Photography Tips and Tricks

The 4^th of July is coming up and you are probably going to grab your camera to photograph all of the action. Here are some great tips for getting the best pictures of fireworks possible.

Settings and Lenses

Settings are important when photographing bright bursts of light in a dark setting. If you have an SLR you will want a low aperture between f/8 and f/16. With digital cameras, set your camera to ISO mode. A setting of 200 ISO is ideal.

Focus is tricky in the dark, so use manual focus set to infinity or use landscape mode on a digital camera. A wide angle lens can also be your best friend when shooting fireworks.

Tripod and Cable Release

The biggest tip when it comes to photographing fireworks is using a tripod. A tripod helps you avoid camera shake when your camera is set to low light ISO settings.

Another way to lessen camera shake is to use a cable shutter release. These are a shutter button on a long cable so that you can take a photo without touching the camera.

Position

Position your tripod where you will be able to shoot the most action. It is best to be at least a quarter of a mile away from big city and public firework displays so that you can capture the large mortar bursts. This position also helps you get away from artificial light sources that can ruin an otherwise good photo.

Be aware of which direction the wind is blowing. Firework bursts will get caught in the wind and will move away from their origin. If you position yourself facing the wind, you will have the fireworks coming toward you, giving you more time for a great picture.

Take as many photos as you can to insure that you have at least a few great shots using these tips.

Ah, summertime. Time to pack up the family and head out on another vacation. This vacation, come home with pictures you can be proud of. These tips will help.

Be Prepared

Part of getting those great pictures is being prepared. Make sure to have your camera with you at all times. Keep it turned on with the LCD monitor turned off. This is the best way to be ready for shots and save batteries at the same time. It takes much more battery power to turn a camera on and off than to leave it on with the LCD screen turned off.

Keep an eye out for unusual shots. Interesting buildings, strange characters, and lively shops all have the potential to make a memorable vacation shot.

Keep a notebook handy so that you can write down a little info about each picture. An amazing picture of a historical building is only half as good if you don’t know which historical building it is. A simple note like, “White building, red shutters- The Hospitality House of 1912,” is enough to jog your memory.

Repetition

Another key to great vacation photos is repetition. It’s all about playing the numbers. Take as many shots as possible of the same subject. The more shots you take, the more likely you are to get a great shot. You can always delete the bad shots later!

Tripod

Keep a small tripod with you at all times. The tripod will come in handy when you want to be in the picture and there is no one else to take the picture. It will also be needed for any night shots, fireworks during the 4^th of July, and any other shot that takes a slow shutter speed.

Use these tips and you will want to show off your vacation photos to all your friends and family!