How to take pics of fireworks?

Question

I have a Canon camera. It's just a point and shoot...nothing fancy. What setting can I put it on, or what are some helpful things to remember when taking pics of fireworks?

Thanks and happy fourth!!

Answer 1

Set it for nigh time photography-usually you may see a half moon icon. Flash off .The tricky part is to have your camera in position prior before they light up or you'll just end up with blurs.

Answer 2

There are so many questions about fireworks, I'm just going to give everyone my stock answer and you can use the parts that you need.

Some point and shoot digital cameras have a fireworks mode.  Check for this on your camera.  If you have it – use it.

Canon point and shoot cameras have a fireworks mode.  Select the SCN mode on your dial.  Press the FUNC button and a menu will appear at the bottom of your LCD.  Scroll left or right until you find "Fireworks."  It is labeled, but the icon looks kind of like a huge snowflake.  Press FUNC again to save this setting.  You're ready to go.

If you don't have a fireworks setting, try the landscape setting, as this will turn off the flash.  Just aim and shoot, but expect the auto-exposure to keep the lens open for at least a couple of seconds and be ready to hold the camera still.  If you have a tripod, it is a good idea to set it up and use it.  If you don't, take a blanket and lay on your back so you can rest your camera on your own head for stability.  An optical (real) viewfinder comes in handy for this, as you'd never be able to hold the camera out at arm's length and keep it still for 2 seconds.  You can take a bean bag or even just a washcloth, sit it on top of your car and hold the camera steady by resting it on the top of your car.

If you have some user controls or use an SLR,

your settings depend on what effect you are going for.  If you want a crisp image of the full burst, you'll have to use a shutter speed of about 1/30 with the lens wide open.  Vary the ISO until you get a useable exposure, but start at ISO 400 and then go to ISO 800.

If you want to capture the full burst with some trails and all, use 2 seconds and experiment with the lens opening.  At ISO 400, you will probably be able to use a middle-of-the-road setting like f/8.

Just start shooting early and often so you can view your shots on the LCD.  Don't panic, bear in mind what you want to achieve, and adjust accordingly.  You'll have plenty of other shots ahead in a 20-30 minutes display and they save the best for last anyway.

You'll need to hold the camera steady, so a tripod is a very good idea.  Failing that adn depending on your position, you can lay on your back and just hold the camera against your forehead as you look through the viewfinder or you can brace the camera on top of your car or some other object as you take the shot.  With either the tripod or bracing the camera, using the self-timer MIGHT be possible if you put it on 2 seconds and get the timing down, but that will take practice.

See also: http://photos.si.edu/firew/firew.html

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Answer 3

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