It’s Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th. Which means the best evening of the year for snapping dazzling firework photos is approaching fast (though New Year's Eve comes a close second). And you won't have to lug a fancy DSLR camera along to your local display either. That's because there's a pixel-perfect cam right there in your pocket already…
That's right, your smartphone’s probably packing some seriously powerful photo-taking tech. But to make the most of its features, you're going to need to know a few tricks. Capturing fireworks isn't quite as simple as snapping selfies! That's why we've listed some handy tips that'll help you light up your social feeds with epic, explosive photos.
Don't forget a tripod.
The last thing you'll want are for your firework pics to look blurry. Stability is key for nighttime photos, where even the slightest shake can turn your masterpiece into a mess. And sure, you can try and keep your hands steady — but that'll be really tough on a chilly November night!
That's why a tripod is an essential bit of kit for firework photography. It'll make sure there's no wobble when taking your snaps, so those bright bursts of colour end up looking sharp, streak-free, and perfectly in focus. Just remember to invest in a phone mount that works with your tripod. Or get yourself a compact smartphone tripod instead (these easily fit in a backpack too).
Landscape, not portrait.
Portrait mode is great for Instagram Stories. But when it comes to fireworks, landscape is the way to go. They spread across the sky after all, so you'll want to capture as much of that spectacle as possible.
Wide landscape shots just tend to look better on most screens and social platforms too. So, flip that phone sideways and leave the portrait pics to the novices...
Flash? You won't need it.
It might seem counterintuitive when you're shooting in the dark, but your phone's flash is totally useless for photographing fireworks. Why? Because fireworks are super vibrant and produce plenty of light by themselves.
This means that using your flash will only illuminate the foreground, wash out those vibrant bursts, and basically ruin your shots. Just turn it off and let those fireworks shine on their own...
Leave zoom alone.
It can be tempting to zoom in when you're far away from the action. But it'll reduce the quality of your firework pics and make everything look grainy. So instead of using zoom, just try to find a spot with a good view of the show (as long as you're a safe distance away). That might mean showing up early to the event, but it'll be worth it when looking back on your work later.
And even if you can't set up shop somewhere decent, remember that you can always edit your photos after to crop out heads, hands, trees or anything else around the main spectacle. Phones like the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 even come with clever Ai-powered tools which remove objects like they were never there. Smart stuff!
Set your exposure right.
Fireworks are bright, but the sky around them is dark. This contrast can confuse your phone's auto-exposure settings, which is why you'll want to adjust it manually (it's usually a little sun icon with a slider you can drag). Start off by lowering it a little, take a few pics, then check your camera roll to see if those fireworks aren't overexposed. You'll have to let a few go off before getting things just right.
But some phones make it easier and let you set the exposure by tapping what you see on screen. So you could just wait for a few fireworks to blow, then tap and hold your finger on your phone’s display to lock the exposure. That way, you can set it and forget it — letting you focus on framing your shots perfectly for the rest of the show.
If you've got night mode, use it.
There are some clever smartphones out there with dedicated night modes that are literally made for this sort of thing. They typically take several photos at different exposures and then combine them to produce the clearest image possible.
If your phone has this feature, give it a whirl. You might be surprised at how well it captures those brilliant bursts of light. And if you want professional results, shoot in RAW. This format lets you capture uncompressed images that are far easier to edit later — from reducing brightness to boosting the white balance so colours pop even more.
Get some video while you're at it.
You won't want every memory of the night to be static. Grab some video too so you can relive the event a bit — especially as you'll capture the big sounds and buzzing atmosphere too. Most phones these days can shoot in 4K, which means your fireworks footage will look incredible even on a big screen. Just remember to keep your phone steady (your tripod can help here too) and avoid panning too quickly to keep everything looking smooth.
And if you're just feeling creative with your photos, experiment with longer shutter speeds to capture those stunning light trails as they expand. Or if your phone has a burst mode, turn it on to take lots of pics in a short amount of time. That way, you can capture any unexpected explosions.
Got some mesmerising firework photos you'd like to share? Show us some of your best work in the comments section below!