Whether it’s New Year’s Eve or national celebrations, a night of fireworks in Narva is unlike almost anything else in Europe, due to the city’s very special location.
Narva is a small city in Estonia sitting on the European Union’s eastern border with Russia. I went there because I needed to travel as far east as I could in the European Union for my project Europe Rising, but I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me in Narva.
A quick note on Narva’s extraordinary situation
Narva sits 210 kilometres east of Tallinn, at the very end of the country, with Russia literally across the river. On the Estonian bank stands Hermann Castle, while directly opposite, on the Russian bank, looms the Ivangorod Fortress, built in 1492 as a direct response to the castle across the water.
The two fortresses have stared each other down for centuries. When fireworks in Narva burst above the river, be it New Year’s Eve, Victory Day, or any other occasion, the light creates a spectacle that is also heavy on history.
Fireworks in Narva for Europe Day
May 9 carries a peculiar double meaning in Narva. Across the river in Ivangorod, Russia marks Victory Day with concerts, military pageantry, and fireworks. On the Estonian side, the same date marks Europe Day (which in Tallinn is often celebrated at Freedom Square).
That day I was strolling along the river, testing various compositions, and I was just about to pack up. Then the magic started. The sky lit up above these two medieval fortresses, reflected in the water between them. A celebratory show that reminded me of New Year’s Eve, except that it was the middle of spring.
It took me by surprise, but this is one of those situations when it’s really useful to know your camera well and be able to find the right settings for any light conditions. Still, I was lucky. Not every day one gets to see exploding colors above east and west, side by side.
Photography tips for shooting fireworks
Post-processing is very popular nowadays when it comes to firework photography, but you should still know the basic camera settings. Let the next New Year’s Eve fireworks catch you well prepared!
Non-negotiables in a nutshell: use a tripod, keep the ISO low, consider the aperture somewhere between f/8 and f/11 and a shutter speed somewhere between 2 and 6 seconds.
Long exposure is essential for registering the surroundings, although one thing most people don’t realise is that keeping the shutter open longer won’t make the fireworks look brighter, it will only lengthen the streaks.
Also, fireworks alone against a black sky can look a little flat. It’s good to include some foreground interest, in this case, Hermann Castle, the Ivangorod Fortress, and the river. Here’s another photo I love of New Year’s Eve fireworks in Prague for more inspiration.
