For the 4th: How to Photograph Fireworks

Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:00PM EDT

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I'm not sure why, but every time I'm around fireworks I have the uncontrollable urge to take a picture of them, as if this might be the last time I ever see something colorfully blowing up in the sky. Yet whenever I do snap these shots, I end up with a blurry splotch of red on a black background. Looking at the pictures later, they might as well be shots of a squashed bug.

Well, fireworks time is just a few days away, and the cameras will be pointed skyward once again. So how to you get a shot of something that looks like a work of art rather than a deceased insect? The website Digital Photography School has the secrets, with some impressive photographic proof to back it up.

If you're planning to photograph some airborne festivities, please check out the full story. But if you just want the quick tips, here's the Cliff's Notes:

  • Use a tripod and a remote shutter release, if you can.
  • Carefully frame the shot so that the horizon is straight and you don't get a bunch of heads in the picture.
  • Set aperture between f/8 and f/16 and use ISO 100.
  • Keep the shutter open for a couple of seconds, starting before the explosion. (Manual mode is your friend.)
  • Turn off the flash.
  • Experiment and have fun!

Good luck, and send me your shots next week!

 

Comments on For the 4th: How to Photograph Fireworks

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  • 6 Posted by soydeholguin@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Power Shot S500 5.0 Megapixels cannon camera. What would be the best setting for photographing fireworks? Does anyone know?

  • 7 Posted by tmsarraz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just hope you have a good picture card and keep snapping the camera over and over and eventually you will catch a pic of the fireworks

  • 9 Posted by keyka1a on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Many of the point-n-shoot cameras have a "night scene" mode, I'd give that a try.

  • 10 Posted by juliejeep@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is hard to find 35mm film let along get it developed they take the best pictures, what about digital can you get good shots from those? We found this method helpfull when taking pictures of cruise ships leaving the harbor at night we used a tripod and 100 film, we tried many different exposures to get the right one.

  • 11 Posted by ealamar2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    With a cheapy point and shoot digital you can control some of the features. In the camera's menus you can set the ISO ("film" speed) to 100. Most of the Canon's let you select manual mode where you can choose the size of the opening and the shutter speed. The aperture or opening should be in the middle somewhere (not super wide open and not super closed) and the shutter speed should be as long as possible. Some point and shoots will let you select "Bulb" for shutter speed which lets you hold the shutter open with the picture taking button for as long as you hold it down (don't wiggle the camera while you are holding the button down.) Turn the AutoFocus feature off on the camera. You will probably need to set up at a distance where the infinite focus can be used - wide angle (since this is usually the only way to force the focus to a specific distance or focul length with a point and shoot). Essentially you want to get the camera set up correctly (ISO to 100, AutoFocus off, Infinite Focus (wide view), Tripod, and Manual Shooting mode with an F8 or so and a "Bulb" speed or at least a couple of seconds), and then point and shoot an area of the sky. The fireworks "get in the way" of your sky picture. Try to time your sky picture so the fireworks "ruin" your nice dark sky picture. As a result of all the setup you did, the camera will expose the fireworks correctly and they will show up in the picture. If it's too dark, open the apeture a little more. If it's too blurry, keep the camera from moving. If it is too bright, close the aperture a little. If the surrounding people and buildings are to clearly exposed, shorten the time the shutter is open. Make sure to point and laugh at all the dummy's using their flash with their cameras stuck to their eyeballs blasting away at the night sky.

  • 12 Posted by m-corbin@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Using bulb exposure for the shutter speed, hold the shutter open for several fireworks bursts to make their impressions on the film. This is the same for digital cameras as well. Use film recommended for bright sun, and remember to use a tripod since several seconds exposure will be required for many fireworks to be recorded on a single frame. Use a small lens opening because all the acumulated exposure will add up to plenty for any foreground objects in view. And be sure to get the big finale. Good luck and have fun.

  • 13 Posted by imhhhot@verizon.net on Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    i just got my mom a digital that has a "fireworks" setting... how do u think that will come out?

  • 14 Posted by l.cazinha@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have an OLD 1975 Minolta. I have NEVER been able to capture fireworks. From what I info I read I have been close. Thank you so much for the excellent simple advice for an ameture photography. This camera cost $35 at a benefit auction. Can't afford a digital yet. Just now got a computer. Thanks again.

  • 16 Posted by luv3wick@pacbell.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Casio 7.2 Mega pixel EXILIM Ex-Z750 digital I got at Costco. I am a total amature, but with this camera I took about 12 good pictures of the Disneyland fireworks in Nov.2005. I was really happy with the results of all of them. Several were worth enlarging, they were so beautiful!

  • 17 Posted by nkkipp@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Kodak P880 8.0 MP digital I just bought. I am looking forward to shooting my first fireworks, and I have a nice tripod. May I ask how you set your 7.2 mp Casio to get your Disneyland fireworks in Nov. to come out so well? Thanks.

  • 18 Posted by ontimeprayerwarriror on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I use a FinePix digital camera.While down loading pic from my largest card to my computer card reader. I realized it did not give me all the pic. I put it back in. It said card error. Is it forever ruined? Any help appreciated.

  • 19 Posted by howdymike@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Fireworks are unbelievably boring. I can't believe anyone over the age of six pays any attention to them at all.

  • 20 Posted by greyhoundx@snet.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    My new Nikon CoolPix P3 (their high end point & shoot compact) actually has a fireworks scene mode preprogrammed - with 3 variations to choose from! For clear shots you really need to use a tripod because of the long exposure time - it can only make things better. Looking forward to this weekend, see you out there !!!

  • 21 Posted by a19d89s@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    wouldn't a long exposure create a motion blur. I guess it depends on the kinds of fireworks.

  • 22 Posted by ggoldenpal@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think fireworks are beautiful, and I'm alot older than six, guess I'll always stay young at heart & live life to the fullest! Great information for the picture taken, am definetly going to try it out! Everyone out there have a great Fourth & enjoy the the fireworks!!

  • 23 Posted by pgarne01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Re: Q#21 - With fireworks, what is in "motion" is as dark as the sky and doesn't register. The picture is actually a series of millions of short tiny "burns" that only last about as long as a photo flash (the old bulb type not electronic). Sparklers burn a slower so you do get some "tracing" of the spark as well as the core. A really fun technique is to expose an object in the dark for 5-10 seconds and "draw" an outline of the object from behind with a sparkler. Don't try it with a pet! Have fun!

  • 24 Posted by joaniesgarden@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh lighten up Howdymike. If it's hard for you to feel like a kid again, think of it as practice shots when viewing heavy combat duty. Tripods are a must when shooting long exposures, digital or SLR. Anything that moves, even flowers in the wind require one. Panning in sports shots with a tripod makes it easy too. SLRs do take the better fireworks photos but I'm so spoiled now with digital when it comes to film development. Much less costly when many exposures are shot to get a very good one. Get out there and experiment. :)

  • 25 Posted by wizbummer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like your tip for a silhouetted subject matter as a reference. Last year I had a few shots with a sparsely but evenely branched tree in front of a few bursts and the light cast onto the leaves looked really cool. If you don't have a camera with manual lens settings, there may be some scene presets (ususally labled SCN or Scene) that may very well include a specific mode for fireworks. If you have no manual exposure options or scene presets, well, you either have an older or cheaper camera (no offense), and you're pretty much stuck with good ol' auto mode. Read through your camera's manual and see what closest matches the settings mentioned above. Anything with a longer exposure time (at least 1/2 second) will be more desireable so you can get a streaking from the starbursts.

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