Learn how to take Cool photos of Fireworks and sparklers in low light.
Just in time for all the big fireworks this weekend for Independence Day, here’s your go to tips for taking awesome sparkler and firework photos with your DSLR camera and your iphone! It’s fun for fireworks and we love it for sparklers too.
How to caption Fireworks with a Camera
Here’s how to do it with a DSLR camera:
1. You need to use a tripod or a stable solid service that won’t move (don’t trust yourself to be that steady.)
2. Slow Shutter Speed – 20-30 seconds, Aperture around F8, with a low ISO.
3. Use a wide angle lens like: 12-18 mm. (I just used my kit lens and set it to 18mm.)
When you’re ready to take a photo, click the shutter release button and wait. It’ll be awhile before it clicks, and when it does, check your screen and see how the exposure is. If it’s too bright, adjust the aperture and make it smaller (higher number.) You want to leave your shutter speed really slow, because that will pick up all the trails and wonderful movement of the fireworks. Make sure to keep your ISO low so your photos won’t be grainy.
For iPhone photography use the Slow Shutter App.
We used this technique on a trip to Disneyland and took some fun photos of the fireworks. We even caught Tinkerbelle in action. 🙂 The trick is staying very still. We used all the same tips that I listed above to shoot fireworks.
You should try these tips out this weekend.
