retrait wrote:
Thank you very much Jim for your kind comments.
The shoot was taken from Centennial Park in Coronado, this park has a look over the channel to San Diego harbor, next to the ferry pier. I choose this location as it offers the view of San Diego Skyline in the background.
I would like to explain in detailed steps on how the shot was taken. Hope this will benefit some viewers who would want to get the next fireworks event. The goal is to capture as many fireworks as you like in one shot.
I know there are several ways to achieve the same thing, but here is a run down how I did. (but first, I apologize if this might bore someone who has already been familiar with the process)
As noted, I indicated in my earlier post, 'multi-exposure', actually I opened and closed the lens using the black cardboard a few times to get fireworks, to the camera, it is only one exposure.
Camera settings:
Looking at this photo's exif, the shot was set at F/11, ISO/160, and a total of 8.7 seconds duration, White balance was left as AWB but it could have been better to be at 5100K. The focal length was at 24mm as I used the 24 TS-E lens. My camera was locked on tripod level to the ground (the TS-E was shifted up to capture higher the sky space while leaving the skyline building straight up, for those who is familiar with the TS-E know what I mean). Without the TS-E you would have to tilt your camera up 10-15 degrees to capture your frame higher in the sky, but the buildings might look a bit slanted)
So here are the procedures to shoot the fireworks:
-Camera steady on tripod during shoot.
-Use your remote shutter release cable
-Pre focus the background scene (if you use AF lens, set your lens to MF after focused). I found lens was about infinity focus.
-Set shooting mode to BULB
-Set other settings F/11, ISO 160, white balance 5100K etc. (note: you can flex your aperture and ISO according to your camera body and lens used)
-When the firework series started,
-Press and continue to hold the button of the shutter release.
-Cover your lens with a black cardboard
-Then remove the cardboard to capture enough the fireworks scene then quickly cover the lens back with the cardboard.
-Continue to cover the lens.
-as next scene of the next fireworks fire up, remove the cardboard again to capture that fireworks...repeat this until you feel you've have captured enough fireworks.
-Release the shutter cable to let the camera close the shot and record your image.
(Note: if you open the cardboard from the lens too long, you may get your shot over-exposed, also observe the firework as one may have lots of brighter light, there is no set rule of how long you remove the cardboard from the lens but you will have a feel as when it is about long enough to finalize the shot)
-Once the shot taken, quickly look at the played back image and continue on next series of fireworks and adjust the duration of cover the cardboard.
Hope this helps. I will be happy to answer any further questions if you PM me directly.
That is a great explanation, and it does help to clarify how you got all of those fireworks on one shot. Obviously there will be some trial and error to it. The nice thing with digital compared to film though is you could review a sequence you shot immediately to see if you were in the ball park as to how long the whole exposure was for, etc... Nice work again with this shot.
AMaji wrote:
Lovely image. I love the colors and the reflections.
AMaji, indeed this location offers great skyline view to San Diego downtown. I have seen many long exposed photos here; especially those taken in early morning at sunrise. Thank you.
-Tung
sundevilstorm wrote:
well done! the traffic was terrible, so we stayed north and enjoyed the La Costa and Lego Land displays...
glad they didn't all go off at once this time!
In fact there were much more visitors/spectators to the show this year. It was hard to find a street parking spot anywhere in Coronado. We were all luck out to have a show this year.
That is a great explanation, and it does help to clarify how you got all of those fireworks on one shot. Obviously there will be some trial and error to it. The nice thing with digital compared to film though is you could review a sequence you shot immediately to see if you were in the ball park as to how long the whole exposure was for, etc... Nice work again with this shot.
Jim
Thank you Jim to further clarify it. Although this shot was recorded, by the camera, 8.7 seconds duration, the actual time the camera was let exposed to light was probably about 4-6 seconds, ball park. Also the card board is in black, non reflective material to minimize reflective contaminated light into the lens. You got a hang of it. It was a fun and exciting process while you are taking the photos as well as guessing what comes next.
retrait wrote:
Thank you very much Jim for your kind comments.
The shoot was taken from Centennial Park in Coronado, this park has a look over the channel to San Diego harbor, next to the ferry pier. I choose this location as it offers the view of San Diego Skyline in the background.
I would like to explain in detailed steps on how the shot was taken. Hope this will benefit some viewers who would want to get the next fireworks event. The goal is to capture as many fireworks as you like in one shot.
I know there are several ways to achieve the same thing, but here is a run down how I did. (but first, I apologize if this might bore someone who has already been familiar with the process)
As noted, I indicated in my earlier post, 'multi-exposure', actually I opened and closed the lens using the black cardboard a few times to get fireworks, to the camera, it is only one exposure.
Camera settings:
Looking at this photo's exif, the shot was set at F/11, ISO/160, and a total of 8.7 seconds duration, White balance was left as AWB but it could have been better to be at 5100K. The focal length was at 24mm as I used the 24 TS-E lens. My camera was locked on tripod level to the ground (the TS-E was shifted up to capture higher the sky space while leaving the skyline building straight up, for those who is familiar with the TS-E know what I mean). Without the TS-E you would have to tilt your camera up 10-15 degrees to capture your frame higher in the sky, but the buildings might look a bit slanted)
So here are the procedures to shoot the fireworks:
-Camera steady on tripod during shoot.
-Use your remote shutter release cable
-Pre focus the background scene (if you use AF lens, set your lens to MF after focused). I found lens was about infinity focus.
-Set shooting mode to BULB
-Set other settings F/11, ISO 160, white balance 5100K etc. (note: you can flex your aperture and ISO according to your camera body and lens used)
-When the firework series started,
-Press and continue to hold the button of the shutter release.
-Cover your lens with a black cardboard
-Then remove the cardboard to capture enough the fireworks scene then quickly cover the lens back with the cardboard.
-Continue to cover the lens.
-as next scene of the next fireworks fire up, remove the cardboard again to capture that fireworks...repeat this until you feel you've have captured enough fireworks.
-Release the shutter cable to let the camera close the shot and record your image.
(Note: if you open the cardboard from the lens too long, you may get your shot over-exposed, also observe the firework as one may have lots of brighter light, there is no set rule of how long you remove the cardboard from the lens but you will have a feel as when it is about long enough to finalize the shot)
-Once the shot taken, quickly look at the played back image and continue on next series of fireworks and adjust the duration of cover the cardboard.
Hope this helps. I will be happy to answer any further questions if you PM me directly.
