Fireworks Photos - Lorraine D. Hebler

Wouldn’t you love to capture photos of those amazing fireworks illuminating the night sky? Learn from these easy step-by-step instructions for how to get great Fireworks photos as we Celebrate the 4th of July!

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Patriotic quotes and fireworks

Celebrating this 4th of July with a couple of quotes and an amazing fireworks display from our local high school. The loud booms and magnificent colors exploding overhead have always excited me usually sending chills down my spine. Add the bellowing of patriotic music with waving flags, and every love-of-my-home-land emotion to come pouring forth.

Trying to capture some of the excitement, I have taken many so-so photos through the years of the gorgeous bursts of color. None were memorable and always left me disappointed by the quality and wondering how to improve. This year, I played with my camera setting and was thrilled that shot after shot produced some pretty amazing photos.

God bless America,

Land that I love,

Stand beside her and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans white with foam,

God bless America,

My home, sweet home.

God bless America, My home, Sweet home

In a letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third President in a row who died on the holiday. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only U.S. President to have been born on Independence Day. source

Camera Settings for Great Fireworks Photos

These were the best fireworks photos I have ever captured. I have always used Canon cameras and couldn’t be more pleased with them. You might not believe it but I take photos almost every day of my life. Lots of photos. My camera is like a comfortable appendage and I sometimes think I see life through the camera lens in my head. I wholeheartedly recommend a Canon camera. My current Canon EOS Rebel T5i Digital SLR camera is getting old and I have been contemplating an upgrade. But, because it still works so well, despite having bits of flour and smudges of other food and cooking ingredients from its constant use for food photography, I haven’t replaced it.

I try to be diligent to purge and organize only my best and favorites photos but even so, I have external hard drives to hold the vast number of files I haven’t deleted. It is a huge challenge and one that takes lots of time.

I was super thrilled to finally know how to capture exploding, focused and bright photos of fireworks. Here are the settings I used for my camera to get the shots in this post. Once I set the camera settings, I found a hill next to the bleachers, sat on a lawn chair and fired away.

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How to Capture Great Fireworks Photos

Using a DSLR camera

Set exposure to BULB
F-stop 11
White Balance Tungsten
Focus to almost infinity
Use a tripod and a wireless shutter release
Shoot between 15 seconds and 20 seconds (less time for the really bright/white fireworks)

I was pretty close to the fireworks but if you are further away from the display, look for ways to frame the shots. Bridges, bodies water or landscapes in the background can add great interest by framing the fireworks. Keep your creating eyes open for possibilities!

Wouldn't you love to capture photos of those amazing fireworks illuminating the night sky? Learn from these easy step-by-step instructions for how to get great Fireworks photos as we Celebrate the 4th of July!

(Updated July 4th, 2017) Taking photos of fireworks is kind of addicting and I shot these last night. Going to our daughters again tonight to watch them from her apartment balcony with a view of Philadelphia. Can’t wait to see what I get 🙂

Editing fireworks photos

There has been minimal editing to the fireworks photos in this post. Just some cropping really. But I do edit photos extensively and besides my trusty camera, I totally rely on PicMonkey for editing. No more Photoshop or other editing programs for me because PicMonkey is so easy and user friendly. I am amazed how well and how much can be done with its many editing and filter options.
Give it a try for FREE.
NOTE: If you are on a mobile device, you will need to download the PicMonkey App before you can start your trial.
Click on the photo below to learn more.

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More holiday celebrating ideas you might like…

Patriotic Paper Stars

Patriotic Peanut Butter Cookie Pizza

4th of July I SPY

Deviled Eggs

Old Fashioned Baked Beans

Macaroni Salad

Hazel’s Sweet and Sour Potato Salad

Apple Crumb Pie

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Comments

Debby Ray says
July 4, 2017 at 10:29 am
Amazing shots! Thank you for the tutorial. One of my cameras is a Canon bridge camera and I think there is a fireworks setting… I have never tried using it. Your photos are always magazine quality. Have a blessed Independence Day!
Kristina says
July 6, 2015 at 11:59 am
Beautiful photos!
Ann Thompson says
July 5, 2015 at 7:09 pm
These are awesome shots. I've never been too good at getting shots of fireworks.
Lea says
July 5, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Super photos and I do love PicMonkey but generally I just use my Nixxon point and shoot. It's a whole lot easier but certainly not the quality photos of a 35MM. Have a wonderful new week!
Sue says
July 5, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Absolutely stunning photos, thanks for the information about these great men! and for the link!
Have a blessed day,
Sue