Capturing the Celebration A Guide to Shooting Fireworks with Tamron Pro Photographer Jillian Bell oS TAMRON | macphunhaven't met anyone who hasut seen a fiework display in one form or another, From small backyard gatherings, to large scale pyrotechnics and everything in between, there is something about colorful explosions that bring together. Family, friends, communities and cultures from all over the world use these displays to celebrate, to honor, to remember achievements and events throughout the year. en Tedependene Day aying in a rey Aerie es pay Teva att fy evening Lr evened Gey eens Tepes ete een Cn ee ted eres ne amon tno me Amat kak ove aaa tripod! After a moment, I caught my baal am Tatil mig eee and artistic flare ber emphasis ahaa is in the ube detail: Trough produ rain Although magical, fireworks require : respect and a safe distance. Different ing and consumer worzheps ber ole ith clements from the periodic table, when bburned, create different colors Pyro-technicians are highly comers and sales sates on boing cdemental properties and low level, controlled explosions, They precisely measure and arrange varying amounts of i explosives and elements to create ian aan fabiating displays of color, shape and size. inp cbers aed build om photegraphic The result of their expertise looks effortless. ‘Tamron isto rel the country escating rained in Be right epupment for varying need “Hills reat better, moreconssen resus: Good firewor photography also looks effortless but it i indeed a difficult Poles filion at to capture. Although it can be overwhelming, being prepated, knowing ‘what equipment to bring, and Integra | @BelfTomrantISA understanding how to expose the image will allow you to properly photograph fireworks Titer| @BelTamrontISA Frcbook | @BetTamrontISA ' break it down,LENS USED: Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 DiVC USD First and foremost, doing research i the most important tool I use to photograph. like to know re local frework dieplas wil be, there ae always several to choose fom. ommunity forums and city Expire PS, 5,8 details Then weigh the possible size and to determine where to captute the beet photographs. Use 3D online maps and photos of previous years to help figure outa proper vantage point, Once decided, show up eatly, even scout out the laation a day before if posible. Ie willbe harder to navigate once a crowed of people settle in aminar(Niptane Soft Focus Filter : ae TIP: Check the weather and wind direction. Choosing a vantage point with the wind to your back is best to avoid contamination frm smoke,ae LENS USED: int wil determine which focal angle lenses create displays p-lose rocks fll ometimes including multiple buret. The Tam DiI VC HLD or Tamron’ SP 15 ve USI for these photographs, Fomn af, wide loding over city lights, play light up the foreground and shutle bus ight seen streaking acrots add visual interest.ce bursts into colorful “The Tamron+ Camera Gear Tripo + Shutter Release (wired prefered) Extra batteries Lens cap (for bulb mode exposure discused ater *Ablanket A portable char 1 Insect repellant plugs Our of everything, a sturdy tripod and shutter release are essential. To photograph fireworks, shutter speeds will be too slow for hand holding. Although stabilization can help with slower shutter speeds experiment frst so you know your limits of hand holding, All Ienses with stabilization need to be shut off anytime it ie on a tripod. Ira lens is perfectly sill the lens tres to stabilize itself which wil in turn create unsharp images. In crowded spaces, tripods need extra working room. Be respect, but confident, and st wp for ‘the beet composition, Another advantage to using “it pulls me away from the vewtinder to enjoy the show and photograph it tripod and shutter release at the same time, Fite just before each bust to get ll explosion and the most dramat ic eect Todo so, listen for alow thud signaling the launch ‘explosion, count to 2 or 3 then release the shutter Timing may be diferent in your situation, so be flexible and adjust accordingly. 200mm 172.8 DIVE USD Exposure BA, 60, 180-40, Laaminar/Nptune Bi-Colr Te (Red Blue) Fier ingN D ‘Tamron SP 15-80nem 82.8 DEVCUSD Exposure F728, 1/250 ce, 180 200, Laminar/Niptane Ai desert Filter AND To Filter TIP: Use a streetlight to double check your exposure prior to the fireworks display This bright light against the dark sky to bright burs inthe dark sky. imilar To understand exposure, we need to undesst hhow cameras see and meter avaiable light. cameras caprue light to determine a meter reading By default, the available ight captured ie averaged cut to a median value of 12-189, This standard grey tone, cameras calibrate to fora correct exposure = 0. As we purposefully under or over expose the image, ‘we are telling the camera to shift this grey tone darker (under) or brighter (over). Consider the following: In a well-lit, mid-day seene, cameras have no problem reading the light. Fireworks happen at night with mostly dark tones ‘When metering to 189 grey, black/shadowed areas look washed out and bland, almost as if it were the middle of the day. To achieve rich blacks and vibrant color, my meter always reads -1 stop underexposed. Grey values turn back to black where they are supposed to be. NOISE is another problem commonly seen in night photography. To ensure the least amount of noise, keep an ISO between 100-400 for best clarity Ina basic setup: Stare with your camera on a tripod in Shutter Speed Priority Mode. Set the following: 1SO-200; Exposure Compensation = -Istop; ‘Manual Focus = infinity; Stabilization = Off, Shutter Speed = 6 seconds, In an advanced setup: Start with your camera on a ipod in Manual Mode. Set the following: ISO100, F11 @ 6 seconds; Manual Focus = inf Stabilization = Of ‘Take a few photos and make minor adjustments if needed. For the basic setup, only adjust the exposure compensation to brighten or darken the exposure In the advanced setup, keep a shutter speed of 6 seconds but change the aperture to darken or brighten the exposure. Lower the F-stop (F/8, ¥/5.6, F/4, ete) to brighten. Raise the F-stop (F/16, F/22, etc) to darken,ster open longs Wipe bursts time to fre. Too many overlapping lines Tamron SP 15-50mm F/2.8 DiVCUSD Exporure P74 se, 150 200 Luminar/Nepeune BEEW Conversion Filteraround with diffrent shutter speeds and tech niques. One commonly used technique in volves setting your camera in Bulb Mode While in Shutter Speed Priority Mode, tara the dal pat 30 seconde until "B" or “Bulb comes up on the display screen. The shutter will now keep taking the photo as long a the shutter button ie depressed, Pair Bull Mode with a le release and use a lens cap ro only expose the photo when a burst of fire works goes off You cu leave the shutter open iitely overlapping multiple sections of thom Tamron SP24-T0mm F/2.8 DiVC USD LuminardNepeune Image Radiance Filtersees are another fim photographic opportunity. Add ina few Blends and you can eeate shapes, designs o words. Timing here i et to 2 seconds in see Speed priority; ISO 400; Ex mpensa Prefocus using a fashlght, illuminated on a chosen fiend, then switch to mangal foc = -1. Male sure each person writes thei letter baclorands so it appeats correct i the image Adding Flash is another optional tol with which to experiment. Do not worry about TTL metering, or fash settings. Dur fil ashes only expose 15: fire the off camera ash a fow times to ikuminate the foreground. Even the mi itis near enough forthe light to reach. LENS USED: Tamron 16-80mm DiIIVC PZD MereLENS USED:TAMRON ight © 2017. Allights Reserved ‘858.8400 | Fax: 631.543.5606 | Toll Free: 1 800.827.8880 www.tamron-usa.com Tamron USA Ine, 10 Austin Bd, Commack, NY 11725, Ph