Fireworks photography is essentially photographing fireworks at night. Is it really that simple? For anyone that’s never photographed fireworks or has attempted only to be frustrated with over or underexposed shots and a blurry rain of fireworks, it can seem like the challenge isn’t worth the effort. In reality, armed with a few tips and tricks, anyone can take better fireworks photographs.

Fireworks can be photographed by anyone with almost any camera. In this case, it’s best to have a DSLR or a camera with manual mode. If your point and shoot doesn’t have manual mode to enable you further control, then check for a ‘fireworks’ setting which many have. Alternately you can use landscape mode which is designed for sharper landscape images or take some time to experiment with your other settings if the show is going to be a long one. There are also a few things you will need such as a flashlight (so you’re not trying to change camera settings in the dark), tripod (so longer exposures are sharper without blurring from camera shake), a cable shutter release (great for DSLR’s in cases where you may shake the camera manually releasing the shutter) and also extra batteries and memory cards.

The first thing you want to do is arrive at the fireworks location early enough to scout a good location. You need to know where they are coming from at ground level and where they’ll be going in the sky. Be aware of your surroundings. Try to find a location where you can easily frame your shots and so that you won’t be disturbed. Last thing you’ll want is someone walking into your frame or bumping you or your tripod. Another thing to keep in mind is your composition. Fireworks illuminate your surroundings much in the way of lightning. These flashes can enable you to capture more of your scene than you may have been thinking about giving additional depth your images and sharing the size of the fireworks display. Pay attention to your horizons and make sure your tripod is level. Try to ensure the interesting features or landmarks of the location are within the frame along with the fireworks without cutting them off since they are the main focus of your image. Make sure the heads of the people in front of you aren’t in your shot unless that is the look you are going for. If you are below a tree, pay attention to where the leaves are so they don’t appear in the top of your frames (due to illumination from the fireworks) and the same thing if you are near a smoker because that also could affect the quality of your shots. The smoke from the fireworks can also affect your shots and can make you uncomfortable if you are downwind breathing it in. Avoid power lines and nearby light sources as they can affect your image as well.

As for the technical aspects of fireworks photography, there are many ways to shoot them. It honestly can depend on how bright and how regular the fireworks are and also your personal preference and equipment limitations. I prefer to shoot fireworks using the manual mode on my camera and longer exposures leaving the flash off. I like the bulb setting because I have more control over when I take my photograph and how long I expose it. When using the bulb setting I generally start the exposure as the firework shoots up and stop it when the firework is gone or has reached the peak of its brightness and beauty. This can require more patience and varying shutter speeds compared to just using ‘auto’ but can have better results because of the additional control. Be aware also of your ISO and aperture. If your ISO is set too high it can infuse unwanted grain into your images so set it as low as possible. Shutter speeds, apertures and ISO all work together for a properly exposed image and by knowing what settings work best for your camera and your scene you can have more control over how you capture the images you are seeking. Shutter speeds have the ability to stop the motion of the fireworks and ‘freeze’ them while other shutter speeds will blur the movement and also the trails. The tricky part of fireworks can be ensuring the image is in focus. Many cameras have issues, but it’s not all their fault. Fireworks aren’t usually in the same exact location with every explosion. They can be closer or farther away with very little warning for a photographer attempting the perfect shot. It’s best to focus on a wider scene than to try to narrow in on just one explosion. Sometimes you may even have to manually focus your lens (if your lens has manual) due to the AF system not knowing where to focus because of the rapid changes with fireworks. A good starting aperture is f.8-f.16, but can vary in relation to your shutter speed, ISO and the conditions at your location. You can also bracket your frames, create HDR images from fireworks and even do other creative techniques such as black and white or infrared.

Once you understand how to utilize the manual settings on your camera you’ll have the control to create the perfect fireworks photography you’ve always wanted. There are many articles online that go in deeper depth regarding shutter speeds, apertures and ISO during fireworks photography. Be sure to do some research both online and in your local library before you shoot. Just keep practicing and learning and you will get better each year.

About the author: Amber Flowers is a photographer, digital artist and writer most known for her infrared photography and the ‘fine art’ feel to her work. She is a member of The League of Creative Infrared Photographers and Founder of Southern Kentucky Photographer’s Club. Amber resides in Glasgow KY with her husband, two children and several pets. You can learn more about her on her website: www.soulgazephotography.com