Advice for Fireworks

[Rita]

I am looking for some advice for shooting fireworks. It is Canada Day here tomorrow and I am thinking that I would like to try and take some photos of the fireworks. I have never done this before. My camera does have a setting for fireworks which gives me f11, SS 4 sec, -1 exposure compensation. Normally I shoot in manual mode so I am wondering if I would be better off to use the preset or to use bulb mode to capture more action with each image? Is there something else I should be using for settings? I won't be right at the location but should have a good clear view of them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Rita, this thread of Randy (rtbaum) might help and let's wait for the other comments as well

More play with Tammy 17-50

[Brownbear]

Hi Rita,
I've only taken photos of fireworks, once, 3 years ago. So no real experience but since no one has responded and mine turned out okay I thought I would share.

Manual Bulb Mode (3.2 sec) ISO 100 f/13 focal length 75-110 mm Center Weighted Metering Sony Alpha 200

The white fireworks were sharp the red ones were soft... nothing over or underexposed. I likely looked up recommended settings on the internet and just tried it out.

Hopefully someone else with more experience will respond.

[Rita]

Thanks Christina. I am going to give it a try tonight and see what happens. Figure if they don't turn out nothing is lost but at least I will have tried. If they turn out then...bonus . If they ain't too bad I will post my efforts tomorrow sometime.