Bonfire Night! - Why do we have it and how do we photograph fireworks?
Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot …
How much do you know about the background to this well known nursery rhyme?
Wikipedia records that the Gunpowder Plot was a failed assassination attempt against King James VI of Scotland and I of England by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby. The conspirators' aim was to blow up the House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament on 5 November 1605, while the king and many other important members of the aristocracy and nobility were inside. The conspirator who became most closely associated with the plot in the popular imagination was Guy Fawkes, who had been assigned the task of lighting the fuse to the explosives.
Nowadays, though, we know this more often as Bonfire Night and fireworks displays are held across the UK and in several Commonwealth nations…and they present photographers of all levels with a fantastic opportunity to do something only usually possible twice a year (the second, of course, being Hogmanay!)
Getting the settings right for capturing those amazing fireworks shots can be tricky. As you know, unlike some photographers, I am a strong believer in showcasing the power of the smartphone as well as interchangeable lens cameras so I’ve put in the blog some suggested settings that you can try, whatever camera type you are using.
For both camera and Smartphone:
Always use a tripod to avoid camera shake with longer shutter speeds (or a hand held gimbal for your phone if you have one).
Apply the composition rules to make the photo more than just about the fireworks and to add scale and perspective.
Suggested DSLR/Mirrorless camera settings:
Set the camera to Manual
If your camera has a built in flash, turn it off
ISO 100
F/8
1 sec shutter speed
Adjust the shutter speed (anything from 1/2 to 2 secs) and aperture (f/8 to f/16) to give you the correct exposure as you take and review shots. (If you're not sure how to balance the exposure triangle, you can learn all of this and much, much more on my DSLR/Mirrorless Photography for Beginners Course.)
Suggested smartphone camera settings:
Turn off the flash
Lock the exposure
Lock the focus on your focal point
Use the optical lens to get closer (pinch zooming should be a last resort)
Enable HDR on your phone
If you have a burst shooting function, use it and select the best shots afterwards!
Think about video as well...but don't forget to apply those rules of composition to make your video stand out from the crowd 👍
Finally, remember that if you want to take your smartphone photography to the next level and start using hand held gimbals, external lenses and third party apps...I can teach you all of that and more on my Smartphone Photography Course
I hope that helps you if you are heading to a fireworks display this year…and if you capture some shots that you’re proud of, please do send them to me, with details of what you shot them on and what settings you used, and I’ll feature them and you on the Mike Hay Photography Facebook page!