Do you remember last year, sitting outside watching the fireworks explode in the air, and thinking to yourself, "That would make a really good picture". So, you whip out your camera and snap a few only to discover they are a blurry mash of colors, not at all resembling the phenominon you saw in the sky.
This year is your chance to get a few, great shots! Good enough to share with your family, or even frame and hang on the wall.
1. Find the correct setting in your cameras "menu". For many point and shoot cameras (and most SLR's), come with a "fireworks" or "night time" setting". If your camera doesn't have this option, don't panic, it's ok.
2. Turn off the flash. Most camera's will automaticly start with the flash on. The fireworks are emitting plenty of light for the camera to pick them up, the flash will just get in the way.
3. Use a tripod, or steady the camera on a table, chair, or anything else you find close by. Hand holding the camera, in low light or at night, is the biggest reason why the pictures turn out blurry. Look for anything to set the camera on, if you run out of objects, try your knee and angle the camera up.
4. To go along with tip #4, try turning the self timer on. This ensures even less blur in the picture, since you won't be pressing a button as the camera shutter closes. Sometimes these functions aren't the esiest to find, so play around with your camera earlier in the day to be ready for that perfect shot.
5. Use the highest quality photo setting. If you happen to catch that 'perfect' shot, the higher the quality of the image, the bigger you can blow it up to hang on your wall. If you notice you are running out of space on your card, go ahead and delete a couple that you KNOW are bad. But be careful not to delete too many. Sometimes the images surprise you when they appear bigger on the computer.
Don't forget to share your images! Leave a comment with a link to your Smilebox or blog so the rest of us can enjoy your creativity.
5 comments:
I'll be passing this on to some coworkers who were asking me this question all week.
Thanks for the tips! I'll have to try them out!
Thanks so much! I've always tried to get great pics of fireworks to no avail! I can't wait to try your tips tonight!
just found this today :( well there's always next year... I'll be ready!
Thank you for sharing the tips. It is a good idea to figure out where and how to access all the necessary functions on the camera before going to the fireworks!! I'll be sure to try your suggestions out on the 2009 HSBC Celebration of Lights fireworks in Vancouver this month!
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