Author Topic: Catching a picture of cannon/mortar as flames leaving the tube?? (Read 2141 times)

Blaster · « **on:** December 14, 2008, 05:18:18 AM »

Just a few years ago, I finally got the hang of posting pictures here and that was due to the huge amount of patience that old DD spent in getting the process through my thick head. OK, I can now post still pictures but I still have yet to learn HOW to catch a picture of the flames/smoke leaving the tube.
I have a Sony DSC P10 camera and sure hope some kind soul can give me a hand on HOW to do this. Do you have to make a movie of this action and then somehow select and remove a particular frame for posting. Here's the kind of action that I'd like to be able to post. Yeah, it's not a BP cannon but this is just to illustrate the type action shot that I'd like to catch. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks,
Blaster

Artilleryman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 14, 2008, 05:34:58 AM »

Try depressing the shutter button almost to the point that it triggers the camera. When the artillery piece goes off your flinch will automatically take the photo. Make sure you set the camera at a high shutter speed so that the photo doesn't blur.

Terry C. · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2008, 06:19:34 AM »

I always use the 'movie frame' method. I've had zero luck trying to capture a fireball with the shutter.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2008, 06:41:43 AM »

Same here.... the only method that has worked for me with any consistency is cutting a single frame out of a video.

Blaster · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2008, 09:19:58 AM »

Quote from: Artilleryman on December 14, 2008, 05:34:58 AM

Try depressing the shutter button almost to the point that it triggers the camera. When the artillery piece goes off your flinch will automatically take the photo. Make sure you set the camera at a high shutter speed so that the photo doesn't blur.

That sounds like something I CAN do and will certainly have to have the camera mounted on a steady tripod. However, keep in mind that with my advanced OLD age, the time of firing until I flinch/jump may amount to MANY seconds.

Thanks.

Blaster · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2008, 09:24:32 AM »

Quote from: Evil Dog on December 14, 2008, 06:41:43 AM

Same here.... the only method that has worked for me with any consistency is cutting a single frame out of a video.

OK TerryC and EvilDoggy, I have thought of the movie method but when using a digital camera, how in the world do you select just one frame of that movie for posting. This's where I really start scratching my head.

gulfcoastblackpowder · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2008, 03:11:47 PM »

Many cameras can take a sequence of shots at the press of the shutter. If you set your camera to this mode, you'll be more likely to capture the shot you're looking for. Another trick is not to focus on the gun, but the person firing it (if using some sort of immediate ignition method like quickmatch or priming). Squeeze the shutter when the gun is touched off.

GGaskill · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2008, 07:37:33 PM »

Look on your computer for some software called Windows Movie Maker. You can select indiviual frames from a movie file with it.

Rickk · « **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2008, 03:18:49 AM »

Tripod mount the camera to reduce blur, use a small aperture, and slow down the shutter speed. Set camera to take a series of shots if yours can do it, and take lots of pictures. Some cameras have a higher frame rate than others, increasing the odds of success.

If you shoot when it is overcast or after the sun has just set you can leave the shutter speed set for a longer exposure than you can on a sunny day.

There is a matter of luck involved.

I got this one by just hand holding a cheapo point and shoot digital. It was the first time I ever fired the gun.

Very much luck!

rusty barrels · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2008, 09:46:48 AM »

How many grains of powder is that Rickk

Webleys · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2008, 09:27:28 AM »

My friend DDB who shot the pictures last Forth of July uses a professional grade Nikon that shoots 5 frames per second for several seconds. I give him a heads up on when the thing is going to go BOOM and he starts the camera. It works most of the time, of course he's got $2,000 cameras with $2,000 lenses! I wish I had such equipment, but I like having him at the shoots and he's a FAR better photographer than I am.

Note the sequence about half way through the gallery that shows a whole sequence at 1/5th of a second intervals.

http://dd-b.net/photography/gallery/fourth-2008/#ddb_20080704_010-178

more info here...

http://dd-b.net/ddbcms/tag/bowling-ball/

By webleys at 2008-07-07

thelionspaw · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2008, 10:05:52 AM »

Webleys: I just saw lots of neat calendar images. I don't remember seeing submissions. Did I miss something?

rc

Webleys · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2008, 10:09:59 AM »

As you'll notice from the linked pictures, most of the shots were a bit too "enhanced" by added combustibles to be acceptable here!

Maybe next year we'll shoot some straight "un-enhanced" shots.

I'll have it repainted in it's new "Acme/Wile E Coyote" scheme by then too!

Double D · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2008, 10:46:14 AM »

The pictures were allowed the discussion of the added ingredients was not.

Webleys · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2008, 11:09:23 AM »

Quote from: Double D on December 18, 2008, 10:46:14 AM

The pictures were allowed the discussion of the added ingredients was not.

Sorry, distinction noted.

This picture was shot by the same method @ five frames per second. Love the flaming ball!

Blaster · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2008, 02:13:16 PM »

Webleys, those are some OUTSTANDING shots, pictures too.

I also have a NIKON digital SLR and I'll have to see how many pictures I can get in about one second. When it gets a little warmer out, I'll crank it up and see if I can compete just a little. Windows Movie Maker has a lot to offer but there are so many bewildering options that I get totally confused with the process. I'll keep trying to wade it though. Thanks to all who offered any help so I can get moving off "top dead center" with my mortar/cannon action pictures..
Blaster (Bob in So. CO)

dan610324 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2008, 06:41:15 AM »

just a little info for you who are interested in buying a new camera .
check out the

PANASONIC LUMIX DMC - FZ28

it takes 30 photos per second in full HD quality video .

