For many professional and amateur photographers a like, there are few nights more exciting than New Year’s Eve. From parades and parties to the fireworks at the finish, there are countless great opportunities to further your art and get some beautiful or interesting shots. Learn how to get better pictures this New Year’s Eve to help bring your art to the next level.
Protect Your Equipment
Before you begin framing your first shot, make sure that you take the time to ensure your equipment’s safety. New Year’s Eve parties and events are notoriously crowded. And while this can lead to some great photo opportunities, it can also lead to equipment damage.
Use precautions and padded bags whenever possible. Scope out locations to set up where you can view the events, while potentially being away from the crowd. This may take some creativity on your part, but can also lead to some unique angles from which to shoot.
Change Up Angles
There are so many different opportunities to shoot on a night like this, so consider changing up your angles and locations frequently. Don’t rely solely on one perspective; get above the crowd or down below it, shoot from the side or straight up. You may be surprised with what you can accomplish.
Capture the Watchers
Most photographers start out by wanting to capture the events themselves. For example, the fireworks are always a big draw. And while you should be sure to capture some, you may also want to capture the watchers and spectators. Photos of people viewing the fireworks with the colors reflected on their faces can be very compelling, as can pics of people hugging, dancing, laughing, or just enjoying the show.
Time Your Shots Well
You probably already know that using a tripod, lowering your aperture, and having a fast shutter speed can all enhance your fireworks pics. But the timing of your shots is also important. Try playing around with when you take your picture; being a few seconds earlier or later in the shot can get you some interesting results that you might not have gotten otherwise. You can also try shooting continuously from the moment the rocket ignites to when it finishes winking out in the sky to get some unique captures in time, rather than the big finish that everyone goes after.
Have Some Fun
It can be challenging to take some unique shots on a night when it seems that everyone has their camera out. Have some fun and try playing around with the more popular angles and events to get some new shots that are entirely your own.