Firework Photography

If you're photographing fireworks near water, remember to allow plenty space to include the reflection too. You can always crop your picture later to improve the composition.

You don't need to get too close, as sometimes the most dramatic pictures are taken from a distance.

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How to Photograph Fireworks

Firework displays are exciting and fun, and what better way to capture the magic than by photography?

Being able to capture the moment with your camera is a useful skill, and with only a little knowledge and some practice you should soon be able to photograph fireworks successfully and create some of your most memorable and spectacular shots ever.

Do I need Special Equipment to Photograph Fireworks?

Many cameras now provide you with sufficient controls to let you photograph fireworks. For information specific to your camera it's worth checking the user manual. However, you should still read the following information and tips.

Film Camera or Digital Camera?

If you are using a film-based camera to photograph fireworks, be sure to carry extra film - and take a torch, unless you know you can change your film in darkness! Remember to have plenty film left to capture the grand finale, as usually the biggest and best fireworks are kept until last!

If you are using a digital camera to photograph fireworks, make sure you have plenty memory to allow you to take lots of pictures. The more you take, the better your chance of capturing that 'one-in-a-million' shot. Also make sure your camera's battery is fully-charged.

What Exposure for Photographing Fireworks?

All cameras need sufficient light entering the camera's lens in order to register an acceptable image. Simple cameras are limited by their fixed settings as they are designed for ease of use under normal light conditions. More advanced cameras have adjustable shutter speeds and aperture (f/stop) settings, which may be automatically, or manually controlled - depending upon the camera.

What Shutter Speed?

The camera's shutter speed controls the length of the exposure in seconds, or fractions of seconds.
To photograph a single firework, such as a rocket, you will likely need around a one, or two second exposure - anything less is unlikely to capture the full burst, but it's well worth experimenting with much longer exposures too, in order to capture multiple fireworks within the same picture. Read below for more information on keeping your camera steady.

What Aperture?

Within the camera's lens, there is an adjustable diaphragm which controls the amount of light which enters. If your camera has f/stop numbers - they mean the greater the number, the less light can enter - and vice versa. For photographing fireworks try around f/8 to f/16. With a digital camera, you can of course check your pictures right away. If, on checking, a firework looks 'washed-out' and appears to have lost its colour, try reducing the aperture (increasing the f/number) to reduce the amount of light . Or, if the firework image appears too faint, try increasing the aperture (reducing the f/number) to let more light in. Just do it one stop at a time, as each change either doubles or halves the previous light transmission. For example: f/ll lets in half the light of f/8, but twice the light of f/16.

What Film Speed - or Digital Camera Setting?

This alters the degree of sensitivity to the available light.
For example: ISO 200 is more sensitive than ISO 100.
A setting of ISO 200 should be fine, but ISO 100 and ISO 400 should be OK too.

What Lens/Zoom?

If your camera offers this feature, your choice should depend upon your viewing distance. Aim to have the complete path of the biggest firework within the frame area (plus foreground/reflection - if required) and allow for a little extra too. Therefore, the closer you are, the wider the angle of lens (or zoom setting) you'll likely need to use.

What Focus?

If your camera can be set manually to focus on infinity, then do so.
If your camera relies on one of its auto programs, if there's a 'landscape' setting, use it. This may look like a little mountain icon. Consult your user manual for additional information.

What Quality Setting? (digital cameras)

Using a high-quality (high-resolution) setting will give you the highest quality image, which your camera is capable of. This is particularly important because of the nature of the subject, and the way in which most digital cameras process the image. Also, it should enable you to crop and enlarge your shot without degrading the quality of your image too much.

Location - How Far Back?

Don't think that you need to get close, as shots taken from a distance can often turn out to be the best. In fact, to capture the full path of a rocket you may need to be quite far back. And, since you don't know what fireworks will be launched next, it also means you have more chance of including everything within the frame - making it easier to crop your image later for the best composition. In any event, try to ensure you will have a clear, unobstructed view of where the fireworks will be exploding.

If you are lucky enough to be near water, such as a river or lake, you may even be able to include the reflection of the fireworks to create an extra special shot. For important events, arriving early can give you the opportunity to pick out the best locations.

Keeping Your Camera Steady

From start-to-finish a firework, such as a rocket, can take several seconds, so your camera's shutter needs to stay open for this duration. Also, if you are able to keep the shutter open for longer, you may be able to capture other fireworks in the same exposure. This can result in some dramatic shots, but these long exposures require your camera to be held steady for the whole duration.
In order to hold your camera steady for that length of time, you are best to mount it on a tripod, if you have one. Alternatively, you may be able to prop it up on some other convenient solid object, such as a wall or a fence post. Even if you are unable to hold your camera steady, you can still try a 'hand-held' shot. Although all the trails of light are likely to turn-out blurred or streaky, the end result may still be quite spectacular.

Remember, that some of the best 'arty' shots happen by accident.
Even if you are using a tripod, you can further reduce the risk of vibration when you press the shutter button by using a cable-release, if your camera is equipped for this. Alternatively, you can use the self-timer option on your camera.

What About Using Flash?

Typically, it would be best to avoid the use of flash. If your camera has automatic flash, then switch it off. If you can't switch it off, try sticking a piece of tape over the flash to obscure it. Normal flash wouldn't have any effect on capturing the fireworks in the sky but, if left on, it could make the foreground distracting. However, if you have an interesting foreground (and like experimenting and trying something different) you can try to balance the flash, or even use a colour filter (or coloured paper) over the flash to cast a different coloured light to your foreground. Be prepared for a bit of trial-and-error though!

Other Information

Note, your photographs of fireworks will look quite different compared to how you saw them originally with the naked eye, as each part of the exploding firework which you will see as a moving point of light is captured as a trail of light by the camera.

If you are using a film camera, it may be worth mentioning, to your photolab before processing, that you have pictures of fireworks. The operator may be able to manually adjust their equipment's settings for better-looking prints.

If you have used a digital camera and load your pictures onto your computer, you should also have a photo-editing program, which will give you total control over cropping and further adjustments prior to printing your shots.

If you take any good firework photographs after having followed our advice, be sure to let us see them. We may even include the best ones on this page!

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