Here's How:
Turn on the manual iris on your video camera.
For best results when videotaping fireworks, you'll want to use the manual settings on your video camera. It's going to be pitch black out, and then very bright during the actual fireworks. If you let the camera automatically determine the exposure, it might get a little wacky, quickly fluctuating from wide open to almost closed. You'll get much better results by manually operating the iris and finding an exposure setting that works for the bright fireworks.
Turn on the manual focus on your video camera.
Most camcorders have a difficult time focusing in the dark. To avoid this problem, you'll want to use manual focus when videotaping fireworks. You won't know where to focus the video camera until the fireworks start. But once you set the focus, you should be good for the rest of the show.
Set your video camera up on a tripod.
Remember, fireworks shows can last an hour or more. While it is possible to videotape fireworks with a handheld camera you'll get much better results (and be more comfortable) using a tripod.Zoom your video camera in (or out)
Depending on where you are, you may need to zoom way in or way out to get a good shot of the full fireworks display. You'll have to wait until the fireworks start to figure out what the correct zoom length is, but once you set it you can leave it for the rest of the show.
What You Need
- Video camera with manual controls
- Tripod
- Extra batteries
- Plenty of tapes or hard drive storage
