Akitan summer 2016 preview

How To Take Amazing Photos of Fireworks Story and Photos by Tara Scott

Content credit also to Jordan Oxborough

Summer is upon us, which means that it’s

Shutter speed is perhaps the most important setting to get right. Whilst you want to keep the shutter open long enough to capture the whole explosion, it is easy to overexpose firework shots. You won’t need to leave the shutter open for 30 seconds, 2.510 seconds should be about right. I really depends on what you’re photographing.

time for festivals and fireworks! Many JETs agree that some of their best experiences come from festivals, so you’re sure to make many great memories. If you want to capture the moment on camera however, you might be in for a challenge! Low-light and night time photography is notoriously tricky for the amateur photographer, so we’ve put together some tips on how to capture those fantastic moments.

The first thing to do is to switch off automatic mode! Getting to grips with the manual settings on your camera will really level up your photography skills. In low-light environments you’ll need to use a slower shutter speed to allow more light into the camera. Unless you have arms of steel and are capable of holding a camera completely steady you will need a tripod. If you don’t want to buy a proper tripod, Daiso has mini tripods with screw in attachments so you can perch your camera on a wall etc. to get a steady shot.

If your camera allows for one, then a remote shutter release cable is recommended. If not, then you can set your camera up on a timer (2-15 seconds). This is to ensure that you don’t jog the camera whilst pressing the button. Using the latter method does mean that you will need to try and predict where the shells will break in the sky. Some trial and error might be involved.

You might get clearer shots if you set your ISO as low as possible (if you’re still not sure, stick it on something around ISO 100 and experiment from there). For focal length, anything between 24-70mm will be ok for most cases. The standard lens that most cameras come with should be able to cope with night time photography. As for aperture, set your camera around f/8 to f/16 depending on how bright the fireworks you’re shooting are.

A single burst firework might need something like 8-10 seconds to get everything in shot, whereas a starmine will need less exposure otherwise it can look messy.

Most importantly, predicting where fireworks will burst or where people will be when you take the photo is very important.

This is easier at a firework show such as the Omagari Fireworks Festival as displays tend to go on for a long time in the same area.

To recap: -

Use manual settings Get a tripod Use a shutter release/self-timer Low ISO Aperture around f/8 to f/16 Shutter speed 2-10 seconds Predict the shot

When you get started with night time photography, you’ll probably end up taking a lot of useless shots. Practice and experimentation is important in getting your method right. However, whilst you’re enjoying capturing all the magic on camera don’t forget to look away from the screen every once in a while and soak up the atmosphere!

Happy snapping!