Shooting Fireworks

Being Guy Fawkes weekend, I had the opportunity to go out and try some firework photography. I read a tut on Digital Photography school, pack my bag and went off to Victoria Park, hackney, to give it a go. I am not too happy with the results, but they are not too bad for a first attempt.

I did make the mistake of arriving late, so did not find a good view point and did not have the tripod set up for the start of the show. Not a good start. I think if I had been a bit better prepared, I would have at least been able to frame the shots better.

So a couple of things you need to do when photographing fireworks:

1. Use a tripod and frame your shot.
2. Keep the camera in manual. This will mean the camera takes the shot as soon as you release the shutter.
3. Use a remote shutter release.
4. Keep the iso low - 100 or 200
5. Probably the most important thing is to work out the right shutter speed. I don't think I got it quite right. I took most of my shots on 4 seconds, but even went as short as 1 1/2 secs.

Getting the exposure right is tricky, so more practice is going to be needed. I also need to work out the ideal white balance.

Next weekend is the Lord Mayor's show, so more fireworks on the Southbank. Will give it a go then.

Macro - Extension tubes and screw-on lenses

I have dabbled in macro photography a little in the past, but without a dedicated macro lens, I have had to make use of my screw on lenses. I purchased some extension tubes on Amazon quite a while ago, but could not work out how to get them to work. This weekend with a bit of trail an error, I managed to get a few half decent shots.

So to show the difference these toys make, I have uploaded a few shots using nothing, the screw on and the extension tubes.

The first two are taken with the 18-105mmvr nikon lens. The second shot just being a crop of another shot.












The second two were taken with the same lens and the screw on attachments.













The last two with the extension tubes. With the extension tubes, you have to have the camera fully in Manual mode as the camera can meter on anything.





None of these are particularly wonderful, so I don't think I will even add any to flickr, but just wanted to show you how I am getting on.

London Zoo - a good place for some bird photography!

One of my favorites from my last visit.



Strikingly similar to one I took last year!

Baby big Cats

Two shots taken on the morning of my wedding. One can't complain!!!

Handheld and just a bit slow!

Got to like the Sigma 120-400os

Pano's on CS4

Well, it has been a long time, but that does not mean I can't stick a shot or two up here. Work and getting married and some family illness has taken up all my time for the last 4 months, but now have quite a few shots to stick up.

I upgraded to CS4 from CS3. I have not noticed too much of a difference but then I am not an expert. I actually use CS4 very little. I must say the auto merge option is excellent on CS4. No need to set up the tripod to make sure that the shots line up exactly so you can stitch them together. Just shoot and make sure that there is some kind of over lap and hey presto, you get the results below.

I am currently experimenting with HDR and I will post one soon. Also made my first attempted at editing with the clone tool. I am going to remove the antennae from the bottom shot. I will let you see when I have done it.

Enjoy!

Just checked the post and the shots are not coming through in pano format, so click on the pics to see the full shot on flickr.

THe 2x sigma apo converter can give good results

A long time since my last post, but again life takes over from my hobby. Not even posting on Flikr at the minute.

Anyway, a half moon made me pull the camera out and take a few shots.

This one was taken straight on my 120-400mm sigma:



Managed to get quite a few with the converter, but my macbook seems to be playing up a bit and iphoto has corrupted a load of my shots, of course just the ones taken with the converter. Serves me right for erasing before I have backed up the shots.

Always remember to make sure that you have two copies of the shot in separate locations before you delete the originals.

Anyway, here is the photo that survived - not the best one I took I must say...;-(

Click on the picture to view the whole shot on flickr

Enjoy

Greg