So yes, everyone and their brother will have their iphones out on the 4th of July trying to get the perfect fireworks photo or video. Social media will be flooded with “awesome” pics but are they really? Just because you can catch a blurry snap of a boom in the air, is that really AWESOME? We say NO! For professional, or the seasoned hobbyist who REALLY wants to create magic with their camera and a fireworks show here are some awesome tips on How to photograph fireworks …. the right way!
- Be ready. Any given fireworks show only lasts a few minutes. In the days upcoming before the holiday, you can practice with even sparklers in your yard. You will have only a few minutes to make the magic of fireworks photographs so time is of the essence.
- The first booms are the clearest. At least in our area, because of humidity the smoke from the fireworks hangs in the air thick so the first few booms are the clearest!
- Don’t be rushed… don’t think that because fireworks are so short, that you should just use rapid fire mode and be done. You are not at war when you photograph fireworks.
- Have fun! Don’t let the process stress you out. The whole point of fireworks is to enjoy and if you are too busy worried about getting the perfect shot then you may miss the whole point. Remember, there’s always next year!
Technical stuff to consider when you photograph fireworks.
When all my friends and family constantly ask me how to photograph fireworks I have to tell them “It take a pro!” LOL Not really, but we can keep it our secret right? For me I prefer the Tripod+Bulb mode method. Our friend over at B&H Photo have a FANTASTIC tutorial on how to photograph fireworks here. CHECK IT OUT!
To Drone or NOT to Drone?
So yes, your brother, best friend, son, nephew and neighbor all have a drone and we have ALL seen the super cool video of the fireworks from the inside, shot on a drone cam. This, does NOT MEAN you should try it!
In this article our friends at F-Stoppers tell you why you should “Think twice” before flying a drone into a fireworks display! Check out the article here.
How to photograph fireworks on an Iphone or Smart Phone.
So yes, nearly everyone has a smart phone now. No I don’t want to hear the arguments about Iphone vs. Samsung. Today, let’s all just unite under a canopy of expensive things that go boom and get some awesome fireworks photographs. I did a little research and found a really great article about how to photograph fireworks on the Iphone, auto settings vs manual, etc. Check out this Techilicious article! I am going to use it as my guide for this 4th of July… read on because its about to get FUN!