Take great pictures this Fourth of July
>> Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A how to for all photographers (but DARKROOM users should take advantage of unexpected bonuses built into the software)
by Kerry Raminiak and Chris Johnson
The awe and spectacle of fireworks brings out the kid in everyone, and photographers, both professional and enthusiast alike, have a great opportunity to hone abilities, capture portfolio-worthy displays of skill and, with some savvy, even make a little money this Fourth of July.
The good news, after reading and compiling tops tips from a healthy group of sources (see below) it has become increasingly clear that DARKROOM users have a distinct advantage.
Because it is our nature, consider this your workflow tutorial for getting the best firework photography this season. (If you are not familiar, ExpressDigital’s DARKROOM software is a workflow solution designed to improve the entire photo taking process from organizing the event, capturing the shot, edits and enhancements, product overlays, printing and selling. Learn more about DARKROOM here.)
Location. Location. Location.
To start, you will need to set up your shots. Make sure you pick a place that will allow you to use a stable tripod and that putting one up will not hinder anyone else’s experience and enjoyment of the event (you don’t want to be that guy, right?). Some of the best tips on this topic also suggest having a landmark in the shot and/or a body of water for reflection purposes. This may require you being away from the crowds, so if you have your family and/or sweetheart with you, figure out which local radio station is playing the audio for the show and put a radio in your picnic basket so that you all are a part of the celebration too. This trick also helps you predict upcoming shots and finales. Also, make sure you are upwind! You don’t want your images to be smoky.
Pre-plan Your Set Up.
Now set up your camera. Obviously turn off your flash. There is a little debate on whether or not to increase your ISO. Most suggest leaving it at 100. If you want to toy around with your noise reduction feature, now is a great time to test your limits and take it over 200, understanding you should have digital photo editing software handy (like DARKROOM Professional Edition) just in case. Aperture should be set between f/8 to f/16 depending on your distance and desires.
Setting your shutter speed is a little more debatable depending on the effect you want. Choosing a slower shutter speed can show motion, streaming, capture longer streams of light and multiple bursts. Shorter shutter speeds will stop the motion of the firework, providing a more crisp image, however your timing is critical.
Most writers acknowledge that having a remote shutter release is a significant advantage to reduce camera shake. There are several options to remote shutter release: 1. Cable release, 2. IR remote release and 3. Self timer release. These options work well when you choose to set your shutter speed to “B” (or “bulb”) so that you can take an image of the entire lifespan and trajectory of the rockets. Another option (for DARKROOM Pro users) is to directly capture from a laptop with your automatic --long or short-- shutter settings acting upon one tap of the space bar (thus, “B” setting will not work). The bonus to this is you can also use Pro Edition’s editing capabilities to configure multiple exposure shots. Here is the how-to (keep in mind that when they refer to Photoshop, your Professional Edition gives you the same tools in the enhancement tab). The extra bonus is that you won’t need additional memory because you will be directly saving to your laptop.
If you prefer to use “bulb” setting you won’t need to have a laptop with you but you will need to bring extra memory and either own a shutter release solution or skip the sugar that day to keep your hand steady (you also might want to read tips on the topic here and here).
Setting your focus depends on your goals for the day and your skill level. If you have a standard landscape or “infinity” focus setting that is likely all you need. For those a little more advanced, set to manual and use the first bursts as your guide to get the very best shots. It’s your choice, of course. If you’re in it to hone your skills this is a great opportunity. If you want to relax a bit and take some great shots while you’re at it, no one will blame you for letting your camera do some of the work for you.
Great Pictures are Often Not the Greatest Reward.
After you have taken your shots there are two ways you can profit from this experience, if you are so inclined (beyond that of showing them off in your portfolio, of course). Event photographers often negotiate an opportunity with the show organizers to shoot for a fee or on spec, wherein you can also take pictures before the show of families and friends enjoying their picnics on the grass or in the stands. This type of photography is a priceless way to bring in more portrait business while also being incredibly popular sellers (just be sure to hand out something that tells your subjects how to get in touch with you).
Printing on site is a snap with DARKROOM. Just be sure to include some of the show shots in your packages to put everything into context.
If you don’t want to lug a printer around, any DARKROOM edition will allow you to post the pictures online for sale with the PhotoReflect feature. If you choose to sell exclusively online, be sure to find opportunities to promote your pictures either via the event organizer or with flyers, program advertising or local bulletins. If you are new to PhotoReflect, be sure to take this Getting Started webinar scheduled for next week (July 7, 2009 at 7:00pm Central) to get you published and selling online within an hour (for free!).
All that said…
The Fourth of July is a great chance to take advantage of your DARKROOM software in a variety of ways and hone your skills. For more tips check out the source links below and be sure to let us know how it worked out for you in the comments!
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