Tips for photographing fireworks
a gallery curated by Flickr
Happy Independence Day! For this Fourth of July, Flickr would like to celebrate by sharing some of our favorite fireworks shots from around the world, as well as share some helpful DSLR camera tips for capturing these stunning illuminations of light and color. Do you have a favorite fireworks photo that you shot? You can share it with us in a comment by using this format: [Flickr photo page URL] Or even upload it to this awesome Flickr group dedicated to fireworks: www.flickr.com/groups/fireworks/
Flickr says:
Don't forget your tripod!
Your tripod is a vital component to creating a successful fireworks shot. Because fireworks displays occur at night, you will most likely need to use a slower shutter speed. In order to avoid accidentally moving your camera during your long exposure and to capture the fireworks' movement, a tripod is the best way to keep your camera still.
Flickr says:
Use a remote release or cable release
Another great tool to ensure the stillness of your camera during long exposures is a remote release or cable release. This will allow you to snap photographs without touching the camera at all. Most cameras also have a self-timer feature that allows shots to be taken without pressing the shutter release button. But a remote trigger will make it easier to capture successful images since you will not have to worry about timing each shot perfectly.
Flickr says:
Scout your location
If you know where you are shooting ahead of time, it is a good idea to get there early and scout your location. Beating the crowd will help in finding the best position for shooting. Be sure to avoid things like trees, lamp posts, buildings, or any other objects that may obstruct your view of the show. Another thing to keep in mind is the direction of the wind, you don't want to be in a spot where all the smoke is blowing in your direction! Also, try to avoid setting up your camera in an area with a lot of ambient light that may spill into your frame and overexpose your images.
If you are shooting fireworks near a cityscape or a pretty landscape, try to find a spot where you can add context and capture the buildings or trees in the bottom of the frame. If the fireworks are shot over a body of water, the reflections can add to the drama of your shot.
Flickr says:
Frame your shot
Are your horizon lines straight? Making sure your camera is level can be important, especially if you are shooting at a wide focal length where the city or surrounding area is in view. If the ground is off-balance, or there are crooked buildings, trees, or other objects in the frame - it may take away from the quality of the final result.
Will you be shooting vertically (portrait) or horizontally (landscape)? Experiment shooting in both ways to see what you prefer!
Do you want to include people? Sometimes including people in your shots can add to the celebratory feeling since fireworks are usually displayed during momentous occasions. But, keep in mind that since your camera's shutter will be open for a few seconds or more, people or other moving objects will most likely show up blurred in your final image.
It is a good idea to set up your shots before the fireworks set off, so you are not constantly looking through your viewfinder. Set up your framing, use your remote release, and step back to enjoy the show instead!
Flickr says:
Aperture
Some may assume that shooting fireworks with a fast lens and at a wider aperture is better. But this usually is not the case. Setting your camera at a wide aperture like F/2.8 will most likely result in an overexposed or washed out image. Despite the fact that you are shooting at night, fireworks are bright enough to allow for a smaller aperture. Setting up your aperture at f/8 or f/11 is a good place to start.
Flickr says:
Shutter speed
The key to achieving a successful fireworks photograph has a lot to do with shutter speed. The beauty of fireworks is in their movement. If you take a photograph of fireworks with a shutter speed that is too fast, you will see dots of light and color rather than the full trails and patterns. A way to ensure that you photograph the complete fireworks is to set your camera's shutter speed on "Bulb" or "B" so you can keep the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter (preferably with a remote or cable release). This setting is perfect for fireworks displays because you are able to trigger your shutter right before the fireworks explode, and keep it open all the way until the fireworks fade away (usually a few seconds.)
Flickr says:
ISO
Usually, a higher ISO is used for low-light situations (like shooting at night) - because the higher the ISO, the faster the shutter speed that's possible. Since your camera will be set on a tripod, using a high ISO isn't necessary. For shooting fireworks, set your camera to a low ISO (100 or 200) to ensure a clean, smooth shot with very little grain. When your ISO setting is too high, it can cause digital noise in your images as well as prevent you from shooting longer exposures.
Flickr says:
Focus
Focusing on fireworks can be hard to do with the camera's auto-focus feature. It is helpful to switch to manual focus and either set your focus to infinity or pre-focus your shot on something in the foreground so that your images don't come out blurry (which can happen when your auto-focus becomes confused because of the low-light setting you are shooting in).
Another option would be to use auto-focus for the first couple of shots, then to switch your camera to manual focus once you are sure your images are crisp and sharp. By switching the camera to manual, you will prevent your camera from re-focusing throughout the show.
Flickr says:
Shoot in RAW
If your camera allows it, try to shoot in RAW format. This will allow your camera to retain all the color information in your images without losing or compressing important information (which can happen when shooting JPEG files). Shooting in RAW is helpful if you plan on color correcting or editing your images afterwards. The large file size will allow you to add contrast, fix the white balance, darken highlights, bring out shadows, and make other corrections easily.
Flickr says:
Helpful tip!
Don't forget to periodically go through and check on the photos you are taking. This way you can spot problems as they are happening, and change your settings or position accordingly. You don't need to look at every single shot, but keeping track of your progress will help to avoid shooting batches of bad images.
Flickr says:
Helpful tip!
Try not to miss the first few explosions of fireworks. Near the end of the show, all the smoke from the previous displays may obstruct your chances of getting a clear shot. Shooting near the beginning of the show, before the wind and smoke pick up, will allow you to shoot some clean and crisp shots.
Flickr says:
Try something new!
Ever wonder how photographers are able to capture multiple bursts of fireworks in one shot? One way to achieve this is to bring a piece of black cardboard with you when you shoot. Instead of closing your shutter in between each explosion, try leaving your shutter open for two or three explosions in a row. During the down time in between each explosion, hold the black cardboard in front of your lens (without accidentally knocking your camera) to block incoming light. This will layer a single image with multiple fireworks explosions!
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