Fireworks

[bookloveraz]

Does anyone have any tips on shooting fireworks without a tripod? This last 4th of July I used the flash, which helped steady the images, but then I had to wait for the flash to charge before I could take another picture. Here's one of the pictures I got:

EXIF:
Model: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
ISO: n/a
Exposure: 1/60 sec
Aperture: 3.1
Focal Length: 23.7mm
Flash Used: Yes

Here's a link to another one. http://lh3.ggpht.com/_LAJWbZZ0dTk/TD...0/IMG_0838.JPG Is it bad that there is so much smoke in the photos? Any help is welcome.

[Wesnile]

You camera by default probably set the shutter to 1/60th when you used the flash. When you have it off, the camera probably slows the shutter by a lot. The noise/grain is really distinct in that photo. Your ISO was probably on a really high setting. No it is not bad that there is smoke in the photo. Thats what fireworks do. If order to shoot fireworks handheld and get good results, you need a good DSLR with good high ISO sensitivity and a fast lens. With a point and shoot camera, your best bet is to use a tripod but even still.... those cameras are not made to get good results in low light situations.

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by Wesnile

You camera by default probably set the shutter to 1/60th when you used the flash. When you have it off, the camera probably slows the shutter by a lot. The noise/grain is really distinct in that photo. Your ISO was probably on a really high setting. No it is not bad that there is smoke in the photo. Thats what fireworks do. If order to shoot fireworks handheld and get good results, you need a good DSLR with good high ISO sensitivity and a fast lens. With a point and shoot camera, your best bet is to use a tripod but even still.... those cameras are not made to get good results in low light situations.

Thanks for your help. I guess I'll just have to be happy with it for now since I can't afford to by a new camera with lots of great equipment. :-( Do you think I could skip the tripod and balance the camera on something else instead? (maybe a vehicle)

[Jerad Ries]

I shot fireworks for the first time this July 4th, so I'll speak from my experiences. The flash will not reach the fireworks display unless you are quite (and possibly dangerously) close. Shooting at a low ISO will remove the grainy look and I found a smaller aperture to work fine.

The key for me was to use a longer shutter speed. With the longer shutter speed, a tripod almost becomes necessary, but if you are able to balance the camera on something steady whether it's a car, post, etc. you should see improvement.

Here is an example of one of my shots.

EXIF:
Model: Canon 40D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 9 sec
Aperture: 11
Focal Length: 41mm
Flash Used: No

[Wesnile]

You could also google how to make a DIY monopod or some other stabilization device. Also if do any post processing to it, you could crush the blacks or shadows to remove the grain and noise in the dark areas.

[katia]

a tripod would improve your shots greatly, as said before, long shots are pretty much essential when doing fireworks. so what about a gorillapod? i believe the most basic model starts at around $20, and they wrap around literally anything!

[Eastree]

Originally Posted by bookloveraz

Do you think I could skip the tripod and balance the camera on something else instead? (maybe a vehicle)

That would also work. But I'd more recommend using the delayed shutter release so the camera isn't shaking when you press the button; it'll have a slight delay so the camera isn't moving.

Also, having looked at the camera online, I'm thinking you *should* be able to find a good enough tripod for it, for fairly cheap. It's not a very heavy camera. An inexpensive tripod will be a little shaky, but using a delayed shutter will help eliminate that as well.

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by Jerad Ries

I shot fireworks for the first time this July 4th, so I'll speak from my experiences. The flash will not reach the fireworks display unless you are quite (and possibly dangerously) close. Shooting at a low ISO will remove the grainy look and I found a smaller aperture to work fine.

The key for me was to use a longer shutter speed. With the longer shutter speed, a tripod almost becomes necessary, but if you are able to balance the camera on something steady whether it's a car, post, etc. you should see improvement.

Here is an example of one of my shots.

Wow, that's a great picture! Thanks for your tips. I'll look forward to the next fireworks show!

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by Wesnile

You could also google how to make a DIY monopod or some other stabilization device. Also if do any post processing to it, you could crush the blacks or shadows to remove the grain and noise in the dark areas.

I haven't even tried any post processing on them. I'll do that. Thanks.

Originally Posted by katia

a tripod would improve your shots greatly, as said before, long shots are pretty much essential when doing fireworks. so what about a gorillapod? i believe the most basic model starts at around $20, and they wrap around literally anything!

That's a good idea. I might look into one of those.

Originally Posted by Eastree

That would also work. But I'd more recommend using the delayed shutter release so the camera isn't shaking when you press the button; it'll have a slight delay so the camera isn't moving.

Also, having looked at the camera online, I'm thinking you *should* be able to find a good enough tripod for it, for fairly cheap. It's not a very heavy camera. An inexpensive tripod will be a little shaky, but using a delayed shutter will help eliminate that as well.

I'm sorta hesitant about buying a inexpensive tripod because I want something that will last me a long time, and I don't really want it to be shaky at all because I'd be using it for a ton of things. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I'll look into them.