9d (edited) • General discussion
How to Photograph Fireworks
With the Fourth of July coming up, it is a great time to practice photographing fireworks. The good news is that you do not need a fancy setup, but you do need to take control of your camera.
You must use a tripod. Fireworks photography usually requires a slow shutter speed, and handholding the camera will almost always result in blurry images. If you have an off-camera shutter release, use it.
Set your camera to Manual Mode. A good starting point for your camera is:
ISO: 100 or 200
Aperture: f/8 to f/11
Shutter Speed: 2 to 6 seconds
Focus: Manual focus, set near infinity
Our modern digital cameras have shutter speeds that go down to 30 seconds, and what you are trying to do is capture 2-4 fireworks in the air at the same time.
Turn off your flash. It will not help with fireworks and can distract people around you.
Compose your photograph where you think the fireworks will appear in the sky before they begin. Look for something interesting to include in the frame, such as trees, water, buildings, a skyline, or people watching the show. Fireworks by themselves can be beautiful, but adding a sense of place often makes the photograph stronger.
Once the fireworks begin, take a few test shots. If the fireworks are too bright, use a smaller aperture, such as f/11 or f/16. If they are too dark, open your aperture up to F5.6 or increase your ISO to 400.
The biggest lesson is this: do not just point your camera at the sky and hope. Think about your composition, use a tripod, slow your shutter speed, and adjust as you go.
Fireworks are a great way to practice manual exposure because you can immediately see how shutter speed affects the look of the photograph.
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How to Photograph Fireworks
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