What’s Your Preference?

calvin_ryan · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2012, 06:39 AM

hi guys, this is my first shot at fireworks so any comments would be much appreciated. Some specific questions,
- can it be shot at a more better angle?
- is the brightness enough?

thanks

Camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Exposure 3 sec
Aperture f/11
Focal Length 20 mm
ISO Speed 100

dlambert · #2 (**permalink**) 01-02-2012, 04:27 PM

You've got the idea. I'd continue to experiment with the shutter speed, as you'll end up with some different looks by varying that speed. A longer exposure, for instance, will give you more brightness, and you'll also start to pick up some of the "bloom" as the fireworks spread out and begin to fall. I think this shot, specifically, could stand to be just a bit brighter.

One of the nice parts about your (relatively) short exposure, though, is that you've got a really nice crisp black background, which shows off the fireworks nicely. As your exposure gets longer, you'll eventually find that you start to get a bit of grey-ish glow around the burst. If you've got any sort of image processor, you can dial that down a bit by boosting the black levels a tad. If you wanted to boost the brightness of this photo while keeping the starburst pattern (from a short exposure), you could probably get away with opening your aperture a bit.

The next thing to look for is some sort of foreground interest. Look for something to provide a little context or additional interest to the photo -- maybe a reflection in the water or off the side of a building -- that sort of thing.

Great start!

calvin_ryan · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2012, 12:20 AM

Thanks I appreciate the comments. One question, I have other shots with longer exposure that includes a smoke trail, how do I remove it? Photoshop?

mikoyan · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2012, 02:58 AM

I like it. Fireworks pictures aren't that bad once you get used to them but it is pretty much a rule of thumb thing. Certainly don't put your camera in auto mode.