How to Photograph Fireworks Shows

Fireworks displays or Fireworks shows are the display of the effect created by Fireworks.Beginners many times you want to shoot or photograph beautiful Fireworks shows but due to lack of knowledge  and experience you couldn't.No need to be panic here I'm going to tell you some basic and quick tips to photograph beautiful Fireworks Shows.

Here you can follow these Basic Quick 10 tips to photograph Fireworks display or Fireworks Shows.

1.USE A TRIPOD TO AVOID CAMERA SHAKE :

DIGITAL CAMERA TRIPOD

The most important thing is to secure your Digital Camera doesn't move or shake during taking of photographs , in this case you should use a TRIPOD this is the best way to keep your camera still.Because in Such case (fireworks shows) we have to use longer shutter Speed which will not capture the movement of the fireworks its also capture the movement of your Camera, in result a blurry picture you get so first recommendation to get a beautiful fireworks photograph USE A TRIPOD.

2.YOU NEED TO FRAMING YOUR SHOT:

vertical framing

After safely placed Your camera you need to Framing The Shot which you will going to capture. This is the most Important and difficult part of your Fireworks Photography is working out "where to aim your camera".In such type of case Planning is important with fireworks displays and getting into the perfect location early to get your good shot.Think about what is in the foreground and background of your shots and make sure you won’t have people’s heads bobbing up into your shots.

horizontal framing

As Fireworks Displays are in Vertical motion my opinion is set your framing in vertical (in portrait  mode) or you can try in horizontal (in landscape mode ) but among in these two framing vertical (portrait mode ) is better to frame your shot.One important thing that you should always consider when lining up fireworks shots is whether your camera is straight in framing or not(if u r going to shot in wide focal length).

3.CHOOSE RIGHT FOCAL LENGTH:

tightly cropped firework shot

Photographing fireworks is having your camera trained on the right part of the sky at the right time.This is especially difficult if you are shooting in longer focal length and trying to get more tightly cropped shots.Zoomed in shots enable you to fill the frame with good color.Cropping of your wider angle shots can always give good impact in your photography skill.

4.WHAT APERTURE HAVE TO USE IN FIREWORKS SHOWS ?

A common question in Photographing Fireworks "what aperture we need to shot" - in this such cases you need to set your Aperture priority is around to shoot in between f/8 to f/16.

5.WHAT SHUTTER SPEED HAVE TO USE IN FIREWORKS SHOWS ?

Fireworks move and as a result the best photographs of them capture this movement meaning you need a nice long exposure.Shutter speed is more important than Aperture.You can also experiment with set shutter speeds to see what impact it will have but I find that unless you’re holding the shutter open for very long exposures.You need long shutter speeds 2 to 3 sec or longer and possibly up to 15 seconds or more.

6.WHAT ISO HAVE TO USE IN FIREWORKS SHOWS:

The higher ISO , there is more sensitive your camera is to light.So you need to use a higher ISO in dark settings, but when you’re shooting longer exposures (long shutter speeds) high ISO can introduce a lot of digital noise to your photograph. An ISO setting of 50-100 is a good to get a better shot.

7.SWITCH OFF YOUR CAMERA FLASH: 

Keep in your mind that your camera flash is only have to reach of for few meters and in the case of Firework shows even if they were this close a flash wouldn’t really have anything to light except for some smoke which would distract from the real action (the flashing lights).Turn off your flash.

8.SHOOT IN MANUAL MODE IN YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA: 

To get control above all the setting in your camera like SHUTTER SPEED,APERTURE,ISO you need to switch your setting to manual mode in your digital/slr camera.By doing this you can get your good Shot.If you are using a point and shoot camera then u need to switch your firework mode many of point and shoot camera have this facility.

9.TURN ON NOISE REDUCTION :

If your camera has it, this setting will help get rid of any digital noise created by your long exposures, even with a low ISO. Note: some cameras will take several seconds to eliminate noise after a shot is taken, preventing you from taking another photograph immediately.

10.TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES AND BE CREATIVE :

Try to shoot lots of pictures because it ll going help you to choose your best shoot among those tons of photographs and also you can delete your bad shoots and be creative in mind to shoot beautiful fireworks pictures .

