need help taking night shot pics/fireworks

[pmedr]

ok, i just bought a new rebel xt and really don't know much about taking pictures but last night i took pictures of the fireworks and all of them came out black and white. very very bad. before i took the pics i read the book and set it at the settings for the ocasion but still couldn't get it right.
if any one here knows about this camera and taking photos like those please help. there is an upcoming fireworks event this weekend in Galveston TX and i want to go and take some nice shots.

thanks
pete

[AlexMorse]

Here's some basics

1) Buy a nice tripod. This will set you back $300-1000 give or take.
2) Set camera on tripod, point at fireworks.
3) Set to manual focus.
4) Focus to infinity.
5) Set to shutter priority
6) Set between 1/4 and 4", experiment to see what you like best.

[pmedr]

ok this is embarrasing. but at the same time if i don't know how then i guess i shouldn't be
i got 1-3 but
4-6 i have no idea how to do that

[Daniel Bates]

Focus is on the lens body. It's a ring. (I don't have one in front of me so I'm not sure which... but one ring controls zoom, the other controls focus. Set it to "∞".

Shutter priority: it's the knob on the top of the camera. You can select Manual (M), Aperture-priority (Av), Shutter-priority (Tv), Program (P), Auto (green box), and so on. Set it to Tv. This lets you pick the shutter speed, and the camera picks a good aperture to match. Set the shutter speed to between 1/4 sec and 4 sec and take a bunch of pictures. It's the only way to learn! :)

[Clayton Wallace]

http://www.shortcourses.com/bookstor...canonrebel.htm

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=184491

[pmedr]

thank you very much guys . i will definetely try to apply all these suggestions this weekend and depending on how pics come out i'll post them in here.
again thank you.

pete

[pmedr]

any1 knows of any classes opening any time soon around the nw houston area?

[Huck]

might I suggest a cheaper tripod. just for a quick fix - walmart sells a tripod starting at 19.99 and another for 29.99. I have the $30 one, I just throw around and not worry about it in my trunk. Works great. They also sell a monopod for $19.99. I have one of those also. Here is a sample of a photo on the tripod. Hope this helps. I shoot a nikon and use the bulb mode for my shutter speed and also have a wireless remote. Nothing fancy here, but I like it.

[AlexMorse]

Originally Posted by Huck

might I suggest a cheaper tripod. just for a quick fix - walmart sells a tripod starting at 19.99 and another for 29.99. I have the $30 one, I just throw around and not worry about it in my trunk. Works great. They also sell a monopod for $19.99. I have one of those also. Here is a sample of a photo on the tripod. Hope this helps. I shoot a nikon and use the bulb mode for my shutter speed and also have a wireless remote. Nothing fancy here, but I like it.

Wow Huck, that's not bad for a $30 tripod. I've got a $40 one that has camera shake in a slight breeze at anything other than ultra wide angle :) That's with mirror lockup and a timer too!

[pmedr]

those are some nice pictures
i bought me the $30 tripod from walmart . and i'm going to Galveston for tonight's fireworks. hopefully they will come some how close to those pics.

here is what i plan on doing tonight after reading all the forums and suggestions and if i'm wrong please advice.

taking tripod and finding a good area perhaps maybe some where already popping some for focusing practice. using bulb setting at 5.0 sec with new lense 75-300 or should i use the 18-55?!
if i'm missing something please let me know
thanks
pete

[Clayton Wallace]

The bulb setting would not in itself make your images black and white. The B setting just allows you to choose longer shutter speeds than what is avalailable on your camera. If you posted the b+w images here we could give some more accurate feeback. FYI, I do one-on-one photography tutorials. PM me if you are interested. I have a short photography 'tips' article I've started on my website as well (www.claytonwallace.com/phototips) that you might find useful.

A cheap $30 tripod from Walmart always beats no tripod. My first tripod was similar (it is junk and will break soon, but it is only 30 bucks...)

[pmedr]

went to galveston for the fireworks and this is some of the results. i made the mistake of being too close from the shooting area but next time i know better.
i guess not bad for a first timer






please don't be too hard on me.
thanks to every one for the suggestions.

pete

[popawalker]

Not bad for the first time, next I would suggest a cable release so you don't have to hold down the shutter button with your finger. The wiggley lines could be caused by you holding the button. You have a good start so keep it up.

[Cope]

http://www.wolfcamera.com/static/art...fireworks.html

[Clayton Wallace]

Great job! (especially for your first time)