Ive seen it listed on pricerunner from american companies for as little as slightly over $ 200

Im still trying to find a way to buy one for an reasonable amount here in sweden ,
but it seem almost impossible .
most photo shops want approximately $ 450 here in sweden for that model
so you guys are lucky who can buy them for less then half the swedish price .
but its still very much camera for the money even if I need to pay 400

ms · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2008, 07:08:47 AM »

Rednecks.

GGaskill · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2008, 09:34:56 AM »

Ive seen it listed on pricerunner from american companies for as little as slightly over $ 200

Those rock bottom prices are a little misleading, as the companies that sell at prices like that tend to be offering ONLY the camera for the stated price. Not the charger, not the battery, not anything else that comes with an over-the-counter purchase of the "same" product from a normal retail outlet. They may also be offering an out-of-country model that isn't serviced by the US distributor of the product and doesn't have the same guarantee as the retail version.

They also try to load you up with overpriced accessories when they get you on the phone. Caveat emptor; be prepared for a combative purchasing process should you decide to deal with one of them.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #19 on:** December 19, 2008, 10:15:02 AM »

I'm with Blaster on this one. I cannot fathom the ins & outs of the Windows Movie Maker instructions. My computer says that I have it but we think something is missing. Will it be appropriate for a Movie Maker Mavin to spell-out the instructions so that we all might create and see some neat artillery in action here? Make it simple for some of us.

Thanks!

rc

GGaskill · « **Reply #20 on:** December 19, 2008, 10:58:25 AM »

I am hardly an expert user of WMM and it may not be on my work PC. If it is, I will see what I can do; if not, I will have to wait until I get to my home PC.

Watch this space.

Step 1: Open WMM.

Step 2: Under Capture Video, select Import Video (this is assuming you have video files on your computer.) Eventually the opening screen of the video will show on the right hand part of the screen with a start/stop/pause/etc. control bar. Click the start button until the part of the video you want to manipulate approaches, then click pause. The two middle buttons of the forward/backward group move you one frame backward or forward at a time. Use these to get the frame you want to save.

Step 3: Under the Tools heading at the top, select Take Picture From Preview and save the image in the folder you want to keep it. You can also use the "camera" iconned button at the extreme right instead of the tools drop down.

That should be all you need to save frames from video files. WMM does not work with all video types so if you are saving your own videos, try to save them in a format WMM accepts.

Double D · « **Reply #21 on:** December 19, 2008, 11:14:40 AM »

Dan if you really want one take alook at this list DMC Sellers

I'm sure one of these sellers will ship over seas.

The one I want of these D90 24 fps D-movie should find some fire coming out of the barrel and vent.

leesecw · « **Reply #22 on:** December 19, 2008, 01:15:06 PM »

When I put vista on my computer windows movie make wouldnt work. I had to revert to an earlier version called windows Movie Maker 2.6 and use that

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #23 on:** December 19, 2008, 01:20:03 PM »

Windows Vista hasn't been known for being what one would hope it would or could be.

leesecw · « **Reply #24 on:** December 19, 2008, 06:19:13 PM »

You got that right. Windows vista is so unpopular that microsoft is getting rid of it already and bringing out windows7 in 2009. They are losing theyre butts to linux systems and mac systems

jeeper1 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 19, 2008, 08:13:11 PM »

GGaskill, Thanks for the directions. They worked fine for me on my Vista operating system HP computer.

Tropico · « **Reply #26 on:** December 20, 2008, 10:22:09 AM »

There are 100 differant ways to get things done on a PC.
Myself I use a Kodak digital camera and or a Sealife DC800 for scuba videos (Also a digi-cam).
When shooting cannon and mortar I prefer to use a cheap tripod. If you use a tripod your pictures are much cleaner (No-movement or at least very little) Also your background doesnt move. This allows you certain benefits when doing video or animations. For example. With any digital camera on movie mode (Preferably one that saves in a windows format .avi or .mpg) (.mov is a MAC profile) then windows movie maker will allow you to get the still images you are looking for. However if the movie was done with a tripod to begin with ., then after getting the images you want ., you could then stitch them back together with any gif animation program. (I use Jasc Paint-Shop-Pro and Jasc Gif-Animator) . Here are a few examples below.

These are the individual frames ..., we did not use a tripod on this one ., therefore with the assembled animation you will see movement from the camera.
Here is the animation.

By selecting certain frames we can see the projectile. (This is a very small Black Powder charge as well otherwise my camera can only get maybe one or 2 frames with the projectile ., and that is with a standard everday cheapo digital camera (Kodak 5.megapixel 3 year old) ., which takes 30 frames per second video thats standard.

dan610324 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 20, 2008, 01:28:17 PM »

how could it be that the cam moves when its on an tripod ??

Tropico · « **Reply #28 on:** December 20, 2008, 01:36:02 PM »

Quote

how could it be that the cam moves when its on an tripod ??

dan610324 in my previous post between the last image and the animation ., it says we were not using a tripod.
If we would have ., the animation would be much better.

dan610324 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 20, 2008, 01:37:53 PM »

sorry missed those lines