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Fireworks with the S95. How SHOULD i have shot them?

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dave_bass5

dave_bass5

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I wnet to a firework display over the weekend and took my S95 with me.
I could have taken my 40D but wanted to see how well the S95 copped.
I wasnt able to put the camera on anything so had to shoot hand held.

This was the best i could do but im sure i could have done better. Im off to see more in a week or two so want to get it right.
I dont want to use the Firework mode as i prefer to use Raw.
Any tips etc most welcome.



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Dave.

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Sorry, here's the Exif
Exif data
Camera Canon PowerShot S95
Exposure 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 6.9 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -4/3 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
X-Resolution 240 dpi
Y-Resolution 240 dpi
Date and Time (Modified) 2010:10:25 20:54:00
Date and Time (Original) 2010:10:24 18:51:13+01:00
Date and Time (Digitized) 2010:10:24 18:51:13
Max Aperture Value 2.2
Subject Distance 4.14 m
Metering Mode Center-weighted average
Focal Plane X-Resolution 12493.1506849315 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution 12493.1506849315 dpi
Sensing Method One-chip color area
Custom Rendered Normal
Exposure Mode Manual
White Balance Auto
Digital Zoom Ratio 1
Scene Capture Type Standard
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Dave.

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I'm curious what you think is wrong with what you got? Looks very good to me.

Instead of making viewers interpret a long list of EXIF dribble how about telling us the settings you used and why you used them? I think that would be more helpful for someone who might offer tips for improvement or folks like me wanting to learn something. ;)
Mark
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eagle_I said:
I'm curious what you think is wrong with what you got? Looks very good to me.

Instead of making viewers interpret a long list of EXIF dribble how about telling us the settings you used and why you used them? I think that would be more helpful for someone who might offer tips for improvement or folks like me wanting to learn something. ;)
Mark
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Click to expand...
I should have posted a larger size. Its difficult to see but it looks blurry but not out of focus.

Im wondering if i should have used a faster shutter to get more definition, or slower (and risk camera shake) to get longer trails of light.

Pointing a camera skywards and pressing the shutter button will get nice images but there is an art to getting good firework shots IMO, and im asking for help in getting them.

If i dont post my settings how can anyone tell me where ive gone wrong. If no one wants to help that fine, but if they do they have all the info there.

Seeing as im the one asking im not really in a position to help much am i?

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Dave.

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I suggest a tripod or at least leaning on/against something to steady the camera during the shot.
--
Yves
 
David,

This is an honorable attempt, but shooting fireworks is a tricky thing, as you know.

First of all - you MUST have a tripod. This is just a category that requires one, there's no way around it. Doesn't have to be a big nice one, just a small something... anything to keep the camera steady.

Review these parameters, they helped me when I started shooting fireworks.

http://www.dphotojournal.com/how-to-shoot-fireworks/

1/4" shutter is a little fast for my taste, but I like the streaming effect some fireworks give off. Try slowing down to 3-5". That's my happy place.

I can't tell (the photo is too small) if your blurring is because of motion blur, or a focusing issue (i'd believe motion blur), but make sure you're also set to infinity.

Lastly, your aperture should rest around f/16-f/22 in most situations.

And you did fine to post the EXIF data, I don't know what's wrong with that.

Good luck.

--
-------------------------
Sin Cohen
[email protected]
 
Next time you can try find a stationary object to rest on.
--
'I don't necessarily believe everything I say'!
 
Thanks guys.

I was in the middle of a large crowd of people so a tripod wouldn't have been practical, but the next time i go ill take one and try and set up somewhere less congested.

I could have taken my 40D but as i was at a theme park all day with friends and family i just took the S95. I think it did pretty well considering but i know it can do better.

It was in manual focus, and it was set to infinity so yes, it was camera shake rather than miss focusing. I hoped i could hold it still for longer, i have done it before, but being in the middle of a lot of kids etc meant i was getting knocked.

It does seem then that a slow shutter speed is in order, rather than faster. I do like the shots i took with a faster shutter but i really was aiming for a more creamy smooth effect. My shots seem to be in between. Not pin sharp but not smooth enough.

Sin, thanks for that link, ill have a good read through it a few times before the next display.

