Firework photos for New Year Eve

[Pam Knowler]

I have never taken firework photos before. I have a Canon 5D mark 111 and I have with me my 24-105mm lens and my 100-400mm lens.

Which lens and what settings should I use?

I am hoping the fireworks will be on the opposite side of the river.

Any help/suggestions gratefully received!!

Happy New Year!!

Pam xx

[summerfield]

i think @taffy and @jyokota and @lesip had photographed fireworks in the past, and they might have some tips for you or you can visit their albums and browse the exif of their fireworks photos. but here's a link to a nikon page that gives 8 tips/instructions to photographing fireworks. i know your camera is canon but i think it's pretty useful.
https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/taking-pictures-of-fireworks.html

i've only captured fireworks handheld, with a lot of frustrations with my settings, as all these tips disappear into a fog in my head come the actual time i have to photograph fireworks. i've seen your photos and they tell me you are pretty skilled so i'm sure you will knock this one out of the ballpark, so to speak. looking forward to your photos.

[Junko Y]

I checked my last firework photo settings and this is what I used:

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO Speed: 12800
Focal Length: 400 mm

[Pam Knowler]

@jyokota thanks Junko I have taken note of those settings.

[Junko Y]

@pamknowler -- You might look at other firework photos and see what their exif data is

[Pam Knowler]

I did everything you recommended Junko. Started taking shots of the fireworks up river when suddenly huge fireworks went off overhead!! Too close to me to get in shot!! I was standing in the wrong place. Lesson learned - do a bit more research on where the fireworks will be!! My best shot posted in my alternate album. @jyokota

[Junko Y]

@pamknowler -- I saw it and commented and I love the result!

[Leslie]

Sorry I missed seeing this. Now to go look what you got

[John Walton]

Sorry a little late for NYE. Exif settings are shown.

[Pam Knowler]

@lumpiniman many thanks! Wonderful image and very useful information!

[John Walton]

That is another from the same session.


I viewed quite a number of youtube videos on photographing fireworks. They are pretty informative. As a baseline I set the camera to manual, select 100 ISO and then 15 seconds at f16. Dependant upon results then one can either shorten or lengthen exposure time and or apperture.

Processing in Lightroom/Photoshop is a must, I think, to enhance saturation and also darken the background.

[Pam Knowler]

@lumpiniman OMG such a fabulous display so well captured!!