 |
Sartore, Joel, Fireworks, Minnesota, ND.
|
Summer is officially here... as this Saturday is the 4th of July! (Can you believe it?) Independence Day is a great opportunity to shoot some photographs of fireworks! In the past, you may have struggled with getting a clear shot of the fireworks but this year... your shots will be great! Below are a few tips to keep in mind when you head to your favorite location:
Tripod: "Perhaps the most important tip is to secure your digital camera to
something that will ensure it doesn’t move during the taking of your
shots. This is especially important in photographing fireworks simply
because you’ll be using longer shutter speeds which will not only
capture the movement of the fireworks but any movement of the camera
itself" (Digital Photography School, web).
Manual Mode: "I find I get the best results when shooting in manual exposure and
manual focus modes. Auto focusing in low light can be very difficult for
many cameras and you’ll end up missing a lot of shots. Once your
focusing is set you’ll find you don’t really need to change it during
the fireworks display – especially if you’re using a small aperture
which increases depth of field. Keep in mind that changing focal lengths
will mean you need to need to adjust your focusing on most lenses.... Shooting at a low ISO is preferable to ensure the cleanest shots possible. Stick to ISO 100 and you should be fine" (Digital Photography School, web).
 |
| Cook, Diane & Jenschel, Len, Macy's July 4th Fireworks & New York City skyline, from Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City, New York City (Queens), NY, ND. |
Long Exposure: "The long exposures required for firework photography mean slow shutter
speeds. Keep your camera motionless by using a sturdy tripod and a
shutter release cord. When shooting a scene that includes not just the
sky but also other elements like a cityscape, keeping the horizon line
straight is particularly important. Make sure your camera is level on
the tripod (National Geographic, web).
Context:
Ensure that you take photographs that show the space where the firework
display is occurring. Adjust your lens to shoot wide and allow the
light from the fireworks illuminate the space. When we look at Joel
Sartore's photograph above, we have a better idea of the area where the
fireworks were held. Include spectators, trees, or other object's in
the foreground of your shot.
 |
| Theiss, Mike, Fireworks, St. Louis, ND. |
Focal Length: Zoom in and Out; adjust your focal length. "The focal length you need depends on your distance from the burst and
what you’re trying to capture. If you want a tight shot that shows
detail, you will want to use a zoom lens that goes to at least 200mm.
Keep in mind that changing focal length will require refocusing in most
zoom lenses. Check for this attribute before the show begins, while it
is still light" (National Geographic, web).
 |
| Ryan, Pete, Fireworks, Vancouver, Canada, ND. |
Works Cited:
01. Rowse, Darren. "How to Photograph Fireworks Displays - Digital Photography School." Digital Photography School How to Photograph Fireworks Displays Comments. N.p., 01 July 2013. Web. 29 June 2015.
02. Zhang, Michael. "10 Tips for Shooting Firework Displays." PetaPixel RSS. N.p., 03 July 2009. Web. 29 June 2015.
03."Photographing Fireworks - Photo Tips - National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 June 2015.
04. Cook, Diane, and Len Jenshel. "NYC Waterfront." Cook Jenshel Photography NYC Waterfront Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 June 2015.