Bernskiold Learning » Fireworks

The Guide to Shooting Fireworks

Erik Bernskiold — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:22:56 +0000

Like I always do on New Years and for my american readers this time of the year, here is how to shoot these wonderful fireworks:

Fireworks is a lovely thing to photograph but it may seem hard at first. I’ve been doing it for the past three years now and really feel that I’m getting the grip around it! I hope it helps to clear up some stuff if you are unsure since I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it this year, and that you go out and try it tonight, it is really cool and fun.

How To?

First off, dial in Manual mode and set the aperture to f/11 or f/13 (run some tests to see which is better), then set the shutter speed to Bulb, usually indicated by a B. Now when the firework explode, press the shutter and then when the burst has exploded and is wearing off, you let go of it. This usually makes for a nice picture of a firework.

If you wish to capture many in one frame, just keep it pressed and make sure the frame is pitch black until the next firework goes up. Adjust the aperture as fits between the shots.

Equipment?

It’s best to have a camera that you have full manual mode on but special firework modes can work, although best result is given with a full manual mode. It’s really necessary to have a tripod because you’ll be working with second long exposures that you simply can’t hand-hold. Also learning from own mistakes, never extend the center column on the tripod, even if it feels like you need to, I did it last year only with a good sacrifice in quality in the images.

It helps if you have a remote control so you don’t need to look into the viewfinder all the time when shooting, plus, it’ll give you more stability.

Depending on your location to the fireworks, either a zoom lens (70-200) or a normal zoom (18-55) is the right lens. For organized displays, I’ve found that you might get closer than you think with a 18-55, which allows you to get close enough in the sky (if you are close) and also to get some foreground in there as well if you want to, without changing lenses, something that is a no-no! You just won’t have the time.

Position and Preparations

Get to the fireworks display in time and make sure that you know where they are going to be shooting from and set up in a good place where you can see the display and if you want also include some foreground such as the water or something alike. Also make sure you have clean memory cards that are formatted and that they work, also make sure to have your batteries charged and working!

I hope this little article can benefit you and it is really fun to photograph fireworks! Questions? Leave them in the comments!

A Rerun: How to Shoot Fireworks

Erik Bernskiold — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:56 +0000

Like I always do on New Years and for my american readers this time of the year, here is how to shoot these wonderful fireworks:

How To?

If you wish to capture many in one frame, just keep it pressed and make sure the frame is pitch black until the next firework goes up. Adjust the aperture as fits between the shots.

Equipment?

It helps if you have a remote control so you don’t need to look into the viewfinder all the time when shooting, plus, it’ll give you more stability.

Position and Preparations

I hope this little article can benefit you and it is really fun to photograph fireworks! Questions? Leave them in the comments!

New Years Fireworks

Erik Bernskiold — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:35:35 +0000

There were a lot of cool Fireworks here on News Years and as usual I went to the local city display of the fireworks and I thought I should share a couple of them with y’all! After all, the new year started really good and I plan to shoot a lot more this year (which means post and share thoughts and photos as well).

How to Shoot Fireworks

Erik Bernskiold — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:21:27 +0000

How To?
First off dial in Manual mode and set the aperture to f/11 or f/13 or something in the likes then set the shutter speed to Bulb, usually indicated by a B. Now when the firework explode, press the shutter and then when the burst has exploded and is wearing off, you let go of it and you should have a working picture of a firework. If you wish to capture many in one frame, just keep it pressed and make sure the frame is pitch black until the next firework goes up. Adjust the aperture as fits between the shots.

Equipment?
It’s best to have a camera that you have full manual mode on but special firework modes can work, although best result is given with a full manual mode. It’s really necessary to have a tripod because you’ll be working with second long exposures that you simply can’t hand-hold. Also learning from own mistakes, never extend the center column on the tripod, even if it feels like you need to, I did it last year only with a good sacrifice in quality in the images.
It also helps if you have a remote release to minimize camera shake further as well. I think also a lens in the zoom range of 18-55 or similar works really well because it allows you to get close enough in the sky (if you are close) and also to get some foreground in there as well if you want to, without changing lenses, changing lenses is a no-no, you just won’t have the time.

