Pictures of Fireworks

From Fireworks November 2008

Trying to photograph fireworks is a very hit and miss business!

The first rule of photographing fireworks is that all the usual rules just do not apply!

I captured these pictures and other images from Bonfire Night using the D300 and Tokina 12-24 lens on a tripod.

I used the following settings:

exposure: 5 seconds
aperture: f/4.5 and f/11
lens: 12mm = 18mm at 35mm equivalent
iso = 800

and I used an intervalometer to take photos after each other.

It looks to me, and you have to remember that the results are very random, that f/11 is not enough exposure, and f/4.5 is too much so I would reduce the exposure to say f/8.

It would also be worth trying a shorter shutter speed say 4 seconds, or longer say 6 seconds. But, if you get a nicer picture you won't necessarily be able to say it was due to a different setting.

Oh yes, the wind was blowing at about 5 to 10 miles per hour, which means the light traces are longer.

So less wind would require longer shutter and smaller aperture.

You've just got to try stuff!

From Fireworks November 2008