Fireworks from Oregon, and a belated how-to

Explosions in the sky look strikingly similar whether you're in Salem, Oregon or Salem, Massachusetts..

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/581526535_TT3fX-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/581526699_WgyjY-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/581526927_RGSGL-L.jpg


For those who were asking "how": it's pretty simple.
* Use a tripod, unless you're a fan of jiggly lines and completely, as opposed to somewhat, unpredictable results.
* Manual exposure. In my case it was *ISO200, 10 seconds @ f29. *
You want to stop down as far as you can to maximize your DOF, because it's not like you're going to get an AE lock on a burst.
* Turn off AF and VR if you have it.
* And for the sake of not looking like a total nimrod, make sure your flash isn't engaged.

I listen for the sound of the mortar firing the projectiles and open the shutter at that point; most bursts go off 2 to 3 seconds after firing. This of course will depend on how far you are from the launchpad. I like to be within about 500 yards of ground zero so I can use a "normal" zoom (in my case the 18-105 kit lens).


--
yr. obt. svt.,
abdoozy

WSSA Member#160