Shooting the Fireworks

This is a list from my Uncle George, who years ago as a professional photographer, used these techniques to photograph fireworks.

• Set the camera on manual and time exposure.
• Set the lens at infinity, the aperture to f8.
• Place the camera on a tripod.
• Set the camera in the upright position, not landscape..

You will need a small piece of cardboard 6x6 or 8x8 - black - or very dark. With the camera aimed in the general area of the fireworks, place the black cardboard in front of the lens - open the shutter - and when you see a rocket take off, raise the cardboard quickly above the lens and count 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, then drop the cardboard down in front of the lens without touching it.

When the next rocket is fired, repeat the process. Do this three or more times; then close the shutter. You will now have taken your first photo. Repeat the process for as many times as you want photos. You can vary the count as it seems fit, but play around a bit, and have fun!

This is how my son, Kevin, and I (mostly Kevin) set up the Canon EOS Digital Rebel.

• Set the ISO to 100, and put the camera on a tripod.
• Set the mode dial to manual.
• Set the shutter speed to bulb, and the aperture to f10.

I had initially set the camera to upright, but I returned it to the landscape position at some point. Kevin set the camera to autofocus, depressed the shutter half-way while aiming at something the approximate distance of the fireworks; then put it on manual focus. Using a wireless remote, I pressed the remote, which waits for 2 seconds before it opens, counted to between 5 and 10 before I pressed the remote again to close it.

Thank you, Uncle George and Kevin! I'm thrilled by the results, especially after LAST year.