A picture taking question for all you experts?

[SueV]

I'll start by saying that I'm even more stupid about cameras than I am about computers so that may give you an idea as to who your talking to;) !
I have a simple point and shoot nothing to it camera, it 's 5 or 6 mega pixel Kodak. I like for my purposes but I'd LOVE to be able to take great fireworks shots like some of you have done! How do I do that? When I try it looks all crazy and ziz zag like(specific enough:confused: )! I know I have several settings like, portrait, scenery, action, night vision, and a few others I don't know how to use, I always just turn it on and use genreal picture taking! What would be your advice! And when would I use some of the "other" settings I mentioned?

[WillCAD]

First thing you have to do, Sue, is give me the exact model of your camera, which will then allow me to look it up and see all the possible modes and settings. From there I can refer you to various tips and tricks for getting good fireworks shots that will work with the modes of your camera.

The most basic thing to do, however, is use a tripod. This eliminates camera shake, which causes the image to blur or streak.

Think of a rubber stamp. Press the stamp to the paper, and it makes an exact image of the stamp. But if you press the stamp to the paper and move it, it produces streaks.

Same thing happens with the light that enters your camera. If the light come in, hits the sensor, and neither the light nor the sensor are moving, then you get a clear picture. But if the camera moves, the light makes streaks on the sensor. And if the light itself is moving, as is the case with fireworks, then the light will also cause streaks on the sensor.

By using a tripod, you hold the camera perfectly still while it takes the picture, eliminating streaks. Of course, fireworks move, so they will always cause streaks, but that is actually what you want in many cases - a light trail left by the shells as they streak through the sky.

[Barrie]

That's a great explanation Will!

Here's a link to some online resources (http://www.squidoo.com/wdwphotos#module1814374) I've found helpful.

[SueV]

Thank you Will. The exact model is a Kodak easy share CX 7530. Like I said it's a very simple point and shoot camera but even for me it has more features on it than I know how to use:confused: I've tried using the night shot and it just makes everything look all blurry in the background and the foreground all white, I'm sure I'm doing something wrong:confused: . But besides cool pictures of fireworks I'd like to be able to take pictures of my kids at night without all that blur.

[AuroraNJ29]

besides cool pictures of fireworks I'd like to be able to take pictures of my kids at night without all that blur.

I have the same exact problem. I am thinking I just need to upgrade to a better camera. There are so many out there to choose from I just don't know where to begin.

[Robin]

Are you using the flash to take pictures of the kids?

If so (I'm guessing your Kodak is similiar to mine) you want the picture or auto setting.

The flash only casts light a certain distance in front of you. Usually it's about 10 feet. If the kids are too close, they'll get too much light and look washed out. If they are too far away, the light won't reach them.

Can you post a sample picture that we can look at it?

[Robin]

Your camera stats from Kodak:

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2238&pq-locale=en_US

A few tips.

Only use the optical zoom, you loose quality if you use the digital zoom. When you get home, you can crop out the parts of your picture you don't want, and you'll simply not shrink it down as much to get it to the size you want.

Here's your flash range: wide 2-11.8 ft, telephoto (zoom) 2-6.9ft.

[SueV]

Can you post a sample picture that we can look at it?

Robin I usually delete the realy bad ones! Then I just use the general setting instead of nightshot that way I don't see anything behind them! But especially at WDW it would be nice to get pictures at night with "stuff" behind the kids instead of darkness!
I'll go check out the link you posted now!


I've thought about upgrading to something better, but really this camera has features that are too "advanced" for me to use with my totally lack of technology intellegence:razz: