I want to take pictures of fireworks! Impressive before and after
The fireworks festival in Kobe has been held for multiple days since Corona. From the pre-Corona "Minato Kobe Maritime Fireworks Festival", it has now been renamed "Minato HANABI 5 Days to Color Kobe".
This year's event was held for 5 days from October 20th (Monday) ~ 24th (Friday).
Since the launch was held for 5 days × 15 minutes at a time, the crowd of spectators was not so much, and it felt moderate.
Festival! Yukata! Rather than feeling enthusiastic, I feel that the way fireworks are naturally integrated into daily life is typical of Kobe.
In fact, the transition to a multi-day fireworks display is also a happy event for photography enthusiasts. This is because the number of fireworks photography challenges increases.
I tried to shoot fireworks in my own way...
Although I can't say "photography is my hobby!", because of my job as a writer, I always have a single-lens reflex camera.
Based on the method that came up after searching for "fireworks shooting settings" on the Internet several times, I have taken pictures of the 5-minute "Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks" that occurs about twice a month in my own way.
It's true that I was able to take a picture, but I ...... something now. Come to think of it, I have heard the saying "self-style causes accidents".
At that time, I found a fireworks photography course for beginners on the Kobe Tourism Bureau's one-day tour "Kobe no Tobira". I applied right away.
The tour navigator (instructor) is Tomoka Kimura. He is a professional photographer living in Kobe who specializes in night view photography.
ツアー内容はClick hereから（企画は終了しています）。
Now, will participating in the tour improve my fireworks photography skills......?
The tour starts, starting with classroom lectures
Before the tour report, we will introduce the items necessary for fireworks photography.
Camera……この記事は基本的に、一眼レフorミラーレス一眼カメラの使用を想定しています。F値・シャッタースピード・ISO感度の調節ができれば、スマートフォンでも構いません。
Tripod……花火撮影ではシャッタースピード（カメラが光を取り込む時間）が長くなるので、手持ちではブレてしまいます。そのため、三脚でカメラを固定することが不可欠。
Release……遠隔でシャッターを押すリモコンのこと。カメラのシャッターを直接手で押すと、その振動で写真がブレてしまうためです。
The fireworks photography tour took place on October 23rd, the fourth day of Fireworks Week.
Instead of suddenly gathering at the shooting location, we first conducted a classroom lecture indoors. Instructor Kimura will teach you how to set up a camera suitable for fireworks photography and what to be careful of.
For those who read this article, with Mr. Kimura's permission, I would like to tell you the camera settings...
●撮影モード……マニュアル（Ｍ）
●Ｆ値（絞り）……11～18
●シャッタースピード……3～6秒
●ISO感度……100
●ピント合わせ……マニュアルフォーカス（MF）
● Image stabilization mode...... OFF
In addition, it is assumed that you will edit with Lightroom or other software after shooting, so I will shoot a little darker.
Participants were presented with a video of the classroom lecture. I can review it perfectly, and the follow-up system is outstanding.
Let's go! To Poai Shiosai Park
Once you have an image of the shooting in the classroom, it's time to move on to the shooting location.
花火の撮影ポイントとしてメジャーなのは、メリケンパーク、新港第1突堤（みなと温泉蓮のあたり）ですが、ポートアイランド北西の"Poai Shiosai Park"も、写真好きの間では人気スポットです。
Although it is a little far from the fireworks, it is possible to capture "fireworks and the city of Kobe" with a wide angle of view.
The launch starts at 6:30 p.m., but when you go to the site at 5 p.m., there are many photo enthusiasts who are already on standby!
While it is bright, decide on the angle of view and set the camera. A total of three people, Mr. Kimura and two staff members, go around the participants and check each one one by one.
Here, Mr. Kimura was curious about my tripod. I bought a compact one that prioritized portability, so my tripod has thin legs.
There was a little wind on this day, and if my legs were thin, there was a risk that the tripod would shake and the photos would be blurry, so I used a sturdy tripod that Mr. Kimura had brought with me as a spare.
Now that I have set and focused, I can't move the camera anymore. And the sun is getting darker.
It's almost time to launch.
One of the results of the course and the impression
The announcement of the countdown at Meriken Park can be heard quietly in the sea breeze. The launch has finally begun.
At first, the interval between fireworks launches is sparse, so timing is difficult.
A little troublesome thing is that it takes a long time for the camera to read the photos I take. If the shutter speed is 5 seconds, it will take another 5 seconds before you are ready to shoot the next one.
By that time, one of the fireworks was often over, and I felt itchy. Apparently it is due to the performance of the SD card, and I think it's because I always buy the cheapest SD card in the store...... I reflected.
If it was a "weekend fireworks" for only 5 minutes, the fireworks would end in the meantime, but on this day, there were 15 minutes, so I had plenty of room in my heart.
And finally, the finale. The launch interval is shortened, so the shutter speed is shortened.
And finally, ......!
How about this one of my whole body?
Compare before and after. I can't make a simple comparison because the shooting locations and the scale of the fireworks are different, but don't you think it's a pretty good feeling?
I think it was because of Mr. Kimura's lecture, as well as the neighbors who participated in the tour, "This is okay, right?" that I was able to take the best one.
The next day, review at Meriken Park
The good thing about multi-day fireworks is that you can go to take pictures again tomorrow.
While I didn't forget the feeling of the tour, I went to take pictures the next day as a review. On this day, we went to Meriken Park, where we could see the fireworks closest.
There is no area where the use of tripods is prohibited for this fireworks display, but I will set it lower than usual so as not to disturb the general public, and I will sit down to watch.
Here is what I was able to take while enjoying the BGM production, which was difficult to hear at Poai Shiosai Park!
Wow. Of course, from the point of view of a good person, it is still a long way off, but I am quite satisfied with it.
After all, once you are taught, it is quite different. I'm glad I took the tour!
There are only two more fireworks in 2025
The five-day fireworks display × 15 minutes is over, but there are two more five-minute "Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks" by the end of the year. In 2026, January will be closed and February will be held twice.
・11月15日（土）18：00 打ち上げ
・12月6日（土）18：00 打ち上げ
（1月はお休み）
・2月14日（土）18:30 打ち上げ
・Feb 21 (Sat) 18:30 Launch
Both locations are off Meriken Park. The launch time is different between December and February, so please don't make a mistake.
If you have a camera, why not refer to the settings published in this article and try your hand at shooting fireworks?
INFORMATIONInformation
| Night with Kobe Minato (weekend fireworks, 5-day fireworks, and other night event sites at Kobe Port) | |
|---|---|
| Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks Instagram | |
| Minato HANABI – 5 days to color Kobe – between |
[About fireworks viewing and photography at Poai Shiosai Park]
ポーアイしおさい公園にお越しの際は、近隣の有料駐車場、または公共交通機関（ポートライナー）をご利用ください。
Please do not do anything that may cause inconvenience to the neighbors
[Writer Profile]
合楽 仁美（ごうらく ひとみ）
神戸出身＆在住のライター。経済メディアNewsPicksなどで活動。
2025年3月まで神戸市公式noteのライターを務めた。
お酒は弱いが酒場の雰囲気が好きで、数年前からバー巡りに凝っている。
My dream is to live in a house with a veranda and a view of the sea.