fireworks......first try

i am still trying to expand my learning, and tried to get some fireworks shots last night at the local horse track. this is my first time taking pictures of fireworks, so any critique and suggestions are greatly appreciated.


http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5848/img2331v.jpg


rebel XSI, 28-135 lens shot at 28mm, manual control focused at infinity, f/8, 4sec exposure, iso100


http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1724/img2336v.jpg


all the same settings as previous shot.


it was a dead calm night, no breeze what so ever, so i lost a lot of shots cause at one point they did a lot of roman candle bursts that created a LOT of smoke that went nowhere for about 5 minutes. thanks for any suggestions, hints, etc.


jim

Very nice!

Good shots. Wally

some of them seem to be out of focus. Try manually focusing just a little before infinity

Great shots Jim!


I agree with crosby. A bit shy of infinity usually does the trick.


In
terms of the exif data I noticed you were using a 4sec shutter. Try
using a bulb next time. I find that you get more control over the
display. When you're on a timed one, you risk getting too much or not
enough, ie. getting some of the next display into the same shot which
can lead to just giant bright yellowish-white photos so if you have a
cable release put it into bulb mode (on the xsi put it in M and crank
the dial past 30seconds to get bulb) and hold it open from the time it
starts flying into the air and releasing just before it dissipates.
This way you get just one firework at a time and aren't stuck with half
of the next one or an over-exposed shot.


Keep up the good work!


Cheers,


-Mike

thanks for the hints on trying to focus a little before infinity........i'll try it out at begining of july.........but what is the best way of seeing if i do get my focus dead on by focusing a little before infinity??? not like i can tell on a little 3 inch screen............and i was flipping my exposure time around a bit, trying to see what worked best, i dont have a remote, so i used the timer. i wasnt going to try bulb without a remote.

It depends on the lens. If it has far distance markers then you can guess based on where they're being launched from. Otherwise you'll have to try a few sample shots. just zoom in all the way on the taken shot and even on a tiny screen you should be able to get it pretty close for the next one.


Get a remote! They get you addicted to night photography![6]

nice shots, did you try any bulb setting shots? above 30sec?