Capturing the Rockets’ Red Glare

With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, you will have a great opportunity to practice some of your photography skills. Getting good fireworks photos can be fun and easy, following these simple tips.

Lengthen the Exposure Time: Keeping in mind that the average firework burst from launch to fadeout lasts anywhere from three to thirty seconds, you’ll want to keep your camera’s shutter open to capture this progression. A faster shutter speed will “stop” the action resulting in specks of lights, where a slower shutter speed will create the streams of light that follow the burst.

Use a Tripod: When using these longer exposure times, it is very important that your camera be well grounded. The easiest way to do this is by using a tripod for stability. You want your camera to remain as motionless as possible for the clearest and sharpest images. Using your camera’s cable release will also help to minimize the risk of camera shake.

Pick a Great Location: Although not as critical as the exposure time and use of a tripod, the location that you choose can add some extra luster to your images. When choosing your set-up spot, try to align your camera at a right angle to the wind. Why, you ask? Well, as the firework show progresses, the smoke will start to linger and create a haze over the nice dark background that you were using. By being at a right angle, the smoke will be blown out of your view faster. Also as your choose your location, avoid any regular city lights in the background. Even the smallest light will distract from your focal point.

Use a Long Focus Distance: There are two ways of using your camera to select the focus distance. Both of them are effective and the choice is a personal one. By using the auto focus setting on your camera, you can set it to infinity and let the camera do the work. Or you can use your manual setting to focus on the first few bursts until you decide the aperture. Because of the brightness of the firework bursts, you will want to use smaller apertures; a larger aperture will cause the colors to look washed out in the final image.

Whether you are a beginner or seasoned photographer, using these tips are sure to help you capture some great shots. Remember to relax and have fun. Don’t spend the entire evening looking through your camera lens; enjoy some of the show while it is in progress. Then take home some fun photos to enjoy the rest of the year!

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