If you plan to take your camera to your town’s annual fireworks show this New Year’s Eve, then you should be prepared to bring along more than just a few spare batteries. Photographing fireworks can give you and your camera a real workout if you don’t plan ahead. One of the most forgotten photo accessories that mistakenly gets left at home is a tripod.
The key to taking frame worthy shots of fireworks is to remain as steady as possible. When shooting a nighttime fireworks display your camera will naturally reduce the shutter speed in an attempt to capture the bright light against a pitch black background and the explosive movement. Consequently, if you don’t remain rock steady you will likely end up with a blurry photo. What’s more, no amount of editing can fix major fuzziness.
To steady yourself before you hit the shutter button find something stable on which to rest your camera. A tripod is ideal, but if you forget to pack one then look around for a fence, a picnic table, a ledge, or any other solid item that will help reduce any movement.
Again, a tripod is the ideal piece of equipment to keep your camera steady. If you are planning to purchase one in time for the big fireworks show you don’t have to drop a bundle. These days you can find miniature tripods for as little as $10. Pocket-sized tripods are sturdy enough for point-and-shoot cameras to take stunning shots of amazing light shows.
I also recommend the mega-flexible Gorillapod from Joby. Its handy twistable legs wrap around poles, branches, or railings. If you have a larger and heavier camera such as a DSLR, you’ll need more stability therefore you are better off opting for a tabletop or full-size tripod. If you’ve never used one, don’t be intimidated; tripods are simple to use and will make a world of difference in the quality of your shots.
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