Advice needed: Fireworks

[THXGEEK]

It has been literally decades since I've attempted any fireworks pics... If I'm lucky, I'll be in a prime spot to capture the 4th of July display in Washington DC next week. If not lucky, I'll likely be watching the display in my local community...

So. What words of wisdom can you offer to capture wonderful pics? Which lens? Shutter speed? Exposure time? ISO?

Please lend me your wisdom!

TIA!

 

[Alan Clark]

Use a trpod, unless you want to be creative.

The focal length would depend on how far you are from the action, but a mid-range zoom would be ideal.

Low ISO as they are bright.

Exposure is not critical, you can vary the exposure from a small fraction of a second to several seconds, producing different effects. I like to use the bulb setting so I can easily vary the time and decide when to end the exposure.

If you want the foreground in the picture then expose for that.

I suggest you look on Flickr or elsewhere for firework photos to see examples with exposure info.

 

[Williams359]

My go to settings for fireworks are f8 iso100 and 6 to 8 seconds .

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
• 16.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 6 sec
• ISO 100

 

[Alan Clark]

Another point: do not use Long Exposure Noise Reduction. When the exposure is over 1 second, this feature causes the camera to take a second exposure with the same exposure time but the shutter closed, so you cannot take another shot during this time. (With low ISO it is not needed anyway).

 

[Williams359]

Another point: do not use Long Exposure Noise Reduction. When the exposure is over 1 second, this feature causes the camera to take a second exposure with the same exposure time but the shutter closed, so you cannot take another shot during this time. (With low ISO it is not needed anyway).

Good point, it did catch me out when I first moved to Sony

 

[PhotoRon]

For narrower streaks, use a smaller aperture. If you want wider ones, then lens almost wide open. My typical settings are ISO 200, F/8 and hold the shutter open for 2-3 bursts. Pretty much similar to Williams359's. Of course, use a tripod.

 

[THXGEEK]

Thanks, everyone. I will do my best to take some awesome shots.

Question: Focus. Manual or auto? I'd think that with subject detection off, the camera 'should' (or is that 'might')? autofocus on the brightest object - namely the Rocket's Red Glare. Am I overthinking this?

The last time I shot fireworks was back in the late '70s (high school for me). Back then there was a process called Cibachrome where you'd take your color film to the shop so that they could provide you with the slides. Then you'd take the slides back to your home darkroom and expose/process your own prints (developer, stop bath & fixer) and Walla! You'd have a glorious 8x10 color print. No fancy-pants color printers back then.

(Wow, I feel old.... Where's my cane? And get the hell off my lawn!)

 

[THXGEEK]

My go to settings for fireworks are f8 iso100 and 6 to 8 seconds .View attachment 75843

Wow.

No, really. Holy crap! WOW!

 

[Scotphotoamateur]

It has been literally decades since I've attempted any fireworks pics... If I'm lucky, I'll be in a prime spot to capture the 4th of July display in Washington DC next week. If not lucky, I'll likely be watching the display in my local community...

So. What words of wisdom can you offer to capture wonderful pics? Which lens? Shutter speed? Exposure time? ISO?

Please lend me your wisdom!

TIA!

One interesting variation to try is altering focus during exposure. I came across an article on ephotozine many years ago. You can get beautiful shapes with a focus pull. An old manual focus lens with a hard stop at infinity is easier, but can do it with any lens. 1 to 2 sec exposure, ISO 100- 400 . Hit shutter and then twist focus to infinity .

 

[THXGEEK]

One interesting variation to try is altering focus during exposure. I came across an article on ephotozine many years ago. You can get beautiful shapes with a focus pull. An old manual focus lens with a hard stop at infinity is easier, but can do it with any lens. 1 to 2 sec exposure, ISO 100- 400 . Hit shutter and then twist focus to infinity .

THAT is very cool - thank you! I need to final ALOT more fireworks displays to attend.

 

[iamdlewis]

My go to settings for fireworks are f8 iso100 and 6 to 8 seconds .

Had a rather last min invite to a firework show put on by someone that does that as a side hustle. Since I haven't tried this before I went with your "go to" settings and I like the results. I didn't have the most space or really a lot of time with some light to setup. Clearly I needed more room and little more experience to know what section of the sky should be centered.

• ILCE-1
• E 17-28mm F2.8-2.8
• 17.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 6 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• E 17-28mm F2.8-2.8
• 17.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 6 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• E 17-28mm F2.8-2.8
• 17.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 6 sec
• ISO 100

• ILCE-1
• E 17-28mm F2.8-2.8
• 17.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 6 sec
• ISO 100

 

[THXGEEK]

Many thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

Unfortunately, my mentally-arthritic HOA decided to launch the community fireworks several days before the 4th (in the rain) - and I was away that evening. What complete and total . Many of my neighbors have promised to join me in carrying pitchforks and torches to the next Board meeting when the 2026 fireworks will be discussed.