I guess there was a bit too much info that wasnt really relevant in the Exif i posted but better to put ti all in than to miss some out.
--
Dave.

Gallery @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/
http://davepearce.smugmug.com

Videos @ http://www.vimeo.com/user464364/videos
 
gordonsbuck said:
Sorry, I thought the exposure mode was Av but on reading the post again, see the manual exposure. Still seems odd that there is an exposure bias noted. The focus distance is 4.14 meter? Anyway, I recommend a longer exposure.

--
Gordon
http://hornerbuck.com
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Click to expand...
Yes, that is strange. it was actually TV mode as i wanted to get as slow as i could but didnt want to risk the camera going even slower in another mode.

I guess M would have worked but with the -EV i think this worked just as well in this case.
The Exif posted above is from Flickr.

This is direct from DPP (not that i tend to use it but its easier for me to get the correct Exif from here)

File Name Sun-24-Oct-0793.CR2
Camera Model Name Canon PowerShot S95
Shooting Date/Time 24/10/2010 18:51:13
Shooting Mode Shutter Speed Priority AE
My Colors Mode Off
Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/4
Av (Aperture Value) 4.0
Light Metering Center Weighted Avg.
Exposure Compensation -1 1/3
ISO Speed 200
Lens 6.0 - 22.5mm
Focal Length 6.9mm
Digital Zoom None
IS Mode Shoot Only
Image Size 3648x2736
Image Quality RAW
Flash Off
White Balance Auto
White balance compensation A2, M1
AF Mode Manual Focus

--
Dave.

Gallery @
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/
http://davepearce.smugmug.com

Videos @ http://www.vimeo.com/user464364/videos
 
Alternative to tripod is to increase ISO and set self-timer to 2 sec so you don't shake camera as much when you press the button.

But of course tripod will give you better results with less less noise.
 
I just opened up my S95 here in a day-lit room. Fireworks mode sets it to two seconds, f/8, and ISO 80. I expect it's also focusing at infinity but it doesn't say so on the display. I think it's also setting the WB towards incandescent -- it's 'fire' after all. Adjusting the exposure setting changes the shutter time. The same test in a dark room yielded the same settings. From my experience, those are very good starting settings.

The mistake many people make with fireworks is overexposure, either too high an ISO or too large an aperture. Yes, it's dark outside but the areas you want to adjust for are very bright. The result is that the colors are washed out by the light of the 'fire' parts.

(Several others have commented about tripod use...)

If you aren't using or can't use a tripod or other support because of the crowd, etc., then you should skip the photos and just enjoy the show. (Yes, I realize that's a strong statement but the pictures in your mind are always going to be better than the photos -- unless you're going for a wiggly or blurry effect.)

I'm not sure what you expect to get from RAW images here. You can boost the saturation of a JPEG if you want more color.
 
Wouldn't a tripod sort of lock you in to a certain aim point in the sky along with presenting a trip risk in a crowd?

I suppose it depends on how close you are to the bursts and how much you want fill the frame with them. I like your larger version even better. It has a very nice balance and composition and I don't feel it's out of focus as especially looking at your large shot the small streaks in the upper left are well defined. Colors are good too. Poor fireworks shots that come to mind for me are overexposed and washed out of color.

My gripe about the EXIF is there is much more than we need. -4/3 doesn't fit with my old man's brain so I have to figure it out and that's a pain and what is 6.9mm focal length for your camera? I have no idea. If you said wide, normal, or moderate telephoto I could visualize better the area you were covering in the sky above you. I certainly don't think you've gone wrong with that shot. Can't be your only one? What did you learn from the others? It's great to get tips in hopes next time you'll get better. How about the possibility of a shooting position that gives some ground reference? Something possibly to frame the area?

I had two or three monopods in the past. They seemed like a good idea for traveling light and having something to steady with, but I could never get comfortable with them. Might have been it always was set too short or too tall when shooting on a hillside. Anyway, this home made chain gizmo worked well for me in my 35mm film days. Drop the chain and step lightly on it. Pull up letting it slide under your foot until it's the right height then step down to make it secure and lift gently to feel the steadiness it gives. You'll be surprised at how much it helps. A plastic sandwich bag is good to store it in so you don't get your pocket dirty after using it.



Mark

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