Follow these 4 tips to make your fireworks photography more successful:
Tip 1: Show up early for the fireworks event to get a good spot to photograph the fireworks.
Make sure the location you pick has a clear line of site. Check to see if the spot you have picked would be obstructed when people arriving late to view the fireworks might stand in front of your view. One idea – you might setup your equipment behind your blanket to help
keep the view clear. Also, check other background features that might be in your photo. Check your spot for street lights or other lights that will be on during the fireworks and will be in your photo. Remember that street lights might be seen in your photo as overexposed glares. This might make you want to change to another spot, or just plan some post photo taking processing like in Photoshop to remove the glares. So if possible check you spot both during the day but also at night for extra lights. However, setting up in the daylight is easier than in the dark, so on the day of the fireworks, come early and set up. Things like leveling the camera, setting manual focus and getting the proper framing is difficult against a dark sky, so come during the 
day and set up your camera. Get all of these tasks out of the way before night has come and you are in the dark. Bring a flashlight just in case you need to do some last moment setting changes then you will have some light to see how to make the changes!
Tip 2: Use a Tripod. Make sure you pack a tripod for taking photographs of fireworks is a must. Ok this one is not a surprise, but just common photography sense – if your camera is not motionless during the long exposures necessary for fireworks photography, the smooth paths of light the fireworks create will appear jagged. So when you first arrive, mount your camera on a tripod and carefully level it.
Tip 3: Use a Digital SLR Camera with a good lens, and adjust the settings. For best results use a digital SLR Camera with probably a wide-angle lens, but the lens might depends on how close you are to the show.
Here are some basic guidelines but you will want to experiment to find out what works best with your camera and the spot you have chosen.
If you’re close to the fireworks display start off with a “normal” or wide-angle lens. Your position relative to the fireworks rocket bursts will determine the exact focal length. Some extra ideas on taking the shot – frame your 
image so that it includes a part of the foreground in the bottom and if possible some “head-room” above the firework trails. You might need a wide-angle setting for this. If, on the other hand, you are further away from this display you may need to use a longer focal length. You might have to make some adjustments with lens and settings as you see the actual fireworks display – grab your flashlight and make the adjustments!
Also, when taking pictures of fireworks you will need to set your camera for a long exposure time. With an SLR (single lens reflex) camera this is usually easy. If 
you’re using a manual mode on your camera, select a long exposure time by setting the shutter for 1 second. With auto exposure mode you may be able to select an even longer exposure such as 2 or 4 seconds. A good place to start is with a 4 second exposure at f8 with the camera set to ISO 100. The shutter has to stay open long enough to record the trails of each burst. You can also try exposures of 2 second and 8 seconds if you want less or more bursts captured. The brightness of the trails depends on the aperture and ISO setting, not on the length of the exposure. For very bright firework bursts, set from f/8 to f/11 which might give better results. With such long shutter speeds the use of a tripod is essential.
You might think that because the sky is so dark you need a wide aperture. Just the opposite is true – your image is not to record the dark sky except as 
background. You want to record the intensely bright streaks of colors in the fireworks as they burst across the sky. So if you use a wide open aperture during your time-exposure, you would probably overexpose the colors, resulting in lost of color. To intensify the color in the fireworks, use a smaller aperture like f/8, or f/11, or even f/16. Which you should use depends on your digital camera’s ISO setting, and the intensity of the color bursts.
Tip 4: When to Shoot the fireworks.
Here is the problem with photographing fireworks- you don’t know ahead of time how bright each burst will be, when it’s coming, or exactly where it will be in the sky! So when shooting fireworks, there is an element of luck in capturing the image.
If you wait until you see the fireworks burst into color, it will be over by the time you take the photo. So the key to photographing fireworks is to anticipate when the fireworks will be just right for the photo. Sometimes you can see the rocket trail going up and that can give you a clue when to open the shutter. Ideally you want to open the shutter just before the major display occurs. Open the shutter while the firework is on it’s way up, not when it explodes. Shoot lots of images. Some images will turn out! Others will not turn out. The more you shoot, the more chances you will have for good firework shots! With digital cameras taking lots of shots and throwing away photos you don’t like is not a problem!
Try some of these tips this year as you go to see fireworks!
Ps. don’t forget to scrap your 4th of July events including the fireworks displays you capture on your camera this year!
Have a very fun 4th of July, get lots of great photos and have a wonderful time scrapping them!
Till next time, happy scrapping!
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Get 4th of July Digital Scrapbooking Supplies
Try the Freedom Digital Scrapbooking Kit! Filled with patriotic red, white, and blue papers, you can scrap all of your 4th of July fun! Whether you see a fireworks show, or enjoy some yummy BBQ at a cookout, enjoy your freedom and scrap all the wonderful holiday’s activities.
BONUS: When you buy the Freedom Digital Scrapbooking Kit, you get an ENTIRE Overlay Kit for FREE! Use these FREE coordinating border Overlays to add some extra holiday personalization!
