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Category: New Questions

How to shoot people with fireworks

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Gail

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July 12, 2002

The basic method outlined will make a timed exposure of the fireworks using the "B" (bulb) shutter speed setting and a flash photograph of the bride and groom cutting the cake.

Presuming these are bursts from skyrockets, exposure for them is set by aperture based on film speed, and independent of shutter speed. You will have to set the camera up on a tripod and use a cable release. Position the camera so you include the cake, bride and groom, and where the sky bursts are located . . . and that all these do not conflict with each other.

Set aperture for the fireworks based on film speed:
ISO 64-100: f/8
ISO 125-200: f/11
ISO 250-400: f/16
Faster film is *not* recommended; the *slower* films work better! If you're using pro portrait film, use an ISO 160 and set aperture to f/11.

Now set up your flash to illuminate the bride, groom and cake from a direction based on the camera position you have. Set its power level (or distance) for an f/11 exposure. You will need a method to manually trigger the flash! You *don't* want any illumination from any other source on them or the cake, not even a modeling light from the flash. They will need to be in darkness.

Set camera focus on the bride and groom. Given a choice, I would rather have them in sharpest possible focus, and let the fireworks be a little soft in the background. The cake cutting is the real subject matter. At the likely camera to bride/groom/cake distance getting enough depth of field for both is impossible, even at f/11.

The actual "shoot" will require cooperation from the bride and groom, and their patience. I would "sell" it to them as siezing a unique opportunity, trying to build some enthusiasm for something fun and special. However I would also make certain they understand there is a definite risk that it may not work out.

When the fireworks start to go off, position the bride and groom, pose them (comfortably) and have them *hold* their position. Readjust the camera if necessary to include the sky bursts, then open the shutter when you hear some rockets launch (they make a soft "whump" sound when launched from their mortar tubes). Just after you open the shutter, warn your bride/groom you are about to trigger the flash, and set it off. Then keep the shutter open for about 3-5 sky bursts and close it, but no longer than about 8 seconds regardless (or the sky will look an unnaturally lighter gray). Shoot it again, if possible, and if everyone is cooperative, give it a third go if you can. Then take a couple standard cake-cutting "safety" shots. Fireworks photography is a bit iffy with composition. The exact location of the sky bursts is unpredictable.

Again, the concept of what I would try is using a timed exposure for the fireworks, and shortly after it begins making a flash exposure of the bride/groom/cake, then continuing the timed fireworks exposure to completion. Obviously this depends on the bride/groom/cake being in near total darkness from ambient light while the shutter is open for the fireworks exposure. The *only* thing that should illuminate them is the flash when it goes off, otherwise you'll have ghosting of their images on the film.

-- John

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July 15, 2002

Thank you for your response. I had been thinking along those lines when wondering how to do it but couldn't get the steps clear in my head - you have helped me to understand what I have to do! And I know that it may not work - luckily this bride & groom "seem" to be easy going about all the photography so I basically have artistic license! Or in other words "it's supposed to look like that"!

Thanks again - the wedding is July 28 so I will post the results of this experiment.

Gail

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July 16, 2002