P3D Re: Shooting Fireworks

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>That leaves me with one question: What stereo base do I use?  

A common error in stereo photographing fireworks is not using a
wide enough base.  The 1/30 rule is not really applicable here
because the fireworks occupy a small area in the sky and there
is no infinity.  In the past I got OK results by using 8 feet
separation (I had the cameras in one long bar, supported by
two tripods) but there was very little depth in the picture.
20-30 feet would have been better.  And I was very close to
the firework's firing place.

When using two tripods separated that far away, aligning the
two cameras is always a problem, especially in the case of
fireworks where there are no objects in the sky to use for
alignment.

Synchronization is not terribly important but it is not trivial
either.  If you open or close the shutters during a burst then
the lack of synch might be obvious.

Regarding exposure, I used 50 ASA film and f11.

Good fireworks pictures can be also taken using a regular stereo
camera.  Then the fireworks will serve as a backdrop and you 
need an interesting foreground too.

-- George Themelis


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