A Celebration of Light and Color: How to Photograph Fireworks

by Kerry Drager , author of Golden Dream: California from Gold Rush to Statehood , Scenic Photography 101

Displays of fireworks are such striking events - and it's no surprise that they've captured the attention of so many photographers. Regardless of where the fireworks light up the sky, these awesome displays always place high on the "Wow!" scale. White and Red ฉ Jim Miotke All Rights Reserved Tips, Tricks, and Techniques But recording fireworks pictures involves planning and preparation, as well as some special shooting techniques. Not sure how to proceed? Fortunately, the subject has come up often at BetterPhoto.com. Here are some quick tips from BP shooters: Use a tripod and cable release. Arrive early in order to pick a good vantage point - one without obstructions (unless you plan to use a distinctive form as a foreground silhouette ... i.e., person, statue, etc.). Turn off the auto-flash - it won't help for distant subjects. Set focus to infinity (via Manual mode). Wide-angle or "normal" focal lengths are usually recommended for fireworks photography. It's impossible to predict things perfectly ... so plan to shoot a lot of images. Check out some of the resources listed below, and you'll learn the "secret" of the hat trick and the black card! Lastly, of course, it's a matter of being there - for example, on the Fourth of July in the United States (which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776), or earlier in Canada (July 1, which marks the day the Canadian government was created in 1867).

12:33 - 2007-Sep-18