Happy Fourth of July!
“Let’s admit it. There are few sounds more soul-satisfying, more frightening, more exciting than an explosion. Explosions of one kind or another have always been part of great Folk celebrations from weddings to wars. I sipped my drink and mused on the first time I had heard that primal roar of exploding black powder. And then it hit me. My God! Tomorrow was the Fourth of July!”
Excerpt from the short story “Ludlow Kissel, And The Dago Bomb That Struck Back,” from In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, by Jean Shepherd
Jean Shepherd (1921-1999) was an American radio and TV personality, writer, and incredible storyteller. He is best known for the film A Christmas Story, which he narrated, co-scripted, and which was based on his own semi-autobiographical stories.
I have to agree with Shepherd’s views on dynamite. Haven’t you ever sat on a lawn on the Fourth of July watching the annual fireworks show and felt the sheer power of the “BOOOOOOOMM” in your gut? It is a beautiful, powerful experience. I’ve also sat on countless lawns on the Fourth of July attempting to capture that powerful experience on camera, but with little luck. My fireworks looked blurry or muddy-colored as they blended into the night sky. What happened to the teeth-rattling, blindingly bright and colorful fireworks I experienced? These pictures couldn’t be the same fireworks. It was quite the let-down. So to solve my problem, and hopefully to solve yours, I did a little research and found the best tips for capturing those glorious fireworks displays. Have a looksie!
Fireworks Photo Tips
1) Bring a tripod. Blurry photos are the worst, and if you want your colors bright, that shutter will have to be open for a little while. No one can hold a camera perfectly still for that long!
*You may also want to put your camera on a self-timer. Even with a tripod, the pressure from your finger clicking the shutter may cause some movement. Still camera = crisp images! Also you’ll be able to step out from behind the lens and enjoy the show for yourself this way.
2) Fix your settings. If your camera has a Fireworks mode, try that first. If not, or if you want to do it yourself, then here are your settings:
ISO – 50 or 100
Aperture – f/8
Shutter Speed – between 5 and 15 seconds
Flash – OFF
*Notes on ISO: the higher your ISO, the more sensitive your camera is to light. So you’d think a higher ISO would be helpful, but that isn’t exactly the case. On long exposures the camera will pick up a lot of the ambient light from smoke in the sky, so start at 100, then adjust accordingly.
*Notes on Shutter Speed: After you’ve taken a few pictures, see how they turn out. If they are bright and blurry, use a faster shutter speed.
3) Location, location, location. Go early – its hard to find a good spot once the crowds gather. Once you’re there, look for a place with an unobstructed view of the sky. The Fireworks should happen in front of you, not above your head. Include a landmark perhaps, like a tree, a city skyline, or a lake. The fireworks will light up the other objects in the shot, which will bring perspective and give your photos a little “je ne sais qua!” Finally, take note of the wind – you want to try to avoid smoke blowing in front of your lens!
4) Keep snapping. Take lots of photos! No matter what you do, a majority of your pictures will turn out “okay.” After all, you can’t have perfect timing on every fireworks blast. The more photos you take, the more chances you have to get that perfect shot.
One more thing! During the Grand Finale, the fireworks will go off faster and the sky will be brighter. Change to a faster shutter speed to adjust to the bright skies.
Now you’re ready to capture all that Fourth of July excitement. Have a great holiday!
Pixable is a start-up founded by three MIT students and is now located in New York City.