 

Quick Tips for Street Photography for Beginners

Beginners if you did not know how to shoot or photographs STREET PHOTOGRAPHY then just don't worry , here I'm going to tell you some basic idea or tips to handle such type of problem in STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.

• First of all you don't need to carry too much equipments and expensive gears.It will make you more comfortable and you can roam around the street for your best shoot.
• Take photos by without knowing that you are taking photos of that particular subject/people.It will make your photo realistic.
• Catch the stolen moments (ex: kissing,hugging,crying,smiling face,begging etc etc) .  
• True colors are even more better than black and white photographs , so you can take pictures in true color as well as in black and white . It will give life to Street Photographs.
• In the Background – what’s going on behind your subject can actually ‘make’ the shot. Billboards, signs, graffiti and other visual elements can really make a statement in a shot.
• You don't just hold your camera horizontally dare to go for a diagonal ,experiment with your angle.
• A POWERFUL SHOT-   Shots which are challenge the Composition Rule and story/subject can also be powerful.
• street performers, parades and other street entertainment can be great subject matter on the street. 
• You can go for place where people r gather like zoos, fairs, shows, parks, sporting events etc.
• Can also try FREEZE MOTION SHOTS the street is a place of movement – to capture it and still get sharp shots make sure your shutter speed is fast enough. 1/125 or more with an ISO of 400 is what this article recommended as a base. I also think it can be fun to experiment with slower shutter speeds on the street – capture the movement as blur.
• ONE Important thing let me tell you about this - people can be suspicious of street photographers so shoot in places where people expect to see people doing photography. Smile, be polite and be willing to delete images if people protest.

And last its all about location chose a proper location where people are gather and Practice makes perfect by day passing n by your practice you can be a good STREET PHOTOGRAPHER .

 

photography by nikhil

 HERE YOU CAN LOOK MY OWN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY- CLICK HERE TO SEE

Learning The Basic Exposure in DIGITAL Photography

Exposure: The Basic Idea for Digital Photography

EXPOSURE means the amount of light entering into the SENSOR  of a camera.The more light entering to sensor is the result of more brighter in picture , similarly less light entering to sensor is the result of more darker in Picture.

How much light is let into your sensor is only the function of shutter speed and aperture.The shutter speed is commonly expressed as in fraction of second like 1/250, 1/30, 1/1600 etc.Exactly Shutter speed known as the amount of time the shutter opens to let light in.
Since the number is expressed as fraction, the smaller the denominator , the longer the exposure. For example, 1/300th of a second is a much shorter amount of time than 1/25th of a second. Consequently, a shutter speed of 1/300th of a second will let in much less light into sensor and produce a much darker image than a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second. Also note that the longer the exposure, the blurrier any action in the photo will become.

And the aperture is commonly expressed as in f-stop like f-stop/1, f-stop/2, f-stop/3.5, f-stop/4.6, f-stop/5 etc.Behind the lens is an adjustable opening called the aperture, through which the light passes on its way to the film. The F stop is a measure of the size of this opening.The smaller the number associated with the denominator of the focal length, the greater the size of the hole, which means more light entering the camera and consequently a brighter picture.

EXPOSURE TRIANGLE

Finally don't forget about your ISO setting in camera.ISO setting is also affect the brightness of the picture in accordance  with the quality of picture as ISO increases so does color noise, which really brings down the quality of the photo.

The theory or the concept about BASIC EXPOSURE in digital photography is getting perfect exposure or perfect light while shooting photographs.The perfect Exposure is nothing more than the combination of perfect shutter speed , perfect aperture , predetermined ‘ISO’ working together.My point is clear that "to get perfectly exposed picture" a photographer must have to balance and coordinate three things: film speed(ISO), shutter speed and f stop(aperture).

An example of perfectly exposed image

How to Freeze Fast motion 'HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY'

water splashing from balloons 

High Speed Photography is the way of capturing Photos  that occur too fast to be seen by the human eye.There are some great examples like SPLASHING OF WATER,ROCKET LUNCHING,A BULLET HITTING AN ORANGE,A GLASS OF MILK DROPPED IN GROUND,A TOMATO HITTING ON WALL etc.There are many ways to shot High Speed Photography, one of them is using ultra fast shutter speed and another way to shot is is to use burst mode.

glass break high speed photography

• To photographs HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY You will need to do these following things : You ll need a camera that enable manual control or manual settings on ISO, SHUTTER SPEED, APERTURE to match with the settings of your Flash or Speed light.I recommend you to not to use any POINT AND SHOOT because of the limitations in the manual settings. 

rocket launch high speed photography

• Next thing you will need is an External Flash or Speed Light.The Flash or Speed Light will help you easily achieve a High Speed Photograph because Flash stops the motion.

splashing of colors high speed photography

• Finally You will need a subject to shot your Photographs,the photographs which i used to describe this article will help you to shot HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY.You can follow these photographs or you can use your Own creativity. 

How to shot Light Trails Photos

Taking photographs of light trails is a fun way to shot photos of moving lights from the taillights or headlights of various vehicles. It’s also a great way to sharpen your skills in taking long exposure shots.

beautiful LIGHT TRAILS 

There is no need to switch any expensive Equipment to Shoot Light Trails :

Expensive camera equipment isn’t necessary to shoot fantastic light trail photos.basic need to shot light trails is "LONG EXPOSURE", need a camera with adjustable exposure settings. Most digital cameras now a days have a manual mode, where the shutter speed can be decreased to catch the light trails. You’ll also need a tripod to keep the light trails looking smooth and not squiggly due to camera shake. If you don’t have a tripod with you, you can set your camera on a flat and stable surface such as a rock or a bench.

car light trails

You have to find the perfect place/spot to shot light trails :

find a perfect location, where u can see many vehicles passing on the road. Remember that the road marks the direction and curve of the light trails. Compose the shot by framing the road at an interesting angle. You have to use various composition techniques like- "THE RULE OF THIRDS,perspective,and leading lines to make your light trail images all the more interesting.In my point of view u can set your location like "Use bridges, overpasses, or buildings for elevation "
Focus your attention on the background as well as the road. The sky, buildings, people, light posts, or distant mountains can enhance the overall light trail image by providing context and added details. Just make sure they don’t distract the viewer from fully appreciating the light trails.

You have to set the Right Exposure to capture Light trails image :

Long exposure shots and low light scenarios will need a slow shutter speed. It’s also necessary if you want to catch the movement of the car light trails in your image. A large aperture will let in more light but keep in mind that it will also give a shallower depth of field. As for the ISO, a high number of ISO such as 800 or higher will capture more light, but can also capture digital image noise.

To shot a perfect light trails you have to set your shutter speed like 15sec,20sec,a relatively small aperture to keep those distant buildings or trees looking focused, and the lowest ISO possible to avoid image noise. It is imperative that your camera remains as steady as possible to keep all stationary objects clear and defined while capturing smooth lines of car light trails.

Rule of Third - a composition secret for beginner photographers

WHAT IS RULE OF THIRD 

RULE OF THIRD

 The rule of thirds is a "rule of thumb" or guideline which applies to the process of composing visual images such as paintings, photographs and designs.The guideline proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.

The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section. The main reason for observing the rule of thirds is to discourage placement of the subject at the center, or prevent a horizon from appearing to divide the picture in half.When photographing or filming people, it is common to line the body up with a vertical line, and having the person's eyes in line with a horizontal one. If filming a moving subject, the same pattern is often followed, with the majority of the extra room being in front of the person (the way they are moving). Likewise, when photographing a still subject who is not directly facing the camera, the majority of the extra room should be in front of the subject with the vertical line running through their perceived center of mass.

The basics of the rule of thirds: 

graphical view of RULE OF THIRD 

• 9 equal boxes 
• 4 intersecting points 
• 2 vertical lines 
• 2 horizontal lines

HOW RULE OF THIRD HELPFUL 

By placing interesting pieces of your image at these points, you can make your image well balanced and help let viewers naturally move through your image. As you’re taking an image you would have done this in your mind through your viewfinder or in the LCD display that you use to frame your shot. The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally. Studies have shown that when viewing images that people’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it Use this rules, is not just to photograph something that have one object, like if you was take a photo models, you place the model in the 1/3 of the frame, but you can use this rules for scenary photograp or landscape. use this rule to make a better composition.

