Fireworks are surprisingly hard to capture well. One needs a fast shutter speed, but this requires a very low fstop-which means expensive glass if you are using a long lens-or a really good sensor that allows good cropping-similar fiscal problem-or high ISO, which tends to create other challenges. Many of these were at 6400 ISO.
Author: Harold Pollack
Harold Pollack is Helen Ross Professor of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. He has served on three expert committees of the National Academies of Science. His recent research appears in such journals as Addiction, Journal of the American Medical Association, and American Journal of Public Health. He writes regularly on HIV prevention, crime and drug policy, health reform, and disability policy for American Prospect, tnr.com, and other news outlets. His essay, "Lessons from an Emergency Room Nightmare" was selected for the collection The Best American Medical Writing, 2009. He recently participated, with zero critical acclaim, in the University of Chicago's annual Latke-Hamentaschen debate.
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Wow, Harold! These are great. I'm not a photographer but we had a panoramic view of D.C. From RFK stadium to national cathedral and beyond. Tons of neighborhood fireworks and a great view of the mall. Except at two miles away they were kind of miniature.
What he said! Terrific pics. Thank you.
These are very nice!….. but why do you need a fast shutter speed? Why not put it on bulb and close the shutter when you captured as many bursts as you wish?
You wouldn't need high ISO. You wouldn't even need a small aperture for all the DOF you might want, because you are focusing so far away. The only question would be would it be sharp enough with a long exposure? I would guess - and I have not tried fireworks photography! - that sharpness would be good because each burst would be intensely bright for a very small portion of the exposure time.
Does it work this way?