The framing is annoying, as the foliage "touches" the foremost tower. That was not intended - just a family with kids was approaching so I had to snap before I had lined up exactly!

My "photoeditor" is a very basic thing that came with the camera. Not sure it does verticals. Maybe I should invest many thousands in a shift lens!!?

You know best, of course, as always.

I'd be more inclined to invest SFA in GIMP which'll do the job for nowt.

A couple of years ago someone recommended a decent site for checking best prices of photographic equipment but I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Any suggestions? I'm after a new wide zoom (somewhere in the 8-20 region).

Here you go, 2 minutes with Serif PhotoPlus (which you can get free versions of that will do this)

This picture was taken on Woodhouse Moor (Hyde Park) Leeds during the summer

Iain wrote:A couple of years ago someone recommended a decent site for checking best prices of photographic equipment but I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Any suggestions? I'm after a new wide zoom (somewhere in the 8-20 region). http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

Iain wrote:A couple of years ago someone recommended a decent site for checking best prices of photographic equipment but I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Any suggestions? I'm after a new wide zoom (somewhere in the 8-20 region). http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

Right, off to Blackpool next Friday for the international fireworks, I think I've got the basics sorted out:

Tripod
Auto shutter release
Shoot in manual, Bulb, f8 and ISO 100
Location - fireworks are released from North Pier so planning on standing on the lower prom beyond North Pier, shooting across the beach/sea dependant on the tide.

I shall be using my kit lens (I have 55-250 and nifty fifty too, but kit lens was suggested as best) and I shall be shooting from the lower promenade beyond North Pier.

A couple of other things were suggested:

1. setting focus to manual and infinity - don't think I can do this with my kit lens can I?
2. White Balance - down to personal taste apparently, daylight giving a warmer glow and tungsten a cooler one.
3. Shooting in RAW - can someone tell me the benefits to this please. Do I need to convert the images in some way, do I need specific software? I normally only use Picasa to edit my photos.

Anything else anyone can think of greatly appreciated

I'd use the 50mm f1.8, it gives you a wider field.There is no infinity mark on the 55-250mm if you use that focus on an early firework and then knock it into manual focus. See what results your ISO gives you, you can knock it up if needed same with the f stop. RAW means not having to worry about white balance, it means you get the raw data from the camera and you can play about with the image a lot more. http://www.slrlounge.com/raw-vs-jpeg-jp ... sual-guide

I'd use the 50mm f1.8, it gives you a wider field.There is no infinity mark on the 55-250mm if you use that focus on an early firework and then knock it into manual focus. See what results your ISO gives you, you can knock it up if needed same with the f stop. RAW means not having to worry about white balance, it means you get the raw data from the camera and you can play about with the image a lot more. http://www.slrlounge.com/raw-vs-jpeg-jp ... sual-guide

That's interesting Graeme, thanks, I was wondering about using the 50mm but i've not experimented with it much yet. I'm not going to be close up so was looking at taking in the whole picture rather than zooming in, so the 50mm would be good for that, and of course better for the low light. The contrary arguement was that someone else on a photography forum said to set the aperture higher, f8 - 16 so that threw me a bit.