At 07:56 PM 6/20/03, Johnie wrote:
I'm going to an all day music festival next weekend and they are going
to end the day with a fireworks display. I've always wanted to try to
shoot one but I want to get some advice on how to get the best
results.
Here's my kit: OM-2n, OM-4T, Tamron 35-80/2.8-3.8, Tamron
60-300/3.8-5.4, and if it gets here in time, a new (to me) Tamron
300/2.8, and a Velbon tripod. (I can see this expanding a lot hanging
around this bunch!)
Any suggestions on the best film, technique, etc.?
For aerial displays (can also be used for tight shots of ground displays
against near black background)
1. Use ISO 100 film. (slower actually works better)
2. A 35-105mm lens is ideal as it allows adjusting focal length
(I recommend trying your Tamron 35-80 first).
2. Use tripod, cable release and mount camera vertically.
3. Focus at "infinity"
4. Exposure is set with aperture only and is determined by film speed:
ISO 25 - 50 -- f/5.6
ISO 64 - 125 -- f/8
ISO 160 - 200 -- f/11
ISO 320 - 400 -- f/16
5. Aim in general direction of aerial bursts.
Check composition using first couple of bursts.
6. Set shutter on "B"
7. Open shutter when you hear the "whump" of an aerial rocket launch.
Hold shutter open until you get one to four bursts,
but no longer than 8 seconds.
8. Wind film and wait for next opportunity.
BTW, this is taken straight from the Kodak Master Photoguide's existing
light exposure section. There is an element of luck to this as you cannot
predict beforehand exactly where an aerial burst will occur, only its
general vicinity in the sky. Greatest variation is in altitude. It's why
I recommend mounting the camera vertically and checking the first few sky
bursts to tweak focal length and aiming.
-- John
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