I need some help with nighttime pictures at Disney

[redbrick22]

Hello everyone!

Some of you may recognize me from the proposal section. To give a quick update on that, a lady from Cali Grill called me and she was SOOO helpful in helping me decide how I should do the proposal. For those of you who don't know, I plan to propose to my girlfriend this fall atop the Cali Grill during the fireworks.

I just got, yesterday, a Nikon D3200. The very reason I got this camera is for taking pictures during the engagement. We are going down in a few weeks and I will try and get some experience then. Now to my questions. Have any of you guys taken pictures of fireworks? From Cali Grill? Of people with fireworks in the background? What settings worked best? I am thinking an ISO of 200-400 F 5.6,6.3,7.1,8? Shutter speed of 1 sec.

I am looking for pictures similar to these. (These are not my photos and I am using them as examples)

 

[cbettua]

For these photos they used a external Light source. Either pop up flash although it doesn't look like that too me. To me it looks like a speedlight defused a bit. I say that because the light isn't really harsh, its defused a bit.

So basically your subject needs to be lit up somehow.

 

[redbrick22]

Correct. So In order to light them up I would use a flash on the camera. Its pitch black up there so there isnt much light otherwise. What would be a good flash setting? 1/2? Full?

 

[cbettua]

I always used ETTL on my speedlight. It's basically your camera talking to the light. So when I set my settings on the camera, it will change the setting on the flash. Now most flashes you can't have your shutter speed faster then 200 on a canon and 250 on a nikon.

 

[thomas998]

Correct. So In order to light them up I would use a flash on the camera. Its pitch black up there so there isnt much light otherwise. What would be a good flash setting? 1/2? Full?

Think from the trails on the fireworks they probably set the f stop small and had the shutter open for at least a second... I agree it looks like they used a speedlight with a diffuser the power setting would depend on how far your camera is the f stop you used and the ISO... if you want to experiment before you go then set your camera up on a tripod in your back yard before you go and try different setting while shooting someone or yourself at the distance you think it will be from you when you are there. You can use a much smaller f-stop than you probably think because the fireworks are pretty bright, just very small.

 

[MasterJedi]

When are you going? I am gong down this next week and will be able to find out roughly what settings to use. Also we need to know a little more about your equipment. I know that you have the D3200 but what lenses do you own and what speedlights? since you said F1.8 I would assume that you have a variety of lenses. Now FYI the lower the F stop you go (1.8, 2, 3.5, ect) the more the picture will drop off and give you BOKEH. Now that will allow more light and allow a faster shutter speed, but the fireworks wont be clear in the background and you may be visible since it is allowing more light and in through the lens. Now that is why you also need the flash. This flash as mentioned was definitely diffused or bounced off a card. Also as mentioned that is why the lighting isnt harsh but very soft. This lighting allows for faster shutter speeds and a smaller aperature (F- stop). Photography is a lot of trial and error to get the right photo. Here is a photo that I took using the pop up flash and my 18-55mm F3.5 (the lowest fstop it was able to reach) and prob a a super low shutter speed. I did have a tripod and used the timer to capture the photo. The flash was set low maybe -2.0. I have since purchased better equipment and have not tried it all yet in WDW. But if you have basic camera equipment this is the struggle you will have....and its a serious struggle taking night photography as good as those photos you have as examples. I hope I provided some helpful input. This was shot with my D5100.

 

[redbrick22]

We are going down the end of next week, but the engagement isn't until this fall. I only have the standard lens, and no speedlights. All I have right now is the D3200 and a tripod. Thank you all for the helpful information. Please feel free to take pictures and report back with that settings you used.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Hello everyone!

Some of you may recognize me from the proposal section. To give a quick update on that, a lady from Cali Grill called me and she was SOOO helpful in helping me decide how I should do the proposal. For those of you who don't know, I plan to propose to my girlfriend this fall atop the Cali Grill during the fireworks.

I just got, yesterday, a Nikon D3200. The very reason I got this camera is for taking pictures during the engagement. We are going down in a few weeks and I will try and get some experience then. Now to my questions. Have any of you guys taken pictures of fireworks? From Cali Grill? Of people with fireworks in the background? What settings worked best? I am thinking an ISO of 200-400 F 5.6,6.3,7.1,8? Shutter speed of 1 sec.

I am looking for pictures similar to these. (These are not my photos and I am using them as examples)

Yeah A flash was used on those and it was a slow shutter speed to get the fireworks…

If you want a cookie cutter recipe of how to do it, you're going to use the widest aperture possible. About the 15th of a second, ISO 1000, flash on rear curtain mode.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Correct. So In order to light them up I would use a flash on the camera. Its pitch black up there so there isnt much light otherwise. What would be a good flash setting? 1/2? Full?

Leave the flash on the automatic settings, set everything else manually, and the flash will automatically compensate.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I always used ETTL on my speedlight. It's basically your camera talking to the light. So when I set my settings on the camera, it will change the setting on the flash. Now most flashes you can't have your shutter speed faster then 200 on a canon and 250 on a nikon.

Okay if you use a shutter speed of 1/250th on fireworks? You're not going to get anything.

Essentially, what we're doing here is photograph any handheld fireworks with the foreground subject while popping a flash in for fill.

What the OP is trying to do is very, very simple.

