| How to Snap Your Fingers Posted: 05 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT Whether you're trying to get the attention of your butler or just jamming along to your favorite song, there's nothing like knowing how to give a sharp, loud snap of your fingers. Snapping comes easier for some people than for others, but with a little practice, almost everyone can do it. Start trying today and you should have it soon — with any luck, it'll be a snap! [Edit]Doing a Basic Snap - Press your thumb to your middle finger. Begin by resting the pad (the flat, fleshy part) of your thumb against the pad of your middle finger. Don't use the tips of your fingers — you want the soft, squishy parts to meet. A good way to get the right positioning is to pretend you're picking up something heavy with your thumb and middle finger.[1]
- To start, practice with your dominant hand (the same one you use to write). When you master the basic snap, you can try with your other hand.
- Fold your ring finger and pinky down. Without moving your thumb and middle finger, take your ring finger and pinky and rest them gently against the heel of your palm or the base of your thumb — wherever feels natural. Try to leave a little room at the base of the thumb for your middle finger to snap against the fleshy part at the bottom.
- These fingers aren't involved in the snap, but this part is crucial. The ring finger and pinky basically "prop up" the rest of the hand, allowing you to use more force when you snap (and thus get a louder sound).
- Build up a little pressure between your thumb and middle finger. Now, start to press your thumb and middle finger together, but don't let either one move out of the way yet.[2] Press fairly hard here — a little harder then may feel natural at first. There should be enough pressure to turn the tips of your fingers a little red.
- The more pressure you build up, the more power behind your snap. While it's hard to hurt yourself this way, if you feel pain, you're pressing a little too hard.
- Listen for the Snap! Move your index finger down so it rests against your thumb without letting up on the pressure. Move the thumb from the middle finger to the index finger. Your middle finger should slide off of your thumb and "snap" towards your palm. It should hit the fleshy base of your thumb and make a sharp cracking sound. Congratulations — you've just snapped your fingers.
- Don't worry if you can't get it on the first try. This is something many people have difficulty with at first, but once you get it, it quickly becomes easy. See below for tips on getting your snap just right.
- Practice this snapping motion until it comes naturally. The only way to get better at finger snapping is to do it! Once you get your first good, loud "snap," try to replicate your motions exactly until you get good results again. Within a few days, you should be able to snap fairly consistently.
- If you can't seem to get a good snapping noise, try a few more times and make sure you're doing the following:
- Keeping good pressure between your thumb and middle finger until you make your snap
- Keeping your ring finger and pinky folded firmly down against your palm
- Leaving enough room at the base of your thumb for your middle finger to hit — your middle finger should not end up behind your ring finger
- If you're still having little success, try one of the alternate methods below — some people find them easier.
[Edit]Using Alternate Methods - Try snapping with your ring finger. Though the middle finger usually gives easier, louder, "sharper" snaps, some people prefer using their ring finger to snap. The basic approach here is to simply do the basic snapping motion, only with your thumb shifted down one finger. In other words:
- Press the pad of your thumb against the pad of your ring finger.
- Fold your pinky down against your palm or the base of your thumb.
- Build up pressure between your thumb and ring finger. This can be easier if you move your middle finger and index finger down next to it.
- Slide your thumb from your ring finger to your middle finger. Your ring finger should snap down and smack against the base of your thumb, making a snapping sound.
- Try shaking your hand to get a louder snap. Some people are able to get exceptionally loud snaps by essentially putting their whole arm into the snapping motion, snapping as they whip their hand down. Be careful not to over-do the hand motions here — you can give yourself a sore wrist if you use too much force. To snap with this method:
- Get ready to do a normal snap. Press your thumb against against your middle finger (or ring finger, if you prefer), fold the ring finger and pinky down (just the pinky if you're snapping with your ring finger), and build up pressure.
- Turn your palm so that it faces to the side (in the direction of your torso). Your arm should be loose and relaxed from the wrist through the elbow.
- In one quick, smooth motion, bring your elbow in and turn your palm up. Then, bring your elbow out and whip your hand down, turning your wrist so that your palm faces the ground. Snap as you whip your hand!
