Just need a couple suggestions (explosions)

[Troy_Schwaller]

Heya,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but.....

I am going to be shooting some explosions at a demo tomorrow. It will be outside in the sunlight. Be anywhere from 50-200 feet or more away.

I have a Rebel XT with an 18-55mm lens and a Sigma 70-300mm lens.

I also have a Canon SX20IS.

I have a tripod but not sure it will be allowed to go.

So what I need, if anyone can help, is some different ways to shoot the big booms. Settings (Tv, Av, M, A-Dep), modes, heck even which lens is better, would be appreciated. Any hints at all to make my pics POP would be great!

Also, just as important but not as important RIGHT NOW is the post editing. Any suggestions there would be great as well.

[sk66]

I would be shooting in manual (with ISO set to auto) or shutter speed priority....

You are going to want a fairly quick shutter speed (1000 or so) to "freeze" the majority of the action...I would also be shooting in continuous mode (I seldom use CH)....You might want a somewhat slower speed to get a lot of "motion" to the explosion.

I'd probably want to be way further than 50-200 ft...

[Troy_Schwaller]

LOL. I was just trying to give a rough estimate of distance. I am sure it will be MUCH MUCH further away.

[sk66]

Change that to yards/meters and I'd feel better....
Having been trained in demo work, I know what it is like to be near a shape charge....

[Troy_Schwaller]

Any other tips?

[sk66]

Nope, never took pictures of an explosion (was setting them off)....All I can tell you is there is a LOT of action...high shutter speed would be my choice, and 1/1000 probably wouldn't stop it all depending upon perspective/distance...

[Troy_Schwaller]

Wouldn't ya know! I went and left the battery in the charger! Luckily for me I have my back up camera! Now to figure out the optimal settings.....

Do you think I should go with AWB or Daylight for my WB?

[gturner]

Shoot auto ISO and AWB, unless you know something about the setup that we don't
assuming it is in sunlight, push the shutter speed north of 1/1000

just hold the shutter from 1 sec before the bang until the camera stops firing. you are going to need as many fps as you can.