Not Set and Forget

Like most photography, there are variables. Meaning you can have some starter tips but you should salt to taste because you situation may and will be different from the recommended setting

What’s going on?

• Initially you will be in dim light or in the dark before the fireworks appear.
• Only when the first fireworks are released is when you can actually see
  • how bright they are
  • how large the patterns they will create will create will be
  • how frequently they will be fired
  • the overlaps between the patterns
• You hope that the timing of fireworks is such that you get a few preliminaries so that you can finetune your camera settings before the full onslaught. That’s not always possible, it costs money to stage a fireworks event so it is often a one time effort.

What should you get?

A fair tripod

For a traditional fireworks photo, a tripod is pretty much needed. New premium cameras can boast great image stabilization features and you will be able to get some result without a tripod but you will be much more relaxed and be able to think out camera angles, composition of the scene when the camera is on a tripod.

Many people use a tripod infrequently and you will be using one in the dark so do spend some prep time to know

• how the clamps lock and release the legs
• centre column adjustments
• the quick release tripod shoe fits to the camera and then to the tripod
• how the tripod head rotates, flips and adjusts

Bring a small torch for before the moment so that you can see what you are doing.

Potentially a remote release / phone app / timer delay

• Depending on how shaky you and your gear are when you activate the start of the exposure, you might want to set a 2 second delay. If you set a delay, you also take the risk of missing the first two seconds of the fireworks each time.
• A wired timer would make it convenient
• A phone app for remote control of the camera might make this unnecessarily fiddly.