Blogging 4 the Public -Jay Rodriguez Photography & Graphics – Tips, Tricks and Inspiration.

How to Shoot Fireworks

July 2, 2009 – 10:44 am | by fotodog

Everyone seems to have their own technique and I’ve tried a few over the years but what the best way for me to get predictable fireworks photos is by using the following technique.

What you’ll need:

Camera with manual settings I prefer a digital SLR for complete control, but you can make this work with compact cameras with either a fireworks setting or manual override

Sturdy tripod I know many people say this, but if you want clear straight lines, a dependable, adjustable but sturdy tripod. You don’t want this slipping and shaking during your exposure

Remote Cable Release I prefer one with a lock and one at least 30 inches in length. You’ll use this to trip the shutter and hold it open for longer bursts

5×7 inch black non-reflective card To cover the lens and adjust your exposures

Flash Light To help you review your settings or possibley paint your foreground with light.

Water, Insect repellant and comfortable shoes You have to take care of yourself, right?

It helps if you can scout the location prior to the event. Preferable getting an obstructed view and a place to place your blanket and cooler and relax. I try to find a place that could offer some interesting reflections or silhouettes.

Set your camera on the tripod and make sure the legs are secure from slipping. Connect the cable release and test to make sure it’s working and get out your black card. Set your camera to manual setting and put your shutter speed at B (bulb). You will dictate the shutter speed using your cable release and black card.

Now decide if you want the skies to be black or if you want some detail or colour in the background. Or if you have a building in your foreground you may want to include some of that detail in your exposure. I prefer black skies and will use the following as starting points for exposure settings for sensor sensitivity/ISO and your aperature.:

ISO/Sensitivity: 100, Aperature f/4

ISO/Sensitivity: 200, Aperature f/5.6

ISO/Sensitivity: 400, Aperature f/8

ISO/Sensitivity: 800, Aperature f/11

ISO/Sensitivity: 1600, Aperature f/16

Keep in mind that the fireworks are extremely bright and will clip out very easily. The lower your ISO the darker the skies and the limited amount of detail you’ll have.

Now you’re ready to shoot.

When it’s time for the fireworks, place the black card in front of your lens, trip the shutter (lock it if you can) wait for the trailer to shoot up and once it disappears, lift the card away from the lens and capture the burst.

Place the card back in front of the lens. If you want to capture multiple bursts repeat this process. If you’re satisfied with one burst, release the shutter, review the exposure (assuming you’re shooting digital) and adjust the f/stop or ISO to suit your camera, lens and environment.

Now this seems like a lot of detail for getting the shots, why not just trip the shutter and let it go? By all means, do it, have fun with it and see what you get. Shooting fireworks is a lot about adjustments and experimenting, but if you can predict what it’s going to look like and being able to adjust will help you increase the number of amazing fireworks photos.

So what kind of lens do I use? Most of the time, I’m shooting with an 18-55 lens. Moderate wide-angle to normal. But shooting with a telephoto zoom can help you create some nice abstract light paintings.

Things to consider for the quality of your image

With higher ISO you will increase the grain/noise of your image plus it will detect a lot of the bomb smoke. While it can provide some great effects, you may want to experiment and adjust

To capture the trails/bursts, you’ll have exposure times for a single burst around 4-8 seconds, This can create some great light trails from other sources but may also create hotspots around street lights. Just be aware.

Reflections of water are generally between 1/2 and a full stop below your normal bursts but are amazing if you can get them just right.

If you’re shooting the grand finale you will see an enormous amount of bursts in a single area and you may experience some blown out areas in your image.

Experiment and have fun. I’d love to see what you shoot for fireworks this season.

Cheers!

~fotodog