How to Avoid or Reduce Lens Flair

ABOUT LENS FLARE 

LENS FLARE 

Lens flare is the light scattered in lens systems through generally unwanted image formation mechanisms, such as internal reflection and scattering from material inhomogeneities in the lens. These mechanisms differ from the intended image formation mechanism that depends on refraction of the image rays. Flare manifests itself in two ways: as visible artifacts, and as a haze across the image. The haze makes the image look "washed out" by reducing contrast and color saturation (adding light to dark image regions, and adding white to saturated regions, reducing their saturation). Flare is particularly caused by a very bright light sources either in the image – which produces visible artifacts – or shining into the lens but not in the image – which produces a haze. Most commonly, this occurs when shooting into the sun (when the sun is in frame or the lens is pointed in the direction of the sun), and is reduced by using a lens hood or other shade.

LENS FLARE (LEFT SIDE F HEAD)

one of the most common causes of Lens Flare is the sun. Artificial lighting, such as strobe units, headlights and lampposts can cause lens flare especially when the lens is pointed directly at the light source. Lens Flare can also occur when you’re using your flash and reflective objects are present in the frame.

GRAPHICAL STRUCTURE OF LENS FLARE

HOW TO AVOID LENS FLARE

One way to avoid Lens Flare is by using a Lens Hood. Some lenses that are being sold in the market come with free lens hoods, attach the Lens Hood to your lens to avoid Lens Flares. If you don’t have a lens hood be resourceful and try to find an alternative like a cardboard or your hand to shield your lens from the sun or from the light source. Just make sure that your hood can’t be seen in the frame. If you are using a Zoom lens and you don’t have a lens hood you can try changing your focal length by zooming in or out, this may help lessen Lens Flare and those polygon shaped sunspots. Though it can’t completely eliminate the Lens Flare, it will enable you to move and change the Lens Flare’s position to a less disturbing part of the image. Another way to reduce or avoid Lens Flare is by changing your angle or your shooting position in a way that the sun or the light source won’t directly hit your lens. This is one of the most effective ways of reducing or avoiding Lens Flare. You can also try to recompose your shot and use or add different elements to reduce or avoid Lens Flare. Lastly, if you really can’t reduce or avoid lens flare, just give in to it and use it as a tool to make a delightful photograph.

Avoiding Camera Shake A basic problem for beginners

Camera Shake is a Common cause of blurred pictures , its a basic problem in photography for all beginner photographer. Here many solutions & tips to avoid Camera shake or a blurred picture.
Even camera and lens makers have pitched in to help solve this problem by installing stabilizing mechanisms  / VR into their cameras and lenses to offset unwanted hand and body movements.

A BLURRED PICTURE DUE TO THE CAMERA SHAKE 

Low Light, Shutter Speed and Focal Length 


Pictures taken under low light that require the use of slow shutter speeds are the most prone to camera shake. Also, when using a telephoto, where every movement is magnified just like the images that it takes, small movements can contribute to largely blurred photos. When confronted with such a situation, one has to give extra attention to keeping the camera as still as possible.

The long and combined experience in photography has developed a formula or guide to avoid the effects of camera shake using shutter speed:
Minimum shutter speed = 1 / (focal length x crop factor)
The formula says that the slowest shutter speed that one should use to avoid camera shake is the reciprocal of the focal length. The formula was originally used for the standard 35 mm film and its equivalent, the full-frame digital sensor, but because of the popularity of smaller sensors (APS-C and micro four-thirds) the crop factor was added.
The crop factor for most APS-C cameras is 1.5, except for Canon, which is 1.6. Micro four thirds, which is the popular sensor size for the new category of mirror-less interchangeable lens cameras, has a crop factor of 2.

Camera and Lens Stabilizers / VR

Modern digital cameras and lenses are equipped with a built-in solution to camera shake. Stabilizing mechanisms that neutralize slight camera movements are either built into the camera or the lenses. They allow photographers to use shutter speeds two to three EV (exposure value) slower than what they would normally use when taking handheld photos.

Being able to use slow shutter speeds effectively opens more artistic opportunities to photographers and can reduce the percentage of blurred or unacceptable images drastically. It can sometimes substitute for the use of a tripod when an exceptional photo opportunity arises, but no tripod is available, or there is no time for setting up. An example of this is producing silky smooth water flowing from waterfalls or streams, which requires using a shutter speed of 1/10 second, or even slower.

