Suggested settings for shooting fireworks on a RED MX?

[Jean Déraps]

Anyone have any suggestions/recommendation for shooting fireworks using a RED MX and RED Pro primes? Perhaps you could also relate your own experiences shooting fireworks too?

Many thanks!

Jean

 

[Sam Eilertsen]

Anyone have any suggestions/recommendation for shooting fireworks using a RED MX and RED Pro primes? Perhaps you could also relate your own experiences shooting fireworks too?

Many thanks!

Jean

I don't know about shooting them on RED, but I think fireworks are pretty easy to shoot, as they are naturally very bright and beautiful. You just have to keep your exposure low enough not lose detail in the flashes due to overexposure (though some overexposure on the hottest areas is probably unavoidable).

Shutter angle is what will really set your look. If you go to 360 degrees (or higher), you will get beautiful motion-blurred sparks. If you go high-speed, you will get more of a particle look.

Overcranking is probably a good idea.

Here's a video I shot on an XH-A1. Wish I'd had a lot more DR but with the MX you won't need to worry about that. I played with a lot of shutters, form 1/6 to 1/1000.

http://vimeo.com/13171099