For aerial displays (can also be used for tight shots of ground displays
against near black background)
1. Use ISO 100 film. (slower actually works better)
2. A 35-70 or 35-105mm lens is ideal as it allows adjusting focal length.
Prime can be used, a 28mm, 35mm or 50mm usually works best;
depends on how far you are from the display.
3. Use tripod, cable release and mount camera vertically.
4. Focus at "infinity"
5. Exposure is set with aperture only and is determined by film speed:
ISO 25 - 50 -- f/5.6
ISO 64 - 125 -- f/8
ISO 160 - 200 -- f/11
ISO 320 - 400 -- f/16
6. Aim in general direction of aerial bursts.
Check composition using first couple of bursts.
7. Set shutter on "B"
8. Open shutter when you hear the "whump" of an aerial rocket launch.
Hold shutter open until you get one to four bursts,
but no longer than 8 seconds.
9. Wind film and wait for next opportunity.
BTW, this method is taken from the Kodak Master Photoguide's existing light
exposure section with some additional information about equipment/method
added. There is an element of luck to this as you cannot predict
beforehand exactly where an aerial burst will occur, only its general
vicinity in the sky. Greatest variation is in altitude. It's why I
recommend mounting the camera vertically and checking the first few sky
bursts to tweak focal length and aiming.
-- John
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