Tips for Photographing Fireworks
As the Independence Day Holiday approaches, here are some tips for capturing some winning shots of the fireworks in your area.
Follow these easy steps!
1) Use a tripod and a remote release to minimize camera shake.
2) Use manual focus and manual shooting mode, so that the camera doesn’t try to re-focus while you are in the process of photographing the fireworks.
3) Set the aperture to F8 or F11 – either f-stop will produce a good depth of field without needing a really long exposure.
4) Set ISO to 400 or 800, no pop flash (all a flash will do is illuminate the area in front of the camera, not the fireworks!).
5) Compose the picture – try to have a landmark in the lower part of the photo to provide context. Take a few photos before the fireworks start to make sure that the landmark is properly exposed and you still have a long enough exposure to capture the light trails from multiple firework bursts. Keep in mind that the fireworks will fill up 3/4 of your photo, so compose the picture accordingly.
6) Adjust the shutter speed as necessary, anywhere from 1/4 second – 4 seconds – experiment!
Happy shooting and Happy Independence Day!