How to photograph fireworks? Can I do this without a tripod? Is it obligatory shoot fireworks with a DSLR or can you achieve good quality with a soap dish?

Such thoughts usually arise on the eve of national holidays. I would like not just to photograph the fireworks anyhow, but to get beautiful interesting photos. At the same time, it is advisable not to break away from the atmosphere of general jubilation, but to photograph, as it were, between things, not to be tied up by a tripod or other heavy photographic equipment.

This article was written in hot pursuit. Just died down salute of Victory on May 9, 2015... After processing the photos, I realized that the shooting was quite a success. Photos of the fireworks turned out to be bright, clear, not blurry. Due to additional processing, the digital noise of the matrix was eliminated. If you want, you can.

Of course, this fireworks cannot be compared with what happened in Moscow. Nevertheless, in order to understand the strategy of photographing such fire shows, it is quite enough. Let's summarize the rules for shooting fireworks.

1. When shooting fireworks, immediately turn off the flash

You know, in the crowd of observers there are always "craftsmen" who shoot fireworks. And on a full machine. Fireworks usually take place in the dark, so a camera operating in automatic mode is trying by hook or by crook to add light to the frame. To do this, he uses the built-in flash.

The absurdity of this approach is understandable, if only by the fact that not a single professional photographer, who can be nearby and also shoot fireworks, will never attach an external flash to his camera. And what is actually to be highlighted? After all, the fireworks itself is so very, very bright. Against the background of an almost black sky, the picture turns out to be so contrasting that, at best, when shooting with a flash on a machine, you will get the same black sky and white (not colored, but white) trails from missiles and the missiles themselves.

Therefore, before shooting the fireworks, you must immediately turn off the built-in flash. Such an opportunity is provided even on cheap soap dishes and iPhones, beloved by many.

2. Why are my photos very grainy and blurry?

The camera, deprived of the ability to illuminate the scene with a flash, goes to plan "B" :). So that when shooting at night, and we have such a thing, enough light gets on the matrix, the camera can do one of three (and most often all at once):

• increase - the time when light enters the matrix through the lens,
• fully open - after all, during daytime shooting, it covers itself so as not to "overexpose" the frame,
• increases (the same ISO)

The first approach results in blurry images if you shoot without a tripod, since shutter speeds can be as long as a few seconds. No one, not even a professional photographer, not even a Hercules with stone muscles, will be able to hold the camera absolutely still for a few seconds.

In addition, instead of beautiful domes of fireworks flashes, you will get some kind of strange ridiculous white daub. Indeed, in a few seconds while the shooting is in progress, all the rockets have time to burn out and go out, and their trajectory remains in the photograph.

With a fully open aperture, some lenses begin to produce a not very sharp blurry picture, and the depth of field clearly leaves much to be desired.

Well, increasing the ISO always introduces digital noise into the photo.

Now add all of the above and you can imagine what kind of photos you can get.

How to deal with this?

3. Choose a DSLR for shooting fireworks

No matter how much we want it, compact cameras, with rare exceptions, will not give us gorgeous photos of a heavenly fire show. There are, of course, expensive good compacts with large matrices, but they cost so much that you can buy a DSLR for this money.

So if you are still in hesitation as to whether which camera is better to buy, DSLR or compact, then a DSLR is better for shooting fireworks.

Why?

The fact is that they have a larger matrix (not in megapixels, but in millimeters). There is a well-known rule: the larger the matrix, the less it "makes noise". For example, the photographs of the fireworks that you can see in are taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera with a so-called full-size sensor (large outer rectangle):

Matrices of more modest budget DSLRs are shown in the lower left corner. Of course, they are smaller in area than a full-frame sensor (it is marked with the inscription Film 35 mm), therefore - more "noise".

And on the right are the matrices of conventional compact cameras. Probably you yourself understand what kind of picture can turn out with a matrix with an area of ​​half a little finger marigold. Whatever the camera vendors say about "modern progressive software noise reduction," don't listen. The laws of physics have not yet been canceled, and the final quality of a photograph mainly depends on what the matrix "sees".

