My 10 tips for photographing fireworks

With the International Whitehaven Festival starting this week I posted in a recent thread on Flickr about some tips on taking firework photos.    I hope this is useful…

10 top firework tips from me;

1. Use a tripod!  And also use a remote shutter release so that you don’t transmit vibrations when you press the shutter button on the camera with your finger.
2. Make sure you have a full battery and lots and lots of memory card space (obvious but you’ll be surprised!).
3.  If your camera struggles to focus in low light, set it up before hand while it’s light and switch your lens to Manual focus and don’t touch it.
4. Don’t use auto modes (including Aperture and Shutter priorities). Use manual.  And turn the flash off 🙂
5. Shooting in raw instead of JPG will give you better pictures. But be aware that raw will use a lot more memory card space and you may need to process each shot individually depending on what software you use.
6. Exposure?  Get the right amount of ambient light with the shutter speed, a few seconds should be enough for each shot. Adjust the aperture to get the exposure on the fireworks right and use your ISO to control the overall brightness of the scene..
7. Don’t use a long exposure because the results will just be a complete mess of whited-out over-exposed-ness. Instead, try to time each main burst from start to finish.
8. Don’t be afraid to blend two or more shot together afterwards to get the shot you need.
9. Don’t get in anyone’s way!
10. Don’t forget to enjoy the show! I’ve shot loads of fireworks where I’ve concentrated so much on the pictures I didn’t get time to enjoy it.

A unique opportinuty

Eclipse Bowling in Workington opened their doors leading to some great photos including a view behind the scenes at the machines making the bowling alley tick. A great photoshoot under difficult conditions went beautifully!

Gaiety Cinema pictures cause a stir

It seems that my pictures which ran in The Whitehaven News have provoked a good reaction!
Page 10 of this weeks’ paper (23rd December 2009) features letters from the public who having seen my pictures are backing up the plea to re-open the cinema, especially in light of the Workington bridge disaster which makes it difficult to get to the local multiplex.

There is even a Facebook group called Re-open the Gaiety Cinema – please join up!

My full Gaiety picture set can be viewed here; http://www.flickr.com/photos/horrgakx/sets/72157622745861702/

This is a link to the feature on the Whitehaven News’ own website.
Here’s a jpg copy of the feature in The Whitehaven News (hosted on Flickr).
Here is a link to The Whitehaven News letter page.

Marathon weekend behind the camera

Another fantastic and marathon weekend behind the camera; 2x Cricket matches, Workington Reds playing at home, a charity bed push, soldier returning from Afghanistan, a kids party, stock photos of a trading estate, a ploughing competition, a celebrity chef and finally; Solfest!!

It was quite a challenge this weekend, I was amazingly busy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m very happy with the results!!

Caught!

Going for the ball

Crispian on guitar

Freelancing with the Times & Star newpaper

I’m pleased to announce that I am now freelancing with the Times & Star newspaper.  Owned by the CN Group media company, the Times & Star has coverage from Distington in the south to Aspatria in the north and Keswick to the east.

My first weekend went well, they had me working between a job on Friday, four jobs on Saturday and two on Sunday! Thoroughly enjoyable and good experience.

Met some great people along the way too!

The bands at the Cockermouth Rock Festival were excellent, very very high standards all round. Well done to the stewards, marshals and other officials who did an amazing job!

To view my pictures online please visit my Flickr.com account.