Nicky Cunha's Posts
Capturing the Sky's Festive Cheer!
Whether you are hanging at a backyard bbq or taking in a big fireworks display, many of us will be enjoying fireworks this Fourth of July weekend. With a camera on hand as they are exploding in the air - they can be quite a tempting spectacle to photograph! After too many blurry attempts, I researched tips on how to photograph fireworks in advance of last year's trip to Washington, DC. They are by no means perfect, but here are some of them plus my results....
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Position. I knew where the fireworks would be bursting, so we arrived early and got a spot with an unobstructed view of that area. (yes, we got there early and that was the crowd!) Look around for sources that may provide extraneous light and try and avoid them because they can cause overexposure. During the first few bursts look through your viewfinder and pinpoint where the action is. Leave your camera pointed in this spot and start clicking away!
Manual settings vs. Scene Modes. I'll admit I am not the brightest when it comes to understanding a camera inside and out. After exhausting the web resources available, I decided to give the Fireworks and Landscape settings on my camera a whirl. When taken with a steady hand - I was happy with the results of Fireworks mode.
Sturdy Support. To get clear, crisp images you must keep the camera perfectly still. Propping your camera on the ground or cart top may sufficient but nothing beats a good, solid tripod. It helps resist vibration as much as possible. Be careful though, the big-time fireworks show like the one we experienced in DC actually shook the ground we were on making the camera vibrate more. In this case I acted fast, removed our tripod and concentrated on a steady hand. The result - slightly groovy photographs!
Live and Learn. Here are some other random tips that I will take into consideration for this year's fireworks display:
- Wind. Since the fireworks create smoke, try to stay upwind of them so it doesn't block your shot.
- Bring a small flashlight! It's tough to change your camera's settings in the dark.
- Spice it up! Don't forget to shoot both vertical and horizontal views of the fireworks.
- Try making the festive photos more interesting by including nearby buildings in the background or silhouettes of the spectators in the foreground.
- Experiment and have fun. You will get the best results if you practice your technique but don't let it get in the way of enjoying the fireworks!
I'm thankful to have the opportunity to go back to DC with my family and practice photographing the fireworks again this year. Wherever you are celebrating, I sincerely wish you and your family a happy and festive Independence Day!
