How to Photograph Fireworks Displays

It's easy to shoot fireworks and achieve spectacular results. Below are some useful tips on how to photograph fireworks displays.

The most important tip to taking great shots of fireworks displays is to secure your digital camera to something that will ensure that it doesn't move while taking your shot. This is especially important while shooting fireworks because this involves the use of longer shutter speeds which not only capture the movement of the fireworks but also any movement of your camera. You can still your camera and prevent it from shaking by using a tripod.

To ensure that your camera remains completely still during fireworks shots, invest in a remote release device. Alternatively, you can still take a shot without touching your camera, simply by using the self timer. However, this will require that you anticipate your shots well and be ready for a lot of hits and misses.

When photographing fireworks, one of the most difficult things you will need to learn is where to aim your camera and frame your shot. This is challenging because you need to aim your camera before the fireworks that you will be shooting go off. This calls for anticipating the shot correctly, by first scoping out your location early enough. You will also need to watch the horizons and determine whether a vertical or horizontal shot is best.

When shooting fireworks, another challenge you may face is having your camera trained on the right section of the sky at the right time. This is especially tricky when photographing with a longer focal length and attempting to take shots that are more tightly cropped. When it comes to the right camera aperture settings, you should use apertures in the mid to small range because the light emitted by fireworks is rather bright. You therefore don't need a fast lens and can shoot somewhere in the range of f/8 to f/16.

To take a great shot of fireworks displays, you will need to get your shutter speed just right as well. Remember that a good photo of fireworks requires nice long exposure to be able to capture the movement in the moving display. Shoot fireworks at a low ISO as this is likely to provide you with the cleanest shots possible. The general rule of thumb is to stick to ISO 100. And always remember to switch off your flash before shooting fireworks displays.

For more information on photography, please visit: http://www.photography-tips-and-resources.com/.

Joan One is a freelance journalist and creative writer who immensely enjoys writing and researching into any topic under the Sun. She specializes in writing "green" eco-friendly topics aimed at enabling environmentally conscious readers to find simple ways to reduce their carbon footprint and help save our planet.

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