There is nothing as magical as watching fireworks. It is a memory worth capturing and the good news is anybody can do it. Whether you are a professional photographer or just want to snap a moment, we will discuss the best camera settings for shooting fireworks.
What Do You Need For Fireworks Photography?
With proper planning, you can capture the fireworks image you have always desired. The very basic thing you need is a fireworks event. This could be a grand opening, wedding events or major sporting events.
Having identified an event, you will need a DSLR or a mirrorless camera which you will use for shooting the fireworks images.
You will also need a tripod to support your camera and a remote to trigger the shutter. This will cause minimal shake to the camera therefore taking great still images.
The best lens you can use for fireworks scenes is a wide-angle lens. However, if you are further away from the location, you can always use a telephoto lens.
It is advisable to get to the spot early and pick a strategic position before the fireworks begin.
What Are The Best Camera Settings For Fireworks Photography?
Having your tripod to the eye level and your camera timer set to two seconds does not get the work done. There are a few more settings to be done if you want to make the perfect shot of the fireworks event.
Here are the best DSLR Camera settings for shooting fireworks photos;
Manual Exposure Settings
Manual exposure settings is when the photographer is in total control of the three basic camera settings; ISO, Shutter speed and aperture.
ISO
When taking fireworks images, the lower the ISO the better the photo will be. An ISO reading between 100 and 200 will be ideal for this kind of a project. This will help in ensuring the fireworks image is not grainy.
Aperture
Aperture determines the amount of light that passes through the lens and is measured in F-Numbers. As the F-number increases, the pupil size decreases allowing less light.
Fireworks photography will most likely take place at night so it is necessary to open the blades for more light to pass. An aperture reading between f/5.6 to f/11 will produce fireworks images with ideal depth and exposure.
Shutter speed
Shutter speed will be adjusted depending on how you want the fireworks trail to appear in relation to ambient light. This should range anywhere between 4-30 seconds but if your camera has Bulb(B) feature it will come in handy. This feature allows you to keep the shutter open to capture as many busts as you want in one image.
Manual Focus Settings
Finding a sharp focus during fireworks photography may sound difficult but the trick is quite simple, set the camera to infinity focus.
Infinity Focus
Infinity focus is a camera setting that allows the lens to focus on a distance far enough that incoming rays of light are parallel and reach the camera sensor as points.
In our case, while making fireworks images we will study the landscape. If there are buildings then this will be our focus point.
With infinity focus settings, we are assured the fireworks bust will be largely in focus.
Tips For Capturing The Best Fireworks Images
Let us analyze the best camera settings for capturing fireworks at night;
- Arrive ahead of time.
- Minimise camera shaking by using a tripod, cable shutter release and use live view.
- Use manual settings for the best fireworks photos
-ISO between 100-200
-Aperture between f/5.6-f/11
-Shutter speed between 4-30 seconds
-Lens focusing to infinity
- Shoot in raw format so that you can adjust your image to achieve the desired result.
Check out this video by The School Of Photography for visual explanation on the best camera settings for fireworks photography;
Conclusion On The Best Camera Settings For Fireworks Photography
You are supposed to enjoy fireworks explosions so when you arrive early, make the right settings and capture satisfying images, you can put your camera down and enjoy the show!