Best Solution For Avoiding Blurred Picture  

As new technologies develop, there will be more and more solutions to basic photography problems in the future. Recent improvements in image sensors that allow the use of higher ISO settings without the typical noise level are another step in this direction.

Yet, let us not forget the classic solutions to the camera shake problem. Using a tripod is still the best way to ensure that we get a sharp image. If the light situation allows, employing a fast shutter speed is also the best way to neutralize camera movement when shooting handheld. Improving the way we take pictures: a steady way of holding the camera, a stable stance to avoid body movement, getting rid of the jerk when pressing the shutter button, and more, are still good habits to cultivate, as the cause of camera shake primarily comes from the photographer—not the camera.

20 Quick Tips to Better Photography For beginner Photographers

Here 20 Quick and Simple Tips for a Beginner Photographer To start Your photography . Follow these 20 Quick Tips & Tricks to Better Photography.

TIPS FOR BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHER 

1. For Practice your Skills , do click photographs of object moving in a normal speed ( eq: a person riding on a bicycle ) in that case use your shutter priority mode and set your shutter speed at 1/15,1/30 sec , the slower is the better.
2. For Macro Photography ( close up Photographs ) switch on the LIVE VIEW feature of your Digital Camera or DSLR camera for better knowing the Depth Of Field and Focus in that particular Subject .
3. CPL (polarization) filters are very useful to eliminate reflection of sunlight on water and glass, and are also useful for improving sky color. Have you ever worn a pair sunglasses with a polarization filter layer? That’s about the gist of the effect.
4. When photographing babies or small children, make sure you focus on their eyes. Nothing beats the innocent beauty of a child’s eyes as the point of interest in the photograph.
   
5. Megapixels aren’t everything. The size of the sensor is a more important aspect of a camera.
6. For photographing outdoor portraits, try to photograph during rather cloudy weather. If not, try and find a shady area that isn’t under direct sunlight. Direct sunlight creates harsh shadows on the face.
7. When photographing in low-light conditions and your camera has trouble autofocusing, switch to manual focus. The autofocus feature usually takes quite a bit of time to find focus in low lighting.
8. For photographing silhouette, make sure that you turn off the flash when using the sunset mode (for pocket point-and-shoot cameras). As for DSLRs, use the manual mode and measure the exposure of the light areas behind the object.
9. Download the pdf version of your camera’s book manuals so you’ll be able to easily find any essential information that you’re looking for. It’s much easier than having to flip through an actual book. Look through this website for links to different DSLR types and brands.
10. Before starting a day of photo shoot, check your camera settings and make sure they are at the right setting for the conditions you’re about to photograph in (making sure the ISO isn’t at 1000 when photographing landscapes, for example). According to professional photographers, a good sequence of checklist is: check White balance, highlight activate warning, check ISO setting, then check the size of your image resolution.
11. Only format your memory card while it’s inserted in your camera. Don’t format your memory card in your computer. In addition to it being much faster and easier, it’s also safer if you do the formatting in the camera.
12. If you have excess capacity in your computer’s hard disk and like to edit your photographs digitally, use the RAW format while photographing. If not enough space would be available, use JPEG.
13. If you are really into landscape photography, photograph during the following times: from 5 to 8 AM, and between 4 and 7 PM in the evening. This is what in the world of photography is called the .
14. When photographing, pay attention to the brightest parts in the viewfinder. If the bright areas stand out too much, revise your shooting angle.
15. For photographing HDR (High Dynamic Range), use the auto bracket mode. And one more thing: for an extraordinary HDR landscape photograph, wait for it to get a little bit cloudy, then begin shooting.
16. If you’re thinking of purchasing used lens or camera, make sure you directly meet with the seller during the transaction. It’s crucial that you examine, hold, and try out the merchandise you are about to buy.
17. As long as it’s possible, use as low of an ISO setting as possible. Even though noise reduction feature lessens the visibility high-ISO noise, it’ll also decrease the details of the photograph.
18. If the surrounding colors make your photograph look too “busy,” change the settings to black and white.
19. To get great looking black and white photos, pay attention to the contrast in the photograph. The more the contrast (more variations of darks and lights), the better the black and white photograph will turn out.
20. Carry your camera wherever you go. The best way to improve your photography skills is by extending your practice hours. The more, the better. There’s no other better way to ensure the improvement of your photography skills.
21. More steps can also implement from your point of view .