- If you're successful, you should get an extra-loud snap. Keep practicing if you don't get it at first. This one can take some time.
- Try doing a "double" snap. When you've gotten the hang of doing one snap at once, try to make two. It's tricky to get the same level of volume with this technique, but getting the double snap sound itself isn't that difficult. To do a double snap:[3]
- Get ready to do a ring finger snap. Your thumb and ring finger should be pressed together, with your pinky folded down and your other two fingers lined up next to your ring finger. You must start on the ring finger — you can't do a double snap starting on your middle finger.
- Build up pressure against your ring finger. Keep your middle and index finger close to it.
- Slide your thumb to your middle finger without letting up on the pressure, then quickly slide it to your index finger without pausing.
- If you do this right, your ring finger should snap against the flesh of your palm immediately followed by your middle finger, making two quick (but separate) snapping sounds. Try practicing this rapid-fire double snap along to your favorite song!
- Try snapping with both hands. What use is knowing how to snap if you can't recreate your favorite scenes from West Side Story? Snapping with both hands is easy — it's simply a matter of building up your strength and technique in your non-dominant hand with practice once you've mastered snapping with your dominant hand. Any of the techniques above can work for your non-dominant hand, so experiment until you find the one you like the best!
- For an added challenge, try using two different snapping techniques at once! For instance, you might try doing normal snaps with your right hand and double snaps with your left.
- The moisture level of your hands can affect your ability to snap. If your hands too moist or greasy to build up good pressure (e.g., if you just put on lotion), drying them with a paper towel may help. On the other hand, if they're exceptionally dry, you may want to use just a tiny bit of lotion to re-moisturize them.
- Don't put too much pressure on your fingers so you don't hurt yourself.
- Don't try snapping with your index finger or pinky. This is technically possible, but very difficult.
- Note, however, that some sources claim that soaking wet hands give the loudest snaps.[4]
- When you snap, the noise doesn't come from your two fingers rubbing against each other — it actually comes from your finger slapping against the fleshy part of your palm. Essentially, you're clapping with just one finger on one hand! To test this, try snapping with a tissue covering your palm. The sound should be greatly diminished.[5]
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful who is watching if you use the arm-shaking method. In some cultures, this is considered brash or inappropriate.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make a Top Knot Bun Posted: 05 Jul 2022 09:00 AM PDT A top knot bun is stylish hairstyle made from winding your hair in a bun on the top of your head. It's a very versatile look and can range from sleek and sophisticated to messy chic. Begin making the look by pulling your hair into a high ponytail, then wrapping your hair around the base of the ponytail and securing it with a hair tie. You can even use a hair donut to make the bun fuller and more voluminous. [Edit]Doing a Neat Top Knot Bun - Pull your hair into a high ponytail. Comb back your hair away from your forehead, then take your hair and pull it into a high ponytail near the top of your head, securing it tightly with a hairband.
- It's easier to do a top knot bun on second or third day hair rather than clean hair.
- If you have curly or textured hair, begin by blow drying your hair straight. This way, you'll have a smooth, neat ponytail.
- If you have frizzy hair, add a small amount of gel or serum around your hairline before brushing the hair into a ponytail. Doing so will ensure your ponytail is sleek.
- Divide your ponytail into two sections. Take the hair of your ponytail and divide it into two equal sized sections. Add a small amount of mousse or styling cream to each section to make the hair extra smooth.
- Wrap each section around each other. Take one section of hair in each hand and twist them together all the way down to make them into one piece. Twisting your hair like this will make your top knot even more smooth and prevents flyaways.
- This method is done most easily with longer hair.
- Wrap your hair around the hair tie. Take your twisted hair and wrap it in a clockwise direction around your hair tie.
- Pin the top knot in place. Once you finish wrapping use several bobby pins the same color as your hair to pin the top knot in place, both at the top and bottom of the bun.
- Spray with hairspray to give the style extra hold.
[Edit]Making a Voluminous Top Knot Bun - Comb your hair into a ponytail. Work with second or third day hair or spray your hair with dry shampoo to give it some texture. Then comb your hair into a high ponytail near the top of your head, securing it with a hair tie.
- This style is especially good for those with curly or wavy hair, since curly hair gives you a more voluminous look.
- Backcomb your hair. Take about a quarter of your hair from the ponytail and hold it straight up above your head. Use a comb to backcomb through the hair, starting at the midpoint of the hair and combing down to the base of the ponytail. Repeat until you have lightly backcombed each section of hair.
- Backcombing your hair makes it more voluminous and textured so that your top knot is fuller.
- Smooth the top of the ponytail. After backcombing your hair, take the comb and lightly brush the very top layer of hair in the ponytail, brushing from the base of the ponytail down to the tips of the hair.
- Comb very gently with a brush rather than a comb, which will be easier to work with on backcombed hair.
- Smoothing this very top layer of the ponytail will keep the top knot looking smooth, even if the hair in the center of the top knot is full and textured.
- Wrap your hair in a bun around the base of the ponytail. Take the hair of your ponytail and wrap it clockwise around the base of the ponytail. When you reach the tips of your hair, tuck the hair underneath the hair tie.
- Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. After you twist your hair into the top knot, pin your hair in place with several bobby pins. Use your fingers to pull the bun out if you wish to give it more volume and then spray lightly with hairspray to give it better hold.
[Edit]Making a Top Knot Bun with a Hair Donut - Put your hair in a high ponytail. Pull back your hair into a high ponytail. If it helps, you can brush your hair back so that your hair is smooth and bump-free.[1]
- Remove all tangles from your hair with a brush before styling.
- If you have unruly hair, start with a blow out to create a smooth ponytail.
- Put a hair donut around the base of your ponytail. Poke your hair through a hair donut and pull it all the way to the base of your ponytail. If you don't have a hair donut, you can also take a clean tube sock, cut off the top of the tube sock so you get a three inch or so (7.62 cm or so) band of sock, then pull the loop of sock through your ponytail until it reaches the base.[2]
- You should be able to find a hair donut at beauty supply stores or online retailers.
- Tease your hair. Take your ponytail and hold it straight up in the air with one hand. With the other, take a comb and backcomb through your hair, starting at the midsection of your hair and combing down to the base.[3]
- Teasing your hair gives it the volume to completely cover the donut. If your hair is already extra thick, skip teasing.
- Wrap your hair around the donut. Take your teased hair and start to wrap it clockwise around the hair donut to completely cover it. When you reach the tips of your hair, tuck the tips under the donut.[4]
- Pin your bun in place. Use several bobby pins to pin your hair around the hair donut and secure it in place. Spritz the bun with hairspray to prevent flyaways and to give the style extra hold.[5]
[Edit]Doing a Half Down Top Knot - Make a horizontal part. To do this half-up top knot, do a horizontal part that divides the top of your hair from the bottom, starting at about ear level on one side and parting over to the other side.[6]
- Since this is a laid back look, you don't have to precisely part your hair on each side, as long as each side is roughly symmetrical.[7]
- This look can work either on short or long hair.
- Hold your hair in a ponytail. Take the top section of hair and gather it into a high ponytail on the top of your head. Hold it in a ponytail using one hand.[8]
- Wrap your hair into a bun. Hold your hair in a ponytail with the fingers of one hand and use the other to wind your hair clockwise around the base of your ponytail that you are holding with your fingers.[9]
- If you have short hair, make a small loop and hold it in place with your fingers instead of wrapping your hair around.
- Secure your hair with a hair elastic. After you have wrapped the hair around until you reach the tips, or have made a small loop if you have short hair, use a hair tie to secure the bun. If you want a fuller looking top knot, pull the bun gently with your fingers to make it bigger.[10]
- It's easier to do topknots on second or third day hair rather than clean hair with tends to be more slippery.
- Dry shampoo the night before.
- If you want a chic, messy look, keep the tips of your hair poking out of your top knot.
