Fireworks-Ontario's Retail and Wholesale Fireworks Distributor-Professional Pyrotechnicians

Video Taping Fireworks

Check your camcorder for 'Auto Focus', and turn it off if possible. Attempting to Auto Focus fireworks causes the camera to jump in and out of focus during the show.

Before the show manually focus the camera to a building or large object similar in distance to the show , then leave the focus there.

Use a tripod.

Make sure you are not too close to the Fireworks display. The area for spectators has been chosen by the Fireworks Supervisor to provide the best view for the audience.

Leave a wide field of view for the show, don’t zoom in and out to “chase” individual fireworks. Trying to zoom will cause a focus loss, you may miss fireworks in a different area, or it will make you dizzy during playback.

Some camcorders have 'scene' select features specifically tuned for making excellent fireworks video. Look for and use this 'fireworks scene setting. Resist the temptation to use night time, automatic, or dark scene settings. Fireworks are bright so using settings that try to compensate for the dark night sky will result in over exposure and loss of colours.

Try not to talk too close to the camera’s microphone.

If Audio from the crowd is undesirable , then move back, and use your lens to Zoom-in till your field of view will fit the show.

Bring a flashlight to make any last minute camera changes.