Photographing Fireworks: Breaking All The Rules

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A few years ago I found myself at a baseball game with fireworks.  I did not plan to take photos of them. But I did.  Afterward I wrote an article for the Pioneer Woman about how we sometimes “break the rules” when it comes to photography.  Since this upcoming weekend is the 4th of July and Canada Day, there will be lots of firework displays in North America.  There are hundreds of articles on photographing fireworks the right way. But for today, we are going to cover what I did, break the rules.

fireworks Photographing Fireworks: Breaking All The Rules MCP Actions Projects

Who decided the rules anyway? If you do a Google search online for “photographing fireworks” you will find a few common tips in every article.

  • Use a tripod: You CAN NOT photograph fireworks without one! Period!
  • Shoot manual and at a slow shutter speed: Allow for long exposures of many seconds to 30 seconds, even try bulb settings
  • Use a quick release trigger for the camera if at all possible
  • Shoot at a low ISO 100-200

So rewind back to summer of 2009 – we were at a Detroit Tigers Game. We won a special package through a Silent Auction for a charity included going on the field for batting practice and watching the fireworks show from the visitors’ dugout.

fireworks3 Photographing Fireworks: Breaking All The Rules MCP Actions Projects

My twins were in awe as this “relatively small” fireworks display started. They wanted me to take pictures of the fireworks. So here I was with no intention of shooting fireworks, completely unprepared to follow any of the basic rules, and aware that I have no tripod or tools to steady the camera. Even if I had planned on it, I do not think I would be allowed a tripod at a Major League Baseball game. So I had two choices. Forget it or break the rules. I chose to break them.

As you will see, these fireworks photos look completely different than if I followed the rules.

* I hand held the camera (no tripod or monopod or even good place to lean)
* Release the shutter with my own fingers
* I tried various speed settings ranging from 1/8 of a second (remember I am hand holding here) to 1/250 too. I experimented with a bunch of speeds in between.
* I was mostly at ISO 800.

fireworks2 Photographing Fireworks: Breaking All The Rules MCP Actions Projects

The results of breaking the rules:

  • The background was pitch black.
  • I did not capture long trails and fall off with the light that you normally get with fireworks pictures.
  • It made my twins happy.
  • The results were artistic and fun.

In conclusion, if you are able to prepare, do so. If you can follow the rules, do so. But if you are not able to or just did not prep yourself and do not have the right gear; do not hesitate to photograph those fireworks anyway. You may just surprise yourself and get some interesting shots despite your rebellion.

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  1. Michele on July 1, 2011 at 9:14 am

    This is how I usually photograph the fireworks. I don’t like the pictures with all the smoke in them and so prefer the quicker speed. Yes, quite a few are not ‘good’ but the ones that I do get are quite fun! This was one of my favorites from last year. ISO 1600, 1/80, f5.6, handheld.

    • Alissa on July 2, 2011 at 11:40 am

      I hate the smoke in the photos too and I think your shot is perfect.

    • Veronica Hudley on July 2, 2011 at 4:29 pm

      WOW!!! I think this is beautiful! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  2. Anna on July 1, 2011 at 9:17 am

    I don’t have a good tripod, and I really like holding my camera…just get a better feel. I’m no where near professional level but when in Hawaii, you gotta take pictures of the fireworks!! I did and love the results….not all are great but those that are are pretty good!! Thanks for your article…it makes me feel better because I don’t even know all the rule!! lol Attached a pic. Be kind, I’m not a professional just a hobbyist!

  3. LibraryGirl62 on July 1, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Here is one of mine-straight out of my …cell phone! I want a “real” camera, but I love that I can also capture cool stuff I would have missed without carrying one on my pocket 🙂

    • Patty Mills on June 29, 2012 at 8:38 pm

      That’s a VERY cool shot! I’ve never seen one like that. Way to go!!!

  4. Angie on July 1, 2011 at 9:31 am

    Thank you so much for the tips — and ways to break them. This will be my first fireworks with a DSLR, so I am very excited.

