The sites, sounds, and smells of a fireworks display is always a joy to behold. With the 4th just a few days away, here are a few tips to help you bring back better images.
First, get a tripod. Ok, I know that not everyone wants to lug on around, but a stable platform is essential. If you don't have a tripod or your point-and-shoot can't be attached to one, try to find a way to brace the camera on a towel, stroller, or whatever is handy. A steady camera will mean the difference between beautiful trails of light and a glowing plate of spaghetti.
Most point-and-shoots have a preset shooting mode for fireworks. On the Canon G9 for example, select the "SCN" mode and turn the thumbwheel to "Fireworks". Some of the things that you may notice is that the shutter speed will get longer, probably around 2 seconds or more (thus the reason for a tripod) and the white balance will change.
If you have a DSLR or are comfortable with manually setting your camera, you can have more control. It image above was set at f/10.0 for 6 seconds, at ISO 200 - long enough to capture the rising trail and the explosion. A certain amount of experimentation is in order, both for individual conditions and taste. (Shorter than 2 seconds and they may not look much like fireworks.)
I hope that you all have good weather and enjoy the show this year!
-DG
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