Things You'll Need:
- Tripod
- Camera with large aperture and long exposure
- Multiexposure capability
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Step 1
Set your camera to the multiexposure setting. Consult your instruction manual to see how this is done; it is different for every camera. Be sure yours is set to the one-click-per-exposure mode. Your camera will adjust the exposure and shutter speed for you, but it may not be correct since you are shooting in the dark.
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Step 2
Place the camera on a tripod near the fireworks display. You do not need to be really close; you can simply be in the crowd or on a hill a few hundred yards away.
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Step 3
Reinforce your camera tripod to ensure it is steady. Use a sand bag or heavy clothing to weigh down the legs and reduce ground shake.
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Step 4
Adjust your viewfinder so the fireworks display inside the frame.
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Step 5
Set the exposure when a firework goes off so it will be completely exposed each time the shutter fires. You will need a large aperture--the largest your lens allows--and shutter speed of 1/4 second to 1/8 second, depending on your film speed.
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Step 6
Click the shutter when a firework goes off. Then wait. Click just a split second after the initial explosion to avoid overexposure and smoke trail lighting. This will take one exposure of this firework.
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Step 7
Click the shutter again when another firework explodes in an area of the frame, and repeat the process until you have filled that frame.
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Step 8
Continue to fill the frame with fireworks, and experiment with different exposures and the number of multiexposures you can place on a frame.
