How to shoot FIREWORKS DISPLAY lights

Goodmorning fellow hobbyists!

want to know how to shoot FIREWORKS DISPLAY lighting? here's how.

Just a little reminder, this is how I did it. I'm not saying that this is the right thing/procedure to do. I would suggest that you do play with your techniques to explore more... remember: walang bagay sa mundong ito ang hindi napapag-aralan. c",)

PROPER GEARS:
Camera (of course!)
Lens (Kitlens will do, but if you have an UWA [Ultra Wide Angle] lens... that is for the WIN!!!)
Lens Hood
Fully charged batteries (much better to have batt grip with 2 fully charged batteries, kasi malakas magconsume ng batt yung ganitong shoot kasi matagal na nagoopen yung shutter and plus shoot ka ng shoot *this will be explained later*)
Sturdy Tripod
Remote Shutter Release (much better if it is wireless)

SETTINGS:
Shutter Speed: BULB
APERTURE: F/10 or F/11
LENS: Should be on MANUAL mode, VR: On
CAMERA: Manual mode *bear with me... manual talaga ako mag-shoot. kung kaya nyo iset sa ibang program, diskarte nyo na...*

PROCEDURE:
1. Of course set your equipments.
2. Double check the tripod locks to ensure stability.
3. Set the CAMERA program option to manual then manually turn the APERTURE adjustment up to f/11 or 10 atleast. sa shoot ko I used f/10.

why?: mas madali kasi sakin mag-adjust ng light to dark than dark to light.

4. set the white balance to AUTO.
5. Set the LENS to manual.

WHY MANUAL: ganito kasi yan... pag naka AF ka, since madilim ang paligid and mejo malayo yung subject although magliliwanag naman sha.. may tendency na hinid magfo-focus yung lente.

6. Set the SS'" to BULB

WHY BULB?: para pitik ka nalang ng pitik using of course your WIRELESS REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE
WHY WIRELESS?: kasi pag wired yung remote shutter mo, may tendency na magalaw yung camera, ang result, magkaka-curl yung ligh trails na macacapture mo sa fireworks.

TIP: sa ganitong klaseng shoot ang diskarte to use the REMOTE SHUTTER, dapat at least 2-3 seconds ang pagpindot pabalik to close the shutter. When I did this, pagka-pitik ko to open the shutter, i am snapping my fingers 1, 2, 3, sabay pitik ulit to close the shutter. Why? para hindi mashadong mahabng Light na guhit ang macapture ni LENS. Remember: di mo kailangang i-long expose ang pagsshoot ng ganito... dapat SLOW SHUTTER lang, hindi LONG.

TECHNIQUE: Here is the main technique para makakuha ka ng magandang shot ng fireworks.

Since naka-MANUAL ka sa lente, there is posibility na yung pagkaka-focus mo ng subject is mejo malabo. ang technique is to manually aim at a sample subject with the same distance (approximately) sa area ng fireworks site. Sa shoot ko, I used my cellphone backlight para makapag-focus ako ng sharper than the AUTO-FOCUS. Pwede kasi na gamitin mo yung AUTO-FOCUS then press AF-L to lock the focus from the AF function then set it to manual. minsan kasi kahit naka-auto ang effect mejo blurred pa rin.

HOW DID YOU DO IT USING YOUR CELLPHONE?: Here's how...
1. Aim the camera at the fireworks site
2. Look fiercly on the fireworks site from the VIEW FINDER
3. Pailawin mo yung cellphone mo by pressing any keys... Basta importante mag-ilaw yung cellphone
4. Place the lighted cellphone to the view of the fireworks site. Pagpalagay mo na ang fireworks eh yung cellphone backlight mo.
5. Adjust the lens focus according to your preference... Then shoot!!!

TIP: Once nakuha nyo na yung tamang preferred focus nyo, wag nyo nang galawin yung focus ng lente. kung need nyo umulit ng pwesto, ayan. dapat ulitin nyo kung pano mag-focus sa sample subject... ika nga nila... IWASIWAS ANG CELLPHONE NA MAY ILAW! :D

Here's the result:

you may view the rest of the set on my facebook account or in my multiply account for HIG RES pics

mhacdho.multiply.com