Archive for the ‘tripods’ tag
Free Saturday Focus Sessions for August 13 – October 1
Focus sessions are free and take place in the Westwood store from 9:30 am - 10 am and our Englewood location from 10:30 am – 11:00 am. All sessions will allow for questions and answers. Please bring your camera and any images along that you have questions about.
Here’s the schedule for August 13 – October 1, 2011
August 13 – All About Camcorders – How To Choose
August 20 – What’s in Your Camera Bag or Should Be
August 27 – Sensor Cleaning
September 3 – Labor Day – No Session
September 10 – Tripods & Monopods
September 17 – How to Photograph at a Vineyard
September 24 – New Jersey Photo Expo tomorrow – No Session
October 1 – Millbrook Winery Trip Review
These are free events - bring a friend along if you’d like. Share with your friends on Facebook – Click the Like button below.
Free Saturday Focus Sessions for July 2 – August 13
Focus sessions are free and take place in the Westwood store from 9:30 am - 10 am and our Englewood location from 10:30 am – 11:00 am. All sessions will allow for question and answers. Please bring your camera and any images along that you have questions about.
Here’s the schedule for July 2 – August 13, 2011
July 2 – Fireworks Photography
July 9 – Vacation Photography
July 16 – Get Steady – Monopods and Tripods
July 23 – Lenses – From wide and to telephoto – how to select and use.
July 30 - Getting better flash pictures
August 6 – Critique your photos – please bring two prints to discuss what you are doing right and get suggestions to improve
August 13 - Choosing the perfect camcorder
These are free events - bring a friend along if you’d like. Share with your friends on Facebook – Click the Like button below.
Fireworks Photography tips and examples
Here are some basic starting points
If you have any questions, stop by the store, email or call. We’re here to help. Please let us know if you get some great shots we’d love to see!
Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions. Have a great 4th of July Holiday weekend from all of us at BCC.
Find a fireworks display on NJ.com’s July 4th events page
Tripod
Electronic release (available for most cameras at BCC)
Manually set your camera ISO to 100 (You do not want Auto ISO)
Lens Choice – Wide Angle Zoom to frame what you’d like to capture
Auto White Balance or Daylight
Set your lens to manual focus then focus to infinity (take a test image and make sure things are sharp)
Set your camera to Manual exposure – Try 5 seconds at f/ 16
Carefully release the shutter if not using a release to capture from one to several bursts
Evaluate your exposure - Shorter exposures (or smaller aperatures ) will darken the image and capture shorter trails, Longer exposures (or larger aperatures ) will lighten the image and capture longer trails.
Evaluate sharpness by zooming in on your image – adjust as needed
If you are using a point a shoot, check your camera’s manual for fireworks mode.
Improving Fireworks photos
Shoot with a tripod – it will give a more natural cascade of light
Why use a tripod?
Handheld image above shows motion from camera shake in the burst of light.
The image below is steadied by a tripod, 5 seconds, f16 at 100 ISO
Other Techniques
Set your camera to B and lock open your shutter – keep the lens covered with a dark hat and remove the hat to capture a burst then recover and repeat to capture several bursts. Just be carefull not to bump your camera.
You can even zoom the lens during exposure for some interesting effects
Experiment and best of all have fun
Gallery images below shot mainly at 5 seconds, f16 at 100 ISO
