Taking Photos of Fireworks
Fireworks are fantastic to see in photos but are really hard to shoot well. There are a number of techniques that can allow you to take some spectacular shots of fireworks.
Plan in advance. Make sure you have an unobstructed view of the fireworks by arriving well before the show begins. Find a place away from light sources (signs, lamps, car lights) and where people won’t walk in front of you. Finally, make sure you’re upwind of the fireworks display. Fireworks create smoke that will obscure the display if the smoke is between you and the explosions. On the other hand, smoke behind the explosions will reflect the light and make a better shot.
Use a Tripod. This is essential for fireworks photography as most of your exposure times will be between 1 and 15 seconds.
If you don’t have a tripod handy, you will get some camera movement. You can counter this and create a special effect by exaggerating the movement by moving the camera in a circular motion, or zooming in.
For best effect, you really need a camera where you can control the shutter speed and the aperture. Some cheaper P&S cameras may not allow you to get the best results, but it’s always worth trying to see how you go.
Use long exposure times (keep the shutter open for a long time). You will want to capture both the initial explosion as well as the trails left behind by the burning particles. Anywhere from just under a second to more than 15 seconds will work. Try a few different options and use what’s best.
If the sky is black, you can leave the shutter open for a long time and wait for the right firework to be in your viewfinder. Alternatively, you can cover the lens with a piece of black cardboard until the right firework arrives.
If you can’t control the shutter speed, take LOTS of shots. Use Continuous mode to keep the camera shooting. Some of the shots won’t work, but you should get 3 or 4 good shots for the night.
Use a Cable Release or remote control. This is a button on a lead that allows you to tell the camera to take the shot without moving the camera itself. If you use the shutter release on the camera, you can wobble the camera too much and produce unwanted effects. If you don’t have a cable release, you can use the timer function of the camera so it takes the shot a few seconds after you press the button. Note you’ll need to pre-empt the firework so the camera shutter is open at the correct time.
Focus. Most of the time all fireworks will be the same distance from you, so you can use the same focus setting on your camera for the whole show. Use the first few fireworks to set the focus and set your camera to use that for future shots. This will save a second or two in focus time for each image. If your camera can’t preset focus, set it to Landscape Mode.
Turn off the flash. If you can’t turn it off, try covering it with something like tape.
If you want full-framed shots, you should use a telephoto lens. Keep your tripod head loose and follow the tracer with your viewfinder. Release the shutter when it explodes. To include most of the fireworks in a scene, the regular lens is fine. Zoom in enough to compose all your fireworks.
Make sure there are no unwanted buildings or lights in frame that will distract from the final shot.
Merge the fireworks together using Image Manipulation software. It’s a lot easier to get an image with lots of fireworks if you take lots of images separately and merge them together afterwards on a computer. You can even make some fireworks appear smaller or larger to make a more balanced and pleasing composition. The quickest way to merge firework images is to use Photoshop and the “Screen” layer merge option.
Every situation is unique so the best advice is to go to a place that regularly runs fireworks shows and get lots of practice.
Night scenes are some of the most difficult to shoot and get right in digital photography. My "Depth Of Field Secrets" course has a bonus showing you exactly how to take great night shots - by walking you through how I did it.
TE QUIERO MUCHO !!!!:)
December 28, 2006 @ 5:13 am
Highly interesting!
Your info will make our pics of this van Gogh village, Nuenen, far more exciting next Sunday/Monday night - -
December 28, 2006 @ 10:59 am
Great - I´ve never tried to shot fireworks before. I´ll enjoy doing it next Sunday.
December 28, 2006 @ 9:03 pm
Just curious, is covering the flash with tape (or anything for that matter) good advice? Isn’t that potentially harmful for the flash?
December 29, 2006 @ 10:04 am
Hi Dave !
I would like to take this breif moment to thank you very much for all these tips that you have sentme; some of them have been very usefull.
Have a very Happy New Year (2007) with lots of health so that you can keep up sending these tips.
Merci beaucoup,
Jean-Marc,
Canada.
December 30, 2006 @ 6:01 am
Good advice. Have tried to shot fireworks many times with quite poor results. It is possible this Sunday I will get some good shots.
Wish you a wonderful new year.
Regards from Brazil.
Adilson
December 30, 2006 @ 6:38 am
Hi Dave!
I would like to thank you for all the free tips that you have given this year. They are really useful for me as I have to train my students on how to take great pictures. I hope there’s more to come in the new year. Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Shirin
December 30, 2006 @ 3:56 pm
i read ur tips.. and it gave me ideas on how to set.. i first use the 1st few fireworks to set my focusing… it really is hard to shoot fireworks because it only last for 15 seconds for some… but i still played around with my shutter speed… i sometimes use 1 second or 1.3 second or 1.6 second or 2 seconds but no more than 5 seconds because its too bright.. you check it out on my kathryn0521.multiply.com pls have time to browse my pictures and comment if i’ve done right and wrong… tnx..
January 1, 2007 @ 4:33 am
Hey David,
Thanks for all the free tips that I received last months. It’s really generous that you share your useful knowledge with all of us.
January 12, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Your tips have been easy to understand and useful, unlike so many other sources, and really appreciated.
February 1, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Great tips as always. Some digital cameras can also create composite images from two or more images right in your camera. This photograph is a composite of 2 shots from my Nikon D200 created “in camera”. The fireworks were shot on one end of town and the windmill was on the other end of town with about 10 frames separating the two. Spot healing, dodging, and burning were then done in PhotoShop CS2 to finish the blending of the two shots. If anyone would like specific camera data just ask via email and I will be happy to provide.
Craig –.
February 6, 2007 @ 7:04 am
Hi David
I love your tip’s please could you give me some advice on the best way to take photo’s in the snow
Please many thank’s
Steve
February 9, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Great tips as always. Your tips have been easy to understand and useful, unlike so many other sources, and really appreciated. Thank you.
February 27, 2007 @ 5:49 am
Hi Dave thank you for all the information that you’ve put into your blogs. I have shot fireworkes before with success, and your information confirms my action. But above all the most helpful info is to pratices as much as possible.
Peter/San Diego Ca.
February 27, 2007 @ 11:42 am
cheerz i can never get it just right gr8 advise much appreciated, cheers
February 28, 2007 @ 8:58 am
Well done Kathryn Depano, I checked your website,
http://kathryn0521.multiply.com/
one of the firework items is a Crackling Glitter Volcano Fountain.
They can have a burn time duration of up to 90 seconds (very handy time-window for photographers), they are close proximity fwks (can be fired within a few meters downwind of people)
Fountains often make for much more interesting fireworks photos than the
big high-altitude aerial star-shells. Fountains are great for wedding photos.
Imagine the bridal couple in foreground, with several Volcano Fountains going off in background, against a fading sunset.
Cheers,
Paul Buckley
Fireworks Operator
Perth, Western Australia
“Paint The Sky With Flowers Of Coloured Fire”
March 4, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Sos un maestro, los tips funcionan y son muy útiles. Mil Gracias.
March 8, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Hi Guys,
. Please have a look at one of my try at the fireworks. I have used picasa to create the collage effect. Pic is here..
Wonderful article. I wish it was there before 31st fireworks at Navy Pier, Chicago.
http://itssubhamoy.blogspot.com/2007/01/2006-goes-to-2007.html#links
Waiting for your comments in my blog page
Subhamoy
March 11, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Fantastic tips!!..I had history of bad fireworks photos…was trying to learn better things…Thanks…that’s quite helpful
April 4, 2007 @ 1:04 am
Thanks good and clear tips
April 18, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
Hi,
Visiting disneyland in California in September and want to get some fireworks shots , interested to hear from anyone who may have taken some there.
Cheers,
John
May 6, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Fireworks always go off in the same area. Use a tripod and figure where they will go off, a zoom lens is good, better to crop. If you have a “B” ( Bulb )on your camera use that. Most digital cameras have them also. When you figure where the fireworks go off, as soon as you see the streamer going up. Hold the shutter release open until the fireworks go dark. No need to focus, they are to far away. Put the lens on Infinity and have fun making beautiful colorful fireworks.
Jim — Professional Photographer
May 16, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Hi David, Excuse me by not writing you before, but it is because I do not have much time, your tips are really good, some tips I know them but others I did not know them, I would like to recommend your course, but my friends do not speak english and the course is in english, well, my english is not perfect but I try.
Thanks a lot by your tips!
In the next e-mail I am going to send you some shots about my city and people.
Your friend and student Gregorio Martinez from Mexico.
May 25, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Never had much luck with fireworks, these tips are gonna help.thanks.
June 8, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
I can’t wait for the next event here and try the tips on fireworks shooting. I know I tried that before with the point and shoot camera and the result was just unsatisfactory.
Thanks David
June 25, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Thanks for the tips. I can’t wait to try them out this Saturday night!!!
July 6, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
As a semi-retired professional, I was intrigued to subscribe to your tips and I must say that your advice is top notch.
Anyone who doubts this should visit http://www.digital-photo-forum.com
where the standard of photography is exceptional. I know that many of the subscribers there read your tips and it shows.
For more great inspiration, signing into this forum is my advice!
Thanks for doing such a great job to encourage budding photographers everywhere.
Kind regards,
John
July 7, 2007 @ 11:14 pm
Thank u very much David! Its so cool to do what u do! Its just in time as u say for the firewors! Maybe ill have one on Saturday but Ill be on a boat so the camera will not be stable, but ill try some tricks! Have a good time.
Friendly.
Vince*
July 12, 2007 @ 3:54 am
hello every body,
First of all, i want to thank David, it’s very good topic about fire work photography, you gave us very good hints.
Thanx agian
Shahid
July 15, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
thanks David, wait till i get my DSLR.. hehe
July 30, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
Since receiving your photo comments, I am taking much better shots. Thank you
August 10, 2007 @ 7:05 am
Just yesterday night I went to a firework show, but failed many shoots. Now, after reading your comments I know how to do it better. Thanks!
August 17, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Thanks a lot!
September 18, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Just a question? Is it best to use the manual mode with as narrow an aperture as possible and long shutter speeds at infinite focus on a tripod? Thanks.
October 26, 2007 @ 2:35 am
Thanks Dave,
It is best tips for taking photos of fireworks so far…
I’ll try this technique next time…
Have a great day
Cheers,
Trang.
November 1, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
hai frends,
fireworks we can used nicely now!
thanks david
November 11, 2007 @ 3:56 am
Thank u Dave!
November 14, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
I know this info has been around a while, but I wanted to add one more tip.
If possible, shoot in Bulb mode. On a “good” SLR this is the last shutter speed-found after 30 seconds. In bulb mode, the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the shutter release (which pretty much has to be a cable release/remote.) You can hold it down for 5 secs, 10, 1 minute…
Press the release BEFORE a rocket is launched and release when the sky is dark again, or when a particular explosion is “complete”.
December 6, 2007 @ 12:49 am
You refer to the use of a cable release but, as far as I am aware, digital cameras appear not to have a place to screw in a cable release unlike my old film camera. The exposure delay is not very useful and I do not have remote control so, what do you suggest?
December 26, 2007 @ 4:09 am
Thanks for all the tips… I just took some fireworks photos a few days ago and remembered your hints… I think that they turned out quite good…
January 31, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
Hi David.. thanks alot for your tips.. ur tips help me alot to get a nice shoot..
March 25, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
Can you explain how ISO sensitivity can affect taking pictures of fireworks. Thank you
April 23, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
Great tips for night time photography..Especially, where fireworks are concerned.
Thanks for the info!
May 7, 2008 @ 6:15 am
I am really enjoying all your very useful tips
Ihave tried some of them and find them most helpful
I will be trying them all no doubt.
Thank you david.
June 13, 2008 @ 5:54 am
Hi, David.
Can u pls explain what is the meaning of Shutter speed, or aperature in Digital camera? Where exactly this shutter operation is carried out in p&s camera. And How Shutter speed is related to quality of photography?
June 19, 2008 @ 9:11 pm
Hi Manjo,
The concept of Aperture and Shutter speeds and how they relate to each other is unfortunately a little more complex than I can explain in a paragraph answer. I do have a course that explains it all in simple terms.
July 13, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Thank you my photography tuitor. All your explanation works well. Only I need more practices and have to remember it.
July 29, 2008 @ 7:27 pm