Looking to capture great fireworks photos this Fourth of July? With a little planning and technical know-how, you’ll be able to photograph fireworks in all their stunning beauty and vibrant colors.

Quick Tips for great fireworks photography…

• Scout locations in advance. The big difference between good fireworks photos and great ones is planning. The most important factor in great fireworks photos is selecting a suitable location. Once you have a general idea of where the fireworks display will be held, scout for locations (during the day) which provide an adequate backdrop for your images. Shoot test images during the day at your designated location to ensure proper lens choice, framing, foreground and background elements.
• Use a tripod. Enough said.
• Manual focus. Expecting consistent results from your camera’s autofocus system in trying to record bursting fireworks against the night sky is really pushing your luck. If in doubt, manual focus on infinity.
• Manual exposure. Depending on the camera make and model, you may want to experiment between auto and manual exposure. The safe money is using manual exposure…f/8 for 1-5 seconds.

Listed below are several excellent articles on the topic of fireworks photography I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

• Get Better Fireworks Photos This Fourth of July – Lifehacker
• How to Photograph Fireworks – New York Institute of Photography
• 11 Tips for Sparkling Fireworks Photos – Photojojo
• Shooting Fireworks: Capture the Spectacle – Tips from Smithsonian Photographers
• How to Photograph Fireworks Displays – Digital Photography School
• Top 5 Tips for Shooting Fireworks – photobird Learning Center
• 10 Fireworks Photography Tips – photofocus