 

[PhotoDave219]

When are you going? I am gong down this next week and will be able to find out roughly what settings to use. Also we need to know a little more about your equipment. I know that you have the D3200 but what lenses do you own and what speedlights? since you said F1.8 I would assume that you have a variety of lenses. Now FYI the lower the F stop you go (1.8, 2, 3.5, ect) the more the picture will drop off and give you BOKEH. Now that will allow more light and allow a faster shutter speed, but the fireworks wont be clear in the background and you may be visible since it is allowing more light and in through the lens. Now that is why you also need the flash. This flash as mentioned was definitely diffused or bounced off a card. Also as mentioned that is why the lighting isnt harsh but very soft. This lighting allows for faster shutter speeds and a smaller aperature (F- stop). Photography is a lot of trial and error to get the right photo. Here is a photo that I took using the pop up flash and my 18-55mm F3.5 (the lowest fstop it was able to reach) and prob a a super low shutter speed. I did have a tripod and used the timer to capture the photo. The flash was set low maybe -2.0. I have since purchased better equipment and have not tried it all yet in WDW. But if you have basic camera equipment this is the struggle you will have....and its a serious struggle taking night photography as good as those photos you have as examples. I hope I provided some helpful input. This was shot with my D5100.View attachment 52311

That's underexposed that by about half a stop.

What we're trying to do here is balance two entirely different light sources.

For the photo above that you took? Meter off the castle which is roughly the 30th at 2.8 at ISO 800… (that will fluctuate depending upon the aperture lens of course) and then you Pop a flash the filling the rest.

Set the camera manually for the castle and let the flash do the rest of the work…

 

[redbrick22]

Thanks for the replies. Dave you gave some info that is much different than what I received from other forums. I am new to this and will try out what you said as well. I have been told elsewhere stick around f7.1 ISO 200-400 shutter of 1.5 sec. If I understand your way is get more light in withless shutter speed, hence the increased ISO? What f stop would you use?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Thanks for the replies. Dave you gave some info that is much different than what I received from other forums. I am new to this and will try out what you said as well. I have been told elsewhere stick around f7.1 ISO 200-400 shutter of 1.5 sec. If I understand your way is get more light in withless shutter speed, hence the increased ISO? What f stop would you use?

I do this for a living.... call it cheating I suppose....

The f stop should be as wide open (lowest number) as possible. Lets as much light through the lens as possible.
I've done fireworks at 1/10th-1/30th of a second, handheld before, (at ISO 800-1000) so I know thats going to come out OK considering the primary focus is on the happy couple. Anything longer than that and you will need a tripod to prevent any blur.

How do I know the fireworks can be done handheld at ISO 800/2.8/30th? Done it a few times. Not the style I like but if youre going to go without a tripod and get the big flower bursts, thats what you'll need. Granted, the fireworks will be out of focus but the main focus of the photo is the happy couple.

You want the flash on a rear curtain setting (all nikons do this) so the flash fires at the end of the shutter duration, freezing the happy couple. The built in flash should do fine and should expose for them.

 

[cbettua]

I don't do a lot of nightime photography. I do studio work with alien bees and natural light outdoors. I ditched the sppedlight a long time ago. So I guess Im a bit rusty on pop up flash since my camera does not have one.

 

[cbettua]

Also, for me I have such a high ISO camera that I don't use flash at night. Sorry

 

[CP_alum08]

1/30th won't get you much of the bursts, you're going to need to be dead on with your timing.

If it were me, I'd opt for a longer shutter to get more "wow" of the bursts, the issue with that though is you need to stand ridiculously still to not blur your faces, even with a rear curtain flash.

Have you thought at all about hiring someone? Lots of photographers in the area and since you're at a restaraunt you shouldn't have an issue, espeically if you say the people already know you're coming. Another expense for sure, but for a special occasion it might be better than you HOPING you get the shot.

 

[redbrick22]

Dave- I wasn't challenging your opinion, merely stating that most people recommended a longer shutter speed I suppose to get more trails from the fireworks. Like I said, I will get some practice later this week and I will try everyone's ideas during the fireworks show and that will help to decide what settings would be optimal. (I will have a tripod)
These three links are what I have been using as a guide, as well as posting on photography forums.
http://neilvn.com/tangents/?s=fireworks
http://neilvn.com/tangents/photography-technique-using-flash-with-fireworks/
http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/dragging-the-shutter/

 

[redbrick22]

Yes I have thought about hiring someone and I contact local photographers. They were all around 350 for the rights to 10 prints. Some had never taken pictures of couples in front of fireworks which turned me off. So I opted to put the 350 towards a good camera and take the risk. If I dont get great pics, then boo hoo, but I will at least have a nice DSLR

 

[PhotoDave219]

Also, for me I have such a high ISO camera that I don't use flash at night. Sorry

I hate using a flash too.

And that alien bee ring flash is fun.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Dave- I wasn't challenging your opinion, merely stating that most people recommended a longer shutter speed I suppose to get more trails from the fireworks. Like I said, I will get some practice later this week and I will try everyone's ideas during the fireworks show and that will help to decide what settings would be optimal. (I will have a tripod)
These three links are what I have been using as a guide, as well as posting on photography forums.
http://neilvn.com/tangents/?s=fireworks
http://neilvn.com/tangents/photography-technique-using-flash-with-fireworks/
http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/dragging-the-shutter/

I wasn't thinking you were…

If you do use a tripod… 15 seconds (ish) ISO 100 and f/14-16. Use the flash to fill in.