The sky over Cavallino-Treporti lights up once more with ‘Beach on Fire’, and for photography enthusiasts, the desire to capture one of the summer’s most evocative spectacles is reignited.
Photographing fireworks may seem complicated, but a few simple tips are all it takes to capture images that really bring out the trails of light and the atmosphere of the evening.
Stability is key. Use a tripod, switch off the lens stabilisation and set your camera to manual mode to have greater control over the exposure. Lock the focus onto a distant light or a clearly defined point on the horizon, preventing the autofocus from constantly searching for a subject in the dark.
For cleaner images, keep the ISO as low as possible and choose an aperture between f/4 and f/8. Then try varying the shutter speed, roughly between 2 and 6 seconds. A longer exposure can capture more firework bursts in the same frame, whilst a shorter one allows you to better isolate the individual shapes traced in the sky. Composition also makes a difference. Including the sea, the beach or an element of the landscape helps to give depth to the photograph and better convey the context. Reflections on the water can add a special effect and make the shots even more striking. With a bit of practice and some preparation, ‘Beach on Fire’ can yield truly striking images.