Sunday, July 31, 2005

Take Great Fireworks Pictures: Part 1

Anyone can take a good picture. Only those with patience can take great fireworks pictures. If you think you have what it takes, get your camera out and take heed to the following tips to capture Fourth of July moments that will last forever. Practice makes perfect and the more you practice, the better you will get when taking any type of picture. These are just some tips to get memorable fireworks picture no matter what the event all year long!

Always arrive early. Get to the venue as early as possible, even if it means waiting outside a locked gate for a few hours. This way you can get the best position possible for taking pictures. Since you don't want to be surrounded by people, but you also don't want to be far away from a good picture, you'll want to find a good place to set-up your camera as well as be unobstructed from trees and other objects that would disrupt your picture during the celebrations. If possible, scout the area before you arrive a few days in advance to pick out the best position and take some test shots.

Use a tripod and cable release. Tripods can be the easiest way to capture perfect pictures. Using a tripod enables you to have a steady picture, and when you're taking motion pictures, such as fireworks, having your camera steady is the best way to get the best shot. Besides, the longer exposure time for a firework to be captured properly is ensured by using a tripod so that you don't have to try and steady the camera for such a long time and risk moving and disrupting the picture yourself. Cable releases, too, allow for you to not touch the shutter which ensures you won't move the camera mid-exposure. You can stand some space away, still watch the fireworks, and take great pictures with little effort.

Flashlights are your friends. Since it will be dark all around you once the fireworks begin, ideally, a small flashlight will enable you to see you camera clearly in the darkness. Make sure it's a small flashlight that emits enough light for you to see clearly. Test this before hand so as not to be caught in the dark when taking pictures at the event or venue.

Don't forget the batteries. Don't be left with a camera that doesn't work! Bring two sets of backup batteries for your camera, whether you're able to plug it into an outlet or not. This way, if something goes wrong, you have a backup system in place to continue taking pictures.

Film and memory cards are a must. Make sure you have enough film or memory cards to last you for the duration of the event. If you can't afford that much film or memory, then, make sure to pace yourself. After all, you don't want to miss the grand finale of the show by taking as many pictures as you can in the first five minutes of the show, do you? The finale is often the best time to capture pictures, and if you must wait until the very end to take pictures, then, you'll be all set-up and ready to go to do so.

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