011

shot #2, lens 17-40L @ 17mm
time, 3 seconds
f-stop = 8
Date, 7/4/2013

Thanks, SS :wink: