How-To Tips™
Photographing Fireworks

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Photographing fireworks can be stressful but rewarding if properly executed. Like with any task, knowing the tricks make the production of the results easier and more effective. This is why we wrote this How-to Tip on how to photography fireworks. We would appreciate your feedback; tell us what you think.

Photographing fireworks with an SLR camera

Before you can photograph fireworks it is best to know what you are dealing with and how to prepare effectively. Photographing fireworks with an SLR is different than using a point-and-shoot camera. The main reason is there are a lot more items to take into consideration. Below will give an outline of how to prepare and execute photographing fireworks.

Preparation

The preparation for photographing fireworks will vary depending on wether you are using a digital or film camera. In parentheses will be an indication whether it is for digital or film cameras only.

1. Choose the correct film type (FILM ONLY). Choosing the correct film type is critical in photographing fireworks. You want your fireworks photographs to look as colorful as possible. Choose a film type that is known to or you know will produce beautiful colors. From experience, I recommend Kodak Max or Fujicolor Superia.
2. Choose the correct film speed. Film speed determines how sensitive the film or sensor will be to incoming light. The higher the film speed the smaller the shutter speed can get. Unfortunately, the higher the film speed the grainier the image gets. I recommend ISO speeds between 400 and 1600. An ISO speed of 400 is a little slow but, since fireworks are usually very bright, you can still take a great photograph without using too slow of a shutter speed. I would recommend an ISO speed of 800. I personally do not like 1600 ISO because it is a little grainy.
3. Acquire a tripod. A tripod is good for stability and is optional to have. If your film speed is high enough and shutter speed is fast enough, you may not need it. Yet, it would not hurt to have one because it improves stability and if you know the display area of the fireworks it can help in composing the image.
4. Choose a good location. Location, location, location. Need I say more? If you can be in a position where you have the best view of your subject, in any scenario, you are more likely to take a well composed image.
5. Stock up. Get extra batteries, film, and/or media cards. Acquire and bring anything that could be a limiting factor or an item of use.

Execution -- taking the photographs

After all the preparation, now it is time to take fireworks photographs. This part can be very stressful but extremely rewarding if executed correctly. Below is a list of items to consider while photographing fireworks.

1. Set up your station. Set up your tripod. Determine where the fireworks will be located. Have all your film or digital media cards easily available. Bring enough batteries. If you've done your preparation, this should not take very long.
2. Calibrate. Use the first few fireworks to calibrate your camera. The first set of the fireworks are not the best, so you can afford to sacrife them. Wait until a red or green firework to calibrate. Use your camera's internal meter and center it at zero on the red or green firework. This is because red and green are close to middle gray and zero on your internal meter is for middle gray. Reminder: Do not let your shutter speed be slower than 1/60 seconds if you are not using a tripod, otherwise your photographs will be blurry. To keep your shutter speed faster than 1/60 seconds, use a fast film speed or a small aperture.
3. Photograph fireworks. You should be ready to photograph fireworks now. Use the basic principles of composing photographs and they will come out excellent.

Photographing fireworks with a point-and-shoot camera

As stated earlier, to take the best fireworks photographs, it is best to know what you are dealing with and how to prepare effectively. Photographing fireworks with a point-and-shoot camera is a little simpler than using an SLR. The preparation for photographing with a point-and-shoot is essentially the same with an SLR. Below will give an outline of how to prepare and execute photographing fireworks effectively.

Preparation

The preparation for photographing fireworks will vary depending on wether you are using a digital or film camera. In parentheses will be an indication whether it is for digital or film cameras only.

1. Choose the correct film type (FILM ONLY). Choosing the correct film type is critical in photographing fireworks. You want your fireworks photographs to look as colorful as possible. Choose a film type that is known to or you know will produce beautiful colors. From experience, I recommend Kodak Max or Fujicolor Superia.
2. Choose the correct film speed. Film speed determines how sensitive the film or sensor will be to incoming light. The higher the film speed the smaller the shutter speed can get. Unfortunately, the higher the film speed the grainier the image gets. I recommend ISO speeds between 400 and 1600. An ISO speed of 400 is a little slow but, since fireworks are usually very bright, you can still take a great photograph without using too slow of a shutter speed. I would recommend an ISO speed of 1600 because some point-and-shoot cameras do not allow for metering. Unfortunately, the image might be a little grainy. If your point-and-shoot has metering capabilities, then I recommend an ISO of 800.
3. Acquire a tripod. A tripod is good for stability and is optional to have. If your film speed is high enough and shutter speed is fast enough, you may not need it. Yet, it would not hurt to have one because it improves stability and if you know the display area of the fireworks it can help in composing the image.
4. Choose a good location. Location, location, location. Need I say more? If you can be in a position where you have the best view of your subject, in any scenario, you are more likely to take a well composed image.
5. Stock up. Get extra batteries, film, and/or media cards. Acquire and bring anything that could be a limiting factor or an item of use.

Execution -- taking the photographs

After all the preparation, now it is time to take fireworks photographs. This part can be very stressful but extremely rewarding if executed correctly. Below is a list of items to consider while photographing fireworks.

1. Set up your station. Set up your tripod. Determine where the fireworks will be located. Have all your film or digital media cards easily available. Bring enough batteries. If you've done your preparation, this should not take very long.
2. Calibrate. If your camera does not have metering capabilities, skip this step. Use the first few fireworks to calibrate your camera. The first set of the fireworks are not the best, so you can afford to sacrife them. Wait until a red or green firework to calibrate. Use your camera's internal meter and center it at zero on the red or green firework. This is because red and green are close to middle gray and zero on your internal meter is for middle gray.
3. Photograph fireworks. You should be ready to photograph fireworks now. Use the basic principles of composing photographs and they will come out excellent.

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