Ken Worley Photography

North Carolina photographer | Oak Island, Southport, Coastal NC

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How to Photograph Fireworks

by Ken Worley

The 4th of July is this week and in the United States of America that mean parades, cookouts, and fireworks. I’m sharing a few tips on how to capture those wonderful pyrotechnics used to celebrate our Independence.

Fireworks

Location
Start off by getting there early and looking for a place with a good view of where the action is going to be. Look for background and foreground. The background can be simply a nice blank sky and the foreground could include the crowd around you. Keep in mind that some people start arriving two hours before the show starts, so getting there early is key to securing a good spot. Arriving early will also give you a chance to set your focus before it gets dark.

Tripod
There are a couple of reasons to use a tripod during firework photography. One reason is to keep the camera from adding unwanted blur, another is to allow you to enjoy the show without looking through the camera the whole time. It can be tiring holding a camera for the length of the show. Please remember to try and place your tripod in a place as to not cause others harm. You wouldn’t want anyone tripping as they walk by.

Remote or Cable Release
To reduce camera shake it’s a good idea to trigger the camera either with a cable release or a wireless remote. I have used my finger and just tried to roll it gently across the shutter release button. It worked okay, but a cable was so much easier.

ISO
Setting your cameras ISO to the lowest native setting will cut down on the digital noise that can be produced with a higher ISO.  Usually the native ISO is 100 or 200 depending on the camera manufacture.

Shutter Speed
There are a couple of ways to work with shutter speed. The first is to set the shutter speed for bulb mode and use a cable release to hold the shutter open while the fireworks explode. Bulb mode gives you control over when the shutter opens and closes. The second way is to set the speed somewhere between 2 and 10 seconds. Whichever you choose it will talk a little tweaking to get the look you want.

Aperture
Start with the aperture set to f/5.6 or f/8. These setting give the light trails of the firework a really nice look. If the aperture is too wide the trails can be over exposed; if it is too small the trails can be very thin.

Flash
Make sure your flash is turned off. It does not have enough power to help with these type of photographs and will only decrease your battery life.

Live View
Another way to make your battery last a little longer while out shooting is by not using live view mode. Live view is great for video but using the LCD drains the battery much faster than looking through the view finder.

Focusing
Auto focus will have a very hard time in the dark, so manually focusing the lens will be you best bet. Make sure to turn OFF your auto focus.

Long Exposure Noise Reduction
Make sure to turn off the long exposure noise reduction. Some cameras take a second dark photo to use when noise reduction is on, so leaving it on might double the time between shots and cause much frustration. I’ve experienced this frustration first hand.

Composition
Shoot both horizontal/landscape and vertical/portrait orientation. Also try different focal lengths.

Final Though
The above tips are a starting point for you. Use them and adjust to get the look you want. Don’t forget to enjoy the show! If you’re not getting the look you want, step back from the camera and just watch for a minute or two.

Have a great 4th of July!

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: photography tips

Christmas Gift Guide for the Procrastinator

by Ken Worley

If you have a hard to buy for teenager and you just can’t figure out what to buy them for Christmas or you’re like me and wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts, this post is here to help. I’ve put together a list of sites that will make your procrastination pay off while giving your loved ones a gift that they will enjoy and is guaranteed to be the right size.

Audible
If you have someone on your list that loves books but doesn’t have the time to sit down and read them, then Audible is a great option. Audible is like a library for your ears, it lets you download books and listen to them while on the go.

Magazines
I still enjoy sitting down with a magazine from time to time and flipping through pages. And I’m sure that there is someone on your list that is the same way. At magazines.com you can give a gift that will let them choose the magazine they have been wanting to pickup at the supermarket but just didn’t want to pay the news stand price.

Netflix
For the person on your list that would much rather watch a movie or a television show than read a book. Netflix lets them do just that and it can be accessed from just about anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection.

Fandango
For the movie goer on your list, because there are times that you just have to see a movie on the big screen, Fandango is the answer. You can purchase tickets for movies playing at local movie theaters without waiting in long lines at the theater.

Ticketmaster
For the music lover who enjoys the rush of being there live. The feeling of the bass shaking their chest and yelling at the top of your lungs to talk to your friend standing right next to you, then Ticketmaster is the way to go.

iTunes
Not having a voice and saying “WHAT!” all day after the concert may no appeal to everyone, so iTunes solves that problem. As a bonus this gift can also be used to purchased a few cool apps as well as your favorite artist’s latest single.

Mosaic
For the person that would like an easy way to get their photos from their smart phone to a printed book. Mosaic is an app the lets you go through and pick pictures that you want and have them printed in a book. Then it’s delivered to your home in about a week.

Amazon
Don’t forget the place to find just about everything. Amazon gives the ability to get almost anything you wanted but didn’t get for Christmas.

I know some people think that gift cards don’t have any thought put into them. But if you get a gift card from a place that really fits the person personality and their interest, I feel that it can have as much though as any other gift.

 

Filed Under: Tips

Tips from Both Sides of the Camera #7

by Ken Worley

 

Tip for the photographer behind the camera:
Fashion Designer
This might fall into the previous tip “Be a Guide”. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not known for my style or knowledge of the latest fashion trend. But I try to at least know what my clients like and I learn something new every time I photograph another high school senior. Use Pinterest to help keep your-self in the fashion know. Help your subject to choose their outfits.

Tip for the model in front of the camera:
Extra Clothes
Bring more out fits then you think you will need for the session. Ask the photographer for help you put outfits together. The photographer should know what looks good on camera and giving them more to work with will improve the quality of the images that y’all do that day.

Filed Under: Tips

Tips from Both Sides of the Camera #6

by Ken Worley

This tip is a short one.

 

Tip for the photographer behind the camera:
Be A Guide
It is the job of the photographer to help the subject look their very best. It order to do this we as photographers have to be able to guide them into a pose that is flattering but does not make the model feels self-confidence. And remember, sometimes the best way to guide them is to show them. Don’t be afraid to pose the way you want them in so they know exactly what you’re looking for.

Tip for the model in front of the camera:
Posture
Try to remember to keep good posture. Good posture is viewed as confident.

On a little side note if the photographer gets in the pose to show you what they want it’s okay to laugh, especially if the photographer is a guy posing like a girl.

Filed Under: Tips

Tips from Both Sides of the Camera #5

by Ken Worley

This is week number five. I’m having a harder time coming up with tips for in front of the camera than I thought.

Tip for the photographer behind the camera:
Know your gear.
Fumbling with your camera and lights while the model is waiting on the other side of the camera is not going to make a very good impression. It will also cause your credibility as a professional to drop very quickly. If your subject has even the smallest amount of nervousness it will be increased exponentially.

Know Your Gear

Tip for the model in front of the camera:
Make Suggestions.
Feel free to tell the photographer what you have in mind for the photographs. You may have already talked a little about what you wanted or had in mind before the photo session. But there may be some thing or someplace during the session that sparks an idea. By keeping a good line of communication between photographer and model it will help the creativity flow and grow, resulting in some great photos that really bring out who you are.

 

Filed Under: Tips

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