The 4th of July is just a few days away, and many people will spend the holiday shooting off fireworks to celebrate America’s independence. In today’s world, it’s common for people to take photos of anything and everything. This includes taking photos of fireworks on the 4th of July.
Most firework viewers won’t have a digital camera with them to take pictures, but almost all will have their phone. According to Times Magazine, here are six tips that will improve your firework photography skills.
1. Turn Off the Flash
Smartphones automatically turn the flash on when you’re in a dark environment, so make sure you override it and turn the flash off.
2. Turn Off the HDR
This feature will ruin your photo because fireworks are constantly moving and changing shape/color. It’ll try to blend multiple exposures together and your photos won’t look good, so turn this feature off too.
3. Create Longer Exposure
Some smartphones won’t have this feature, but if available, you’ll want to increase your exposure to about five – 10 seconds.
4. Shoot more than just the Sky
Show more than just the sky in your photos. This way, you’ll be able to tell more of the story of the setting and situation. It will also help make your photo more interesting.
5. Use a Selfie Stick
Selfie Sticks can be purchased online for around $5-$15, and they'll allow you with more range in your photos. You may even be able to take a selfie with fireworks in the background…
6. Edit your photos
It’s ok to edit your photos when you’re done. By making your shadows brighter and reducing the contrast, it’ll help some of the bright colors stand out. If you’re super nerdy, upload your photos to your computer and edit them using Adobe Photoshop (or some other photo editing software).