Therefore, the advice is very simple: if you want to photograph fireworks - buy a DSLR.

4. Use a fast lens

This is a recommendation not only for owners of DSLRs or with interchangeable lenses. The fact is that some compacts now have very good lenses in terms of aperture ratio. For example, in my compact camera, the aperture opens to an almost incredible (for a compact) value of 1.8.

7. Shoot RAW

If you are not yet familiar with this format, I invite you to read the article:.
Having shot fireworks in this format, you get a much greater opportunity for further processing of photos than if you were shooting just in JPEG.

Unfortunately, this shooting format is available only in SLR and fairly advanced compact cameras. It may not be in an inexpensive soap dish.

8. Get ready to process the captured photos

Your photos will look much more attractive if you process them. I highly recommend mastering the Adobe Lightroom program. After her, the photos look much more interesting. Taking this opportunity, I invite you to watch the description of my video course on photo editing in Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Lightroom CC. Suddenly, you are not quite good at these programs yet, but would really like to understand them.

Summarize:

In order to take successful photographs of the fireworks, you need to find some elevation nearby, take a DSLR camera, screw a good high-aperture lens to it, set the shutter speed to about 1/15, and open the aperture completely.

Next, take a control shot and use it to set the required sensitivity of the matrix. Keep in mind that the fireworks themselves will be much brighter than the city lights, so choose the ISO so that they (city lights) are not very bright. Otherwise, the fireworks will be overexposed. Don't worry about "losing the city"in the pictures. The bouquets of fireworks will work like a powerful flashlight for you and will illuminate several blocks around the event site.

Right:

Not right:

The first volleys of fireworks are your litmus test. After the first shot, you need to quickly see what you get on the screen and, if necessary, just as quickly adjust the sensitivity value. It is the sensitivity, not the shutter speed and aperture.

Sometimes it turns out that its sensitivity can be reduced if the bouquets of fireworks are overexposed.

I think you will agree that it is better to adjust the parameters and shoot the remaining volleys properly than to shoot a bunch of overexposed shots, in which the bouquets will be just white spots.

You can also turn off autofocus and focus in advance on the place where the bouquets of fireworks will appear. It's just that in some cameras autofocus works very slowly. It can spoil your mood a lot.

The longer the fireworks go, the more smoke becomes in the air. He begins to scatter light, blur the picture. Therefore, the very first volleys are obtained against the background of a black sky, and the last ones in beautiful smoky halos (or ugly ones - whoever likes that).

Keep in mind that the last salute is the most ambitious. Don't miss them!

Well ... it's even somehow inconvenient to write this, but still. Going out on a photo hunt for fireworks, check the battery charge level and how much free space is left on the memory card. And then you know how it sometimes happens :) ...

When it's time for the holidays, photographers have the opportunity to add some unique, striking shots to their portfolios. Photos of joyful people, jewelry, fun and, of course, a beautiful end to the evening - fireworks! It is quite difficult for a photographer of any level to shoot fireworks, there is little practice, in large cities fireworks are not more often than 5-7 times a year. Therefore, you need to make the most of the available chances. You need to understand and know the main points and prerequisites for obtaining high-quality pictures of fireworks.

The shooting process is conventionally divided into 3 main stages:

• preparation carried out in advance;
• camera settings;
• directly shooting.

  Then the resulting frames need to be properly processed, flaws corrected, and artistic effects added.

Equipment required for shooting fireworks

The decision about the upcoming shooting has been made, now you need to get pretty well prepared. And this applies not only to a careful study of the instructions. You will have to shoot at a long exposure, so you need to provide for camera stabilization. We are looking for an opportunity to lean on a parapet, branch or other object as a backup. But to obtain high quality images, you will need additional equipment:

• Of the budget options, the best stabilizer is a tripod. It must be selected according to the weight of the camera and the adjustment possibilities. If the camera with the lens weighs 3-4 kg, then the tripod should be taken with a margin, it must withstand 5 kg of load. And the rest of the possibilities - he must raise the camera high enough - up to 2 meters, be able to turn the platform in three directions.

• The second important point is the ability to release the shutter remotely. You can use a cable release or wireless controller to avoid jerking the camera when you press the button. You can, of course, shoot using the self-timer or burst mode, but no one can choose the right moment for the picture better than the head and hands of the photographer.
• SLR camera. You can try to shoot fireworks with a compact camera or telephone. But a high level of quality means using only a DSLR.
• The camera, tripod and remote control are enough for shooting fireworks. For your own convenience, you can bring a high chair, hot tea, warm clothes, several interchangeable lenses, filters, additional memory cards and batteries.

Preparing for filming

When the date for the launch of the fireworks has been determined, you need to start preparing a couple of days in advance. This includes:

• choice of shooting angle;
• trial footage from the scene at night.

Everything is done to save time - in the process of launching the fireworks there are 10-15 minutes for shooting, and it is a pity to spend them on preparation and "zeroing". To look around, we leave for the place of the proposed shooting. It is necessary to find an interesting angle, the absence of trees and heaps, the review must be free. Choosing an angle, it is desirable that both the fireworks and part of the landscape fall into the frame.

The reflection of flashes of light in the water looks beautiful. For the right angle, you can find a dais so that the fireworks are almost on the same level with the camera. Thus, we are looking for the perfect location for filming, it can take a day or a week, so we start preparing in advance.

The location has been found, come back here again at night, take a few shots, evaluate the presence of lights, reflections, shadows and the overall picture. If this is not taken into account, on the day of filming, an unpleasant surprise may await in the form of a bright light source in front of the lens. And the landscape looks different at night.

Camera settings for shooting fireworks

The place has been chosen, the sighting shots have been made, the equipment has been prepared, the batteries are charged and the memory cards have been cleared - we are going to the chosen position 2-3 hours before the fireworks. We set up the tripod, fix the camera, and start adjusting the parameters.

RAW

We shoot preferably in this format, since then you will have to edit the pictures in the editor, and it allows you to change many parameters. For example, noise and graininess. Of course, the pictures weigh much more, for this they provided spare memory cards.

Setting the camera horizontally

The only parameter, violation of which has no artistic sense, the overwhelmed pictures do not paint the photographer. Perfect horizon, correct geometry of buildings in the frame.

Choosing the optimal crop type

Horizontal or vertical. We do this in advance - during the filming process, there will be no time to rearrange the camera. The first option is for wide-angle lenses, when the panorama of the city is additionally captured, the rest - vertical framing, taking into account the direction of the volleys.

Defining frame boundaries

Determine in advance the frame where the fireworks balls will be at the moment of disclosure. Cropping can be done on a computer in the editor or at the time of shooting. Once you know the edge of the frame, you can decide when to press the shutter release for the best shot.

Sighting footage

Determine the brightness of the background, take a couple of shots to evaluate If the background is darker than the flashes, take a couple of shots separately, and then combine them in the photo, if the illumination is strong, then the blur of objects can be slightly corrected in the editor.

Camera Mode - Manual Only

No autofocus, autoflash or priority. This is the only way to choose the right settings. For comparison, you can try autotuning - the camera cannot focus on fast-moving objects, there will be little light on the matrix at the moment the fireworks are launched. And when the dome opens, you get a glare.

Focus on infinity

Manual Focus - Set the focus to infinity to capture distant objects or the sky In Auto mode, some cameras will lock the shutter button until they are in focus. Believe me, on this issue you will not come to a consensus with your camera.

Shooting at Medium Values

The fireworks are far enough away, you will most likely be shooting at a hyperfocal distance, so we set the average values. Usually, a closed or very open aperture produces noise and is the limits of the camera's capabilities. We choose a value of f / 8 - f / 16, so the background will be as clear as possible and the quality of the images will be good enough.

Shutter speed, or shutter speed

In automatic mode, choose values ​​from 1 to 20 seconds, this way you get beautiful traces and the frame will be more filled. Some cameras offer bulb exposure. Here you press the button at the beginning of filming and release it as you see fit. All this time, the flaps will be open, so you adjust the shutter speed yourself.

