HomeMy First PyroMusical Experience; Fireworks Photography Tips By Marcos Detourist on March 25, 2011It’s always an exciting endeavor for every photo enthusiast to try shooting the perfect fireworks photos. I’ve had my practice runs every Dinagyang Festival back home in Iloilo, where a big nationwide fireworks display competition is held (that aside from fireworks shows on almost every major celebration). Now it’s time for the big leagues, the most celebrated pyrotechnic competition in the Philippines and among the World’s grandest, the Philippine International PyroMusical Competition 2011 staged at the SM Mall of Asia in Metro Manila.I was so excited when I realized my visit to Manila coincided with the event and even more so when I was allotted a complimentary VIP Pass, along with other travel bloggers. Come D-Day, I rushed to the SM Mall of Asia way before sundown to beat the traffic standstill and overflowing crowd so I can scout nice locations to shoot the PyroMusical. It’s important to think about this when taking fireworks shots since it is very hard to move to multiple locations when the show is already in full blast. I initially wanted to be at the breakwater/baywalk so I can incorporate the water and reflections in the shot but the crowd already beat me to it with hardly any space to set-up my tripod.It was the last day of the competition. Australia was scheduled to “air” together with the guest performer from the Philippines. I settled for a decent photo spot, not the best but it was enough to enjoy the show.Australia’s EntryPhilippines’ Guest Performace Philippines’ Final StintThe 2nd Philippine International PyroMusical Competition 2011The overall winners were announced that night … even though I didn’t get to see any of them :(. They are as follows:Champion: China Pyro Musical (Liuyang Jinsheng Fireworks, Co.) 1st Runner-Up: UK PyroMusical (Jubilee Fireworks)2nd Runner-Up: Japan Pyro musical (Tamaya Kitahara Fireworks, Co.)Tips for Fireworks PhotographyJust wanted to toss this in. I’m not saying I’m an photo expert but these are just a few things I’ve learned about Fireworks Photography over the years: As mentioned, Scout a great location first. Try to think about interesting subjects to incorporate in the background. Typically, it is a great idea to incorporate a sense of place in fireworks shots such as famous landmarks similar to what I did in the first photo, which includes a huge signage of SM MOA. Bodies of water are also great foregrounds since the reflection in the water adds interesting points to the picture. Bring a Tripod. This is very important to keep everything still. If you didn’t bring one, it would be a good option to place the camera on something sturdy while taking pictures. If you’re planning on doing hand held shots, don’t even bother taking photos. You’ll just ruin your experience with mostly unusable shots when you could have enjoyed the show otherwise. Be familiar your camera settings. For those with fully automatic cameras (most point and shoots), you can use the fireworks preset mode or even night mode. For DSLR users or if your camera permits, use fully manual settings. ISO should be the lowest possible (ISO200 for my Nikon D5000) and white balance to automatic. Initially, I set my Shutter Speed to 8 seconds and Aperture/F-stop to F8 and then adjust these two settings based on the shots that I want. If there are too many fireworks, causing the image to be overexposed, I just increase the F-stop. If it’s too dark, I increase the shutter speed to let more fireworks into the shot and brighten up the image. Get that Perfect Focus. Also for DSLR users. What I do to get sharp fireworks shots is to (1) initially set focus to automatic (2) Wait for the first fireworks to come out (3) Do a half-press on the shutter to get the focus right (4) Switch the focus to manual. You’ll miss a lot of shots since the camera will struggle with focusing in the dark using auto. Know When to Press that Shutter. To get the full burst of light, the best time to press the shutter is right before the fireworks explode. I use a remote shutter to keep everything perfectly still. Sometimes, when you press the shutter it shakes the camera and blurs the image a bit. If you didn’t bring a remote shutter, be sure to press that shutter lightly (don’t get too excited!).If you got any more fireworks photography tips, feel free to comment!Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2010 Next Week!My Iloilo Dinagyang 2010 Week (Part 1 of 3)A Day in Hong Kong Disneyland and Fireworks Photos at the…A look back at 2009; Places I’ve Traveled toAmbot-ah Season 2011 Finale: a year of memoriesAliwan Fiesta, the Second Time Around in 2010Comments Pinoy Adventurista saysMarch 25, 2011 at 10:15 amlooks like you had a good spot… I love all the photos… great shots… thanks for sharing your experience… =D jonajam04 saysMarch 26, 2011 at 7:49 amNice photos! I will try your tips for fireworks photography :) chymera00 saysApril 1, 2011 at 3:07 amThanks @jonajam and @pinoyadventurista.com :D jace saysMarch 30, 2011 at 7:42 pmnice pix… di ko napuntahan ung event but bec of the pix ok na…. next time klangan pumunta na q… keep it up chymera00 saysApril 1, 2011 at 3:01 amahh, thanks … I just uploaded some videos as well. lilian_quiwag saysJune 19, 2012 at 5:09 pmamazing shots…can u give me your review about the new release SLT cam by sony. the mirrorless technology really grab my interest. Edwin saysApril 1, 2011 at 12:20 pmHi Marcos. Was cruising manila bay on board a dinner yacht (500 per pax) during the last day of pyroworks competition & we