Community Corner

How to Take Pictures of Fireworks

Here are a few easy tips, whether you're using a digital camera, smart phone or point and shoot.

Written by Doug Miner

Capturing fireworks on your camera, iPhone or Android is a challenge that can be mastered easily.
  • Turn off the flash

Flash doesn’t do a bit of good for shooting fireworks and will only be annoying.

  • Use a tripod, or don’t!

No matter what you’re using to capture the image, a tripod will help you get photos you like.

If you’re using an iPhone or Android phone, use a bracket to mount it to a tripod. If you don’t use a tripod, your photos might look like random streaks of light, which can be cool, too.

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  • Use longer shutter release

If you can open the shutter of your camera and keep it open for a longer time (most likely on a digital SLR), open it up when the fireworks start. There are some smart phone apps that can give you better control over the shutter. The longer the shutter is open, the more fireworks you’ll record in that one image. If your camera shoots video, try that too!

Digital SLR cameras might have a more immediate shutter release than a point and shoot or smart phone. If there is a lag time between when your finger hits the button and when the camera actually takes the photo, figure out what that lag time is. That way you’ll be more likely to shoot fireworks and not black sky.

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  • Shoot in the dark

The more you can keep ambient light off your camera the better. Hopefully you can be in a nice dark field.

A nice thing about digital equipment is that you can see the results immediately and make adjustments.

  • Have fun and shoot lots!

One last thing, remember to have fun and shoot lots! The more you shoot the better your chances of getting a neat shot!



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