The Best Way to Photograph Fireworks (information from www.pcworld.com)
Here's what you need to know to capture the excitement of a summer fireworks display.
Dave Johnson, PC World
For the photographer, winter certainly has its share of iconic
subjects, such as Christmas trees, snowmen, and icicles hanging from a
roof. But there's nothing quite like the excitement of shooting
summertime fireworks. Done right, fireworks photos are dynamic and
colorful, and they convey a sense of action better than almost any
other kind of still image. Read on to learn how to capture some
exciting fireworks photos of your own this summer.
(Photo by foxypar4.)
(Almost) Any Camera Will Do...
Though photos of fireworks look impressive, you don't need specialized
gear to get good results. You can use almost any digital camera to
capture fireworks, as long as it offers either some degree of manual
exposure control (so that you can dial in the right ISO, aperture, and
shutter speed settings) or a fireworks scene mode designed to do the
work for you.
Even compact digital cameras can meet the challenge. The Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR
shown here, for example, hits the sweet spot for portability and
simplicity--it's a superb compact point-and-shoot that, when set to
fireworks mode and stabilized to minimize image shake, can take some
excellent fireworks shots.
...But a Digital SLR Is Best
Compact cameras eschew features for portability, however. If you like
to tinker with your exposure settings, consider an advanced
point-and-shoot like the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS.
It has a convenient swiveling LCD for shooting unusual angles, such as
over the top of a crowd or low down on the ground. A wealth of exposure
options let you dial in the one-touch fireworks mode or take more
control with shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure
settings.
If you have a choice, though, I recommend enlisting a true digital SLR.
Digital SLRs tend to generate less noise in the lengthy exposures
you'll need to capture fireworks, and they have advanced features such
as manual exposure control and external shutter release to minimize
shake when you're taking the photo. The Nikon D90
(pictured here), for example, is a favorite not just because it was the
first digital SLR to incorporate high-definition video recording, but
also because it provides excellent image quality, Live View mode, and
face detection for those times when you’re not shooting fireworks.
Stabilize Your Camera
The most important rule for shooting fireworks: Use a slow shutter
speed so that you can record those dramatic, colorful light trails as
they explode through the sky. But no matter whether you're using a
point-and-shoot or a high-end digital SLR, you'll need some sort of
support to capture a sharp image, free from the blur that results when
you hold a camera in your hands.
A simple, inexpensive, and lightweight tripod is all you need. Keep the
tripod head loose so that you can quickly move it around to frame the
exploding fireworks, while the tripod legs prevent jiggling.
If you don't want to haul even a compact tripod around, consider using
a monopod--since it has just one leg instead of three, it won't be as
steady as a tripod, but it can be a reasonable compromise. You could
also prop your camera on a solid surface. Some photographers like
gadgets such as The Pod (essentially a bean bag with a tripod mount in the top) for steadying the camera on rocks, fences, and other platforms.
Hands Off
You should also avoid touching the camera when the exposure starts, so
you don't jiggle it and blur the photo. You could try to use the
camera's self-timer to trigger the exposure, but you would have to
trigger your exposure in advance to anticipate the best fireworks
moment. A better solution is to invest in a wireless remote or a
shutter release cable, both of which let you take the photo without
touching the camera.
Go Automatic
If your compact camera or advanced point-and-shoot has a fireworks
mode, enable it. This mode automatically adjusts the camera's settings
for a nighttime exposure. Want to know what's going on behind the
scenes? On most cameras, the fireworks mode will turn the flash off,
set focus to infinity, disable exposure compensation, and lower the
ISO. For the most part, I find that a preset fireworks mode achieves
good results for simple shots.
No Fireworks Mode? No Problem
Some point-and-shoots that lack a fireworks mode may still permit you
to adjust the settings. Here are some good settings to try, if your
camera allows.
Low ISO: Set the camera to its lowest ISO setting to minimize digital noise.
Focus on infinity: Turn off automatic focus and set the camera's
focus to infinity so that it doesn't search helplessly for a subject in
the dark. Don't have a manual focus control? Use the camera's landscape
mode, which also sets the focus to infinity; the low light will
encourage the camera to shoot at a slow shutter speed and capture the
light trails.
Set the aperture: Dial in an f/stop somewhere between f/8 and
f/16. That will help prevent overexposing the scene and avoid light
"blooms" coming from the explosions in the sky.
Slow down the shutter: Pick a value between 1 second and 16
seconds for your shutter speed. The longer the exposure, the more
fireworks you'll capture in the same frame, and the longer your light
trails will be. For really long exposures try covering the lens with
your hand or the lens cap between bursts to avoid overexposing the
picture.
(Photo by Howard Meyer.)
Shooting With a Digital SLR
If you have a digital SLR, you'll have an easier time--and more options--when setting up your camera for fireworks.
In a nutshell, you'll want to dial in the lowest ISO, throw the camera
into full manual mode, choose a small aperture opening (try starting at
f/8), and pick a slow shutter speed with an exposure time of between 1
and 4 seconds. After you take your first few pictures, review them to
see if you're getting realistic color. If the bright blue, orange, and
red fireworks all look kind of white, you should use the same exposure
time but close the aperture a bit and try again. That means changing
your f/8 setting to f/11 or perhaps f/16. If the fireworks are too dim,
open the aperture to f/5.6 or f/4.
Most SLRs have a bulb mode that leaves the shutter open for as long as
you hold down the shutter release, giving you total control over the
exposure. When the fireworks launch, press the shutter release to start
the exposure. Hold the button down until after the fireworks have
bloomed, several seconds later. If you go for superlong exposures, you
should cover the lens between fireworks.
Get a Wide Angle on the Scene
While you might be tempted to zoom in to get close-ups of the action, I
recommend that you use the wider end of your lens's range--or, if
you're using a digital SLR, switch to your wide-angle lens. You'll be
able to capture more fireworks in a shot and even frame the action
against a skyline or other recognizable objects in the foreground.
Of course, you can experiment by changing your zoom range throughout
the evening. Just remember that if you zoom in too tightly, you'll have
trouble knowing exactly when and where the fireworks are going to do
their thing, and you'll end up missing the action.
(Photo by stage88.)
Experimentation Is Key
As you prepare for summer fireworks, remember that capturing the action
is often more art than science. Experiment with a range of shutter
speeds and aperture settings over the course of the event. If the
weather is uncooperative, take advantage by incorporating
umbrella-covered spectators into the scene. And don't forget that your
photo editing program's cropping tool can sometimes bring a distant
fireworks blast front and center, turning a mediocre shot into a
keeper.
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