Point & Shoot

4th of July
Photograph by Tom Atwood

Photographing fireworks involves luck and planning. Since I am not a very good planner, it's mostly luck for me. The only planning is really in the camera settings (below):

Shutter: 30 seconds; Aperture: f/20; ISO: 160; Focal Length: 18 mm

Ten Seconds

Ten Seconds
Photograph by Tom Atwood

Here's the secret(s) to photographing fireworks: 1) use a tripod 2) use a high aperture, at least f/14, preferably f/18 3) try exposures of between 8 and 25 seconds and 4) make sure you have something interesting, like an arch, below the fireworks. No charge. These tips are on the house. Details for this photo, taken on the 4th of July in East St. Louis:

Shutter: 10 secs; Aperture: f/14; Focal Length: 18 mm; ISO: 100