Photographing a fire pit is a problematic yet delightful venture. First, to get a decent shot of fire, it has to be a darker hour of the day, such as at dusk. Since that is the case, and night has its own set of problems like subsidiary light sources and their impact on the camera lenses, it is often hard to get a good shot. Even our luna can cause problems. So, here is a quick tutorial to enable you to take a great photo of a fire pit.
Your first thought has to be that of whether or not your camera can take dark pictures. If you’re a digital user, you probably can adjust your camera settings to allow decent night photography. Please take a good look at your instruction manual and learn how to change the shutter speed to properly stay open as long as you need it to have good exposure and click enough light to make a great picture. Most of the time, that arrangement has to be made in manual mode, not Program Auto (AP) or Auto (A) on your camera dial, although sometimes you can adjust Shutter Priority.
So, the first tip will be to hit your instruction manual and learn how to change the shutter speed manually since we are planning to click this picture in a darker frame.
Your ISO will have to be regulated as low as it can go without making too much “noise” in your photography. Noise is what happens when you get black or white spots or a kind of fog that envelops the picture, depending on what you click, and a fire pit will tend to have hot spots or white spots if there is any disturbance and noise. Aperture and shutter speed will take a significant role here, so make sure you know your camera’s capacity.
So, the second tip will be to learn how to remove the ‘noise’ in the photo and explore if the camera is capable enough to regulate the ISO.
Next, a self-timer comes in handy, and a small remote controller is even better. Taking a decent shot at night is inaccessible unless you can get the shake out of your picture. A proper remote controller will allow you to take the click without the shake that can sadly happen when you need to repeatedly touch the shutter release. A self-timer can help, although it doesn’t stop the eventual shake.
So, the next tip is more of a suggestion – get yourself a remote controller to avoid ‘shake.’
And last, but most important, is a robust tripod. To cancel any movement you may have in your camera when you are clicking night shots, you need to have a solid base. Getting rid of activity will help you take a better click while the shutter is open for so long.
So, find a great fire pit, take many photos of it at different times of the evening, and make adjustments as needed. You’ll find there is a knack for getting a superior night picture!
I wish you all the best, and don’t forget to stay patient while exploring this fantastic art of photography.