Light absorption, or ISO

Here you can argue and argue about the meanings for a long time. Someone shoots at the minimum value (ISO100), someone claims that the ideal settings are from 150 to 400, some photographers shoot at the maximum closed aperture and ISO1600. It all depends on the level of the camera - professional "powerful" DSLRs may well produce an excellent shot at high ISO values. But it is better to choose 100-150 and not worry about overexposure or noise.

We shoot without flash

Turn off the flash completely, there can be no options here, it will only spoil the frame.

Direction of the wind

Determine the direction of the wind and stand so that it blows in your back. During the volley, smoke appears and moves in the direction of those photographers who did not take this moment into account. Here they will have blurry pictures.

Directly shooting

Changing the camera settings during the fireworks is bad form! Time will be lost, and there is no guarantee of significant improvement in the situation. Therefore, set all the settings, start the process and enjoy the spectacle, occasionally glancing at the picture.

The main task at this moment is to make as many shots as possible, out of a hundred one or two will certainly be interesting. To do this, you can put on a burst mode with a minimum break between shots or constantly press the shutter on the camera or remotely. To increase the shutter speed, turn off the display of frames.
But this advice is relevant when you are 100% confident in your camera and settings. If in doubt, or you are shooting fireworks for the first time, display the histogram on the display and follow the situation by its peaks and waves.

• One more tip - start shooting when the projectile just flies into the sky, this is how both the flash and the tracer will turn out, and the picture will turn out to be filled and interesting.

Don't leave immediately after shooting, check all the frames, you may have to add a landscape from the same angle and frame, but without the lights. Take a few pictures after the fireworks, then you will have the opportunity to combine the frames during editing, getting the maximum sharpness of both the flashes and the buildings around.

Post-processing of ready-made images of fireworks

The final stage of shooting fireworks is their processing at home on a PC. If you shoot in RAW, then when converting, you can remove noise from the picture, sharpen it and correct the color where necessary.

What cannot be fixed in the editor

1. obstruction of the horizon;
2. light from nearby lanterns;
3. the absence of a picture of fireworks in the picture, or a crooked picture;
4. wrong exposure;
5. camera shake when shooting handheld;
6. cloudiness of the picture from smoke;
7. objects or people suddenly getting in the way.

The rest of all questions are solved by cropping, adjusting and applying effects to the finished picture.

Shooting fireworks without preparation

Beginning photographers are frightened by situations when at a wedding it suddenly turns out that guests are giving young people a festive fireworks display, for example. Or a trip to another city gives you the unexpected opportunity to practice shooting fireworks.

And any other situation when there is no time and opportunity to carefully prepare, there is no tripod or the required lens, the shooting angle and the place where the fireworks are launched are unknown. There are some tips for getting great shots, even then.

1. We stand in such a way as to take the widest possible angle; 18mm will be enough for shooting "home" fireworks.
2. We choose the RAW format, there can be no options here, because the quality of the picture is already a big question. In this case, you can at least edit the image.
3. Since we shoot without a tripod, the light is important to us. Therefore, open the aperture as much as possible, less than f / 6.
4. Turn off the automatic ISO setting, choose high enough values, from 800 - this will allow you to capture the necessary light, and the noise can then be removed during post-processing.
5. We shoot in manual focus mode, autofocus locks the shutter button and will not allow shooting until it is adjusted. This can kill time and interfere with the shooting of the fireworks. In manual mode, set the focus to infinity, it is important for us to photograph the sky and what is happening in it, the landscape is not so important here.
6. We take the shutter speed 1/20 - 1/100 and try to keep the camera as even as possible, even a breath can "knock" the picture.
7. If your camera supports the image stabilization mode, then be sure to turn it on, we will need an additional assistant. If you have something to support your hands with the camera, then we use it, any support option will do.
8. Burst shooting at the highest possible speed is perfect here, the more frames, the higher the chances of getting something decent and amenable to processing.
9. In the process of shooting, you can slightly adjust the aperture and shutter speed parameters, in fact, it will immediately become clear what to change and in which direction. In the field and in extreme conditions, all settings and parameters are mastered faster, an understanding comes of what to turn, how to change and what will come of it.
10. Most importantly, the fireworks are very fast, you have about 5-7 minutes to shoot everything. If that makes some good shots, great. And so that such situations do not frighten you, regularly go to the shooting of fireworks, practice choosing the best options and try different settings.

