Creative Ways of Photographing Fireworks

The cold breeze, festive lights, and an overall good vibe among people make the holidays something to look forward to. Another thing that can make it more exciting is the prospect of fireworks shows! We’re sure that a lot of us here have had great nights tied up by a majestic display of pretty colors and lights.

The holidays are upon us and we’re bound to witness some great fireworks displays! Take advantage of the situation and capture some creative fireworks shots with these simple tips!

Be Ready

Always make it a point to be at the ready when photographing fireworks. Position yourself in a place that offers a good and unobstructed view of the display. Of course, that wouldn’t matter if you don’t have your camera on standby. Take every chance you get and snap away!

Use a High ISO Film

Photographing at night can be tricky. Bump up your chances of scoring a good photograph by using a film that’s more suited to nighttime shots. Go for a film that has a relatively higher ISO/film speed than what you usually shoot with to compensate for the low lighting conditions.

Pick an Angle and Stick with It

Fireworks photography can be a bit bland with the same angle. Mix things up and set up your shots in different ways to get the most out of the experience.

Experiment with Formats

A single frame firework shot in 35 mm film is good on its own but have you tried visualizing it in panorama? How about half-frame? On 120 film? Or if you’re up for the challenge, large-format? There are a lot of ways to get creative with fireworks photography. Sometimes, it’s all a matter of format and perspective.

Shoot Long Exposures

Want to add a little extra ‘oomph’ to your shots? Try shooting long exposures and watch as the little embers form a shower of trickling lights across your frame. Try out different aperture and shutter speed combinations to find the right settings for your style!

Try Doing Doubles

While we are at the topic of experimenting with exposures, you should also try shooting fireworks with multiple exposures. Fill your frame by hitting that shutter multiple times to create an out-of-this-world shot.

How about you? What are the techniques you use to take home some wonderful fireworks photos? Share them in the comment section below along with the photos you took!

written by cheeo on 2018-12-26