Photographing fireworks

With these tips, you'll capture fireworks in all their glory

The new year is just around the corner! Traditionally, the start of the new year is celebrated with fireworks. They're not only beautiful to watch, but also wonderful to photograph. So how do you actually take a great fireworks photo? We're happy to share some handy tips, so you can start the year right with beautiful and, above all, colourful fireworks shots.

Tip 1: Prepare well

Preparation is essential when photographing fireworks. Think about various aspects, such as composition. To make sure the photo turns out exactly as you envisioned, it helps to decide in advance where to set up your camera. Pay close attention to things like a straight horizon and an unobstructed view. Another important part of your preparation is setting up your camera. Once the fireworks start, you'll barely have time for that. And of course you don't want to miss that perfect moment! The weather is also something to consider. Fireworks create smoke, which can cause haze in your photo. So keep a close eye on the wind direction!

Tip 2: Play with shutter speed

To capture fireworks well, it's best to shoot with a slow shutter speed. A fast shutter speed freezes motion, so you only capture a brief instant and miss the rocket's flight through the sky and the explosion that follows. With a slower shutter speed, the fireworks are transformed into colourful trails and streaks of light. The shutter speed doesn't need to be extremely long: between 1/10 and 3 seconds is enough if you press the shutter at the moment the fireworks burst. To avoid overexposed patches of light in your photo, keep an eye on how many fireworks are being set off in quick succession. The more fireworks at once, the faster the shutter speed should be.

Tip 3: Use a tripod

Shooting with a tripod prevents motion blur when you're using a slower shutter speed. A tripod also lets you keep your camera aimed at one spot, so you can later layer several photos on top of each other and show multiple fireworks bursts in a single image. Do you own a cable release? Then it's a good idea to use it as well, because pressing the shutter button can also cause vibration. Many cameras can also be controlled remotely from your phone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Tip 4: Choose a low ISO

When photographing fireworks, it's important to keep your ISO low. Fireworks give off bright light, which you can capture perfectly with a low ISO (especially combined with a slower shutter speed). A higher ISO also adds more noise to your photos. Noise usually shows up first in the dark areas of an image, and with fireworks photography a large part of the sky – and therefore the photo – is dark.

Tip 5: Focus manually

Because it's dark, your camera will take longer to focus on the fireworks. That's a shame, because it means you might just miss that one moment. So in most cases autofocus isn't the way to go. Choose manual focus instead. Set all your other camera settings in advance too, so all you have left to do is focus. That way you won't miss a thing!

Tip 6: Use a wide-angle lens

Fireworks are unpredictable. You never quite know where and when they'll burst. With a telephoto lens, there's a good chance you won't capture exactly what you had in mind. It's better to include a little too much in the frame and crop the photo later. A wide-angle lens is the solution. Almost any lens with a focal length under 50mm will do!

Tip 7: Get creative with sparklers

Sparklers aren't just fun for kids; you can create great effects with them. If you set a slow shutter speed and put your camera on a tripod, you can even write with light. Stand in front of the camera with one or more people, light the sparklers and draw letters, numbers or shapes in the air. The camera records the trails you draw, resulting in creative images!

Tip 8: Look at the surroundings

Fireworks on their own are of course stunning to photograph, but the effect they have on their surroundings can be just as beautiful, or even more so. So take a conscious look around and make sure you find a good position. Including the surroundings quickly makes an image much more interesting to look at. Is there a bridge at your location? Make use of it by photographing the reflection of the fireworks in the water!

Tip 9: Edit your photos

Your photos often look even better when you edit them in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Especially if you shoot in RAW, there's a lot to gain. Some tools are particularly useful for editing fireworks photos. Lowering the highlights brings colour back into the fireworks. To reduce smoke, you can increase the contrast. In Photoshop or Lightroom CC, you can also use the 'Dehaze' tool.

Which lenses are suitable for fireworks photography?

A fast lens is very important. An aperture of f/2.8 or wider will give you the best photos. Many prime lenses have large maximum apertures and are often affordable as well. One drawback is that they have a fixed focal length. Want a bit more flexibility in your composition? Then consider a zoom lens.