Keep in mind if you want to include people in some of your shots, you may pick a high spot that you can move down from easily so you can be closer to crowds.
To determine the wind conditions, check the weather beforehand. Note if it is going to be a windy night and plan accordingly.
You can always shift your shooting location slightly while the fireworks are going off to get different objects in the foreground, as well as no objects at all in the shot. Try to find a spot where you can move around and play with different compositions.
Make sure the focus mode reverts to manual when you switch to manual mode, as this will allow you to focus the camera as needed during the fireworks show. If you are shooting with the camera on your smartphone, download an app that allows you to have a slower shutter speed on the camera, such as Slow Shutter Cam. Some digital cameras will have a “Fireworks Mode” on the settings dial or in the menu options on the camera. Use this mode, if available, as this allows the camera to adjust the settings for you so you do not need to do it yourself.
It may be good to have both lenses on hand so you can switch between them to suit your vantage point.
You may need to play around with the shutter speed as you photograph the fireworks, shifting between 2. 5-4 seconds. Try a few different speeds once you set up your camera to vary the types of images you get.
You can try playing around with the aperture field as you photograph the fireworks, bumping up to f/11-f/16 depending on how bright your images appear.
If you are not sure about the details of the location, you may visit it a day early to stake out a good location for shooting the fireworks. Try to find a spot where you’ll be able to include the launch site in your photos, especially if you can frame it with an interesting background. [9] X Expert Source Richard EngelbrechtProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 1 October 2020.
Look for a tripod that fits your camera model at your local camera store or online.
You can buy a remote shutter release at your local camera store or online.
You can also try zooming out or in and focusing on the fireworks to get a different perspective. Your wide or telephoto zoom lense should make doing this fairly easy.
Including people watching the fireworks can also make the photographs more interesting. Try shooting at a lower angle to capture people in the foreground or background of the image.
You may need to also play around with the aperture setting when you reduce the shutter speed to find the right balance.
Use a remote shutter release to do “bulb mode” as this will prevent you from touching the camera and causing it to shift or move, which can ruin the photograph. You may want to use a wider aperture setting in bulb mode—start somewhere around f11-f9. [17] X Expert Source Richard EngelbrechtProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 1 October 2020.
