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How to Take the Best Fireworks Video -- Ever!
WITH TIPS FROM “ZAMBELLI FIREWORKS INTERNATIONALE”
THE FIRST FAMILY OF FIREWORKS
Zambelli Fireworks, BOCA RATON, FL. A fireworks display is one of the most difficult of all subjects to capture on video. The problem is very bright, but very tiny points of light against a dark background. This combination will drive even the best camcorder absolutely nuts.
Here are a few tricks from noted fireworks expert and videographer, Paul Greenwald, that could make this year’s fireworks video the best you’ll ever shoot!
With any camera, there are certain factors that control the quality of the pictures you get, and video is no exception. These factors include: Exposure, Focus, Motion (shake), and Angle of View (focal length and White balance.
Exposure:
This is the amount of light that enters the camera. A camera lens has a device that can open or close, letting more or less light onto the videotape. While most video cameras do a pretty good job at low light levels, it often sacrifices color. Since fireworks are actually extremely bright with the rest of the view is nearly black, the camera actually averages the light and dark and what you get is a grainy black sky with bright white dots exploding all over. But, there is a fix for this.
Put your exposure on manual, and CAREFULLY keep your thumb on the wheel, rotating it as the show goes on. With practice, you will be able to keep the brightest shells from over-exposing (going white), while bringing up the less - bright parts of the show. Some cameras have a dial with several exposure settings - sports, back-light, etc. If yours has a "stage" or "spotlight" setting, you can try that instead. In a nutshell, too low an exposure results in dim, colored spots moving around, while too much will give you bright white blobs with almost no color.
Focus:
Fireworks are not solid enough for a camera's autofocus system to lock onto, so it will constantly be "hunting" for focus. IT IS CRUCIAL to have a model with manual control over focus. Almost all newer digital cameras have this feature. Set the focus on whatever symbol stands for distant objects - usually a mountain icon. DO NOT leave the camera on autofocus it will constantly hunt, and your image will go in and WAY out of focus.
Shake:
Try to use a tripod. A half - hour display will prove to be exhausting for you to keep a hand - held camera still for that time. Keep your lens on a wide - angle setting, and don't move it around. If a shell bursts out of your frame, let it go (don't chase it.) Try to follow the main center of the action. A little practice will make that easy to do. Do not pan (swerve from side to side) or zoom.
Angle of View:
This goes from a wide-angle setting to a close-up view (telephoto). As a rule, it’s best to leave the lens on the wide setting or use an auxiliary wide-angle adaptor. If you stand back a ways, your normal wide-angle position will work fine. This helps keep things steady, too, if you don't have a tripod.
White Balance:
This feature is found only on video cameras. It means the "yellowness" or "blueness" of the scene. Most new cameras can be adjusted an "outdoor" position (a sun icon) and an "indoor" one (a light-bulb icon.) fireworks make light that is best suited for the outdoor setting. Colors like gold will seem to look better.
A few more hints.
- Try to get a good location, without a lot of people in front of you
- Try not to talk during the show. You'd be surprised what the camera's microphone picks up.
- Bring a flashlight with you to the show, so you can see while turning all those dials and getting things ready.
- Enjoy the fireworks!
About Zambelli Fireworks Internationale:
Proudly known as the "First Family of Fireworks," Zambelli is one of the oldest and largest American fireworks companies. Today, the family name is synonymous with quality, creativity and safety. The magic of Zambelli pyrotechnics has been televised around the world, on "MSNBC Investigates", the Odyssey Network, the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and the British Broadcasting Company.
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