  5. SKFrost on July 1, 2011 at 9:40 am

    I love to watch Fireworks and so try to spend as little time behind a viewfinder and thinking about rules as possible.. especially as we only get them once a year. Also, I generally need my hands free for candyfloss, burgers and warm tea! I hope you get to enjoy some excellent displays on your July Fourth celebrations.Here is a picture that I took on Bonfire night 2010

  6. Barbara on July 1, 2011 at 10:00 am

    I love all of these photos! hopefully I will have a chance to try my hand at this this weekend. Thanks for the tips!Barbara

  7. Amanda on July 1, 2011 at 10:14 am

    Here’s one I got at a baseball game. There’s just something about I love. 🙂

  8. Ronda on July 1, 2011 at 10:19 am

    I love photographing fireworks. I have done so for the past three years. Each year, my shots get better (and my husband gets more patient). I also found that I could use ‘overlay’ in PSE to put more than one shot in the picture. Happy 4th to you all?

  9. steph on July 1, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    Thanks so much for sharing. This is perfect!

  10. carli on July 1, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Another fun thing to try that is fun is to shoot with a wide open aperture. If you’re going for the ‘fun’ and ‘experimental’ thing.

  11. Jessica on July 1, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Here are a couple pictures I was lucky enough to get last weekend. This was my first attempt ever taking pictures of fireworks and these are the only ones that, I think, turned out pretty good. I took these in bulb mode.Looks like I can only upload one at a time, so I’ll post two more. 🙂

  12. Jessica on July 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    Number two

  13. Jessica on July 1, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    Last one 🙂

    • tracy on July 4, 2011 at 2:30 pm

      These are wonderful!! What settings in bulb mode did you use?

      • Jessica on July 8, 2011 at 10:36 pm

        Thank you!! :)I used f/16 to f/18 and ISO 200. No tripod, I positioned myself in my chair and balanced my camera on my leg.

        • Leslie Vu on July 1, 2012 at 12:54 am

          what shutter speed did you use?

  14. Joyful Reflections Photography on July 2, 2011 at 7:06 am

    Happy 4th of July! Happy Canada Day too! Great advice! My thoughts…when I’m in a crowd I just set my small Lumix point and shoot on a tripod…change scene mode to fireworks and hit the shutter while watching the fireworks. Works great for me every year! Good luck!

  15. Joyful Reflections Photography on July 2, 2011 at 7:07 am

    Here’s another…straight out of camera!

  16. Joyful Reflections Photography on July 2, 2011 at 7:08 am

    Here’s one more! Simple and easy!

  17. This was a great post as always. I experiment with shooting fireworks every 4th of July when we have our big party. Here’s what I got last year!

  18. Veronica Hudley on July 2, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    This is so cool! Thank you for sharing. My family and I are going to a soccer game tonight and they will be having a fireworks show. I can’t wait to try this out :)Oh, and I LOVE the results you got!!!

    • Veronica Hudley on July 4, 2011 at 9:58 pm

      This is one of my favorites from the fireworks show at the soccer game we attended. I can’t wait for tonight’s show to get more. 🙂

      • Veronica Hudley on July 4, 2011 at 9:59 pm

        And I like this one because it shows the crowd watching the show. The purple sky is pretty too! 🙂

  19. Carolyn Matteo on July 2, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Bravo and Kudos to everyone that posted! The results are great! I will try my hand at capturing fireworks tomorrow night — I can’t wait!

  20. Ruthanne on July 4, 2011 at 10:49 am

    You inspired me to go ahead and try it. I think I got some decent ones for not following any rules. I have seen ‘bulb mode’ show up on my camera but I don’t really understand it yet. I need to go do some research on that. I actually don’t mind the smoke in the shot. It’s what I see in real life and it reminds me of the whole experience.Here’s one of my favorites from last night.

  21. misty robbins on July 4, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    fireworks from last night as we watched on the dam of waurika lake, ok

  22. susan on July 4, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    This was my first time with fireworks in 09, here my favorite. Exposure 0.125 sec (1/8)Aperture f/4.5Focal Length 75 mmISO Speed 400no tripod

  23. Drew on July 4, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    I have a blast last night at my in-laws farm. Here is my fav of the night!!

  24. Drew on July 4, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    I take it back . . .this one is my fav!

    • Patty Mills on June 29, 2012 at 8:45 pm

      yeahhhhh – this one’s beautiful!

