Getting good pictures of fireworks is easy.

The key to getting good pictures of fireworks is in the Photofinishing of film or digital prints! Fireworks are difficult for automated lab equipment to print. Let Wolfe's expert technicians make your prints the best they can be.

Equipment:
Your camera: For the best results use a camera with manual settings. In the past, this meant using a 35mm SLR camera. However, many newer digital and film snapshot cameras also have a "manual" or "Night Shot" mode which works well. A "time" or "bulb" setting is helpful for long exposures, but not a requirement. Check your instruction manual and refer to the section about taking pictures in low light without flash.

Other gear: You'll need to bring a tripod along to hold the camera for long exposures. Include a flashlight so you can adjust your camera in the dark.

Camera Position:
Position your camera where only the displays of fireworks and a dark sky background will occupy a major part of your pictures. The location should be in a dark area so that your pictures will not be fogged by stray light during the long exposures you will be making. When composing your picture, try allowing the landscape (trees, people, buildings, boats- whatever happens to be around) to fill the lower portion of your viewfinder. They will add realism and perspective, appearing as dim silhouettes in your picture.

The Image:
Fireworks are fast-moving targets. Be sure to follow the path of the fireworks. Experiment with your camera and try different angles. Take lots of shots! Getting a great pictures improves with each additional shot taken.

Using an automatic film or digital camera: These cameras can take great pictures of fireworks, but you may need to do some experimenting to get the best results. Turn the flash off and put your camera on a tripod. If your camera has a "night mode", you can use that as well. The idea is to force the camera to make as long of an exposure as possible. That way you'll get bright and colorful trails instead of static dots in your photos. A digital camera is great for this kind of experimenting, because you can see your pictures instantly. Turn on the the LCD screen and try different techniques until you get the best results from your camera.

Using a full-manual film or digital camera. First, set up your camera on your tripod and focus the lens so your depth of field extends to infinity. Set the lens aperture according to the table below. Set your shutter for "time" or "bulb" exposures ("T" or "B"). Open the shutter as soon as a rocket goes off, preferably with a cable release, and hold it open until several bursts have gone off in the field of view. If much time elapses between bursts, cover the lens with a dull black card or other easily removed masking device (your hat) so that the film does not get exposed by stray light.

If your camera doesn't have a "bulb" setting, choose the slowest shutter speed you have. Press the shutter button as soon as a rocket goes off. Watch and listen carefully to gauge the time that the shutter remains open. Take a few practice practice shots to get the hang of it, so you can be sure the shutter is open while fireworks are going off.

Techniques:
You can obtain an unusual, interesting effect by zooming a zoom lens from one end of its range to another during a burst. Try it in both directions on separate bursts. A different special effect can be produced by holding the camera in your hands and purposely moving it randomly as the rockets go off, in a direction perpendicular to the line of sight.

Remember!!
If you have used negative film, mention that there are skyrocket shots on it when you bring it in for processing. Our expert staff will correct for color and look for small bursts of light that might otherwise be mistaken for motion blur or dust.

Wolfe's makes the same great prints from digital images!