Photographing fireworks on New Year's Eve - tips and tricks

Taking pictures of the fireworks on New Year's Eve is something that many have already decided to do. For the photos to succeed, you need nothing more than basic camera equipment, the right settings and some creativity.

Properly photograph fireworks - the equipment

You should have this basic equipment ready when photographing fireworks:

• Camera: This must always be manually adjustable. This is the case with practically every SLR or with modern system cameras.
• Lens: You should photograph fireworks with a wide-angle lens. For example, this can be the normal 18-55mm kit lens. You may get even better results with an ultra wide-angle lens.
• Tripod: A stable tripod is essential on New Year's Eve. Since you have to expose the camera for several seconds, a fixed position is particularly important.
• Remote release: This is not absolutely necessary, but can make the job a lot easier. On the one hand, you don't create vibrations when the camera is triggered, on the other hand you can program automatic continuous shooting.

New Year's Eve fireworks pictures - preparation tips

A little planning is essential for attractive photos. You should note the following points in advance:

• Be familiar with your camera's settings. If you recently bought new accessories, such as a remote release, you should have tried it before.
• Check carefully that the camera battery is charged and that the memory card has enough free capacity. You only get fireworks a few months in front of the lens - the more annoying would be a reckless mistake.
• Find the right place beforehand. This should be slightly elevated and offer a clear view. Also make sure that no one can walk around in front of your camera later.
• Tip: You should also think about the image design. It often works well if static objects - such as trees or houses - are built into the picture. Apply the rule of thirds.

Correct settings for fireworks pictures

At the beginning of the fireworks you should already have made some basic settings on your camera. You can still make small adjustments later. Use the completely manual mode (M).

• The focal length should be chosen quite small to cover a sufficiently large part of the sky. In other words, zoom out of your image as much as possible.
• You can adjust the focus in advance because the camera will not change its position later. Focus on any element in the distance - such as a tree or a building. Then set the focus method to Manual, preventing you from trying to focus the camera again each time the shutter is released.
• Set the ISO value as low as possible to avoid image noise. ISO 100 is good. If the brightness is no longer sufficient, increase to ISO 200 or 400.
• The correct exposure time is crucial for the finished image. By exposing for several seconds, you hold the entire explosion in the sky. We recommend about 4 to 8 seconds - find the right value gradually by trying it out.
• You now determine the aperture primarily according to the brightness. To do this, take test shots again and again and adjust the aperture according to the desired exposure.
• Tip: Try to underexpose your picture a little, because then the colors of the fireworks stand out better.
• Once you have found the right settings, you can have a series of continuous shots taken over a longer period of time. From the large mass of pictures you can then simply choose the best pictures.