Live and Learn (a fireworks photography faux pas--and the fix!)

I just have to tell you--

when we watch fireworks, photography is not the main thing.  At all.

When you are lucky enough to have a fireworks tradition,

you've gotta go with the flow and just enjoy it together.

Even so, I try to brush up on the basics before we head out.

I showed up with my camera and tripod.

I knew I could keep my ISO low because fireworks are bright.  I guessed at 400.

I knew a middle range aperture would offer the best detail and color.  I guessed at f/8.

I decided to use a polarizing filter to darken it up so I could leave the shutter open a little longer. 

I glanced at a couple of images very briefly and settled at 1.6 seconds for what appeared to be a good exposure.

I set my shutter to a 2 second timer so I wouldn't move the camera when I pressed the shutter.

On the way over I reminded myself to set my focus and then flip it to manual focus,

and also to turn off VC (vibration compensation, a.k.a. image stabilization)…

…but I forgot.

Well, I remembered the focus part.

But that vibration compensation--

if it doesn't find any vibration to counteract, well, it manufactures some.

I mean squiggles can be kind of cute, but not EXACTLY the look I was going for!

About 2/3 of the way through, I remembered no VC, and voila!!

Note to self:  see how the movement is chopped off?

A slower shutter might be good.

Next year?

ISO 100

Aperture f/10-12

Slower shutter.  See what happens.

Sometimes it's nice when you can make a mistake and then correct it

for the sake of comparison.
I mean, who really sets out to mess up their fireworks pictures?
So I did it for you.
You're welcome.

Now will someone remind me to read this next year before the fireworks?