Fireworks Timelapse: 4th of July is right around the corner, and I am planning on a timelapse to image fireworks. From my deck, I see Los Angeles from the ocean to downtown, and from...

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

4th of July is right around the corner, and I am planning on a timelapse to image fireworks. From my deck, I see Los Angeles from the ocean to downtown, and from about 930 to 1100 pm, there is a solid wall of fireworks out over the city.

A Syvp Genie will handle activating the camera and sweeping right to left across the view, but what exposure settings do you all recommend? The duration of the timelapse recording will be 3 hrs.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Sounds like a cool plan. Kenrockwell.com has a tutorial on photographing fireworks. I've used it before and had excellent results.

mrjcall Loc: Woodfin, NC

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

4th of July is right around the corner, and I am planning on a timelapse to image fireworks. From my deck, I see Los Angeles from the ocean to downtown, and from about 930 to 1100 pm, there is a solid wall of fireworks out over the city.

A Syvp Genie will handle activating the camera and sweeping right to left across the view, but what exposure settings do you all recommend? The duration of the timelapse recording will be 3 hrs.

Click on the following link to open some images and view the settings for individual bursts:

https://500px.com/mrjcall/galleries/fireworks

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

4th of July is right around the corner, and I am planning on a timelapse to image fireworks. From my deck, I see Los Angeles from the ocean to downtown, and from about 930 to 1100 pm, there is a solid wall of fireworks out over the city.

A Syvp Genie will handle activating the camera and sweeping right to left across the view, but what exposure settings do you all recommend? The duration of the timelapse recording will be 3 hrs.

I guess I’m not sure what you’re doing and what you’re asking?
Will this device actually move the camera while the shutter is open?
If the shutter is open to get much ambient light, and it would need to be, you’ll get blur. If it’s not, you’ll get fireworks, but everything else will be black, so the fireworks will look isolated.
If the angle is so wide to get everything into the frame you describe, it will be way to small to be of any value, image impact-wise. Just my thoughts, I’ve shot lots of fireworks!
SS

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

SharpShooter wrote:

I guess I’m not sure what you’re doing and what yo... (show quote)

No. The Syvp Genie will rotate the camera through whatever arc I request, taking an image and a programmed interval until the travel is completed.

https://syrp.co.nz/products/genie-mini

in the end, I will have 800 or so images that I will merge in Lightroom into a single MP4 movie. And I hope to get something like this but with horizontal movement:

http://www.businessinsider.com/fireworks-timelapse-gif-los-angeles-2017-7

Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

No. The Syvp Genie will rotate the camera through whatever arc I request, taking an image and a programmed interval until the travel is completed.

https://syrp.co.nz/products/genie-mini

in the end, I will have 800 or so images that I will merge in Lightroom into a single MP4 movie. And I hope to get something like this but with horizontal movement:

http://www.businessinsider.com/fireworks-timelapse-gif-los-angeles-2017-7

I hope you'll do the movie at a slower rate. His was interesting, but IMO it was too fast. Would have been much more enjoyable to see the frames for a bit longer.

Largobob

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

4th of July is right around the corner, and I am planning on a timelapse to image fireworks. From my deck, I see Los Angeles from the ocean to downtown, and from about 930 to 1100 pm, there is a solid wall of fireworks out over the city.

A Syvp Genie will handle activating the camera and sweeping right to left across the view, but what exposure settings do you all recommend? The duration of the timelapse recording will be 3 hrs.

Don't know about the time-lapse part....but fireworks images are not difficult. Sturdy tripod, mirror-up, cable or wireless release, "bulb" exposure for the duration of the burst, try f/11. Attached are several I shot years ago on July 4th, in Maggie Valley NC. Perhaps you can pull the EXIF data from the images?

Sounds like you have an ideal location. Good luck.....I'm sure your images will be outstanding.

(Download)

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Show-off! These images are very nice!! I am envious of your talent.

Largobob

AirWalter wrote:

Show-off! These images are very nice!! I am envious of your talent.

Didn't take much talent.....but thanks. Git 'er set up....sit back in a comfy lawn chair with beer in hand and click away. Sometimes "no amount of planning can beat dumb luck." Such was the case here.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Largobob wrote:

Didn't take much talent.....but thanks. Git 'er set up....sit back in a comfy lawn chair with beer in hand and click away. Sometimes "no amount of planning can beat dumb luck." Such was the case here.

OK then; what kind of beer do I need??? And don't say cold.

Largobob

AirWalter wrote:

OK then; what kind of beer do I need??? And don't say cold.

Well, I prefer a nice craft-quality Porter or Stout. Around 10.5% is nice.

Diamond41 Loc: St. Louis, MO

Largobob wrote:

Don't know about the time-lapse part....but fireworks images are not difficult. Sturdy tripod, mirror-up, cable or wireless release, "bulb" exposure for the duration of the burst, try f/11. Attached are several I shot years ago on July 4th, in Maggie Valley NC. Perhaps you can pull the EXIF data from the images?

Sounds like you have an ideal location. Good luck.....I'm sure your images will be outstanding.