The British Musical Fireworks Championship in Southport are this weekend! Three nights of great firework displays done to music by the top companies in the UK. Always attracts huge crowds but the question is can I capture a good photo of fireworks? The answer is yes.
The best way is with a camera with manual controls like a DSLR and a tripod. But we’ll go through that after we’ve discussed how to use take photos of fireworks with a phone/compact camera.
Smartphone Tips
1. Get as close as you can to the display (BUT respect any cordoned off areas). This will help you fill the frame without having to zoom in and lose quality.
2. If you’re using an iPhone trying using it’s HDR setting. This takes several images at different exposures and combines them to give you the most detail possible.
3. Don’t use your flash. It’s not going to illuminate the sky or fireworks just what ever is several feet in front of you. (far too many try to use flash in scenarios like this!)
4. If you are lucky enough to have the new iPhone 7s use the zoom lens to fill the frame with your fireworks.
5. Change the exposure using this method I explained using the stock camera app:
Camera Tips
1. Use the camera on a tripod. I have used by £15 tripod for 5 years and it still works great!
2. Use the camera in manual mode – this allows you to control the shot much better.
3. Use a long shutter speed such 3-6 seconds. This will capture the trails of the explosions rather than just dots.
4. Use a small aperture (at least f8) for the biggest depth of field.
5. Low ISO which reduces noise and allows a longer shutter speed without being over exposed.
6. Don’t use flash. It’s not going to illuminate the sky or fireworks just what ever is several feet in front of you. (far too many try to use flash in scenarios like this!)
7. Use a remote release or 2 second timer to eliminate blur from camera movement.
8. Put the lens into manual focus and put it to infinity usually marked on the lens by the infinity symbol: ∞ (this saves you focusing during the fireworks themselves)
9. Time it so that you start the several second exposure as the fireworks fire upwards so you capture the entire explosion.
Most of all, have fun! Remember to try different settings, framings etc. I’ll be there each night photographing the fireworks, so if you see me say hello!