If you’re not sure how to use Overlays, not to worry, we have training! Overlays are essentially Transparencies that have texture, designs, or patterns that can enhance your Digital Scrapbooking Papers and Pages. Add them to Digital Scrapbooking Papers to add a pattern, enhance texture, or create a 3-D design. You also have the ability to color or apply special techniques to Overlays to enhance your projects and even apply different looks!
Check out these 4th of July Quick Pages too!
The Red White and Blue Quick Page Kit 1 12×12 is a full-featured kit to celebrate the 4th of July or other patriotic events! Or use this kit when every you need Red, White and Blue pre-designed scrap pages!
This Quick Page kit is filled with patriotic red, white, and blue backgrounds, you can scrap all of your 4th of July fun or other patriotic events! Whether you see a fireworks show, or enjoy some yummy BBQ at a cookout, enjoy your freedom and scrap all the wonderful holiday’s festivities quickly with these Quick Pages!
Besides using the Red, White and Blue Quick Page Kit for the 4th of July, it is also a great kit to use for scrapping Memorial Day, war heroes, patriotic themes, or even for just for red, white, and blue-colored projects!
The Red White and Blue Quick Page Kit 2 11×8.5″ is full of fun colors to celebrate the 4th of July or other patriotic events! Or use this kit when every you need Red, White and Blue pre-designed scrap pages! This kit also is formatted at the US Paper size (11×8.5″ inches) which makes it great for printing projects at home- right off your home printer! Make calendars, cards, or other digi gifts using this red, white and blue-inspired kit!
This Quick Page kit is filled with patriotic red, white, and blue backgrounds so you can scrap all of your 4th of July fun, or other patriotic events! Besides using the Red, White and Blue Quick Page Kit for the 4th of July, it is also a great kit to use for scrapping Memorial Day, war heroes, patriotic themes, or even for just for red, white, and blue-colored projects! Also use this kit for birthdays, when you need star scrap pages or even for other summer events!
T
he Red White and Blue Quick Page Kit 3 8.5×11″ is full of fun colors to celebrate summer, or the 4th of July, a cookout, or other patriotic events! Or use this kit when every you need Red, White and Blue pre-designed scrap pages! This kit also is formatted at the US Paper size (8.5×11″ inches) which makes it great for printing projects at home- right off your home printer! The Quick Page Kit comes with 6 Quick Pages that are great for recipe books or albums, and more!
This kit can be used for all kinds of patriotic holidays, events, or moments. Use this kit for summer cookouts, picnics, the backyard BBQ, days at the park, sport events, family reunions, summer camp fun, and so much more!
Digital Quick Pages are perfect for sliding digital photos underneath the pre-made layouts. It only makes sense to choose a Quick Page kit that lets you spend most of your time playing and only a few seconds scrapping all the fun!
Blue Ice Polka Dot Scrapbooking Kit is sprinkled with beautiful, blue polka dots! Decorate your favorite moments like 4th of July events, fireworks and more! This kit is filled full of digital papers, frames, tags, and embellishments all perfect for any time you need a blue themed kit!
Celebrate the 4th of July, Fireworks, Cookouts and use this kit when you need blue themed digital scrapbooking supplies!
Try 4th of July Overlays!
If you want to see other great overlays – like the 4th of July ones we have in our Scrap Shop please check into the Overlay Section!
For example buy the July 4th Digital Overlay Kit , which is a festive collection of 4th of July-inspired Overlays! This is the perfect kit for adding additional holiday design and personalization to Digital Scrapbooking Pages! Overlays are perfect for customizing Digital Papers! Add adorable detail to your 4th of July Digital Scrapbooking Pages and Projects. Use the July 4th Overlays as digital embellishments, or to create interesting digital paper borders.
Try Overlay Training for Photoshop or Overlay Training for Photoshop Elements
“Introduction to Overlay Basics in Photoshop Elements” teaches about 3 common Overlay types and how to use them. Make your Digital Scrapbooking Pages and Project have character and personality by using Overlays!
By adding an Overlay to a solid (or patterned) Digital Paper, you can create a different type of effect, one that makes flat papers look real; adding an artistic flare to what would otherwise be a standard-looking page.
Understanding how to use Overlays and incorporating them into Digital Scrapbooking Projects is the next-step for Intermediate Digital Scrapbookers. After graduating from the Digital Scrapbooks and More Getting Started Series (Digital Scrapbooking Training for Beginners), this is the next, best place to start!
Overlays are essentially Transparencies that have texture, designs, or patterns that can enhance your Digital Scrapbooking Papers and Pages. Add them to Digital Scrapbooking Papers to add a pattern, enhance texture, or create a 3-D design. You also have the ability to color or apply special techniques to Overlays to enhance your projects and even apply different looks!
This Lesson Set, Introduction to Overlay Basics in Photoshop Elements contains 3 downloadable videos tutorials, 3 Cheat Sheets for a quick re-cap of the lesson’s steps, and also includes 4 FREE Overlays as an added BONUS! Plus as an EXTRA BONUS this set also includes 2 FREE Digital Scrapbooking 
Supplies Too!
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Try Overlay Training for Photoshop too!