Conclusions from the above

The brightest shots come from shooting the holidays - laughing children, jewelry and fireworks. And every photographer will gladly add such pictures to his portfolio. Taking pictures of fireworks is not difficult if you know certain rules, as in any other genre.

Main points

• Camera stabilization;
• Long exposure;
• Correct angle;
• Thorough preparation for filming.

If we take these points into account, then the pictures will be juicy and of high quality. They will not be ashamed to display them under their own signature, offer them for sale or give them to the newlyweds, if the fireworks were in honor of the wedding. Train, practice and quality will come with experience.

Not all novice photographers know how to photograph fireworks correctly. This will not be difficult to learn.

Leave the soap dish at home

It is worthwhile to immediately make it clear - cheap "soap dishes" and compacts (with rare exceptions) are not capable of high-quality shooting of fireworks. Therefore, if you want to get good pictures, bring your DSLR camera with you. Perhaps you have been suffering for a long time from the fact that your CD does not produce the photo of the quality that you expect, the pictures are sent in bales to the basket due to unrecoverable noise, blurring and other shortcomings. There is only one way out - stop tormenting a compact camera, buy a SLR.

Camera settings

The camera is selected, now you need to figure out how to photograph the fireworks on a DSLR. First of all, you need to learn how to "communicate" with the camera. If you opened the manual for the device 5 minutes before the fireworks, there will be no good photography.

It is best if your camera is equipped with a large sensor. The value of the matrix is ​​indicated by the Kf value or the crop factor. If this value is 1, then the sensor is full size, and you will get great pictures (if you do not neglect further tips). By the way, cameras with such characteristics cost a lot of money. But don't despair, with Kf equal to 1.6 or even 1.9 you can get good photos. But with a "soap box", Kf of which is often equal to 5 - 6 or more, problems may arise.

Fireworks for greater sharpness of space are filmed with a relatively closed aperture. Its values ​​must be set in the range 7.1 - 9.0.

Bulb

Some cameras have a “Bulb” mode, which is perfect for shooting fireworks. It is remarkable in that you can control the shutter speed: the curtains will open when you press the shutter and close when you remove your finger from the button. In this case, it is worth pressing the trigger at the moment the volley is fired, and releasing the button during the full disclosure of the fireworks, that is, before it goes out. We recommend using this mode in conjunction with the remote control and tripod.

Focusing needs to be switched to manual mode, automatic is often slow. Try to focus in advance on the place where the fireworks will be.

Be careful when setting ISO values. For a professional camera with a full-size sensor, a range of 150 - 400 units is suitable. If you want sharper shots, you can close the aperture to 15 - 22 and raise the ISO up to 1600. If you have a budget semi-professional unit, then you shouldn't overestimate the ISO values.

To shoot beautiful bouquets of fireworks, you need to set the exposure correctly. Considering that 1 salvo takes off from the launch site, “dissolves” and goes out in about 1 second, the shutter speed should be set in the range from 1/20 to ½ second. As a result, the question arises: how to photograph fireworks without a tripod? It will turn out to be blurry.

Using a tripod

There are both pros and cons to using a tripod. A definite plus is that your photos are guaranteed not to be blurry, especially if you use the remote control in conjunction with it to eliminate camera shake due to touching it with your hands.

The downside is that at the time of shooting you may not like the angle, and it is not so easy to move the tripod and set it in the right way quickly.

Instead of a tripod, you can use any stationary object on which you can rest your elbows. This can be a balcony railing, a car hood, or a railing. The main thing is to take as many pictures as possible so that you have plenty to choose from.

