Not completely certain what you mean by "streaks." This method does
capture the entire burst from center outward. It's usually a little
brighter at the tips of the burst. You might occasionally see a very faint
vertical streak from skyrocket motor, but you have to look for it.
I don't recommend doing it hand held at any shutter speed. Use a sturdy
tripod and a lens just wide enough to take in the portion of sky where
nearly all of the skyrockets burst. A decent tripod on solid ground is
steady enough for an 8 second exposure of several fireworks bursts if you
use a flexible cable release. I usually use the first two or three
skyrockets for aiming. If necessary I'll change lenses to a shorter or
longer one. Having the camera sideways on the tripod increases altitude
coverage (some rockets go higher than others).
Once set I rarely change the camera position unless it becomes very clear
it needs to be aimed again. I might check the viewfinder every three or
four frames. The closely cropped shots of fireworks are usually just that,
closely cropped from a larger image. It's almost impossible to tell
exactly how high one will go. How wide a lens you will need depends on how
close you are to the fireworks show. This might require some experimentation.
If you're using color negative, then the printer needs to print them
properly. Some operators of one-hour labs (I'm not a big fan of them) will
just let the machine run on "rock 'n roll." With as much dark region as
there is in fireworks shots, this can result in the prints being too
light. A good printer will adjust the print exposure properly for them.
-- John
At 00:10 6/27/01, Arnab wrote:
Hi John,
Thanks - well explained and now it sounds simple.
However - using this method wouldn't you get streaks
of light (since the firework is exploding and the
shutter is open for that duration)
How do you get those sharp firework pictures that they
have on all those tourist brochures ?? (even at 1/125
second, my firework picture had streaks...)
Thx,
Arnab.
--- "John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxx>
I wrote:
> >Hi!
> >All this sounds complicated.
And John replied...
> Actually it's not. It does require a tripod and
> cable release. Set on
> manual operation, set aperture (for film speed), set
> shutter to "B," listen
> for the "whoomp" sound of the mortar firing a
> skyrocket and open the
> shutter. ............
> > -- John
>
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