Are Your Fireworks Photos Duds?

Did you ever wonder why your fireworks shots don't look like those picture postcards? I ran into an industry acquaintance at Nikon and asked him how normal people like me could get a reasonable photo. You can read what he says about getting great fireworks shots on Nikon's website. The quick idea is to be maniacal about claiming the best shooting location early—way before the first boom happens. Lindsay Silverman also suggests looking for things to give your pictures some perspective: buildings, trees, or in my case, the Statue of Liberty.

He's a fan of using an electronic cable release; that way you won't have to touch the camera to get your shot. Sometimes you'll want image stabilization turned on, sometimes off. Sometimes you'll want a wide angle, sometimes a telephoto. But you'll definitely want your tripod.

Other tips for getting the biggest bang out of your photos? The New York Institute of Photography encourages bringing a flashlight since you'll be working in the dark. And they include a nice ISO/aperture chart to master those exposure settings.

Once you've got the photos at home and are ready to edit, read the tail end of Photozo's helpful article with tips on editing and printing.

And whatever you do, don't forget the extra batteries and memory cards! Can't wait to see what you get.