How to Shoot Brilliant Fireworks Photos

As I was surfing the web today, I came across several questions (throughout the various photography forums which I like to visit) regarding "how to shoot fireworks photos." Although I came across a lot of good information, there were bits and pieces scattered about, and since I myself have had (what I consider to be) success in shooting fireworks, I thought I would share these helpful tips for those of you who will be bringing your cameras along to the Fourth of July celebrations.

First and foremost, the single most important thing you need to have when shooting fireworks is a tripod. Whether you are shooting with a point and shoot camera, or a fancy digital SLR, you simply won't be able to hold the camera steady enough by hand due to the relatively long exposure times required in fireworks photography. Tripods are a MUST! With that being said, you should also remember that if you are planning on brining a tripod to an event such as the Fourth of July (or any fireworks celebrations for that matter), there are bound to be plenty of people all trying to claim enough space to stand or sit comfortably, so you'll want to go a little early to set up your tripod before the crowds arrive.

When shooting fireworks, you'll achieve great results if you shoot with a fairly long exposure time. If you are using a point and shoot digital camera, most of them have a dedicated "fireworks" mode or setting. If you are shooting with a digital SLR, you'll want to use anywhere from a 4-5 second exposure, shooting at an aperture of f11 or even f16. One of the best tools to have with you (in addition to your tripod) would be a shutter release cable. That way, you can set up the initial framing of your shots, and control the shutter while still getting to watch those beautiful fireworks. Also, a shutter release cable would be especially userful if you want to use your camera's bulb mode to capture even longer exposures.

Another experiment you can do, is to set your aperture very small, say at f22 or even f32, and shoot with an exposure time of 20-30 seconds. You'll be able to catch several fireworks in the frame, and the results can be outstanding!

In framing your shots, it will all depend on the type of photos you are after. If you like the closeup and tight shots of the fireworks blast as in the above image, you will want to bring a zoom lens which can go to at least 200mm. That will allow your camera to get up close and personal with those fireworks. If you prefer to capture the fireworks in a landscape or "entire scene" view, bring a nice wide angle lens. Here's a look at what a wide angle lens would be likely to capture:

Whichever you choose, you'll be sure to capture amazing photos and there will be no need to fumble about switching lenses during the show. I hope these quick and easy tips will come in handy, and help you to further enjoy your Fourth of July holiday weekend by snapping some fantastic fireworks photography!

How to Take Digital Photos of July 4th Fireworks

You've seen all those spectacular photographs of fireworks. Maybe you've even tried your hand at recording your local July 4th spectacular. But it's not easy to pull off with a standard point-and-shoot digital camera.

Here's what you need:

 

• A camera that lets you control shutter speed, ISO settings, and aperture settings of your photos. You'll want to set your shutter speed slow, to between 1 and 16 seconds depending on the amount of background light. You'll want to set your aperture relatively tight (around f/8 or so) to cut down on background light noise and prevent overexposure.
• Some point-and-shoot cameras come with a built-in "fireworks" mode especially designed for this situation.  You'll have little luck if your camera is hard-wired to automatic settings for low light situations that don't include fireworks photo-taking. 
• A tripod.  Even with anti-shake technology,  the long exposures you'll need to get really effective pictures require a steady hand--one steadier than yours.  Bring a tripod, or at least a monopod, to steady your aim.
• Manual focus control is helpful. If you're using a digital SLR camera, use manual focus and set it to "infinity".
• Shoot at a wide angle, so you can get more of the sky.  That way, you don't have to be constantly trying to point your camera toward where the fireworks are.

How To Photograph Amazing Fireworks

It's summer and July 4th is fast approaching. That, of course, means some fantastic opportunities to capture stunning images of fireworks. Photographing fireworks can seem a daunting task if you've never attempted it before (or attempted without desired results). Your Photo Tips will help you capture those stunning photographs with style.

Equipment needed:

Camera (of course)
Tripod
Remote Release
Blanket (optional)

Aperture

Contrary to most low light photography, you're gonna want to use a low aperture between f/8 and f/16. The fireworks will provide lot's of light in comparison to the sky that surrounds the display and you'll want to take advantage of that. The darker the sky is, the more those colorful bursts of light will "pop" in your finished image.

ISO

You'll also want to use an ideal ISO for your camera. Most digital cameras are actually at their best at 200 ISO but you can definitely do this at ISO 100. This is so that you get the least amount of digital noise and your images will turn out cleaner.

Shutter Speed

Here is your most important factor in getting great fireworks photographs. My preference is shooting in bulb setting and using the remote release. You'll want to open the shutter right before the firework explodes and hold it open as the explosion occurs giving you long trailing light. If you are wanting to capture multiple bursts you can use a black card to place in front of the lens between bursts. If you go this route know that too many bursts will overexpose the image if the fireworks overlap too much and cause your finished image to look overcrowded or cluttered.

