With the magical 4th of July festivities just hours away, some tips on how to capture dramatic images with your smartphone camera may come in handy.
The 4th of July, a.k.a. Independence Day, is an important holiday that celebrates America's independence from the British Empire back in the 1700s. Each year, 4th of July celebrations involve majestic fireworks lighting up the night sky, with everyone watching in awe and trying to capture the magical sightings.
With notable advances in mobile technology, you can now capture quality photos of fireworks even if you don't have a high-end camera or a DSLR. Smartphone cameras have become increasingly performant over the years, letting you capture some pretty amazing shots, including photos of fireworks.
Before you set out to watch the festivities and capture some good shots with your smartphone, first make sure that your device has a full battery and plenty of storage space. The camera can drain your battery pretty fast, and taking lots of photos will require some free space.
To get the best shots of fireworks, it's preferable to get as close as you can to the action and avoid using digital zoom. Taking pictures with your smartphone using digital zoom will considerably lower the quality of the image. For better-quality images, also turn off the camera flash.
If you're close enough to the action, hold your smartphone vertically (in portrait mode) for clearer shots, but switch to a horizontal view (landscape mode) if you're further away. Avoid using auto focus, as you have a better chance of capturing clear images if you manually focus on the action.
If you have a higher-end smartphone, try using some manual controls such as lower ISO sensitivity, and select a longer shutter speed. For the latter, it's important to keep your smartphone steady, otherwise you'll get blurry and shaky photos.
You can also try using an accessory to keep your smartphone steady, such as a mobile tripod. A Bluetooth remote trigger might also come in handy. Burst mode can also increase your chances of getting more high-quality shots, as you'll have lots of images to choose from. Lastly, shoot in the highest quality possible, and have fun!
Photo: The Library of Congress | Flickr
