How to take photos of star shooting and fireworks - either with your mobile or camera

Pictures like this are easy to get, but rain with a little trial and error the first time

Enjoy good pictures of the fireworks on New Year's Eve? Or create such a classic "2018-written-with-star-shot" image?

In fact, it's not too hard and is nice to do with a mobile phone. Here are some methods you can use on New Year's Eve, whether you have a regular mobile phone or a little more expensive camera equipment.

First, some general tips
Leave the phone or camera before you exit. This is power-demanding photography and it's (probably) cold outside. Batteries do not like cold.
Keep your phone or camera (or camera battery only) warm when not in use. For example in the inner pocket.
Find a suitable place. Think through the background. Should it be dark or light? Do you want people in the picture? Should you take pictures of fireworks from a better viewpoint, you should take good time to secure a seat where no one will stand in front of your camera at 23.59. (If anybody still does, politely explain that you are going to take a picture of the fireworks and have waited a while and if they can move a little to the side).
Take a bigger view than you really think you need, and cut a bit in the picture afterwards. When writing with star shots, it's easy to write 'outside' and it may be ok to take into account extra large, high-flying rockets.
Make sure the phone or the camera is standing still. A proper tripod is best, but an improvised solution like a rice bag on a table or something similar may also work. Just remember to note that there may be snow on benches and the like outside.
Turn off the flash. Even if it does not matter. It takes extra power, can cause camera delays and can damage your pictures because the camera thinks it should take a picture of something lighter than it really is.
Take the focus and lock it (for example, by switching to manual focus) before taking the pictures.
You can not write words to get funny pictures either - scratch rolls may be fine.
You can not write words to get funny pictures either - scratch rolls may be fine. Photo: Kristoffer Møllevik

Writing with star shots
Since this is something you can do while you wait for the fireworks, we start with the star shooters.

You can also play with drawing in depth.
You can also play with drawing in depth. Photo: Kristoffer Møllevik
Writing with star shots is, in principle, the same called "painting with light". Simply use a long exposure time in the image (10-30 seconds), and otherwise "lightwave" settings as a small blender and make ISO, and fan or "paint" with a light in front of the camera. And if you think something like "What's the blender, shutter, and ISO?", We'll be able to calm down right away. For as they say, "There's an app for that".

But one tip for: All the methods require a little trial and error, both when it comes to camera technology and the "light writing" itself. Buy some extra star shots so you have a little to go on and test the technique in advance.

How to do it with your phone
If your mobile phone is your camera, you probably need an additional app to get the result we want. Do you have iPhone, you can try the Slow Shutter Cam app, and if you're on Android you can check out the Camera FV-5.

In order for the image to not get unclear, the phone must be supported. A mobile stand is best if you have it, but it is also possible to make temporary solutions of children's bakeleire or bags of rice. Also, keep in mind that batteries do not like cold, and this type of photography requires some power from your phone. So leave it before you go out and hold it warm until you use it.

Slow Shutter Cam
Slow Shutter Cam Picture: Screenshot, Slow Shutter Cam
Slow Shutter Cam (iPhone) makes it all easy by selecting the "Light trail" mode. What kind of settings you will need depends on how bright it is around you and how far away you should stand from the camera (the bigger the drawing you want to make in the air, the farther you have to stand). Begin with high light sensitivity, a shutter speed of 15 or 30 seconds and make ISO as possible. Test and adjust as needed.

A cool thing with Slow Shutter Cam is that you can take a new picture on the previous picture. So instead of using 60 seconds shutter speed to write "Happy New Year", you can combine multiple shots in 15 or 30 seconds and just type a bit at a time. Just follow where to stand in the picture and take great care that the phone does not move from image to image.

Neither the Android phone nor the iPhone we used let us actually set the shutter speed as high as we wanted. Then
Neither the Android phone nor the iPhone we used let us actually set the shutter speed as high as we wanted. Then they "cheat" by combining many shots with shorter shutter speeds, which makes the light sketching a little choppy. The image is the result of the Android app Camera FV-5. Photo: Kristoffer Møllevik
Camera FV-5 (Android) requires you to take more manual control over the settings, but it's still simple. What camera settings ap