  25. claudia on July 4, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    or you can also fake it in photoshop, make a composite of your best shots by layering and using screen or linear dodge to blend them together! :Dhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/5900335193/

  26. Michelle Kersey on July 4, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    F/51/60ssISO800Hand held50mm f1.4 lens

  27. Tom Pappa on July 4, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    My first real attempt at photographing fireworks. I had tried before with a point and shoot, handheld with less than so-so results. Got lucky on a few. Bought my first DSLR just 11 months ago (have already upgraded since) and have fallen in LOVE.D7000 on tripodTamron 17-50mm 2.8 VC (17mm, VC off)Shutter set to Bulb – 4.1 sec.ISO 100Aperture f16

  28. Juliet Grace on July 4, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    I took these last year in northern California. And much to my surprise, they came out great. I hand held my Nikon D80 w/55-200 zoom…I did the 800 iso and I can’t remember what the f stop was. I actually won 2 ribbons on this shot. Not bad for an amature.

  29. Kerry Goodwin Photography on July 4, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    I had just read the “rules” yesterday then didn’t follow any of them last night.This one is with my 70-200 2.8L ISO 500 f/2.8 1/50 hand held

  30. Mark on July 4, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    Multiple exposures ranging from 1/250 to 12 secs. F/16. Breaking the rules is fun!

  31. Rachel on July 4, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    I took fireworks for the first time this year. I love how they turned out but after reading your blog, I’m going to experiment some tonight. 🙂

  32. Valerie on July 4, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    I took these at the Detroit/Windsor fireworks this past Monday. It was my first time shooting fireworks in a big city, and I was overjoyed. Mostly hand-held shots.See the rest at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.895014396972.2347791.16106811&l=cdae2a20a1

  33. DebC on July 4, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    I have a basic point-and-shoot, now over 3 years old.Apparently, I have always broken the rules.Here is a post from my 2010 Project365Blog:http://debc-debc.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-else-day-after-4th-of-july-but.htmlGlad you are letting others know how easy it is to take fireworks photos.

  34. thatgirlblogs on July 4, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    took these last night in bulb mode

  35. Deni on July 4, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    thanks for the advice! It’s always fun to break “the rules” and get creative in our own ways!!

  36. RobertaKayne on July 4, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    I love the results you got from handholding the camera. I did that last year and got a few decent shots. This one was ISO200, Tamrom 18-270 set at 42mm, 1/5 sec @ f14.

  37. Lisa McCully on July 4, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    When you’re taking pictures for family fun, sometimes it’s not practical to be so rigid about the rules, concentrating more on the fun. I handhold my camera, break all the rules and get little surprises in the pictures. Plus I use my iPhone too 🙂 Those pictures make us happy and that’s all that matters to me. Plus you can get very creative with the images too, collages especially. Happy 4th of July everyone!!!!

  38. Lisa C on July 4, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    First time I shot fireworks were at disneyworld in Florida at epcot. I found myself a nice location and I used my 70-200 at ISO between 320-800 and shot mostly between 2.8-5.6 and the photos came out very nice. Some of the lower shots had some smoke because there are so many fireworks going off. I was able to sit on a curb with my lens steadied on a raw iron fence. I also did some long exposure but photography is all about creating art and following the rules all the time sometimes doesn’t give you the most creative flow.

  39. Michelle Sulkye Photography on July 4, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    My fave

  40. Beth Carter on July 4, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    Total amateure here, hope that’s okay.Canon Rebel TSino tripod :(f/1.8ISO 50

  41. Jen on July 5, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    D700ISO 200f114 sec

  42. Robin on July 5, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Tried the “Bulb Mode” for the first time last night…didn’t even know I had one! It was alot of fun trying something new!Robin

  43. Stephanie @ Our Marriage Adventure on July 7, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    I love these photos and wish I had a chance to capture shots on the 4th. Sadly it was POURING, not that it stopped us from firing off fireworks. Just from the camera being out there with us.

  44. Karen GOwen on July 7, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    I had fun breaking all of the rules! Thanks for the push! I even went so far as to move my camera around for a few which made for some fun “light painting” shots. Here’s one where I kept as still as I could.

  45. Mars on June 29, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    I take fire works photos every chance I get.. I just stay really still and hold my breath.. lol

  46. Jessica on June 29, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Fantastic shots everyone!I am a rule follower here, lol. I cannot hand hold very well! Even with my little point & shoot I used a tripod (only past couple years), and last year I had a remote to use with my camera, which was great! Just aim, set my settings up (i was low iso, other settings I can’t remember), and push the button, lol. Last year ended up with alot of smoke in the shots but it wasn’t windy at all. But here’s one of my faves

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