Hope you all had a wonderful fourth of July weekend! :)
This fourth of July, I decided to go out and finally take some fireworks photos of my own so that I wouldn’t have fomo looking through everyone’s instagram feed. I feel like it’s been a few consecutive years where I told myself I would go, but when it came down to it, I was lazy and didn’t want to deal with the crowds.
We were originally going to head to Green Valley Ranch’s Fireworks show for Las Vegas locals, but after seeing the line of cars turning off the exit, we decided to secure our own private spot. We did a lot of walking and climbing hills in flip flops through dark, unfamiliar territory.
And we also almost got struck by lightning. We could see the storm getting closer and closer to us and we happened to be at a high point with metal tripod. No biggie. BUT this made it all worth it:
I don’t know how many times I’ve attempted to take lightning photos. Seriously, every time we happen to chase a storm, the minute I take my finger off the trigger is when I would miss the lightning strike. This time it practically fell into my lap. Though it was kind of a fail for getting good close up shots of fireworks photos, there’s always next year! :)
A few basic tips if you actually want to learn to take lightning / fireworks photos:
- Use a tripod (we use both this or this). Instead of a tripod, you can also get a beanbag or make your own, find whatever else that will stabilize your camera!
- Use the bulb setting with a shutter release (this is the one we use) – meaning the shutter will be open for however long your trigger is pressed.
- Bring appropriate lenses. Really depends on how far you are from the fireworks, but from our viewpoint, I probably would have used our 70-200mm.
- Look up the weather. We quickly realized that it’s safest to wait for the storm to pass and photograph it as it’s going away.
Some additional resources on how to take fireworks photos:
- Taking Pictures of Fireworks via Nikon (Sorry, Canon, your site is just no fun to read)
- How to Take Fireworks Photos with Your Phone via Gizmodo
- How to Take Photos of Fireworks that Don’t Completely Suck via Mashable
Some additional resources on how to take lightning photos:
- How to Photograph Lightning from Start to Finish via PetaPixel
- How to Photograph Lightning via Nikon
- How to Photograph Lightning via B&H Photo Video
Anyone else wanna be a storm chaser?! What’s one thing that you’ve been dying to try to photograph?
Linking up with Treat Yo Self with TreasureTromp today. This is my gratitude post for week 43. 9 more weeks to go! Click the banner below to see other gratitude posts:
Kristine Foley
14 Jul 2014Holy amazing photos! Thanks for sharing the tips! I need to take my big girl camera out and go to town. Seriously love Vegas looking in!
Esther of Local Adventurer
14 Jul 2014Thank you Kristine! :) It’s definitely a pain sometimes to take it around.. but I think for events like this it’s totally worth it! haha that’s me after finally going this year.. I think it took me 5 or so years of telling myself I was gonna go.
Neely
14 Jul 2014These are great tips and pictures!
Esther of Local Adventurer
14 Jul 2014Thanks so much Neely! :)
Raewyn Smith
14 Jul 2014OMGOSH these are amazing!! I vaguely watched all of this from our hotel window as everyone in our group was getting in a drunken fight and crying, so I’m EXTRA happy you captured this!
On our way home on Saturday, I totally spent an hour or two in the car TRYING to catch the lightning on our drive. I ended up filming it and then spent another 30 minutes trying to pause and screenshot it. Apparently the lightning was within a second of my video footage. Between 17 and 18 seconds. So annoying! :)
Your photography is just beyond incredible
Esther of Local Adventurer
14 Jul 2014Thanks girl!! :) The fireworks were going off practically everywhere. We couldn’t tell which ones where what. Sounds like you guys had an eventful evening…? Crying really?
Seriously.. lightning is the hardest to get!! It’s always in between!
Raewyn Smith
16 Jul 2014haha, yes, there was a lot of crying. Boy crying which I shouldn’t mention on the internet :P
Chelsea
13 Jul 2014Those pictures are incredible!! Love them!
Esther of Local Adventurer
14 Jul 2014Thank you Chelsea! :)
Jessica Doll at Hej Doll
13 Jul 2014These are all great tips! I didn’t use a tripod with mine so they aren’t as sharp as could be, but I very very rarely use a tripod.
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014Thanks Jessica! Yeah.. I rarely use tripods.. I’m so used to being on the go.. but I just started using it this year. It’s a bit annoying to lug around but luckily my husband doesn’t mind :P
Katreena Short
13 Jul 2014Holy crap-oly. These photos are gorgeous. I will need to remember this next year!
Katreena
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014Thank you! :) Can’t wait to see yours next year :)
Jemma Andrew-Adiamah
13 Jul 2014Love these photos. Amazing!
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014Thanks you Jemma!
Starr Joy
13 Jul 2014OMG! Love these pictures!
StarrJoy16.blogspot.com
Esther JuLee
31 Jul 2018Thanks so much Starr!
Amanda Wooldridge Haney
13 Jul 2014This is great. I love the pictures, they’re epic!
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014haha Thank you Amanda! :)
Shipra Taneja
13 Jul 2014These photos are SPECTACULAR! <3
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014Thanks so much Shipra!
