Displays of fireworks are such striking events - and it's no surprise that they've captured the attention of so many photographers. Regardless of where the fireworks light up the sky, these awesome displays always place high on the "Wow!" scale.
White and Red
© Jim Miotke
All Rights Reserved
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Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
But recording fireworks pictures involves planning and preparation, as well as some special shooting techniques. Not sure how to proceed? Fortunately, the subject has come up often at BetterPhoto.com. Here are some quick tips from BP shooters:- Use a tripod and cable release.
- Arrive early in order to pick a good vantage point - one without obstructions (unless you plan to use a distinctive form as a foreground silhouette ... i.e., person, statue, etc.).
- Turn off the auto-flash - it won't help for distant subjects.
- Set focus to infinity (via Manual mode).
- Wide-angle or "normal" focal lengths are usually recommended for fireworks photography.
- It's impossible to predict things perfectly ... so plan to shoot a lot of images.
- Check out some of the resources listed below, and you'll learn the "secret" of the hat trick and the black card!
- Lastly, of course, it's a matter of being there - for example, on the Fourth of July in the United States (which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776), or earlier in Canada (July 1, which marks the day the Canadian government was created in 1867).
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Resources on Fireworks Photography
See BP founder Jim Miotke's how-to article:
Top Tips for Photographing FireworksType in the word "fireworks" in BetterPhoto's Search Site, and then check the QnA and photo-discussion sections. Some links to get you started: For picture ideas and inspiration, check out BetterPhoto's collection of eye-catching images:
Fireworks Picture Page gallery
About Author / Instructor / Photographer, Kerry Drager
The content manager and an instructor for BetterPhoto.com, Kerry Drager is also the author of Scenic Photography 101. In addition, he teaches two online photography courses at BetterPhoto: Creative Light & Composition and Creative Close-ups. Kerry's Pro BetterPholio Web site offers an assortment of galleries and illustrated how-to articles on photography. In addition, kerrydrager.com was featured in Shutterbug magazine. His work has appeared in Outdoor Photographer and other major magazines; Hallmark cards and Sierra Club Calendars; and in advertising campaigns for American Express and Sinar Bron Imaging. He is also the photographer of the photo-essay books The Golden Dream: California from Gold Rush to Statehood and California Desert, and is a contributing photographer for the books Daybreak 2000 and Portrait of California. He lives with his wife, Mary, in the country near Sacramento, California, with their six Newfoundland dogs, six cats, two horses, and a mixed terrier.
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