5 TIPS FOR BETTER FIREWORKS PHOTOS
Learn how to make the most out of your next holiday celebration
AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE
I'm such a sucker for fireworks for so many reasons... and not just those giant ones that light up the night sky. I'm just as big of a fan of sparklers and other smaller fireworks. In the United States, fireworks are used to celebrate all sorts of events, but the one that takes center stage is always the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. As part of the annual celebration of this country's independence, people from coast to coast gather 'round their neighborhoods, town squares, and downtown areas to watch all sorts of fireworks shows.
As you could imagine, seeing the dark night sky light up with brightly colored explosions can make for some truly memorable photos, especially if you know what to do. Fireworks photos bring a variety of challenges, but don't worry about that! I'm here to share some of my favorite tips to help you get your own amazing fireworks photos.
If you don't have an opportunity to get your own fireworks photos, I've got you covered!
Just click the button below to see how you can download some of my practice photos, as well as a tutorial video showing how to composite them together using Adobe Photoshop CC. And it's totally FREE!
Tip 1 - Closer Isn't Always Better
I know, I know. It's understandable to want to fill your frame with a big sky filled with exploding fireworks. I get it, trust me. But, the truth is that some of my favorite fireworks compositions allow the spectacle to fall into the background while giving the viewer a sense of place and depth.
So, instead of trying to get as close as possible to the fireworks, experiment with moving away from them and see whether you can work them into your surroundings. It can pay off with big results, I promise!
Tip 2 - Keep People In The Frame
If you're anything like me as far as landscape photographers go, you go to great lengths to avoid including people within your compositions. There have been times when I've waited hours to have my scene devoid of others.
But, the truth is that including people within your composition can elevate the photo significantly because of that human element. Take this photo from Epcot Center as an example. While I love the scenery and the fireworks, I feel that it's the people who really make the shot, especially with those two people holding hands near the lower-center of the frame. The inclusion of viewers in your fireworks photos can add a certain meta quality that is exceptionally pleasing.
Tip 3 - Reflection Is Your Friend
You wouldn't think that it'd be possible to become completely bored of photos of amazing sunsets, the Northern Lights dancing in the sky, or, you guessed it, brilliant fireworks. But, that's what social media has done to me. While I love how easy it has become to see an endless stream of truly beautiful work, it is that much more important to figure out how to set your own images apart.
This is where thinking abstractly with your compositions can be a HUGE help. Instead of taking the same old photos of someone, say, holding a sparkler, see if you can approach things differently. One of my favorite examples to illustrate this tip is by using surface reflections. And you don't have to only use water. Experiment with other reflective surfaces, like the hood of a car or a metal wall. The key is to see differently than everyone else.
Tip 4 - Sweat The Small Stuff
The wonderful thing about fireworks is that they come is all sorts of shapes and sizes. It's easy to become transfixed over the gigantic ones that fill the entire sky with different colors and streams.
But, I'm here to remind you that there is just as much opportunity to create really fun photos of the little guys, too. When photographing something, like fireworks, that typically has a very clear draw or focal point (i.e. the big explosions in the sky), that should serve as an indicator to ask yourself if there's anything else worth your attention, like that tiny firecracker, for example. Give yourself the creative license to find compositions that everyone else ends up overlooking and I promise you'll find it so much more creatively rewarding.
Tip 5 - Remember To Shoot Fireworks During The Day
It totally makes sense to want to photograph fireworks at night, right? A nice, dark sky is an ideal setting when your goal is to photograph giant, colorful explosions. Nighttime is, after all, the most common time when photographers head out to take pictures of fireworks and it's when just about every town schedules their own big fireworks shows.
However, that doesn't mean that you can't photograph fireworks during the day. In fact, I absolutely love taking fireworks photos when the sun is still out. The trick is to know which fireworks perform best. I prefer using sparklers of different sizes and colors. It also helps to have a darker-colored background for the little explosions to play off of. As with all photography, experimentation is key. Just remember to have fun with it!
BONUS TIP - REMEMBER THOSE SEQUENCES!
Ok, so this tip is sort of a foreshadowing for the free practice photos and tutorial video, but it's worth a reminder! If you're going to be shooting fireworks, and especially if you've found a really sweet foreground, I highly recommend being very deliberate with getting sequenced photos of the explosions.
That doesn't mean that you should rifle off a thousand photos showing every little second of a single firework. Rather, focus on getting a large number of different explosions and then composite them together using Adobe Photoshop CC.
And remember, if you don't have a chance to get your own fireworks sequences, just fill out the form below and I will send you some practice files and a tutorial video on how to composite them together FOR FREE!
GET A FREE FIREWORKS COMPOSITING VIDEO + PRACTICE PHOTOS
Learn how to combine several fireworks photos into a stunning, single photo using
Adobe Photoshop CC. And no worries if you don't have your own fireworks photos.
I'll send some practice files for you to use along with the free video.
One Last Thing...
My goal in creating this photography tutorial is to spark some inspiration and ideas for your next fireworks shoot. With that said, I cannot stress enough the importance of using fireworks safety best practices. According to the National Fire Protection Association*, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, causing an average of $43 million worth of property damage each year. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission**, an estimated 12,900 people were treated for fireworks-related injuries in the U.S. in 2017 alone.
In other words, PLEASE BE SAFE OUT THERE!
*https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Seasonal-fires/Fireworks
**https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Fireworks_Report_2015FINALCLEARED.pdf?
