Live Composite: Fireworks

I've had my Panasonic Lumix DC-G95D since last December, but I'm still working my way through its many features. One of the reasons I bought this model was because they advertised it could take great pictures of star trails. This magical ability can be attributed to the Live Composite feature. I'm pretty sure that Photoshop will do something like this, but I appreciate how easy and streamlined it is right here on my camera. Also, I don't have Photoshop.

Set Up

• Tripod: You must use one.
• Turn on Constant Preview: Menu, Custom Wrench, Monitor/Display, Constant Preview, On
• Turn on Focus Peaking: Menu, Custom Wrench, Monitor/Display, Peaking, On
• Focus Dial: Manual Focus
• ISO: Set to a fixed amount (200-400). Do not use Auto.
• Mode Dial: Manual Mode
• Aperture: 5.6 - 11
• Shutter Speed: LC. Blow past the longest exposure to "LC". This turns on Live Composite.
• Live Composite Shutter Speed: Menu, Camera, Live View Composite, Choose the Shutter Speed you want.

That's all the set up you need! When you switch back out of the menu the screen will say:
The camera starts to create a black frame image for Noise Reduction after shutter button is pressed.

The first time you press the shutter button it doesn't take a picture; it gathers information.

Then second time you press the shutter button it starts taking pictures. These build on top of each other adding the changing light to the picture without over exposing the shot.

The 3rd time you press the shutter it stops taking pictures and you are then left with just the one finished composite photograph.

Night # 1 : Bremerton Bridge Blast

ISO200 36mm f5.6 1.0s (repeated exposure)

ISO200 60mm f5.6 1.0s (repeated exposure x 9)

Night # 2 : Port Orchard

ISO200 24mm f5.6 1.0s (repeated exposure)

ISO200 36mm f5.6 1.0s (repeated exposure)

Knowing when to stop is hard.

While you can see the photograph building on the display, you just have to guess when to stop. When you're watching fireworks, you don't know how long they are going to last or what is coming next. If you stop to soon, there isn't anything to see. If you stop too late, it is one big ball of light and that isn't interesting. There's a counter on the display that tells you how many exposures you've done. But once you're done taking the picture, that information seems to be lost.

Future Use of Live Composite

I've got big plans to try this out with

• The Seattle Great Wheel
• Traffic Lights
• Light Painting
• Star Trails