Fireworks are always fun to watch, and I absolutely love capturing them in a photo. Yesterday evening I photographed the fireworks display for The Hive in Silsden, and it was a fantastic night as always! I've included some shots from the event at the bottom of the page to show how these tips can work in action.
using a dslr
1. Set Up Your Gear
To get sharp and steady images of fireworks, a tripod is essential. Since you’ll be working with long exposures, even the smallest hand movement can blur your shot. If you have one, use a shutter release cable to avoid camera shake when pressing the shutter button and to allow you to control the exact shutter speed in a flexible way.
2. Use a Wide-Angle Lens
Fireworks often cover a large area of the sky, so a wide-angle lens works best. I use a 10-24mm, but an 18-55mm kit lens should be wide enough to capture enough of the sky to get great shots. This lets you capture the full height and spread of each burst and gives some flexibility in framing the scene around the fireworks.
3. Set Your Camera Settings
Here’s my typical set up, using manual mode:
Aperture: Set your aperture to around f/11. This provides a good depth of field to keep both foreground and background in focus.
Shutter Speed: Use bulb mode if your camera has it. This gives you control over when to open and close the shutter, letting you capture multiple fireworks in one shot. With a shutter release cable, you can easily hold the shutter open and release it when the timing feels right. If you don’t have a cable or bulb mode, experiment with exposure times (like 3-10 seconds) to see what works for your scene.
ISO: Keep your ISO at around 400 to avoid grain while still capturing vibrant colours. Fireworks are bright, so there's no need to raise the ISO too high.
4. Set Your Focus and Leave It
When capturing fireworks, you can focus once at the start and leave it set. Aim your camera at a point of light near where the fireworks will be set off from, and let it autofocus. Once it’s sharp, switch to manual focus to lock it in place. This way, the camera won’t hunt for focus with each shot, and you’ll keep the bursts sharp throughout.
5. Timing is Everything
In bulb mode, try starting your exposure just before the firework explodes and hold the shutter open to capture the full trail and burst. With a few practice shots, you’ll get a feel for the right timing. If you’re not in bulb mode, play around with 3-10 second exposures to capture full firework displays in each shot.
6. Composition Tips
If possible, position yourself to include interesting elements in the foreground, such as city skylines, trees, or bodies of water that reflect the fireworks. A well-composed foreground can add context and make your fireworks photos stand out even more.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Too Bright: If the fireworks are overexposed, reduce the ISO or close the aperture slightly (try f/13 or f/16), or try a shorter shutter speed.
Too Dark: If the fireworks are too dim, increase the ISO or open the aperture a bit wider (f/8, for example).
Blurry Images: Make sure your tripod is secure and avoid touching the camera and that focus is set correctly. A shutter release cable or remote will help minimise shake.
Capturing Fireworks with Your Phone
If you’re using a phone instead of a DSLR, you can still capture some great fireworks shots with a few adjustments:
Use Night Mode: Many smartphones have a night mode that automatically adjusts settings for low light.
Steady Your Phone: Place it on a stable surface or use a small tripod to avoid blurry images.
Lower the Exposure: Fireworks are bright, so tap on the screen where the fireworks appear, then drag the exposure slider down slightly for better colour and detail.
Burst Mode: To capture multiple shots at once, hold down the shutter button in burst mode, then choose the best image later.
Fireworks photography is all about experimenting and finding what works best for your gear and location. Whether you’re photographing at big events like the one at The Hive, I hope these tips will help! Have fun with it, and remember to watch the show yourself as well!
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