I went to the Itabashi Fireworks Festival in Tokyo to capture the feeling of summer.
The area near the launch site is always very crowded, so this time I chose a location about 2 km away. From there, I could photograph the whole fireworks display with a wide view.
The fireworks started a little after 7:00 PM, but I arrived around 5:00 PM to secure a good spot.
I put a blue sheet on the riverbank, set up my tripod, and got everything ready.
For bulb photography, a tripod and a remote shutter release are essential.
And of course, don’t forget insect repellent. It is a must for summer photography! 😊
When photographing fireworks, I capture them from the moment they are launched until they fully bloom.
I always use manual focus instead of autofocus.
Before it gets dark, I focus on a building, a transmission tower, or another object near the launch area, and keep that focus for the whole event.
One of the difficult parts of fireworks photography is that you never know how many fireworks will be launched at the same time.
Sometimes there is only one, and sometimes many fireworks fill the sky together.
Because of that, the amount of light changes all the time.
My basic camera settings are ISO 100 and F14 to F18.
I usually keep the shutter open in Bulb mode for about 15 to 30 seconds.
A higher F-number makes the trails of the fireworks look sharper and also keeps the city lights in the background clear.
You can also use a wider aperture.
However, because the fireworks become much brighter, using an ND filter may help.
After the shooting is finished, another enjoyable part begins.
Developing the images in Lightroom.
This is one of the most important steps in my workflow.
A RAW image and the final edited image can look completely different.
By “developing,” I do not mean combining multiple photos in Photoshop.
I simply bring out the best in a single photograph to create the final image.
Every fireworks festival is different. I am already looking forward to seeing what kind of moment I can capture next summer.
