Taking the Firework Photos

Proper Settings

Set your aperture to something around F/5.6. Manually set the focus to "infinity." If you have a "Bulb" setting for shutter speed, now is when you want to use it.

Ideally, your camera also allows the use of a remote shutter release (a.k.a. "locking cable release").

If it doesn't, set the shutter speed to as long as your camera allows and be ready to press the shutter.

Shutter Control

If you have a locking cable release to use with your "Bulb" setting, you are in terrific shape to get excellent firework photos.

When to open the shutter becomes considerably less important when you have a Bulb setting.

Personally, I prefer to do so when the sky is black, but after taking pictures at several events, you will develop your own preferences.

When to close the shutter depends on whether you want to capture single or multiple bursts.

For a single burst, close the shutter after the last bit of twinkling stops.

For multiple bursts, the shutter should remain open after the first burst is done.

However, this is the time to use your black-sided cardboard to hold over the lens (DO NOT touch the camera).

Depending on the type of firework photos you want to achieve, pull the cardboard away from the lens at any of these key points:

• When you hear the next rocket being launched
• When the launch trail becomes visible
• Just before the rocket explodes, or
• Just after the rocket explodes.

Experiment with how many bursts you capture in one firework photo. (Personally, I find that capturing more than three bursts begins to look "messy.")

When to press the shutter is much more important when you have to guess at an exposure time beforehand.

Setting the shutter speed from 2 to 5 seconds would suggest releasing the shutter as the rocket almost reaches its zenith (watching the launch trail provides your only clue).

With a 6-10 second shutter speed, several options open up. If you want to catch the launch trail in the picture, press the shutter as the rocket is launched. If you don't care about the trail, release the shutter just before the rocket reaches its zenith to capture bursts from more than one rocket.

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Miscellaneous Tips

Make sure you have plenty of extra batteries with you, especially if you use the Bulb setting.

If you do not have extra memory with you, don't use all you have in the beginning of the show.

Remember that most fireworks shows build to a big finish, so you want to have enough memory to capture the most spectacular fireworks. If you have plenty of memory, ignore this tip.

For some variety, you may want to take some fireworks pictures with your camera in the "vertical" position. If this does appeal to you, realize that you will need to re-adjust your tripod base.

Finally, if the show is happening at a picturesque or an historical location, capturing an identifiable ground structure in your firework photos, provides an artistic compositional touch.