While I was visiting family in Kansas we took in the city fireworks display on the Fourth of July. I really like to shoot fireworks photos every year and have long been using the techniques I talked about a few weeks ago. Refresh your memory and read the Photographing Fireworks the Right Way article.

We arrived at the show just as it was starting so I had to rush to get the camera on the tripod and find a decent vantage point. In most every shot is a yellow sign and lamp post (which I’ve cropped out of these images). I usually take a bit more time to get set up and such, but this was going to be a short show. I wanted to maximize my photo possibilities.

All of my exposures were between 4 and 10 seconds. I used ISO 200, manual focus and manual exposure (of course!), and F11 or F13. Since my D70 can do exposures down to 30 seconds I didn’t use a cable release either. Just hit the button and waited for the explosions.

I know, I hear you screaming right now. I touched the camera for long exposures. YES! Each shutter button push happened BEFORE the fireworks went off. All the vibrations had settled by the time the bursts were being recorded. In this situation it’s a perfectly acceptable way to do things. If there were buildings or other stationary objects in the shot I never would have done it this way.

If you missed photographing fireworks this year I hope that you’ll be out there next year with your tripod and camera. It’s a blast!! (pun intended)