Data Doctors: How to snap great fireworks pics on July Fourth

Q Can I get decent pictures of fireworks with my smartphone A If you plan on capturing fireworks with your smartphone you ll need to go beyond the normal approach to avoid blurry streaks or washed-out blobs Fortunately it only takes a scant simple tweaks to get surprisingly impressive fireworks shots Keep it steady The biggest challenge with fireworks is that your phone demands to keep its camera open longer to capture light trails so even slight movements can cause blur Use a small tripod or prop your phone on a stable surface like a fence or your car roof Even resting your elbows on a solid surface can help stabilize your hands if you re shooting handheld July Fourth Where to watch fireworks in the DC area on the Fourth of July Helping kids manage fireworks anxiety Where to look for Fourth of July voyage deals Turn off the flash Your flash won t reach the fireworks and will only light up nearby objects confusing your camera s exposure Make sure your flash is turned off before you start shooting Use night mode The majority newer smartphones have a Night or Night Sight mode designed for lowlight scenes This mode typically uses longer exposure times which is perfect for fireworks If your phone allows manual control try setting the exposure to - seconds Lock the focus Fireworks can trick your camera s autofocus and exposure sensors leading to constant refocusing and blown-out shots If your camera app has manual focus control often in Pro or Manual mode set focus to infinity to help ensure distant fireworks stay sharp Use burst mode Fireworks moments are quick and using your phone s burst mode can help you catch the exact moment of peak bloom Zoom with your feet not fingers Using digital zoom reduces image quality It s better to get closer if manageable or capture a wider scene and crop your images later for sharper results Capture frames from video If timing shots feels stressful consider recording the fireworks in K video and pulling still frames afterward Plenty of phones and apps allow you to scrub frame-by-frame to grab the perfect burst letting you enjoy the show without worrying about pressing the shutter at just the right moment Use a GoPro instead If you have a GoPro it s a great tool for fireworks You can use Night Lapse mode for crisp multi-burst images but an even simpler approach is to record the entire show in K video Set the GoPro on a small tripod or stable surface point it where the action will be hit record and enjoy the show Later you can pull high-resolution still images from the footage capturing beautiful fireworks moments without missing the live experience Additional tips Arrive early Scout a location with a clear unobstructed view avoiding streetlights or bright sources that can throw off exposure Check your lens Wipe your camera lens before the show smudges can create haze or glare Turn on gridlines Enable gridlines to help keep the horizon straight and frame your shots Lower ISO if realizable A lower ISO - can reduce graininess in night shots Practice beforehand Take test shots during twilight to get settled with your settings before the main event With these adjustments your smartphone or GoPro can capture fireworks that sparkle on your screen nearly as brightly as they do in the sky Source