Position and Preparations
Get to the fireworks display in time and make sure that you know where they are going to be shooting from and set up in a good place where you can see the display and if you want also include some foreground such as the water or something alike. Also make sure you have clean memory cards that are formatted and that they work, also make sure to have your batteries charged and working! Don’t forget to take something warm to wear if it is cold outside either, and good gloves!

I hope this little article can benefit you and it is really fun to photograph fireworks! Questions; post them! I’m going to be here most of the evening apart from the time when I’m going to be out photographing the city fireworks.

How to: Shoot Fireworks

Erik Bernskiold — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:48 +0000

For all in the USA, July 4 is coming up tomorrow and there’ll likely be a lot of fireworks displays. I posted this little how-to right before new years this year and reposting it again for all of you going out tomorrow to take some shots. Good luck and have a safe and fun evening!

Equipment?
It’s best to have a camera that you have full manual mode on but special firework modes can work, although best result is given with a full manual mode. It’s really necessary to have a tripod because you’ll be working with second long exposures that you simply can’t hand-hold. Also learning from own mistakes, never extend the center column on the tripod, even if it feels like you need to, I did it last year only with a good sacrifice in quality in the images. It also helps if you have a remote release to minimize camera shake further as well. I think also a lens in the zoom range of 18-55 or similar works really well because it allows you to get close enough in the sky (if you are close) and also to get some foreground in there as well if you want to, without changing lenses, changing lenses is a no-no!

Three CS4 beta products available in Adobe Labs!

Erik Bernskiold — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:03:34 +0000

Adobe has released the beta versions of three CS4 applications in the Adobe Labs today! It’s Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Soundbooth that we get to take a look at right now and like usual, you need to get a beta serial for any of the applications if you want to use it longer than the two day grace period. The beta serial is easily obtained if you have either a product serial or a suite package serial where the product is included! The new products features a little interface change to now suit the Adobe way of things that was in most of the CS3 applications except the newly purchased Macromedia ones.

Download

Fireworks – Tips and Tricks for photographing them!

Erik Bernskiold — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:28:26 +0000

Fireworks is a lovely thing to photograph but it may seem hard at first. I’m out for the first photographing of them right now in a few minutes and I took some time earlier today to write a little simple tutorial article on the tips and tricks when photographing fireworks! I hope it helps to clear up some stuff if you are unsure since I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it this year, and that you go out and try it tonight, it is really cool and fun.

So today must be the most popular time to photograph fireworks and although I far from consider myself real good at it or anything (you can only try it once a year) but I have some tricks and tips on shooting fireworks and one is I think the best tip I’ve ever heard on it, seeing as it worked perfectly the first time I shot fireworks;

I hope this little article can benefit you and it is really fun to photograph fireworks! Questions; post them! I’m out to photograph the first rounds of fireworks in 30 minutes from this posting

Monday News Stuff

Erik Bernskiold — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:03:57 +0000

Starting this Monday news stuff, I feel like I need to address a question that I’ve gotten quite a bit recently and it is apart from the question if I am an ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) when the CS3 ACE tests will be out. The word from Adobe on that point, is that they will be out (with a prep-guide) sometime in November and then the current ACEs will have 90 days to take their exam to still be ACEs. Oh and on the other question, no I am not an ACE but I am planning on taking the exam when the CS3 one comes out!

1TB Laptop Hard drives coming in foreseeable future?

According to an article I read over at the Swedish MacWorld site, with the help of the GMR technology (which is the technology that the Nobel Prize Winners in Physic are getting awarded for) will make it possibe to fit in 1TB space in laptop hard drives and up to 4TB into stationary hard drives. All this according to Hitachi as well. Pretty cool stuff, even cooler though is that there could be in store in as little as two years!

Adding Fireworks to the mix!

Right, from today and on, tutorials on Fireworks will also be appearing in the tutorials section right here on the site, booth geared to help you learn the features in Fireworks CS3, but also to convert from using previous ImageReady! Check it out as it comes up late today, early tomorrow, depending on how quick Revver accepts my video!

Cool contest, prize is books and iPhone!

This contest just sounds amazing and it should be nothing short of amazing either as well! Check out Scott Kelby’s contest over at his blog right here where you each day now for ten days can win his iPhone book. As if that was not enough, on the tenth day you can win booth a signed copy of this iPhone book as well as an iPhone! So check it out here!