Preparation

In order not to get trapped during the fireworks, you need to prepare for its shooting in advance. If you know where the volleys will be fired from, select a location with a good view in advance (several days in advance). It is best to shoot from the height of the fireworks, that is, where it will be possible to shoot it, as it were, from the side - a skyscraper, hill or mountain, from where a good view of the city and future fireworks opens.

It would be nice to take a few test shots in the evening to determine the exact settings.
You need to arrive at the shooting location in advance, otherwise you risk being left without a good angle.

During the first volleys, you can adjust the settings to your liking.

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Whether you are celebrating Victory Day or throwing fireworks for a wedding or birthday, you may be tempted to photograph the fireworks exploding in the sky. A good fireworks always makes a lasting impression, and you probably still have a camera with you. Unfortunately, fireworks photos usually don't even come close to conveying all the beauty, so if you are tired of grainy, blurry, overexposed or underexposed shots, then this article is for you.

Steps

Change the way you shoot. Think of light not as a source of illumination, but as an object. The fireworks themselves affect the exposure, which means you will have to change the way you choose your camera settings. To convey color and shape, you need to vary the exposure and take into account other elements, such as the smoke from gunfire or the flash of light in the background. Knowing how to focus your camera is also important, as autofocus often fails in low light conditions, so be prepared for a lot of work.

Choose a suitable shooting point. Think about which side the missiles will be launched from, and take a place where nothing will obstruct your view. If fireworks are of great interest in your city, come in advance. Determine the direction of the wind and stand so that the wind does not blow away the smoke from the missiles in your direction. Take a location where extraneous light will not enter your lens, as this will overexpose.

Mount the camera on a tripod. Fireworks are usually launched during the holidays, so it's no surprise that your memories of fireworks are usually blurred. However, your shots should be crisp and sharp. Shooting fireworks requires a slow shutter speed, so a tripod will be your indispensable companion. No matter how firm your hand is, it will never be as still as night photography requires.

Make sure the camera is configured correctly. Some cameras have a built-in Fireworks function that saves the owner from having to adjust the camera, but you need to understand what settings can be changed to get the desired image. It is best to set up your camera in advance, as it will be difficult to find the right wheels and toggle buttons in the dark. Double-check your settings before taking photos - this will teach you to better understand the settings and understand the limitations of your camera. In some cases, you will need to make the following changes to the settings:

• Focus on infinity. You are far from your subject, so focus on the lens at infinity and do not change it. If you want to get a close-up image of any detail of the fireworks, use the zoom. If you want the background to be in the frame, you may want to keep it in focus as well. Do not use autofocus - as mentioned above, most cameras do not focus well in the dark.
• Use a closed aperture. Set the aperture value to f5.6-f16. f8 might work as well, but if you are shooting with ISO 200 film, change the value to f16.
• Turn off the flash. Fireworks are always bright, and they explode far from the ground, so the light from your flash will not affect the illumination of the subject; instead, it will make the picture look washed out and expressionless.
• Do not use filters or hoods when shooting.
• If your lens has a stabilizer (IS lenses from Canon or VR lenses from Nikon), disable this function. If you're shooting with a DSLR or film camera, chances are your lens has Image Stabilization (IS, Image Stabilization, and VR, Vibration Reduction, mean the same thing - Canon and Nikon just call it differently), and you leave it is always on when you photograph something. This is a good habit as the Image Stabilizer detects lens movement and compensates for that movement for a sharp shot. However, when the stabilizer cannot pick up vibration, it creates it itself. Therefore, turn off the stabilizer and you will get sharper pictures. (This advice applies not only to shooting fireworks, but also to any other shooting with a tripod.)

1. Compose your shot. At the first flashes, aim the viewfinder at the fireworks to determine where the missiles will explode. Leave the camera in this position. You should not look through the viewfinder when shooting, as this will move the camera from its place and blur the pictures or miss the next volley. If you want large shots of detail, the framing needs to be more accurate, so you may need to tinker with it a little longer. In any case, avoid getting light from foreign objects into your lens, as it will ruin your image with unnecessary reflections or even overexpose it.

