10 Tips For Taking Super Clear Fireworks Pictures (Part 1)

If you’ve spent any amount of time trying to photograph fireworks, then you’ve probably figured out that most cameras aren’t setup for it.  You can change some settings on the camera itself to try and get better shots, but if you want amazingly clear fireworks pictures, you’re going to need to dig in a little bit deeper.  Practicing your photography is the best way to get better at taking clear photos, and pictures that people are in awe looking at, but in order to get the clearest shots every time, there are 10 tips that you should learn and follow every time you’re behind the lens.

Tip #1 – Use A Tripod. Your hands moving around while you’re taking the shot is one of the major causes for blurry photos.  To avoid this, you’ll want to secure your camera to something like a tripod that doesn’t move.  Using the longer shutter length required for taking photos of fireworks means that you’ll have an increased time to not only shoot the photo, but also capture any slight movements with your hands.  This can lead to incredibly chopped up photos, that include more blur than anything else.  It can easily be avoided by using a tripod, rather than attempting to get the shot while holding the camera in your hand.

Tip #2 – Consider Using A Remote Release. Using either the camera’s self timer, or a remote release accessory, you’ll be able to get the shot without ever having to touch the camera.  This is great, because when you first start the shot, you could potentially move the camera off its original position, which will in turn cause a bad shot when you’re ready to develop the film.  A remote release trigger can be hit from a distance, rather than actually being next to the camera.  Once you’ve lined up the shot properly, either set the self timer, or hit the button on your remote.

Tip #3 – Frame Your Shot Before You Snap It.  Anticipation and preparation are key to getting the visually stimulating shots that a good fireworks photographer can provide.  In order to ensure that you receive opportunities to get the best shots, it’s advised to scope out the location of the show a day or two before it actually begins.  You’re going to want to look for a place where you can get a clear, wide view of the entire display.  This extra planning and coordination will ensure that your pictures come out crystal clear, rather than having to fight with the camera to find the perfect shot.  Distance is your friend in this case.

Tip #4 – Adjust Your Focal Length For The Shot.  If you are tightly focused on the skies, you may end up missing out on shots, or ending up with shots that are only half of the screen.  While they do still make for some excellent photos, you probably didn’t mean for it to happen, and would much rather include the entire firework display inside of the shot.  Make sure that you adjust your focal length to take the shot at a wide angle, that can be edited once you get back to the computer.  This tip does take some time to get used to, but once you do, it really pays off in the detail of your work.