Rebekah
13 Jul 2014Love this!! Pinned for reference :)
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014Thank you Rebekah! Can’t wait to see your firework photos next year :D
Ashley
12 Jul 2014Gorgeous photos! Pinned for later use :)
Esther of Local Adventurer
13 Jul 2014Thank you! :) Looking forward to seeing yours!
Anosa
12 Jul 2014wow love the one with lightening,looks really beautiful x
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014Thank you Mia! :)
Jordan
12 Jul 2014I love this blog more and more everyday. GREAT photos!
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014Thank you Jordan! :) Likewise! I’m so glad we connected through GYB
Ruffled Paper - Jessica
11 Jul 2014pretty photos! i’ll need to try!
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014Thank you! You should!! I’d love to see your photos :)
Amberly-A Prioritized Marriage
11 Jul 2014You got some amazing pictures!!!! :) I need to learn how to do this :)
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014Thank you so much! I’m still learning how too :)
Hsiao-Ting
11 Jul 2014wow that looks amazing! congrats on getting your lightening shot!!
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014Thanks girl! I can’t believe it!! I was so happy when it happened.
Christen
11 Jul 2014Thank you! My fireworks pics were a mess!
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014What happened? I think mine were like that at the beginning of the night too. Fireworks are pretty tricky.
songbirdsandbuttons
11 Jul 2014Holy cow lady! Those photos are GORGEOUS!!
Esther of Local Adventurer
12 Jul 2014Thank you so much Kendall! :D
Jenn
11 Jul 2014What gorgeous photos! The lightning is almost unreal!
Esther of Local Adventurer
11 Jul 2014Thank you Jenn! I seriously cannot believe I got it on camera still!
Erika
10 Jul 2014Those pictures are insane! I love everything that’s going on: the lightning, the Strip, and the fireworks!
Esther of Local Adventurer
11 Jul 2014Thanks Erika!! Doesn’t it make you want to move here? hehee
Erika
11 Jul 2014Pretty enticing… or shall I say: enlightening? Hehehehe
Ash @ The Nashvillian
10 Jul 2014That lightning shot is INCREDIBLE!!!!!
-Ash
http://www.thenashvillianblog.com
Esther of Local Adventurer
11 Jul 2014Thank you Ash! :D I really cannot even believe I was able to get it.
Rosy Villa
10 Jul 2014I love pictures like these. That picture with fireworks, Vegas lights, and lightning all in one picture, beautiful! Came across your blog from treat yo self link up, and your blog is lovely.
Esther of Local Adventurer
11 Jul 2014Thamks so much Rosa! :) Love Nicole and her blog!
Haley Phillips
10 Jul 2014These pictures are beautiful! You did great!!
http://www.bellevieblog.com
Esther of Local Adventurer
11 Jul 2014Thank you Haley! :)
Margo @ The Overseas Escape
9 Jul 2014Beautiful shots, great job!!
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Thanks girl!! :D
Jenny Collier
9 Jul 2014Gorgeous shots!
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Thanks so much Jenny! :)
Nicole @ Treasure Tromp
9 Jul 2014beautiful, Esther!
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Thank you Nicole! <3
Amy | Club Narwhal
9 Jul 2014Esther, I so wish I had this on the fourth!! I am really intimidated about using my fancy camera at night and this really helps!
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Yeah I definitely prefer taking photos in the day over night just because you’re much more free and mobile.. but it’s not so bad with a tripod and a trigger. :) I had to get used to it.. and also stretch my patience a bit. haha I hate having to *wait* for the shot.. I’d love to see you take some night photos! :)
Shannon Kennedy
9 Jul 2014Wow! Outstanding.
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Thanks Shannon! :) :)
Food Booze & Baggage
9 Jul 2014Awesome shots! Thanks for the round up of tips too! Since I just go my camera I attempted a few this year just to try it. I got a few that were ok.
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Thanks M! :) Let’s see them! Yeah.. it definitely takes some getting used to.. and some trial and error.. but once you play around with it enough.. you’ll get it soon enough! Now my issue is anticipating when things will happen. I forgot to add this up there.. but apparently you open the shutter whenever you hear the sound of the firework and then close it after one is complete. Some people use something dark to cover up their lens in between and just leave the shutter open the entire time.. that did not work for me as well bc i’m quicker with the trigger release.
Amy
9 Jul 2014shut up. Esther – these are AMAZING!!
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014TY TY!! :D
Breenah
9 Jul 2014I finally got a couple decent pictures of fireworks this year (but I just used the fireworks setting because I am NOT a photographer), but I LOVE the fireworks/lightning picture.
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014I had no idea there’s a fireworks setting!! :) Learned something new! I would totally use that if I had a fireworks setting :) Thank you!