Four tips for awesome fireworks photos on the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is a day to remember the struggles of our forefathers. It is also a day for all of those in the country, whether they have come down from generations or recently immigrated, to be proud to be an American. It is a day for hot dogs, hamburgers, and cold beer. And fireworks. Don’t forget the fireworks. However, we all know how hard it can be to take pictures of those beautiful blasts that light up the night sky

Don’t fret — there are plenty of ways to optimize your phone or camera settings. Mashable recently wrote an article rounding up some of the best ways to photograph fireworks.

1. All-around pro tips

fireworks

 

IMAGE: FLICKR, ROBERT STERN

Here are some general things you should know before you take your Instagram-worthy photos:

  • First things first, don’t wait too long to take pictures. Once the fireworks get going, the sky starts to get smoky, which will cloud up your photograph, says Mashable‘s photo staff.
  • Turn off your flash, and don’t bother zooming in. That diminishes your photo’s quality.
  • Don’t use HDR on your smartphone. The feature will just slow you down, because it takes long-exposure photos.
  • Bring a tripod. Whether you’re using a phone or a professional camera, you’re going to need a steady shot. If you don’t have one, make sure to grip your phone or camera with two hands and lean against something, like a tree, for support.
  • Get a good spot. Make sure you’re as close to the show as you can be. Then, scope out the landscape. You don’t want anything blocking you from the full breadth of the light show.

2. iPhone

fireworks

 

A photo of fireworks taken with an iPhone 5.
 

IMAGE: FLICKR, SHERWOOD411

If you’re running iOS 5 or higher on your device, you can lock your phone’s focus and exposure.

Once your camera is open, tap the screen and hold it until a blue box appears. Remove your finger, and an “AE/AF Lock” message will appear at the top of the screen. This feature is helpful because it focuses in on fireworks and balances out their bright color and constant motion.

Next, test out an app. For $1.99, download Camera+, which offers all kinds of filters and features, including exposure, enhanced zoom and iCloud syncing capabilities.

3. Android

firework

 

A photo of fireworks taken with a Samsung Galaxy Note.
 

IMAGE: FLICKR, BEN ROGERS

Since Camera+ is only for iOS, Android users should try Camera FV-5, a $3.95 app, recommended by The Wall Street Journal. It’s an exposure king, allowing users to take photos with “exposure times of up to 30 seconds,” which will give your fireworks some enviable light trails.

If you don’t want to spend so much, try Camera FV-5 Lite, the free version of the app. It has a self timer and DSLR-like features, such as exposure time, aperture and exposure bracketing.

There’s also Google Camera, a free app for phones running Android 4.4 KitKat. It has options like panorama, wide angle and fisheye, so you can experiment with your shots.

Camera ZOOM FX is also worth trying. The free app comes with photo filters, white balance, ISO levels and a touch-to-focus feature. Upgrade to the premium version for $2.99, and you’ll get stable shots, a timer and grid overlays. It also has a “burst mode” setting, which means you can take up to 30 shots per second, which is helpful for catching the quick motion of fireworks.

4. DSLR or point-and-shoot cameras

Most modern cameras will have a “fireworks” mode under scene settings. That feature sets the camera focus and slows down shutter speed, according to Mashable‘s photo staff. Select that control ahead of time, so your camera will be ready to go.

sparkler

 

IMAGE: DUSTIN DRANKOSKI

If you’re more advanced and enjoy messing around with camera settings, grab your DSLR and a tripod.

Set it in manual and make sure the ISO is at 200. Then, decide on your aperture setting. A wider aperture setting (f2.8-f5.6) will really capture the streaks of light in the fireworks (though, be careful, because this setting could let in too much light). A smaller aperture setting (f8-f16) will snap tighter shots and more color (though, that could also be a downside in itself, because it won’t capture the scale of how huge fireworks are).

You should also use a trigger release or IR remote to take the picture. Try to take the shot as soon as the fireworks start to launch.

Be sure to have a great independence day, and to check out the deal at StackSocial!

 

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