We've all been there.
You're at an amazing fireworks display doing all the 'ooos' and 'ahhhs' when naturally you want to share what you're seeing with your pals on Instagram, to show them that it is, in fact, you who is having the best time.
But, unfortunately, what you end up with is a giant pink blurry blob. Hmm.
Well, to avoid that happening this weekend when bonfire night takes place, the folks at Samsung have come up with a handy guide to make sure you're at the top of your firework photography game...
1. A stable hand
Use both hands and try to be as still as possible when taking the shot. Try and find somewhere to stand that can help stabilise your phone or camera, for example sitting down or leaning against something solid like a table or railing.
If you just so happen to carry a tripod on you, then that will really help.
2. Turn off flash.
A classic conundrum: to flash or not to flash.
The answer is no flash. Even though you think it might be a good idea because you're in the dark, obvs, the flash won't be able to light up enough of the sky to make a big enough impact.
Turning off the flash will allow the depth of colour needed to show off the fireworks display at its best.
3. No zooming
If you find yourself at the back of a crowd of a busy public firework display and are tempted to zoom in to make the fireworks seem closer than they are, stop.
Thecamera will capture more detail if you are not zoomed in.
4. Get those settings right
Preparation is key. Turn off HDR (High Dynamic Range), as long exposure slows down the capture which is not ideal for those quick firework shots.
Secondly, set the ISO - which is the sensitivity of the digital camera sensor - to a low value such as 100. A high ISO helps pick out details in the dark and as fireworks pretty much light up the sky it's not really needed, a low ISO will reduce any overexposure.
If the above is too techy and confusing, or your phone just doesn't have these functions, you can always set the settings to automatic and then just try and adjust the brightness and contrast of your images after you've taken the photo.
5. Burst shoot
Trying to get the perfect snap whilst also appreciating the firework display is a tricky game.
The best option here is to take as many photos as you can and then you can just decide the best one - just like we do with selfies. The easiest way to do this is by the burst shoot function.
6. Mix up the angles
Though this may seem strange... try pointing your camera away from the sky.
Some of the best firework photos are when they've been captured in the background, so feel free to get a group photo in front of them or selfies because, you know, you have to prove you were actually there.
