Well, with fireworks, what I tend to do is borrow a DSLR, because they allow for a bulb mode, which means you can get multiple bursts all into one shot, which makes for (in general) very nice firework pictures.
I have a point and shoot, however, which does not always make fireworks very easy. I tend to use my fireworks mode, or just use auto and then it will maintain the low ISO needed for fireworks. Then I set it to continuous and just hope that I get one decent shot for each firework explosion. But if you have a bulb mode, that would probably help a lot.
Another tip, not related to photography, is that you get to the site early to secure a good spot. Try to get a spot where you don't have to look up so much, and rather across, so right by the spot (or as close as you are allowed to get), from where the fireworks are shot off. Another thing to take into account is the wind, which can blow smoke into you and make your shots hazy. Try to be away from where the wind is blowing towards to avoid this (though maybe it would make for an interesting photo?)
Also, I use a tripod, which eliminates my hands from moving (I always get spooked with the big booms).
Sorry for rambling on, but I hope that helps you some. Enjoy the fireworks tonight, the ones for our town were yesterday and I was tired and went to bed early instead of staying up for them. We are planning on going out of town today so that we can still get some patriotic action. :)
ISO 100, focus to infinity, and f-stop varies depending. A tripod is an absolute must. I set to multiple shots, I don't have a remote, but I tipped my tripod back when needed, and just kept firing. You cannot anticipate where they will open up, so just keep working the height so it doesn't open above you. I also turned the camera side to side, without moving tripod for multiple location firings. This was my first try at a fireworks convention last August. I used an f-5.6, but I will probably go to f8-f11 next time I am out.
iso 100
f 3.5
1/3 of a second
personally I find the use of a tripod taking fireworks restrictive all you need is a steady hand, also it means you can pan with the feint trails given off by rockets taking a lot of the guesswork out of positioning
I try to include interesting elements in the background, so I'll set the aperture and ISO to capture the firework nicely (a narrower aperture or lower ISO will reduce the light from the moving firework, a wider aperture or higher ISO will increase the light), and then alter the shutter speed to alter the brightness of the stationary background.
Manually focusing to infinity is definitely necessary.
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I have a point and shoot, however, which does not always make fireworks very easy. I tend to use my fireworks mode, or just use auto and then it will maintain the low ISO needed for fireworks. Then I set it to continuous and just hope that I get one decent shot for each firework explosion. But if you have a bulb mode, that would probably help a lot.
Another tip, not related to photography, is that you get to the site early to secure a good spot. Try to get a spot where you don't have to look up so much, and rather across, so right by the spot (or as close as you are allowed to get), from where the fireworks are shot off. Another thing to take into account is the wind, which can blow smoke into you and make your shots hazy. Try to be away from where the wind is blowing towards to avoid this (though maybe it would make for an interesting photo?)
Also, I use a tripod, which eliminates my hands from moving (I always get spooked with the big booms).
Sorry for rambling on, but I hope that helps you some. Enjoy the fireworks tonight, the ones for our town were yesterday and I was tired and went to bed early instead of staying up for them. We are planning on going out of town today so that we can still get some patriotic action. :)
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/fireworks.htm
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-fireworks
@tealgarciaphotography
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iso 100
f 3.5
1/3 of a second
personally I find the use of a tripod taking fireworks restrictive all you need is a steady hand, also it means you can pan with the feint trails given off by rockets taking a lot of the guesswork out of positioning
Manually focusing to infinity is definitely necessary.
5 seconds, f/11, ISO 400:
20 seconds, f/11, ISO 200: