CATCHING FIREWORKS!

Learn the secret to capturing that spectacular fireworks display:

~SPEED AND SUPPORT~
To shoot fireworks, you need to use
*a slow shutter speed.
*a camera support to capture a steady and clear picture.

The best way to stabilise your camera is with a tripod. If you don't have one, you can always try to brace yourself against a tree or a buildng, or place your camera on top of a wall. With a DSLR, you also have the option of a shutter release cable or the self timer feature. This will allow you to activate the shutter without causing camera shake.

~DON'T FLASH!~
Don't even think of trying to use flash!
It won't help capture distant fireworks (though it will help illuminate objects or people in the foreground; for example, if you want to take portraits with fireworks in the background).

~MANUAL SETTINGS~
Shooting fireworks is a specialised situation where you should boldly venture into the world of manual settings. Make sure that your exposure and lens focus are both set to manual. Turn the focus ring untill you're set at infinity focus.

Most Canon lenses have a distance scale printed on them for this purpose; the infinity symbol is a figure that looks like the number eight turned sideways.

~EXPOSURES~
Experiment with long shutter speeds - anywhere between one and 16 seconds can work [roughli ISO 100], depending upon the amount of ambient light and how many fireworks are in the sky.

These relatively long exposures will allow the burst from the fireworks to produce moving streaks, which can be stunning against a dark sky. There's no one "right" shutter speed. Try different speeds to get a feel for the sort of results you're looking for.

Dial in a low f/stop, somewhere between f/8 and f/16. This will help prevent overexposing the scene during the long exposure and avoid light "blooms" coming from the explosions in the sky.