How to Shoot Awesome 4th of July Fireworks Photos

4th of July Fireworks | Vista, CA

5 Tips for Capturing Stunning Fireworks Photos

As you gear up for a long weekend of fun with family and friends, here are a few things to keep in mind if you plan on pulling out your camera to capture the 4th of July festivities:

1. Location, location, location – Be aware of your composition and consider including an interesting background such as a city skyline, interesting architecture, or reflections
2. Use the right gear – A tripod and cable release are essential for capturing sharp long exposure photos.
3. Pre-focus – Focus on the interesting elements in your photo BEFORE the fireworks start, and then switch your camera to manual focus. This will keep your camera from “hunting” for focus before every frame.
4. Use “bulb” mode and set your aperture to f/9 – Bulb mode holds your shutter open for as long as you press the shutter button on your camera/cable release. Hold your shutter open long enough to capture the movement as the fireworks fall toward the ground.
5. Have fun and experiment with your settings.

When the sky starts to fill with smoke, take a break from photographing and just sit back and enjoy the moment, but keep your cable release handy. When the finale starts, you’ll probably want to capture a few more frames!