Fireworks displays are something, which evoke a lot of emotion inside people. The fireworks are beautiful and spectacular to watch and are used for celebrating momentous occasions. Many people think that photographing a firework is very difficult, but it is simple. Here are some simple steps on how to take pictures of fireworks.
Use a Tripod
- This is one of the most important steps, securing your camera on something, which will ensure that it does not move when you are taking the shots. This is very important when you are photographing the fireworks, because you are going to use long shutter speeds. This shutter speed will not only capture the fireworks but any movement that happens around the camera.
- The best method to keep your camera absolutely still is using a tripod. However, there are some non-tripod options as well for avoiding camera shake.
Remote Release
- The one sure way to determine that your camera is absolutely still when you are clicking pictures of fireworks is to invest in a remote release device. These will differ from camera to camera, but most will come with special accessory made for them. Another way of taking pictures, without even touching your camera is using the self-timer. This will work fine, but you will need to anticipate in shots well and it is a hit and miss situation.
Frame your Shot
- One of the toughest parts of photographing a firework will be where you should aim your camera. The only challenge you will face in this is that you will have to aim your camera before the fireworks starts.
- You will have to scope the location early. Planning is very important when it come to fireworks and for this you will have to get to the location early, so that you have unobstructed position. Check what is in the background of foreground of the picture, because you don’t need bobbing heads of people in the picture. Check where the fireworks are set and what region of the sky they are likely to hit. For this, you will have to decide what focal length and lens you will need for this picture.
- Check the horizons. One thing that will always have to consider is lining up the fireworks shots, whether your camera is straight or even in the framing. This is essential if you are planning to shot with a wide focal length and in this will get other background elements in this shot. Make sure that when you set your camera on the tripod, it’s on the right level.
- Horizontal or vertical? Always remember that there are always two ways of framing a shot in photography, horizontally (landscape) or vertically (portrait). Both these positions will work in fireworks photography, but vertical perspective will be much better, because there is a lot of vertical motion in fireworks.
- Always remember your framing. You must never spend more time in looking at the sky, instead look in the viewfinder. Therefore, it is essential that you know the framing you have got and watch every segment of the sky. If you do this, then it will allow you to anticipate the right time for your shot and you will be able to see the light trails of the rockets shooting in the sky.
Focal Length
- One of the most difficult parts in photographing the fireworks is having your camera trained on the correct part at the right time. This will be very difficult if you are shooting with a longer focal length and want to take some tightly cropped shots. Always remember that the cropping of your wider-angle shots can be done later for getting a similar effect in your photos.
Aperture
- This is one of the most common questions asked while photographing fireworks; what aperture to use. Most of the people think that you will need a fast lens for getting them, but actually it is opposite as the light, which the fireworks emit is very bright. The aperture in the mid to small range will work well and it will be easy to shoot anywhere between f/8 to f/16.
Shutter Speed
- The most important thing to get right than the aperture is shutter speed. Fireworks will move quickly and the best way to capture them is through long exposure. The best way to do this is shooting in bulb mode. This mode will allow you to keep the shutter speed open for as long as you want to hold the shutter. With this technique you hold the shutter when the firework is about to explode and then hold it down until it’s done exploding.
- If you want then you can experiment with set shutter speed as well. However, you must never keep your shutter open for a longer time.
ISO
- Always remember that shooting at a low ISO will be much preferable, because it will give you cleaner shots. You must always stick to ISO 100 and the pictures will come out fine.
Turn off Flash
- If you shoot with a flash then there will be no impact on the shots, it will only trick your camera into thinking that it needs a short exposure time. Remember that the flash of your camera will reach only a few meters and in the case of fireworks even if they are close, a flash will have no effect. Therefore, you must switch off the flash.
Shoot in Manual Mode
- You will get the best results when you are shooting in the manual focus mode. Auto focusing in low light will be very difficult for most of the cameras and the result will be you will miss most of the shots. Once you done with setting the focus, you will notice that you won’t have to change it once the fireworks starts, especially when you are using a small aperture, which will increase the depth of your field. Always keep in mind that if you change the focal lengths then you will have to focus on most of the lenses.
Experiment and Track Results
- Throughout the time when you are shooting the fireworks, make sure that you check your results. Ensure that you are monitoring your shots occasionally just for ensuring that you are not taking entirely bad patch of shots.
- Try experimenting with taking shots, which have a wider perspective, people and silhouettes. Point your camera in the sky and you will get wonderful shots. However, sometimes when you look at different perspectives you will get few shots, which are less cliché and are simply spectacular.
Now, go ahead and try taking some shots of the fireworks!
Related Tags: how to take photos of fireworks, fireworks
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