Look Who it Was Random video

Perfect Inspiration: Episode 12 - On Prepping For That Perfect Fireworks Exposure

436 views · Published 22 November 2013 · 18:05 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: ON1 · 2013 · Education

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I think a lot of you may agree that there is something unnerving about shooting an event that is expected to last for a brief amount of time. Between getting the exposure settings right to making sure your camera is focused and composed correctly, it's sometimes a wonder that we actually walk away with anything usable at all. What I've found is that it really boils down to understanding the event that you're shooting and what that means to you in terms of getting the best shot.

For example, let's use a fireworks show as our event. Given that Summer is about to officially kick off, we're bound to see a flood of new fireworks images along with articles sharing tips and tricks to get the best exposure. What I've found to work best is exactly that - the best results seem to be the ones that I figured out for myself and by not following a general 'rule of thumb' guideline. There are simply too many variables from scene to scene, camera to camera, and photographer to photographer to be able to encapsulate it all into a neatly wrapped rule. And figuring out what works best for you is half the fun!

For this image, taken in Portland as a ceremony to the launch of the Rose Festival, I understood that it was more than likely that the best and most elaborate display of fireworks would be towards the end of the show. Fireworks shows usually last between 10 - 15 minutes, so I assumed that I had 3-5 minutes to work with my camera to lock in the proper shutter speed and aperture, along with finding a composition that I really liked. I also needed to lock in proper timing to kick off each exposure so that I captured the actual burst without missing the trail up or overexposing the whole thing. That took some practice, too.

If you looked at my original folder from this shoot, you'd actually see about 40-50 shots that were all over the map, but each one played a significant role in finding what that perfect settings were for me. Once I figured it out, the next step was to ensure that I captured the building blocks that I needed to make the shot spectacular. To that end, I fired off a bunch of exposures consisting of different bursts but all without moving my camera. When I started working in post, I cherry-picked my favorite exposures and fused them together to make a more grandiose representation of that very fun evening.

Ultimately, we will always be challenged when we are dealt with the unknown, especially if that unknown involves a time constraint. Instead of falling back on what others think you should do to make the shot perfect, my advice is to figure out for yourself what that means so that you can apply your own personal style and brand - and that is something that no one except for you can figure out.
- Brian Matiash

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