How to Take Pictures of Fireworks

Fireworks are truly things of beauty. Ever feel like you want to preserve the moment when they burst in the sky fully? Include the fireworks display as one of the things you want to remember on that special occasion by learning how to take good pictures of fireworks. Here’s how.

Scope the Site

Since fireworks come and go in literally a moment, knowing where to stand and shoot in advance will get rid of the necessity of doing it when crunch time comes. Determine where the clearest shots to the sky will be, and if you can’t place markers on them, try to arrive earlier than the crowd and memorize the spots.

Invest in Camera Devices

Nothing ruins a good fireworks shot than a shaky hand and a blurry shot. Having a tripod helps get rid of this problem altogether. Having a remote release device is also a big help. Once the tripod, the remote release device and the camera are all set up, all you have to do is frame the picture and wait for the fireworks to come. Keep in mind, though, that not all cameras are equipped to have a release device attached to them, so check the make of your camera first.

Focal Length

While the idea of tightly-cropped picture of a single burst of fireworks, practicality states that a wider focal length is needed when taking pictures of fireworks. You can later get your tighter shots by editing them in Photoshop.

Aperture

If  you think you need a high aperture when taking pictures of fireworks, think again. Since fireworks emit a bright light, you only need a relatively short range of apertures, specifically from f/8 to f/16. Just try any aperture within this range, until you find one that works for you.

Shutter Speed

Fireworks move very fast and change very quickly, so the best way to capture the moment is a good long exposure. However, you have to balance this with avoiding keeping the shutter open too long. This is usually done out of a desire to take as many bursting fireworks at the same time in one picture. Don’t do this. Just try to get fireworks one burst at a time. Sometimes it’s all a matter of luck and timing, and not overexposure.

Camera Settings

Here are the settings your camera should be in when taking pictures of fireworks:

• ISO 100
• Manual mode
• Turn off your flash

Every now and then, try and take pictures of the people watching the fireworks display. Their expressions of joy and wonderment are as good as any great burst of fireworks.

When to Take Pictures

Having trouble timing when to press the button to take a picture? Wait until you hear the fireworks explosion and press that button! Of course that’s not a surefire way to do it, but you can keep trying until you’ve gotten the timing down.