Fireworks photography. Difficulty: on a boat

[Earguy]

Fireworks week is upon us. I've had good luck with fireworks shots (sample below) and there's the most excellent Fireworks Photography pocket guide.

But this year I have an unusual predicament. I'll be going on a "fireworks cruise". A large fishing boat will be taking on cruise to see a world-class Grucci show over Atlantic City. The view will be fireworks in the foreground with the spectacular skyline in the background.

So, how to shoot fireworks from a boat?

Would one expect the boat to be stable enough for a tripod shot with a shutter speed of 2-4 seconds? I'd want the skyline to be unblurred.

I don't know if I could even use a tripod on the boat without disturbing other passengers. Any suggestions on settings for hand-held?

Do you think I'll end up shooting with a wide angle or telephoto? I want to fill the frame.

Any advice to help me prepare would be welcome. Thanks!!

View image in gallery


View image in gallery

[_Provo_]

well 1st thanks for mentioning the guide I created 2nd enjoy the fireworks
3rd really not sure how stable this will be myself people walking about the boat plus title waves
from other watercraft in the area will surely cause some motion times like these is when I wish
someone invented a small gyro tripod. I would image bring up the iso to freeze the scene as mentioned
the movement will be something else to deal with. Good luck oh where abouts are you in south nj?

The shots within this post are great as well

if you come up to west windsor tomorrow they are having the freedom fest @ mercer park with fireworks at dusk
which usually means around 9pm -10pm since I hear them all the time, I know your going to ask
wait your profile says south nj as well I am moving to south nj at the end of july

[stef@apl]

Originally Posted by _Provo_

3rd really not sure how stable this will be myself people walking about the boat plus title waves from other watercraft in the area will surely cause some motion times like these is when I wish someone invented a small gyro tripod.

I want to see the size of the boat that can leave a tidal wave!

"That's no moon."

[Earguy]

I think he meant "waves in the tidal pool" from the wake of other boats!

I'll be off Atlantic City. It'll be big - Grucci's seem to be the gold-standard for fireworks, and their web site is listing this show as "world class," which is their biggest show (their classes are city, state, national, and world). I think it'll be cool to get the shots from the water with the skyline in the background.

I'm going to call tomorrow and get the captain's opinion as to whether I can even bring a tripod. I have two image-stabilized lenses, which I'll probably enable on the boat even if I'm on a tripod. I'm going to offer the captain copies of my best shots for use on his web site, if he'll let me use a tripod or give me a prime spot (e.g., on the bridge out of the way of the other guests).

Still wondering if I'll be using a wide-angle or a tele. I'll be sure to post my best shots here.

[stef@apl]

Now that I think about it, here's a real answer (in the form of a question):
What about stitching multiple short shots together?

That would eliminate any slow boat movement, and lessen issues if you couldn't use a tripod. Because they leave mostly static trails, there won't even be any breaks (as long as there's not much wind).

You can basically use "focus stacking" or astronomy stacking software for this. Because it also helps remove noise, you can kick up the ISO a fair amount.

[Earguy]

Originally Posted by stef@apl

Now that I think about it, here's a real answer (in the form of a question):
What about stitching multiple short shots together?

Well, it would be cheating a bit, but yes I could take a picture of the skyline without fireworks, then layer in firework bursts later.

Last year I did the ferris wheel shots, and I did take some clear-sky shots with the idea that I might superimpose bursts . . . but I didn't need to.

I'll probably take a couple of clear-sky provisionals just in case.

[stef@apl]

No, you completely missed the meaning of what I said. Forget what you know about other techniques. This is different.

If you expose one shot for 2 seconds, you capture a certain number of photons. It captures about the same number of photos as exposing 20 shots for 1/10th of a second each shot at 10 frames per second (minus a small amount of overhead to move the mirror and such). The difference is that IS/VC will work on 1/10th of a second, so all those shots, while shot 4-1/3 stops lower, will not have motion blur. So when you align all 20 shots and stitch them, you get the same amount of light without motion blur. There's no problem aligning 20 1/10th second shots even if they move a bit from each other. That's where the motion blur would normally be, which the IS on your lens will cancel out.

The same thing is done in astronomy to help reduce issues with star trails and atmosphere. It can also be done to increase star trails, by shooting many long exposures and stitching them into very long star trails.

[BobC164]

I'll be in Ocean City NJ for the fourth. Hope to get a spot where I can see Ocean City and Atlantic City in the background. Haven't had many oppertunities to shoot fireworks so this will be a learning experince. I think shooting from a boat is going to be a real challenge. Lots of luck and looking forward to the results

One from 2010 at a local high school

_DSC0637 by bobcreef, on Flickr

And this one with my camera on a railing New Years in Myrtle Beach SC

123111A3 by bobcreef, on Flickr

[Earguy]

Originally Posted by BobC164

I'll be in Ocean City NJ for the fourth. Hope to get a spot where I can see Ocean City and Atlantic City in the background.

That sounds like a tough angle. Google maps might help you figure that out; that's how I figured out the ferris wheel shot (that's the Ocean City fireworks, shot from the brick stands at the OC high school). I pulled up the map, knew that the barge was off the music pier, and drew a line to get a good guess on where the bursts would be in relation to the ferris wheel.

If you want Atlantic City in the background, you'll need to be well south of the Music pier.

I just checked the layout on Google maps, and to get to a point where you can see the firework and Atlantic City, it looks like you'll have to be way down by Corson's Inlet. You'll want a long lens to pull that in so it's not just a speck on your frame.

Check it out in advance a day or two before. Is there a spot where you can see Ocean City on your left and see Atlantic city in the distance?

Also consider the weather. If it's hot and hazy, even if you have the shot, Atlantic City in the distance may be nothing more than a dull glow.

Whatever you do, HAVE FUN!

[_Provo_]

Originally Posted by stef@apl

Now that I think about it, here's a real answer (in the form of a question):
What about stitching multiple short shots together?

That would eliminate any slow boat movement, and lessen issues if you couldn't use a tripod. Because they leave mostly static trails, there won't even be any breaks (as long as there's not much wind).

You can basically use "focus stacking" or astronomy stacking software for this. Because it also helps remove noise, you can kick up the ISO a fair amount.

But what about the title waves?? Lmao I meant waves from other boats