Every friday there is a firework competition in Blackpool, this week was Austria's entry, so I nipped down and took a few pics. Have been meaning to try doing some firework pics. I took quite alot (as I tend to) so picked a few out to show you guys.

Had it on bulb, so varying shutter speeds, and it made me use manual focus :( LOL!

A couple from before the display

Some great efforts there - assume you were using a tripod?

Nice ones, Loz

7,8,9,10 are almost 3D

assume you were using a tripod

I think she just stands funny

Some great efforts there - assume you were using a tripod?

Well, I was, but it's an old one of my dads and it's a bit wonky and wobbly lol, so I have to lean on my camera while I held the shutter open and hope that I wasn't moving!

Great pics

Cool. What time do the fireworks start? Might as well combine a trip to the lights with some fireworks too...

half 8, last one next week

Here are a few I took a couple of years ago when I first started ballooning and photography (combination that's very enjoyable )

Yeah, you have to go one better don't you Xav?? :( Steal my thunder!! It was my first go!!! :( lol

Yeah, you have to go one better don't you Xav?? :( Steal my thunder!! It was my first go!!! :( lol

Yours are far better...

... and the pictures too :sofahide:

Very nice pics! I really should get round to taking my camera out and getting some proper shots with it!

Chris

Very nice pics! I really should get round to taking my camera out and getting some proper shots with it!

A thought that goes through my mind just about every day!

Nice piccies Loz,

I was down in Blackpool the other week and if only Jen wasn't working late on Fridays, would have loved to see the fireworks comp.

The old town may be a bit frayed around the edges, but still knows how to put on a good show!

It was quite good, although I didn't see it properly as I was concentrating on taking pics of it lol

i tried to get pics of the fireworks at the Bristol Balloon fiesta, no chance, certainly not at good as yours loz.

It was fun doing it, if a bit frustrating having to manual focus every time I zoomed in/out lol

Yeah, you have to go one better don't you Xav?? :( Steal my thunder!! It was my first go!!! :( lol

They're great, Loz. Not trying to steal your thunder. Can't see the lightning though :P

It was fun doing it, if a bit frustrating having to manual focus every time I zoomed in/out lol

Next time, try the following: zoom in and focus on a firework so you get a sharp image through the viewfinder. Once that's done, turn off autofocus and leave the camera on manual. With a relatively wide angle shot, the focus will be sharp as you're pretty much focusing at infinity distances. Then, when you want to take a photo, you'll get it instantly and not wait for camera to hunt around and focus

Great pics there Loz.

I used to use a cheap (but heavy duty) video camera tripod for my photography, especially when doing long exposure shots. It had the same 1/4 inch thread for fixing the camera on, but the weight and size of it meant that the camera was always rock solid, even on softer surfaces like grass and sand.

Yeah, I deffo need something a little more sturdy! It's better than nothing though