   To capture a salute volley from start to finish, leave the bolt open throughout the entire volley. Even if you think it will overexpose the photo, it will not happen if the sky is very dark. Set the maximum shutter speed. To achieve greater clarity, do not touch the camera while the shutter is open. Use an auto shutter speed of 30 seconds or longer. If your camera does not have an auto slow shutter speed, use the remote shutter cable. The BULB setting (B) can be applied, which will keep the shutter open as long as the B button is held down. It is best to open the shutter the moment you hear a shot, and close it only when the flash of fireworks is completely extinguished. A few seconds usually pass between these moments.

2. Make your pictures more interesting. Even high-quality photos of fireworks can be boring. Make them more interesting by adding buildings to the background and people to the front. Choose a location where the fireworks will be seen from an unusual angle. Make sure the camera is well mounted on the tripod and does not wobble, the focal length is correct, and the lens is pointed so that exactly what you want to photograph will hit it.

   • When shooting a series of shots, cover the lens with black cloth or other material in between. A black hat or a piece of heavy black paper will do. This will prevent other light sources from overexposing the picture in the pauses between flashes. Just hold the paper against the lens when the flash goes out and remove it when launching a new rocket into the air.
   • To avoid camera shake, use a timer, if provided with your camera.
   • Use low sensitivity film on a film camera or low ISO on a digital camera. Bright flashes produce enough light to expose a photograph. This setting will also force a camera set to auto to use a slow shutter speed. It is worth shooting at an ISO between 50 and 100, although it seems like it defies common sense. You can increase the ISO up to 200, but these settings are not always suitable. Some photographers like tungsten film or a digital camera setting that simulates the effect of such a film, while others prefer regular daylight film and settings. Both will give their results. If you have a digital camera, shoot at ISO 50 to 100.
   • Press the button halfway down before pressing the remote release cable button all the way down. Press fully to start shooting. In some cameras, this allows you to reduce the delay between the moment you press the button and the start of shooting. This tip is especially helpful if you don't have the option to disable autofocus.
   • The choice of lens is entirely up to you. Consider how far away you will be to the flashes and think about the result you want. If you have many different shots to take, use a variable focal length lens.
   • The shooting principles described in this article also apply to shooting other flashes of light, such as sparks from a welding machine.

   Warnings

   • Not all of the above tips may work for you, as you may want to take pictures of a different nature. But the beauty of photography is that you can experiment in different ways with the settings and choose the ones that will meet all your wishes.
   • If you are filming near where fireworks are launched, be careful not to get debris from exploded rockets into the camera or into you.

   What do you need

   • A digital or film camera with a long exposure setting. A shutter speed of 30 seconds or more will work. Digital cameras have the advantage of instantly reviewing the result and adjusting settings while shooting.
   • Tripod. It is a prerequisite for getting sharp pictures when shooting fireworks. A tripod doesn't have to be expensive - any cheap one will do. There are also small, inexpensive tabletop tripods.
   • Flashlight - it will be dark outside! With a flashlight, you can change settings in the dark and view your shots.

Photographing fireworks is actually very simple, you need your camera and tripod to do it. It would not be bad to have it with me (personally, in this case, I used a PDA and the Remote Control 2.5 program).

We choose a suitable place for shooting, preferably a hill, so that you can capture both fireworks and some piece of land (buildings with lights on, a bridge, etc.), look according to the situation.

Turn off the built-in flash.

We install the camera on a tripod.

We select manual mode in the camera.

Now we adjust the value on your camera. We remove and set the minimum ISO that you have, ISO50, ISO100, ISO200. If you don't, your camera will automatically raise its value, and we don't need that.

We set the focus on the camera (or on the lens) to infinity. This is necessary so that the camera itself does not try to focus into the black sky, because it will not succeed.

Aim for about 1-3 seconds, it all depends on the intensity of your fireworks. Try so that you do not have a lot of glare and daub, and there is not one lonely strip from the fireworks.

Eventually, you will find this mode and get the hang of quickly changing settings. Now you can stand to enjoy the fireworks and periodically press the shutter button.

The last step is to take apart a bunch of photos that you clicked and choose the best ones. Good luck!

Here is some of them: