Any DSLR Photo Buffs Here

[suzanne]

I just got new Canon T3i DSLR Camera. Previous camera was a point and shoot. We are headed to Disney Nov. 11th and I would love some advice on taking night time photos of fireworks and parades. I have 2 lens one is 18-55mm and the other one is 55-250mm. Both have image stabilization. I am not going to take a tripod, due to the expected crowds not sure how easy it would be to pack along all day in the parks. So any advice for a photo newbie would be appreciated.

Suzanne

 

[Phydeaux]

Probably covered in the ops manual. I wouldn't be surprised if it had a *Fireworks* mode. These cameras are nearly too smart. Shoot a bad photo and its more likely to be the user vs. The camera. They've come a very long way.

Have fun with it.

 

[HatTrick]

Google "photographing fireworks" and you'll have access to more advice than you have time for!

For example: http://www.pcworld.com/article/167813/photographing_fireworks_step_by_step.html

Even if you don't use a tripod, you'll need some way to steady the camera or you won't be very happy with the results.

 

[SDKath]

No way to take pix of the fireworks without some sort of support for your camera. Handheld it just won't turn out.

When you push the button to take a pix, be careful not to have the camera move around too much or shake.

Image stabilization doesn't help when the shutter has to be open for long periods of time (long exposures). That's why the camera needs to be secured on something. Try taking pix at night outside of low light areas (like a street with small street lights). You will see how hard it is to hold a camera steady enough...

Gorillapods are small and can twist around poles and other objects. They are awesome! http://joby.com/gorillapod. And they are not too expensive. If you carry that with you, you'll be able to get great pix!

Katherine

 

[Mosca]

Gorillapods are pretty good, I've used them for fireworks.

Also, use your shutter timer. Even the push of the button will induce trails. You'll have to do some guessing, but they shoot the fireworks off every night, and they last a while; sooner or later you'll hit a few.

I know there are a lot better out there, let's see 'em! This is a point & shoot on a gorillapod, attached to the balcony railing.

 

[suzanne]

thank you all. I will check out sights and gorilla pod.

 

[uf_gator_87]

This is awesome. Hate the neck straps (bouncing around), hate the camera bags (camera not ready to make images).

 

[stonebroke]

No Tripod - Not necessarily a problem

Fireworks is a swirl of light anyway so NOT having a tripod may only give you more swirl. Set the camera to manual (focus too). Start with a 2 or 3 second exposure try to guesstimate when the fireworks explodes and push the button. Then adjust your f-stop (apeture) higher or lower (I would start at f11). Try some longer and or shorter exposures. I would definetly use the wider angle lens and stay away from the telephoto.

 

[SDKath]

Fireworks is a swirl of light anyway so NOT having a tripod may only give you more swirl. Set the camera to manual (focus too). Start with a 2 or 3 second exposure try to guesstimate when the fireworks explodes and push the button. Then adjust your f-stop (apeture) higher or lower (I would start at f11). Try some longer and or shorter exposures. I would definetly use the wider angle lens and stay away from the telephoto.

I am so sorry but I have to disagree. Handshake is not a swirl. A 2-3 sec exposure without a slight bit of motion is impossible. That "shaking" that is natural (even the breathing motion we make) is not going to be pleasing in a photo. JMHO but like I said, go take your camera out on the street with the streetlights and try to take a night time photo. You can see how well you can hold the camera.

Forgot to add what we all assumed everyone should know: you cannot use your flash so be sure to turn it off.

K

 

[suzanne]

Thank you for the info. The strap looks very interesting.

Suzanne

 

[HatTrick]

Suzanne,

A steady surface (like a wall or table) at a comfortable height may work as a substitute for a tripod. And since the T3i has an articulated LCD, you can use it to correctly position the camera without having to crouch down to use the viewfinder.

You can also experiment with using the self-timer to eliminate any camera shake that may occur with pressing the shutter-release button.

 

[mtngal]

I don't think camera shake helps with fireworks at all, at least not ones that I like. I've only shot them once, used one camera with a tripod and another camera hand-held, trying to use somewhat faster shutter speeds. There was only one picture I took from the hand-held set that I liked (1/6 sec, f4, 50mm).

Which lens you'd want to use (telephoto or wide angle) depends on site conditions. Normally if you are close to where they are being set off wide angle is good. I made the mistake of using a wide angle to photograph fireworks being set off a long way from me - it was too late to change lenses or cameras on the tripod by the time I realized my mistake. This was as close-up as it went (24mm), I would have liked to have had something around 30-50 for a focal length under these conditions. This one was taken at 5 seconds, f8.

You'll need a long shutter speed to get multiple fireworks usually, and exposure is a bit hit-or-miss for me (quickly take one, check the LCD, make changes as appropriate).

 

[HatTrick]

Fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu

No tripod, but I steadied the camera by resting it on the balcony railing. Not perfect, but better than handheld.

 

[suzanne]

thanks for the photo. I hope to see them next year on our trip to Hawaii.

Suzanne

 

[HatTrick]

thanks for the photo. I hope to see them next year on our trip to Hawaii.

Suzanne

Every Friday night at HHV.

 

[dwojo]

I am just learning myself but have used a monopod to steady my camera with good results. Mine is a telescoping pole with a fitting on the top for the camera. It is compact and light weight. My wife just got me a mini tripod that fits in my camera bag. I have not tried that yet.

 

[Janis]

one more thing to add - you can buy an inexpensive remote for your camera shutter so that you don't have to touch the camera at all once it's set up. There's an input spot on the DSLR and you plug the remote into it.
Then, when you're ready to shoot, you just depress the button on the remote That will eliminate any movement that you would have gotten from depressing the shutter

 

[suzanne]

Mine came with a wireless remote. I have tripod but not a monopod or gorilla pod. I'm looking into those now on both eBay and Amazon. Does anyone know of a good place in Kissimmee or Orlando to find good deals on Camera Gear?

Suzanne

 

[dioxide45]

Shutter speed and hand shake make a big difference. If you don't have a tripod you will also want to use a high ISO.

My DW is the photographer, these are her photos.

This photo was taken at 1/20 sec, f/4, ISO-1600

This one was taken at 1/5 sec, f/5.6, ISO-1250. You will notice how the camera shake caused the fireworks to streak.

 

[suzanne]

beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing.
Suzanne

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

one more thing to add - you can buy an inexpensive remote for your camera shutter so that you don't have to touch the camera at all once it's set up. There's an input spot on the DSLR and you plug the remote into it.
Then, when you're ready to shoot, you just depress the button on the remote That will eliminate any movement that you would have gotten from depressing the shutter

Or use the 2-second delay setting. Set up the shot, set the delay, and push the shutter button. The remote, though, is better when precise timing of the shutter release is critical and camera shake is a problem.

 

[ScoopKona]

No way to take pix of the fireworks without some sort of support for your camera. Handheld it just won't turn out.

NOT TRUE.

All you need is a Kenyon Gyro Stabilizer. This kind of "steady as the Rock of Gibraltar" costs a paltry $2,000-10,000.

 

[janej]

I used to lug my Nikon DSR to Disney parks, not any more. The camera gets heavier and heavier during the day and it is a pain to take it everywhere. Also make sure you have enough protection for the camera in the parks. My lens filter shattered in my camera bag once. I had no idea how it happened. It was a $50 lens filter, but at least the lens was not damaged. I guess another reason is my kids are older and I found it harder to get them to stop for pictures. I brought the SLR and it pretty much staying in the room. We stayed at the BLT, and I did bring it to the top of the world lounge to watch fireworks. I think I ended up recording the firework since the sound effect was very nice from there.

 

[SDKath]

NOT TRUE.

All you need is a Kenyon Gyro Stabilizer. This kind of "steady as the Rock of Gibraltar" costs a paltry $2,000-10,000.

LOL! Oooooh, gonna have to send the link to DH. Maybe a Christmas present?

I have a Canon 7D and 2 large lenses so I got a REALLY GOOD strap for it. It distributes the weight very well on my shoulder so it doesn't feel very heavy as the day goes on. I would recommend tossing the strap that comes with your camera and getting one of these for only $25:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/370768-REG/Tamrac_N505701_N_5057_Neoprene_Boomerang_Strap.html

 

[Mosca]

LOL! Oooooh, gonna have to send the link to DH. Maybe a Christmas present?

I have a Canon 7D and 2 large lenses so I got a REALLY GOOD strap for it. It distributes the weight very well on my shoulder so it doesn't feel very heavy as the day goes on. I would recommend tossing the strap that comes with your camera and getting one of these for only $25:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/370768-REG/Tamrac_N505701_N_5057_Neoprene_Boomerang_Strap.html

I got one on these, the Rapid Strap. I'll never go back to a conventional strap.