Cameraphone Fireworks

1. Pick a location

Before you even touch the settings on your phone, you’ll need to make sure you’re in the prime spot. Get as close as possible with a clear view. Buildings, water and landmarks make great foregrounds and backgrounds for fireworks photos and will give your images depth and context. Photo by Dollydonedidit.

2. Bolster yourself.

Fireworks displays are usually some distance from where you’re standing. You’ll need to be properly bolstered in order to stop camera shake from making your photos all turn out like blurry blobs.

Make your body into a tri-pod by leaning up against a nearby building or car. Sitting down is OK, but you’re arms will still move, so make sure to plant your elbows.

If you’re serious about taking photos with your phone, invest in a tri-pod for your phone. These devices are the most important tool that will help you.

3 Turn off your flash.

Your camera’s automatic settings will hurt you, not help you, in this situation. Turn the flash off to make sure you’re able to capture the moment instead of the back of everyone’s head in the foreground.

4. Empty your memory.

Make sure you’ve got enough space to take tons of photos. You’re gonna need it.

5. Get the Slow Shutter Cam app.

Warning: If you use this app, you must have a tri-pod. Slow Shutter Cam is an app that actually lets you control the shutter speed on your camera. 5-30 second exposures work best for fireworks.

If you want to get really fancy, the app even has a “bulb” function that will let you shoot longer exposures. Hold up a piece of cardboard between fireworks and you’ll end up with a photo that has multiple fireworks in one shot.

6. Get the Fast Camera app.

The Fast Camera app will let your camera take up to 800 photos per minute. You can take multiple shots fast, so you wont have to wait in between exposures like you would in the normal camera app.

7. Choose your angle wisely.

During the initial display, shoot in portrait mode so you can better see each individual firework as it takes off from the ground and descends. During the finale, shoot in landscape so you’ll be able to get all the fireworks in one shot. Photos by Nina Frazier

8. Add effects later.

In other words, don’t take pictures inside the Instagram app. Not only do you cut the size of your frame down by nearly a third, you also run the risk of Instagram crashing mid-upload and losing your shot. This is standard advice even when you aren’t taking photos of a fireworks display. This is why photo-editing apps have an “import” feature.
Photo by Brokiiexoxo.

9. If you feel frustrated. Stop.

Don’t miss the moment because you were trying to get the settings right. If you start to feel overwhelmed, just put the phone down and enjoy the show. Photo by Nina Frazier