- If you have twist braids you want to style, a top knot bun is a relatively easy option to try.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Hair Ties
- Mousse or Curling Cream
- Comb
- Hair Donut
- Hairspray
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Roast Pecans Posted: 05 Jul 2022 01:00 AM PDT Roasted pecans bring out the festive spirit at a party or a holiday fair. However, they are an easy snack to keep around the house year-round. It's a big bonus that the act of roasting them fills the house with a rich, buttery scent. [Edit]Ingredients - 1 lb. (453g) pecan halves
- 4 tbsp. (57g) salted butter
- 1 tsp. (6g) salt
Optional Ingredients for Sweet Roasted Pecans - Up to 1 cup (200g) of white sugar (optional)
- 2 egg whites (optional)
- 2 tbsp. (30ml) water (optional)
- 3 tsp. (7.8g) ground cinnamon (optional)
[Edit]Prepping Your Pecans - Crack pecans if they are still in the shells. Remove them and separate the pecan halves in a bowl. You can also purchase shelled pecan halves at the grocery store.
- Choose if you want to sugar your pecans as you roast them. You will need a few extra ingredients if you want them to be both sweet and salty.
- Mix the water and egg whites if you are making sugar roasted pecans. Beat the mixture until it is fluffy. Fold in the pecans to coat them.
- Spread the pecan halves onto a large rimmed baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149 degrees Celsius).
[Edit]Seasoning the Pecans - Mix your dry seasonings together. If you are doing simple, salty pecans, this will consist of only salt. If you are doing sweet pecans, mix the sugar, salt and cinnamon.[1]
- Pour the dry ingredients into a shaker or just carefully shake the seasonings onto the baking sheet by hand.
- Cut the butter into small pieces. Place them on top of the pecans in even intervals.[2]
[Edit]Roasting the Pecans - Place the pan in the preheated oven. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir the pecans with a large spoon or spatula. Return them to the oven for another 10 minutes.
- Watch the oven until they look perfectly browned. Remove them from the oven when ready.
- Set them on a cooling rack. After they have cooled slightly, transfer them to airtight containers to store.
- To reduce the chances that the sugar browns too quickly, you can reduce the heat of the oven to 225 degrees (107 Celsius) and cook the pecans more slowly for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Oven
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Shaker
- Spoon/spatula
- Timer
- Airtight containers
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Do Fourth of July Nails Posted: 04 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT On the Fourth of July, you want your patriotism to shine all the way down to the tips of your fingers! For the best Independence Day nail look, you can choose between stars and stripes, polka dots, and glitter to reflect your natural style and spirit. Experiment and let your creativity run wild for a unique look that's all-American and all you! [Edit]Painting Basic Stars and Stripes - Apply a clear base and let it dry. A base coat of clear polish will protect your nails and help the colored polish stick. Apply it to all of your nails and let it dry before moving on.
- Paint your nails white, then let them dry. For a faster drying time, paint one thin layer of white polish, let it dry, then apply the second. Allow both coats to dry fully before moving on.[1]
- Paint 4-5 thin red lines on each nail with a striper. Place a strip of clear tape right under your cuticle. Then, using a nail striper and red polish, paint from just past the edge of your cuticle all the way up to the tip of your nail to create a thin, smooth line. Make 4-5 lines across the nail, spacing them equally as best you can.[2]
- Repeat on the nails you're painting, then let the stripes dry for about 15 minutes before moving on.
- If you don't have a striper, you can make your own or use a toothpick. You can also buy a striper online or in beauty stores.
- Create a thicker horizontal blue line across the top of the nail. Use a regular nail polish brush to dab a blue line across the top half of your nail. Start from about the middle of your nail and use short strokes towards the tip to make a straight blue line.[3]
- If you want your line to be perfectly straight, place a piece of scotch tape over the lower half of your nail and paint from the edge up to the nail's tip.
- Repeat on all your stars and stripes nails and let them dry for 15 minutes.
- Place 5-8 white dots across the blue with a dotting tool. Dip a small dotting tool into your white nail polish and use it to carefully dot the blue of your flag. You can add as many dots as you want, but 5-8 placed in a scattered, random formation tends to look best.[4]
- Let the dots dry for 10 minutes on each nail.
- If you don't have a dotting tool, you can use a toothpick or the tip of a Q-tip. To buy a dotting tool, look in beauty stores and online.
- Paint a flag on all your nails or just 2 for an accent. You can paint this busier pattern onto your thumb and ring finger, then fill out the rest of your nails with a solid blue or cherry red for a trendy, eye-catching look. You can also apply the flag design to all your fingers for a more uniform style.
- Apply a top coat to finish. After your flag nails have dried, paint on a clear topcoat to seal the design and prevent it from chipping. Remember to wait until your nails are completely dry to avoid messing up your design.[5]
- Buy a nail sticker kit for an easier application. Most Fourth of July nails require some time and effort, including applying different coats and using a few different tools, like a striper and dotting tool. If you don't have the time or the tools, use a Fourth of July nail sticker kit for a cute but lower-effort look.
- With a nail kit, you'll paint one solid color and stick patriotic stickers on top. Many kits come with simple stars and stripes as well as "USA" stickers and other patriotic designs.
- You can buy a kit online or at craft and beauty stores.
- Follow the instructions in the kit to apply and remove your nail stickers.
[Edit]Making Red, White, and Blue Polka Dots - Apply a clear base and let it dry. A base coat of clear polish will protect your nails and help the colored polish stick. Apply it to all of your nails and let it dry before moving on.
- Apply a white polish to start your design. Paint the white in 2 thin coats to help it dry more quickly. Then, let the polish harden and dry for 15 minutes or so before going on to your polka dots.[6]
- Add different-sized red dots to your nail with a dotting tool. Starting with a large-sized dotting tool, place 2-3 red dots in the lower, cuticle portion of your nail. Switch to a medium size to add 3-4 dots towards the middle of your nail, then use a small dotting tool and put 4-5 dots in the top portion. Leave a strip of white at the top to create a tapering effect.[7]
- Continue adding red dots on each of your nails and allow them to dry for about 10 minutes. You can add dots to all your nails, or just to your ring finger and thumb for a bubbly accent.
- You'll be using your dotting tools with different colors, so clean them as per their package instructions before moving on.
- If you don't have a dotting tool, you can use a toothpick or the tip of a Q-tip. To buy a dotting tool, look in beauty stores and online.
- Use blue and silver polishes to add more polka dots. Use the same dotting process with a royal blue color on each nail, then switch to silver. Allow some of your dots to overlap to create depth, going for a natural, scattered look.[8]
- Let the dots dry for about 10 minutes in between colors.
- Apply a top coat to finish. After your dots have dried, paint on a clear topcoat to seal the design and prevent it from chipping. If you're applying the polka dots as an accent, wait for the topcoat to dry before painting the rest of your nails bright red or royal blue.[9]
[Edit]Creating Patriotic Glitter Nails - Apply a clear base and let it dry. A base coat of clear polish will protect your nails and help the colored polish stick. Apply it to all of your nails and let it dry before moving on.
- Paint on a metallic silver polish. After your clear base coat dries, apply 2 thin layers of metallic silver, giving them time to dry in between. Let the polish harden for about 15 minutes before moving on.[10]
- This Fourth of July nail art looks best with all fingers, rather than mixing with solids as an accent.
- Apply a red glitter polish from your cuticle to halfway up the nail. Using a regular nail polish brush, paint a coat of dark red glitter onto the lower half of your nail. Start with short, careful upwards strokes from the cuticle to midway up the nail, then neaten the edge of the layer by painting horizontally.[11]
- Repeat on all your nails and let them dry for 10-15 minutes.
- Use a blue glitter polish on the top half of your nail. Using a regular nail polish brush, apply a dark or royal blue glitter polish from the tip of your nail to the middle, leaving a strip of silver just above the red. Repeat on the rest of your nails and let them dry for about 15 minutes.[12]
- Paint silver over the middle, overlapping with the red and blue. Reinforce the middle strip by covering it with silver glitter polish, using a nail striper for the best application. Paint horizontally right over the strip, then spread small, thin vertical strokes over the red and blue sections.[13]
- Continue adding vertical silver stripes, stretching them almost to the tip and cuticle of the nail, until the transitions between colors start to look more seamless. Repeat on the rest of your nails.
- If you don't have a nail striper, use a toothpick to apply the silver.
- Blend the silver with small strokes of blue and red. Repeat this blending, striping process with the same red and blue glitter colors as before. Extend short strokes of red up into the silver, and paint stripes of blue downwards to subtly blend the colors.[14]
- You don't have to wait for the silver polish dry before adding the red and blue stripes. Applying them while the silver is wet will allow the colors to mix and create a smooth gradient.
- Repeat on all of your nails. The finished look should have a natural fade from red to silver to blue.
- Remember to clean your brush in between coats so you don't mix colors.
- Let your nails dry and apply a clear topcoat. Let the glitter polish set and dry for 15-20 minutes. Then, apply a clear topcoat to seal and smooth out the design.[15]
- For a simpler, more subtle look, go with a solid coat of red or blue, or alternate red, white, and blue between fingers.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Basic Stars and Stripes - Nail sticker kit (optional)
- Clear nail polish for base coat
- White nail polish
- Red nail polish
- Blue nail polish
- Nail striper or toothpick
- Dotting tool or Q-tip
- Scotch tape (optional)
[Edit]Red, White, and Blue Polka Dots - Clear nail polish for the base and topcoat
- White nail polish
- Red nail polish
- Blue nail polish
- Silver nail polish
- Dotting tool or Q-tip
[Edit]Patriotic Glitter Nails - Clear nail polish for the base and topcoat
- Metallic, glittery silver nail polish
- Glittery red nail polish
- Glittery blue nail polish
- Silver glitter nail polish
- Striping tool or toothpick
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Open a Beer Bottle with a Key Posted: 04 Jul 2022 09:00 AM PDT Cracking open a cold beer is a great way to wind down from a long day or liven up a party. But if you don't have a bottle opener, it can be hard to get to the beer! Luckily, the keys jangling in your pocket or bag provide a convenient solution to your problem. Whether you pop the lid right off or pry the ridges first, it's easy to open a beer bottle with a key! [Edit]Popping the Lid Off - Grab the neck with your non-dominant hand. You should be holding the bottle securely so that it doesn't slide in your hand when you push against it. Don't worry about squeezing it too tight, a firm grip is enough![1]
- Put a strong key, like a car key, under the cap. This is not a job for a small file cabinet key or an aluminium house key. Pick a strong, larger key like a car key or a heavier office key. It's best to pick a key with multiple ridges at the tip--it will be easier for it to get under the bottlecap's ridges.[2]
- Twist the key upwards until you hear the beer bottle pop off. Move the key in your dominant hand so you're twisting the key up towards you. It's the same motion you'd make if you were turning your car on. Since the key is lodged under the bottle cap, the key should pry the cap open![3]
- Try a different side of the cap if it didn't pop off immediately. Depending on the bottle cap, the strength of your key, and your experience with this method, the cap might not pop off on your first try. I fit doesn't, turn the bottle until a new part of the cap is facing you, and try again![4]
[Edit]Prying the Ridges Open - Look for any bent ridges. If there are any ridges on your bottlecap that are already bent slightly, start there! If not, you can pick any ridge to get started with.
- Slide the tip of the key under a ridge. Work your key tip until it's slightly under one of the bottlecap ridges. It's okay if it doesn't go all the way under -- all you need is a little bit of leverage.[5]
- Twist the key until the ridge bends upwards. Twist the key back and forth gently but firmly until the bottlecap ridge starts to bend. Be careful not to press the ridge against the bottle -- you want the ridge to be pointing outward or upward when you're done.[6]
- Repeat until at least 4 ridges in a row are up. Keep twisting the key under the ridges until you have at least 4 in a row that are pointing up or out from the bottle. Make sure they're all next to each other -- it won't work if they're scattered around the rim of the bottlecap.[7]
- Grasp the bottle firmly in your non-dominant hand. You should be holding the bottle tightly enough that you don't injure yourself or anyone nearby. Don't squeeze it too hard, though--you may be strong enough to break the bottle![8]
- Push the key tip under the bent ridges. Press the tip of the key underneath the bent ridges as far as you can. It's okay if it only goes in a little bit. You just need enough space to actually use the key as leverage.[9]
- Press the key upwards until the cap pops off. Grasp the key firmly in your dominant hand and press upwards until the cap pops off. Be careful not to press too hard. If you're too rough with the bottle, you might break the top off![10]
- Be careful of the ridges--they can be very sharp!
- Check if the bottle is a twist-off before trying to open it with a key![11]
- If you often find yourself without a bottle opener, consider purchasing a bottle opener keyring for your keys!
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Photograph Fireworks Posted: 04 Jul 2022 01:00 AM PDT Fireworks look beautiful in photographs, full of light and color. You may wonder how you can best capture fireworks in an image without issues like over or underexposure, blurriness, and graininess. To photograph fireworks well, start by picking a good shooting location. You can also use camera settings that will help you achieve a high-quality image. Then, set up the camera on a tripod to keep it steady and frame the fireworks with landmarks, a skyline, or even people to capture interesting photos. [Edit]Selecting the Shooting Location - Look for a high spot in an open area. Try to position yourself on a spot that is high up, such as a ledge in a field or a high slope by a main road. Check that you can see the spot where the fireworks are supposed to be in the sky from your vantage point and that you are at a 45-degree angle from the ground when you look up.[1]
- Keep in mind if you want to include people in some of your shots, you may pick a high spot that you can move down from easily so you can be closer to crowds.
- Check that the spot is upwind from the fireworks so you get a clear shot. Shooting downwind from the fireworks can cause smoke to get into your images as the fireworks go off. Prevent this by making sure your shooting location is upwind from where the fireworks are set to go off.[2]
- To determine the wind conditions, check the weather beforehand. Note if it is going to be a windy night and plan accordingly.
- Pick a spot that has a view of the skyline or a landmark for a unique shot. You may want to include a beautiful city skyline or a historic landmark in the area where the fireworks are set to go off. Find a shooting location that allows you to see the skyline clearly below the fireworks. Or go for a spot where a landmark or building appears in one side of the frame or in the foreground.[3]
- You can always shift your shooting location slightly while the fireworks are going off to get different objects in the foreground, as well as no objects at all in the shot. Try to find a spot where you can move around and play with different compositions.
[Edit]Setting up the Camera - Switch your camera to manual mode. You do not need an expensive camera with a lot of different settings to photograph fireworks well. In fact, you can use a film camera or a digital camera to get a great image as long as it can be switched to manual mode.[4]
- Make sure the focus mode reverts to manual when you switch to manual mode, as this will allow you to focus the camera as needed during the fireworks show.
- If you are shooting with the camera on your smartphone, download an app that allows you to have a slower shutter speed on the camera, such as Slow Shutter Cam.
- Some digital cameras will have a "Fireworks Mode" on the settings dial or in the menu options on the camera. Use this mode, if available, as this allows the camera to adjust the settings for you so you do not need to do it yourself.
- Turn off the flash to limit distractions around you. Switch the flash off, as it is not strong enough to illuminate the foreground in the dark. It can also distract you when you are taking pictures and bother others around you.[5]
- Use a wide or telephoto zoom lens to capture the fireworks. Look for a telephoto zoom lens that is 70-200mm or 70-300mm, as this will allow you to capture the fireworks in full from a distance. You can also use a wide lens that is 24-70mm or 24-120mm if you are shooting a bit closer to the fireworks.[6]
- It may be good to have both lenses on hand so you can switch between them to suit your vantage point.
- Start with a slow shutter speed of 2.5-4 seconds. Using a slow shutter speed will allow the camera shutter to stay open long enough to capture the long light trails of the fireworks. Avoid going lower than 2.5 seconds, as a shutter speed that is too low can cause the fireworks to appear blown out or overexposed.[7]
- You may need to play around with the shutter speed as you photograph the fireworks, shifting between 2.5-4 seconds. Try a few different speeds once you set up your camera to vary the types of images you get.
- Set the camera to a low ISO level and a narrow aperture field. Start with an ISO that is at 100, as this will allow you to use a low shutter speed. You can usually leave the ISO at 100 as you shoot. The aperture, or how wide the lens opens, should be around f/5.6-f/8. This will keep the aperture just narrow enough to capture the fireworks without letting in too much light.[8]
- You can try playing around with the aperture field as you photograph the fireworks, bumping up to f/11-f/16 depending on how bright your images appear.
[Edit]Taking the Photographs - Arrive early for the fireworks to reserve your shooting spot. If you know the fireworks show is going to be popular, you may aim to get to the location 30 minutes-1 hour early so you can set up your camera gear and be ready for the show.
- If you are not sure about the details of the location, you may visit it a day early to stake out a good location for shooting the fireworks.
- Try to find a spot where you'll be able to include the launch site in your photos, especially if you can frame it with an interesting background.[9]
- Put the camera on a tripod to get a steady image. Always use a tripod when you are shooting fireworks, as this will ensure you get a clear, high-quality image.[10] Set up the camera, or your smartphone, on a tripod in the shooting location. Make sure the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture have already been set, as you do not want to have to touch the camera too much once you start shooting.[11]
- Look for a tripod that fits your camera model at your local camera store or online.
- Get a remote shutter release to avoid touching the camera. The remote shutter release attaches to your camera and is controlled by a small remote you hold in your hand. This feature is ideal when you are shooting fireworks, as touching your camera while shooting can cause the images to appear blurry or unclear.[12]
- You can buy a remote shutter release at your local camera store or online.
- Focus the camera on a distant object near where the fireworks are going off. Look into the lense and adjust the focus manually so it is on an object that is fairly far away, just beside or in front of where the fireworks are going to explode. This will then ensure the fireworks appear in focus when they enter the frame.[13]
- You can also try zooming out or in and focusing on the fireworks to get a different perspective. Your wide or telephoto zoom lense should make doing this fairly easy.
- Frame the fireworks with people, objects, or a landscape. Use your surroundings to make the photographs more interesting and unique. Try placing a landmark in one corner of the frame and focusing on it as the fireworks go off. You can also focus on the skyline just below the fireworks to get a nice landscape in the foreground.[14]
- Including people watching the fireworks can also make the photographs more interesting. Try shooting at a lower angle to capture people in the foreground or background of the image.
- Reduce the shutter speed if the fireworks appear blurry or unclear. If you notice your images are coming out blurry or unclear, it may be because your shutter speed is not slow enough. Bump it down 1-2 speeds so the lense stays open longer and you can capture the full effect of the fireworks.[15]
- You may need to also play around with the aperture setting when you reduce the shutter speed to find the right balance.
- Use "bulb mode" to experiment with exposure. To do this, press the shutter down as the fireworks are launching. Continue to hold the shutter for several seconds until the burst fades and then slowly let it go. This allows you to create a long exposure that will capture the fireworks as it explodes.[16]
- Use a remote shutter release to do "bulb mode" as this will prevent you from touching the camera and causing it to shift or move, which can ruin the photograph.
- You may want to use a wider aperture setting in bulb mode—start somewhere around f11-f9.[17]
- Shoot in RAW mode, rather than JPEG mode, if you are using a digital camera. RAW mode will make it easier for you to edit RAW images later to remove shadows or blurry area in the images.[18]
- If all you have is a handheld camera, like a smartphone, you may get better results by taking videos instead of still shots.[19]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - A digital or film camera with a manual mode
- A tripod
- A remote shutter release
- A flashlight
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário