Fourth of July Fireworks Shoot
Hosted by The Art of Street Photography
Details
If you've wondered how to best capture fireworks, this is the meet to learn and discover.
IMPORTANT****THIS JUST IN:
Indeed, there will be fireworks launched from the Harvard Bridge so it will be closed to BOTH CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. In addition all streets along Mass Ave from Vassar St to Memorial Drive will be closed to vehicles starting at 4:00pm (which to me means 3:30pm).Memorial Drive will likely be off-limits to autos starting at noon.
This definitely changes our meetup location. Also, the corner of Memorial Dr by the Bridge is usually taken up by a local TV crew. The next best available nearby space is on Memorial Drive, from the bridge to the boat house - but it's prime space and you'll definitely have to get there early to reserve a spot.
The Harvard (Mass Ave) bridge typically holds a few thousand spectators, so that will add immeasurably to the density on Memorial Drive flanking the Charles on the Boston Side.
That means you are free to go wherever you can find room. I won't cancel this announcement; however I can't guarantee where I will actually wind up myself.
Complete details here:
http://www.july4th.org/Event_Info/2013_Road_Closures/
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Here's Some Key Shooting Tips for Fireworks (try all of these at home first)If you are an amateur and these setting are too much for you, check your camera for scene modes - one of them is likely for fireworks...and USE a tripod. (if you can't find it nor your manual, Google your Camera model and "Scene Modes")
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Focus:
Pre-Focus on an object at the same distance from you as the display. Then switch to Manual Focus (on camera - and also on some lenses). This will prevent your auto-focus from "hunting". Check your focus (re-verify) from time to time, in case you've accidentally moved it -
Release:
If you do not have a release cable (or remote shutte release) do the following: Use your camera's self-timer (as though you were getting in the picture) - set it for 2 seconds. It will go off 2-secs after you depress the shutter release.
2a) To minimize camera shake following mirror snap-up, some cameras have the option to delay opening the curtain over the sensor by 1 second after the mirror snaps up. This is a superior option and good for cable/remote or manual shutter release. (both methods can be used together - 3s delay)
- Exposure:
Typically fireworks require a small aperture (f/22) over a long duration (1-4 sec) at low ISO (100-200). Longer exposures are good when there's less (or faint) pyrotechnics and shorter exposures (and/or lower ISO) when there's a lot of fire (esp white) in the sky - usually toward the end.
Try 2 secs, f/22, ISO 200. Then try 1 sec, then 3 sec.
The Nighttime Cityscape shot below was ISO 640, F/11, 1s.
If you are shooting as the Sun is setting, start by using manual mode exposure mode (F/11 will give you better focus because smaller apertures giver broader depth of field). Set your ISO to 200 and vary the shutter speed while observing built in meter in camera (I prefer to underexpose slightly and I set my metering mode to "center weighted" or "matrix" (whole frame) - just don't use "spot" metering, that's for faces)
4)White Balance:
I prefer "incandescent" when shooting at night.
Basic rule of non-auto white balance is:
a. Getting Too Red?, switch to "Incandescent" [LightBulb].
b. Getting Too Blue?, switch to "Daylight" [Sun].
c. Not Sure? - Try the other one.
- Focal Length:
My preference, depending on sensor size, is...
FX or full-frame sensor: 28-80mm
DX or 2/3 frame sensor: 18-50mm (APS-C)
If you don't know what size you have, it's a DX.
DX magnifies by about 1.5x so 18 becomes 27 effectively
-------< HAVE FUN >-------
You'll need a tripod (shooting w/o a tripod is possible but leads to "overly artistic" results). Any camera where you can either control the speed and aperture (has manual settings) or set the scene to "fireworks" will do. Flash is useless except for crowd photos around dusk. **Lenswise, a 50mm will do nicely, 28-70mm zoom better, and optional 70-200mm if you are into some experimentation with shooting cityscapes at night - typically not for fireworks. Note: you'll be using a small aperture.
**A quick lesson on sensor size vs effective focal length:
Remember that non-full frame DSLRs (with APS-C size sensors, designated DX in Nikon and EF-S in Cannon) have a crop factor of 1.5 and 1.6 respectively, which means a 50mm lens becomes 75mm/80mm effectively. If you don't know which you have, it's likely a DX/APS-C since FX (full-frame) cost significantly more.
Full frame sensors are the size of 35mm film: 36x24mmAPS-C sensors approximately 25.1mmx16.7mm
Both have an aspect ratio of approximately 3:2
If you have a remote release, bring it. If not, we'll discuss alternatives, plus some other great tips for shooting at night and getting sharp focus.
Bring water to drink and a plastic "raincoat" (or even a plastic bag) for your camera in the event of rain (umbrella and chair are up to you). Last year we were treated to a thunderstorm - one of my friends got lucky and captured a once in a lifetime shot of lightning to the left of the basin against the Boston skyline - awesome!)
Fireworks go off around 9:45 pm, but you'll want to come early (like in the afternoon) to guarantee a good spot. I'l try to hold a few spaces, but please understand how that could be difficult.
Last year, we were treated to a full moon (partially visible just to left of John Hancock building in photo below). Appearing low, and with hazy atmosphere, it displayed as a honey-orange disk. There will not be any moon in the night sky on the fourth of July 2013.
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A few last minute notes about the event.
Please bear in mind that I cannot actually cordon off a section of the Harvard Bridge. people get to the bridge and evenly distribute. Newcomers fit between oldcomers. We'll be in a general area near the start of the bridge on the MIT side facing East.
Here's the lowdown.
Typically the scene is get there early, bring water, [rain] protection for your camera, a tripod, maybe a seat, perhaps umbrella. Relax, enjoy crowd until dark, maybe take some crowd shots (also sunset on west side of bridge) great illumination of Boston during Magic hour, shoot skyline, buildings as they begin to illuminate, discuss nightime and fireworks shooting options and what to do in case of thunderstorm (and how to shoot lightning!).
If you had a car, you'd really have to get there early to park on side streets (Memorial Drive and Mass Ave will be blocked to traffic starting around noon). There's a parking garage on Vassar Street [west side] (after warehouse) a few blocks from bridge/Memorial drive. Check Google Maps and zoom in.
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/f/b/8/event_236676792.jpeg