purposely did that for that event. took some pics but with no tripod kc mahirap during that cruise & medyo wavy :((( but there were some good shots. chymera00 saysMay 5, 2011 at 2:34 amCool. Your P500 was very worth it! Edwin saysApril 1, 2011 at 12:24 pmbtw, your shots were stunningly beautiful! chyng saysApril 3, 2011 at 4:22 amthe area is challenging. ang daming obstructions. later i found out, some bloggers/photographers are allowed to take photos in the bridge! galing ng media pass nila! chymera00 saysMay 5, 2011 at 2:20 amOo nga … it’s a challenge to shoot when the space is so limited and there are many obstructions singapore supreme saysApril 25, 2011 at 3:56 pmGreat shots there…I missed this Philippine International PyroMusical Competition 2011 because of too much work load…But last year 2010 I am an active viewer of it…Anyway I like your shots and the video, it makes me feel that I been there watching those fireworks…^_^ julius saysJuly 27, 2011 at 12:25 pmnice shot.. anu gamit mung dslr at lens sa mga shot muh. Marcos saysAugust 3, 2011 at 8:47 amThanks julius :) I’m using a Nikon D5000 with Sigma 18-250mm lens Grace saysOctober 20, 2011 at 4:13 pmHi! all I can say is AWESOME!! :) im grace from davao :) I love the pictures as in!.. anyways, this is my first time hearing of PyroMusical hehe :) when did it happened?? and do you have any idea when is the next PyroMusical event ?? thanks marcos Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:02 pmIt happened last Feb to June 2011. So far, no word yet for the 2012 event. Carl Custodio saysJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:17 amI love your photos. Loving your site so far. Thanks for the tips in taking firework photos! :) Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:41 amThanks for visiting Carl! Excellent blog! adventurousfeet saysFebruary 11, 2012 at 7:59 pmMarcos wanna try this, since my fireworks ulit. san banda pwesto mo? astig noh. gusto ko din gitnang gitna haha Tom saysMarch 2, 2012 at 5:57 pmhi. . very very beautiful shots sir! i wanna ask some things lang. 1). is flash needed for the fireworks pictures? 2). what remote are you using? wired? wireless? if wireless how would you set up your external flash if its needed? Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:49 amExternal flash is only needed if you want to have a foreground in the photo. In most cases, it’s not needed. When using flash, remember that most flash units only illuminate objects within a couple of feet. I use a wireless remote. The generic ones can be bought for around P500 in Hidalgo. Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Pinoy Adventurista saysMarch 25, 2011 at 10:15 amlooks like you had a good spot… I love all the photos… great shots… thanks for sharing your experience… =D
jonajam04 saysMarch 26, 2011 at 7:49 amNice photos! I will try your tips for fireworks photography :)
jace saysMarch 30, 2011 at 7:42 pmnice pix… di ko napuntahan ung event but bec of the pix ok na…. next time klangan pumunta na q… keep it up
lilian_quiwag saysJune 19, 2012 at 5:09 pmamazing shots…can u give me your review about the new release SLT cam by sony. the mirrorless technology really grab my interest.
Edwin saysApril 1, 2011 at 12:20 pmHi Marcos. Was cruising manila bay on board a dinner yacht (500 per pax) during the last day of pyroworks competition & we purposely did that for that event. took some pics but with no tripod kc mahirap during that cruise & medyo wavy :((( but there were some good shots.
chyng saysApril 3, 2011 at 4:22 amthe area is challenging. ang daming obstructions. later i found out, some bloggers/photographers are allowed to take photos in the bridge! galing ng media pass nila!
chymera00 saysMay 5, 2011 at 2:20 amOo nga … it’s a challenge to shoot when the space is so limited and there are many obstructions
singapore supreme saysApril 25, 2011 at 3:56 pmGreat shots there…I missed this Philippine International PyroMusical Competition 2011 because of too much work load…But last year 2010 I am an active viewer of it…Anyway I like your shots and the video, it makes me feel that I been there watching those fireworks…^_^
Marcos saysAugust 3, 2011 at 8:47 amThanks julius :) I’m using a Nikon D5000 with Sigma 18-250mm lens
Grace saysOctober 20, 2011 at 4:13 pmHi! all I can say is AWESOME!! :) im grace from davao :) I love the pictures as in!.. anyways, this is my first time hearing of PyroMusical hehe :) when did it happened?? and do you have any idea when is the next PyroMusical event ?? thanks marcos
Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:02 pmIt happened last Feb to June 2011. So far, no word yet for the 2012 event.
Carl Custodio saysJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:17 amI love your photos. Loving your site so far. Thanks for the tips in taking firework photos! :)
adventurousfeet saysFebruary 11, 2012 at 7:59 pmMarcos wanna try this, since my fireworks ulit. san banda pwesto mo? astig noh. gusto ko din gitnang gitna haha
Tom saysMarch 2, 2012 at 5:57 pmhi. . very very beautiful shots sir! i wanna ask some things lang. 1). is flash needed for the fireworks pictures? 2). what remote are you using? wired? wireless? if wireless how would you set up your external flash if its needed?
Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:49 amExternal flash is only needed if you want to have a foreground in the photo. In most cases, it’s not needed. When using flash, remember that most flash units only illuminate objects within a couple of feet. I use a wireless remote. The generic ones can be bought for around P500 in Hidalgo.