Talk of the infamous 4th of July celebration in downtown Columbus--Red, White and BOOM!--is everywhere it seems! Radio, TV, word of mouth... Everyone's swapping tips & tricks for where to go, when to go, where to park, what you'll see, etc. I mean, watching the fireworks on the 4th of July really is a big deal 'round these parts whether or not you head to Red, White and BOOM or to any of the other local shows (my personal favorite spectacle actually takes place in Delaware--it's awesome!)
For some, photographing fireworks is just as much fun as watching them! It's a challenge, for sure, but with a little bit of practice, some planning, and the right tools at your fingertips, anyone can give it a go! I asked Gary Walker from Walker Photography School to give us a few pointers...
1. Plan ahead. Scout the area before the fireworks begin. Look for a background that contains a well known landmark for the area, such as a statue, building or river. This will give your fireworks images a sense of place. Water is another strong compositional element which can show reflections from the fireworks adding extra punch and impact to your photographs. An ideal vantage point has the wind blowing across your frame carrying the smoke away from the area where you are taking pictures.
2. Be prepared. Regardless of the type/style of camera you carry, there's one piece of equipment that's absolutely essential for photographing fireworks--a tripod. A sturdy tripod will make your images much sharper due to the long exposure times used when photographing fireworks. Canon's Digital Learning Center (a great resource for a wide variety of tips & tricks for today's digital photographer) adds that "... it's impossible to handhold your camera rock-steady for anything longer than a small fraction of a second (forget about several seconds or even minutes!)" So true!
Also, if you have an SLR and access to a remote shutter release, bring that along too! This will allow you to open the shutter without touching the camera, which eliminates the possibility of accidentally moving the camera and causing blurry pictures.
3. Digital Point-and-Shoot Cameras... automatic cameras set the shutter speed and aperature automatically leaving you no control over the camera's settings. Under these conditions, Gary suggests a faster ISO speed like 400 or 800. The camera will probably overexpose the fireworks due to the dark sky background. Use the exposure compensation (+/-) button to decrease the exposure. Minus 1 or minus 2 stops should work. Remember there is a delay between pushing the shutter button down and taking the picture. It may help to listen for the thump of the morter, then press the shutter release and the camera should fire as the fireworks burst open.
Some cameras (like select Nikon Coolpix models) also have a "Fireworks" mode! You might want to use the self-timer though to help keep the camera as steady as possible. Or... try out "movie mode" on your camera to capture the fireworks display with ease!
4. With Digital SLRs... you've got a couple of different options! For single bursts of fireworks - Put the camera on a tripod. Set the ISO to 100 or 200. Set the lens (and/or camera) to Manual focus and set the focus point at infinity. Use a normal to slightly wide angle lens (55mm - 30mm). Set the aperture to f11 and the shutter to 10 sec. for starters. Adjust the lengh of time between 10 sec. and 30 sec. depending on the desired effect. If your images are too light, reduce the aperature to f16.
For multiple bursts of fireworks--Set up the camera as above, except for the shutter speed use the bulb or "b" setting. The "bulb" setting will allow the shutter to stay open as long as the shutter release button is pressed down. The shutter will close when the button is released. A remote release works best under these conditions. You can record multiple bursts on one frame with the bulb setting by opening the shutter and putting a dark sheet of cardboard or paper over the lens to block any stray light. Remove this temporary lens shield just as the fireworks are about to go off and replace it when the burst has finished. Repeat to record multiple bursts.
Thanks Gary for the tips! For more information on Digital Photography classes (taught by Gary through the Walker Photography School), tips & tricks check out our website!
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