Tip of the Day - Photographing Fireworks

Baltimore Fireworks (4 July 2012)

Independence Day has just passed. Across the country, millions of people went to their town centers to view the rockets’ red glare and bombs bursting in air.

I have photos from three different displays. The ones from 2012 are my favorites. The night was clear and I had a terrific vantage point. Gratitude to the Baxter’s for allowing me to join them on the roof of their downtown town house.

While this blog was once envisioned as a teaching platform (especially AFTER I learned more about digital photography), the lessons I have offered have been few. They have been supplanted by illustrated stories, trip reports and the occasional rant.

Besides, there’s so much ready information out there. Google ‘photographing fireworks’ and you’ll find all you need to know. What follows presents the primary aspects along with some personal experiences.

Seattle Fireworks (31 December 2013)

It helps to have good weather. This year, it rained on July 4th in Baltimore but that didn’t prevent the display. Only lightning and severe storms would have postponed the show. Postponement would have been preferred in Seattle. The shot above was taken on New Year’s Eve, 2013. We had a commanding view of downtown from Queen Anne’s Hill. The whole city was spread before us and the Space Needle was ‘Ground Zero’ for the pyrotechnics…until a fog bank rolled in right before midnight. You can see the three legs of the Space Needle and portions of the fireworks…a rather disappointing show.

Baltimore Fireworks (4 July 2012)

Yes, I take the occasional picture with my phone and yes, phones can produce pretty good shots of many things. I’m talking about what to do with a REAL camera. Use your phone to take videos of the fireworks and leave me to take still images (he said jealously). Here are the important basics of fireworks photography:

1. Find a good place to shoot from. It helps to include some foreground features but I prefer to have a position above thousands of heads and bodies.

2. You need a tripod to keep the camera still. It’s dark and the shutter needs to be open longer than you can hold the camera still.

3. Use a cable release or a wireless remote. You shouldn’t be pressing the shutter button even if the camera seems stationary. The exposure will take a few seconds.

4. The aperture should be between f/9 and f/16.

5. Set your shutter speed to ‘BULB’. In the range of set shutter speeds, the one after the longest is called ‘bulb’. That keeps the lens open for as long as you want…one click opens it…the next click closes it. It may be dark out but it’s easy to overexpose fireworks shots. Just a few seconds will be enough.

This July 4th, we went to the Inner Harbor of Baltimore and joined thousands of folks to watch two barges unload into the night sky. After all, we were a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry, the very place that inspired what became our National Anthem and the custom to blast and boom our celebrations ever since. As noted earlier, while the rains had stopped, the ceiling was low and the air was thick with humidity.

Baltimore Fireworks (4 July 2016)

The camera location could have been better but the flagpoles and masts of the iconic U.S.S. Constellation made for an okay foreground.

Baltimore Fireworks (4 July 2016)

With modern digital cameras, there are additional tips to remember:

· If your lens is the auto-focusing kind, turn that feature to manual and focus on infinity.

· In the Shooting Menu, there should be a feature called ‘Long Exposure Noise Reduction.’ Turn it on. It will reduce the graininess that long exposures produce.

· You can control the ‘Film Speed’ and a low ISO is preferred…100 or 200.

· IF your lens has the vibration reduction (VR) feature, it’s best to turn that off when a tripod and longer exposures are used.

· The great thing about digital cameras is you can see the results right away. If the image is not right, change the exposure time or the aperture. Regardless, fire away. Take as many shots as you can. There will be many more crummy shots than good ones. Keep cranking them out. The ‘film’ is free. The more you take, the better the odds of getting some real keepers.

Baltimore Fireworks (4 July 2012)

A final tip for the older shooters. Again, it’s dark out. The controls on your camera may not be illuminated. I try to bring a little flashlight and the glasses I need to see everything. These shows don’t last very long and it’s no fun fumbling around while everyone else is going, “Oooh” and “Aaah.”

Bottom line - Take lots of photos and expect to throw out 75% of them. You just might have some beauties in what remains.