Now that you know what images to snap at your Fourth of July parades, picnics and parties let’s turn our attention to the main event of any Independence Day celebration—-the fireworks displays.
Here are some tips to keep in mind before the sparks start flying on the Fourth:
Snapping Sparklers
Last year I tried unsuccessfully to capture my 3-year-old using her sparklers to draw pictures in the night sky. However, during a Chinese New Year celebration a few months ago, I learned a trick from a photo expert. First, to best capture sparkler sky writing you should place your camera on a tripod in a dark area outside. Switch your camera to the “MANUAL” mode and have someone light a sparkler a few feet away from your tripod. Once you set up the shot have the person write their name in the air using the sparkler as a pen. Take a few practice shots and make any necessary adjustments (like setting a longer shutter speed), then shoot until you get a frameworthy shot.
Fantastic Fireworks
If you truly want to snap keepers of this year’s fireworks display you shouldn’t even think of shooting without a tripod and a flashlight. The tripod will help you avoid blurry photos and the flashlight will help you make adjustments to your camera in the dark.
My camera (and just about every moderately priced digital camera) has a FIREWORKS mode, which will automatically adjust your camera to the proper settings. If you don’t have a FIREWORKS mode, set your camera to Manual mode: ISO 200, aperture f/8, and shutter speed between 5 and 15 seconds. Take a few test shots and adjust the shutter speed accordingly.
Another tip: Shoot, shoot, shoot. Of the dozens of pictures you take, you’ll likely walk away with only a handful that are worth printing. The more shots you take the greater your chance of capturing a frameworthy photo. I would also recommend including a landmark in some of your photos, such as a flag, statue, park pavilion, ship, or a lake. As the fireworks explode, they will cast an attractive glow on the landmark and give you a point of reference in each shot.
During the fireworks finale–when the explosions come fast and furious–you may need to decrease your shutter speed. Try switching from 15 seconds (which will likely be overexposed) to 5 seconds to ensure that you get sharp shots of the colorful night sky.
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