Firework photography takes practice and patience -- and having a great camera doesn't hurt.
Photography in low light can be difficult at the best of times -- any movement on the part of the photographer or the subject can result in blurriness in the shot. This is especially problematic for point-and-shoot cameras but is made easier with a DSLR like the Canon Rebel XTi. The Rebel's interchangeable lenses and full manual controls make getting great night photos a reality. For shots of fireworks, a mixture of darkness and momentary brightness, a bit of practice and experimentation will be required.
Instructions
Low-light Shooting
1. Turn on the camera and rotate the the Mode Dial to "Av" to select aperture priority mode. Depending on the lens, you can set your camera to the lowest aperture number (to allow the most light to enter the lens), and the Rebel will adjust the shutter speed automatically. Turn the main dial until the lowest F number is displayed.
2. Press the ISO button on the back of the camera (the up arrow) to adjust the ISO speed. Lower numbers require longer exposure, which means the shutter is open longer and there is more chance of a blurry shot, but high ISOs (1600, 3200) can sometimes result in grainy shots, especially at night. Try ISO 400 for now.
3. Set the camera on a tripod and frame the shot. Enable manual focus and focus the lens for the maximum distance, making sure you are far enough from the fireworks to allow for infinite focus. When the fireworks begin, you might need to adjust the focus. If you have a remote control for your camera, get it ready.
4. Press the shutter button all the way down for each shot you wish to take. If your pictures are blurring, consider changing the shooting mode to "Tv" and lessening the shutter speed to take the photos more quickly. The trick here is to not move the camera -- hence the remote -- and to find a balance between timing the shot and the fireworks exploding. Experiment.
Long Exposure for "Trailing Light" Effect
5. Set up your camera as in Section One -- mount it on a tripod and distance yourself from the setting of the fireworks.
6. Rotate the Mode Dial to "Tv" (shutter priority mode). Spin the main dial to adjust the shutter speed (from 1/4000 of a second to 30 seconds). Choose a long exposure -- 2 seconds for now.
7. Time releasing the shutter with the sound of the fireworks launching using the remote control. The shutter will open and begin to let in light and will capture the entire process of the firework exploding to create a trailing-light effect.
8. Experiment with the timing, increasing or decreasing the shutter speed as necessary. If the shots are too bright because the shutter is open for too long, change from shutter priority mode to "M" (full manual) mode, and increase the aperture value. The higher the F number, the narrower the opening in the lens. Try to find the balance between F stop and shutter speed to create the perfect light effect.
Tags: shutter speed, priority mode, your camera, adjust shutter, adjust shutter speed, balance between
