Featured: 'Anyone have a go at the Fireworks on the 4th? Here's my attempt...' by Gidget

Gidget · Jul 6, 2014

Shot with the E-M1 and 12-40mm @ 12mm on a tripod.
I used Manual mode with manual focus set to infinity.
Setup the EM-1 in Live Time mode and it worked great. You could see the fireworks coming to life on the screen.
Aperture was f/10 and ISO 100. I would probably use ISO 200 next time for less clipping. (ISO 100 is known to have less DR than 200 - more clipping)
Long exposure noise reduction was turned off.
Forgot to set the color temperature/white balance to Tungsten or ~3000.
Shutter shock set to zero, but not sure this mattered.
Turned off IS since I was using the tripod.

Waited until after the initial launch/explosion to open the shutter and closed it as fireworks were peaking. Live Time was made for this kind of shooting! I tried using the Oly Oi Share app on my iPhone and my Android Tablet, but the lag between me pressing the shutter icon and it actually closing the shutter was much too long.

Exposures varied from 3 to 5 seconds.

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ThereAndBackAgain · Jul 6, 2014

Lovely shots, Gidget, and well thought out! It's so good to see people on the other side of the Atlantic celebrating my 61st birthday!! Thanks!

CarlG · Jul 6, 2014

EM5 and 60 macro

Redwing24 · Jul 6, 2014

here is my feeble attempt and my first at doing fireworks with my epl5 and 14-42.

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Livnius · Jul 6, 2014

I've never grown out of enjoying a good fireworks display

esnift · Jul 7, 2014

Not exactly a compelling foreground, but I wanted to try the "multiple fireworks in one shot" method.

EM5 + 45/1.5

https://flic.kr/p/nXfN4A

fortwodriver · Jul 7, 2014

Well, this was for Canada Day, not 4th of July, but I think it turned out pretty well...

E-M1 and 75-300 II. (at 300mm)
3.8 Seconds @ F8

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zensu · Jul 7, 2014

You did an amazing job Gidget! I can almost smell the gunpowder.

Mike Deane · Jul 7, 2014

Second time ever taking fireworks pictures, and first time with E-PL5. Any suggestion will be appreciated. ISO200, F/5.6, 20mm Panasonic F1.7, between 2.5" and 3.2" exposures... I was within 500' from the launch, so not much context...

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CarlG · Jul 7, 2014

Mike Deane said:
Second time ever taking fireworks pictures, and first time with E-PL5. Any suggestion will be appreciated. ISO200, F/5.6, 20mm Panasonic F1.7, between 2.5" and 3.2" exposures... I was within 500' from the launch, so not much context...

This link should help: http://www.bestofthetetons.com/2014/06/25/photographing-fireworks-tips-and-suggestions/

Mike Deane · Jul 7, 2014

CarlG said:
This link should help: http://www.bestofthetetons.com/2014/06/25/photographing-fireworks-tips-and-suggestions/

Thanks, CarlG! That article is great! The article says "Your camera will not be able to auto focus well at night, so you will need to have your lenses pre-focused and set to manual focus at about the distance you expect the fireworks to explode." I understand it is OT, I apologize in advance, if anyone can suggest how I would pre-focus the lens and set to manual focus at about the distance that the fireworks explode with E-PL5, I'd really appreciate it.

Honestly, I feel E-PL5 takes great pictures, but confusing to use.

fortwodriver · Jul 7, 2014

Mike Deane said:
if anyone can suggest how I would pre-focus the lens and set to manual focus at about the distance that the fireworks explode with E-PL5, I'd really appreciate it.

Honestly, I feel E-PL5 takes great pictures, but confusing to use.

I picked an object at the same distance and manually focused. Unfortunately, lenses like the 75-300 give you no focus scale so you have to do it visually. Also, racking out to the very end of the focus range usually won't work because a lot of our lenses focus beyond their designated infinity points.

Gidget · Jul 7, 2014

If you can't manually set your lens focus to infinity, use AF to focus on a far distant treetop or street lamp and then switch to manual focus and try not to bump focus.

brettmaxwell · Jul 7, 2014

Not Olympus, but still m4/3. GM1, 20mm, f1.7, 1/60, iso1600, handheld:

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Redwing24 · Jul 7, 2014

cool photos, that was the hardest part about taking pics on my epl5 was having no focal, and I use to use a d90 with a sigma 24-70 and using bulb on the d90 was very simple. with the epl5 the bulb took a while to finish after hitting the shutter. But the M4/3 is sure a learning curve compared to my old d90 setup.

Djarum · Jul 7, 2014

These were shot in Chattanooga at the Renaissance Park. Were were across the river next to the Tennessee Aquarium.

E-PL5, 14-42 kit lens at f6.3. Almost needed an ND filter. Most these were shot at 3.2s but could have used longer for longer trails. However, longer exposure meant blown out highlights.

Jan68 · Jul 7, 2014

esnift said:
Not exactly a compelling foreground, but I wanted to try the "multiple fireworks in one shot" method.

EM5 + 45/1.5

https://flic.kr/p/nXfN4A

Love that shot and I think the foreground makes the composition complete! Great photo!

Sent from my iPad using Mu-43

monkeymashbutton · Jul 7, 2014

Anyone have a go at the Fireworks on the 4th? Here's my attempt...

I posted this in the E-PM2 thread, but I will cross-thread this one time.

Nice thread, thanks!

PM2 with 14-42 and FL-50r

sammykhalifa · Jul 7, 2014

Something a little different than what I normally try with fireworks.

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high ISPO so I might have been a bit heavy handed with the NR. ISO 5000 f/1.8 1/4 sec

Mike Deane · Jul 7, 2014

How did you manage to keep the flags so still, as I assumed you have a "long" exposure?

monkeymashbutton said:
I posted this in the E-PM2 thread, but I will cross-thread this one time.

Nice thread, thanks!

PM2 with 14-42 and FL-50r

Featured: 'Anyone have a go at the Fireworks on the 4th? Here's my attempt...' by Gidget

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