Everyone likes firework. Not that many people know how to take pictures of firework. It always amazes me to see people with point-and-shoot cameras taking pictures of firework with their flash turned on. Of course, there are no flashes powerful enough to light up the sky. More importantly, firework lighting up in the sky, are actually lights, so adding more light (if that would be possible), would only diffuse the effect.
I am not an expert in firework photography, but I too like to take picture of these night shows when I can. We will celebrate the July 4 independence day across the USA. The 4th of July is firework galore. So why not learn some technique now and get ready for this annual event.
Here are some basics pointers to succeed in taking decent photographs of firework.
I am not an expert in firework photography, but I too like to take picture of these night shows when I can. We will celebrate the July 4 independence day across the USA. The 4th of July is firework galore. So why not learn some technique now and get ready for this annual event.
Here are some basics pointers to succeed in taking decent photographs of firework.
- Use a tripod or Stabilizer. You will need the camera to be steady if you want blurry free pictures.
- Use a remote shutter release, either wired or wireless. If you do not have a remote, use the timer on the camera.
- You need to shoot in manual mode because your meter will be fooled by the sudden burst of light, allowing a fast shutter speed or wide aperture, and this will result in color streaks in a black sky. You want to see the surrounding grounds to bring a feeling of celebration.
- I like to shoot with a medium wide-angle lens for a few reasons. They are easier to focus and take more of the scene. You can always crop a little after the fact.
- Shoot with a small to mid-sized aperture so that more of the foreground and background will be in focus.
- Still shoot with low ISO, 100 or 200 will do, and will keep the noise to the minimum.
- You need to use long shutter exposure; I’m talking of 1 to 3 minutes. Take a few test shoot at the beginning of the show and you will be able to decide what works best for your location. You’ll have plenty of chances to take more pictures as firework shows usually last for about one half hour.
- More importantly…don’t use your flash.
Thank you for reading.
Yvon Bourque
7 comments:
Two questions:
- When taking these super-long exposures do you use a neutral density filter to avoid overexposing some of the bright lights or people in the foreground?
- Have you tried the unique Pentax multi-exposure mode (overlaying up to 9 pictures over one another, either with or without exposure compentation) for firework shots?
Kulian,
I don't use the ND filters for that because yhe long exposure is before the firework itself. Once the fireworks light up the sky, my exposure ends. You could however use the ND filters especially if the foreground is too bright. Using the multi exposure may work as well, but you would still need long exposures to capture the full motion of the firework. In fact, I do like to use multi exposure and wrote about it on this blog previously.
http://pentaxdslrs.blogspot.com/2007/12/using-multiple-exposures-on-k10d.html
Thank you for your comments
Yvon,
Nice shots, I'm still struggling with my firework attempts. But here's my question, how id you manage to get a good exposure of the foreground.
The background is great but how did you manage to properly expose the street scenes and even keep the people in focus.
DanC
To anonymous,
I simply had the camera on a tripod and whas triggering the shutter with a remote. Since everyone was watching the firework, they weren't moving much. They are not actually in perfect focus. Then when the firework would light up the sky, the exposure was completed after that. So the people in a darker area had a longer exposure than the firework.
Thanks you for reading
Yvon--
Great shots!
What about using extenders? I have a K200D 18-55 II and was wondering about your thoughts and recommendations.
Thanks!
Thanks for the comment Paul, I used manual setting exposure of 3 to 4 seconds, some at 6 seconds, with a f16 and focused at infinity .
Thanks for the comment Paul, I used manual setting exposure of 3 to 4 seconds, some at 6 seconds, with a f16 and focused at infinity .
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