How to Photograph Lightning in the Sky

How to Photograph Lightning in the Sky: How do you shoot the explosion? Now, when it comes to fireworks displays, it takes a lot of planning and anticipation of what you will need. Despite the fact that the fireworks display is a pre-planned event, that spectacular moment when fireworks explode in the sky is still a fraction of a second when everything has to work out right for you to get the perfect shot.

Now obviously, there are some equipment issues that must be prepared so that your camera is not only set up and ready but also at the right setup to capture the moment when all the glory is lost in the sky. So from an equipment point of view ...

• A tripod. The fireworks activity is so dramatic that unless you stabilize your camera, the shot will be blurry and unacceptable to you and whoever you want to sell it to. The tripod should be easy to move and adjust so that you can make adjustments quickly.
• Externally functional shutter release.
• Equipment for working at night is like when your subject will be done. You can get a head-mounted flashlight at any camping shop so you can direct the light at the camera and still have both hands free to hold your gear.
• Portable chair because there will be someone waiting. Other things that will help you get out of waiting include food, water, music, etc. It should also be part of your preparation.

Because fireworks bursts are sudden and rapid, you should be able to adjust your shutter speed and set the camera to react to manual focus so that you can use your eyes and ears to know exactly when to take the shot.

The key to a good firework photo or a good series of fireworks photos is location. You want a location that has an excellent viewpoint of the piece of sky where most of the action will take place. This means that you may need to take a position on a bridge, on top of a building, or on a hill away from the crowds who come to watch the show. These won't be easy to find so start early. It is not off track to "find out" your location a few days in advance and arrive hours in advance to secure the place as your own.

Experience will be one of your best teachers on not only the exact location but how to adjust your camera focus and shutter speed and how to position the scene from a safe location so you can catch the rocket at the time of the explosion. So find a way to do some practice shots at other fireworks displays before you head out to take "guard" shots. Often times minor league baseball clubs have fireworks displays and they'll be happy to let you take photos of the show in exchange for a few free shots. Here you can experiment with your experiments and find out the direction before setting up a bigger show.

After the show, anticipate the explosion you want to catch. Don't snap the first five minutes of the show, but take that time to confirm that you know the exact location of the sky. The best time to catch the shot is right before the explosion which you can set the time with the sound of the rocket rising and the expected time before the explosion.

With some experience, you'll gain a sixth sense of where and when to take that perfect shot and when you're done, you'll have some spectacular shots to include with your portfolio or to present with pride. And this will lead to more work shooting the explosions in the sky.

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