Manual Focus

Cameras can have a hard time focusing in the dark so be sure to use manual focus and set it to infinity. If your camera won't do infinity then use the landscape mode which is essentially the same thing. Another good tip if your using a point and shoot is to set your focus either before the show starts (if you have a reference point) or on the first set of explosions.

Focal Length

Using a wide focal length will help you capture the fireworks' explosions in their entirety. This will help prevent the fireworks themselves from running off your frame. You can of course try some tighter crops by zooming in and get some really great abstract type imagery, but that can be hit or miss as it's hard to tell exactly where the fireworks will actually burst and which direction they will head.

Framing

Vertical or Horizontal? It depends. Most often vertical is going to work best as fireworks are shot up into the air and fall back down. Often times, however, there will be shorter wider series of fireworks that would do good to capture horizontally. Experiment with both so your options are open.

Be Extraordinary

At this time of year, there will undoubtebly be tons of fireworks photographs being uploaded around the Internet (and of course flickr). If you're looking to stand out from the crowd here are a few things to consider.

Know where the wind is headed. If you're downwind you'll get all of the smoke from the fireworks in your pictures and they'll come out hazy.

The first sets of fireworks will have less smoke as an obstacle.

Using a reference point like a building or other structure will add to the magnitude of the fireworks display and add interest in the image.

Try to capture as many different frames as possible. It's really hard to tell which ones are going to look best while your shooting.

Take a few images of the people watching the fireworks as well. The light from the fireworks themselves will create interesting light casts on the observers.

If you're near water use the reflection of the fireworks in the image to create some truly magical pictures.

Advice for taking bang-up fireworks photos

With a little planning, photographing fireworks on the Fourth of July can result in pictures you can be proud to hang on the wall. Here are some tips for shooting fireworks from Observer photographers Todd Sumlin and Gary O'Brien:

Take some time to scout out the best location before dark. If you want to photograph the fireworks bursting over buildings, bridges or houses, find an unobstructed area with a broad view of the sky to set up your camera.

Avoid power lines, streetlights and tree limbs that could block your view, and stand away from the crowd so people don't stand in the way of your shots.

As you set up your shot, keep the horizon level and think about how high the big rockets will go. If you're close to the launching area, a vertical shot will help keep the bursts of color in the picture.

If you have them, use a tripod and a remote release to keep the camera steady during the exposure. If not, place the camera on something solid and use its self-timer to open the shutter.

If you are shooting with a point-and-shoot camera, keep the camera steady and use the night mode setting. Many of the newer point-and-shoots have a "fireworks mode" that automatically adjusts the exposure.

If your camera has manual settings, try using them. We usually shoot at a sensitivity of ISO 200 or lower and set the exposure to about 4 seconds with the lens set at f/11. Longer exposures will capture more bursts, but the lights of the city may brighten the sky. If the bursts appear washed out, set the lens at f/16.

Depending on streetlights and the overall glow of the city, the correct exposure is sometimes a guess. Use the screen on the back of your camera to check the exposure and adjust your settings.

A small flashlight or headlamp is very useful. A red filter will preserve your night vision. Take extra batteries, because long exposures will quickly drain a partially depleted battery.

For safety's sake, don't leave your tripod - people won't see it in the dark and may trip over it.

Finally, don't get so wrapped up in making a picture that you forget to enjoy the show!

Charlotte Observer File Photo - GARY O'BRIEN

Fourth of July fireworks light the sky above the uptown Charlotte skyline Monday evening. Charlotte Observer File Photo - GARY O'BRIEN

Where to find royalty-free fireworks pictures

There are many resources available online at your fingertips to search for and locate royalty-free fireworks photographs.  One very popular website is Fotosearch (www.fotosearch.com) that offers a database of searchable images that are entirely royalty-free.  Another great tool for those searching online is Public Domain Pictures (www.publicdomainpictures.net), where these royalty-free stock photos are free for private and commercial usage.  Expect images on these websites to be common among publishers as they are free of cost and not exclusive to any specific source.

How to Share Your Fireworks Photos Online

With technology taking over the world, it is no surprise that you can share just about anything with just about anyone online. Your fireworks pictures are no different.  Times have changed from emailing your photos to your friends and family.  There are now free digital photo sharing websites that allow users to post albums of their photos and share with specific people, or the entire world if they so choose.  The most popular sharing community is Flickr.  By accessing www.flickr.com, you can select the "sign up" option, complete the application, and voila, you are a user.  Once your account is set up, you can upload photos and create albums organizing certain special occasions.  Once your albums are completed, you can make them public or select who you would like to access your images by sharing your photos with friends and family.  Not only is online photo sharing free and simple, it is a great tool to view others photographers work as well.