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Arts & Entertainment

How to Take Great Photos of Fireworks

A Bryn Mawr photographer offers tips on how to shoot the perfect picture for firework displays.

To celebrate America's independence every Fourth of July weekend, there are , , concerts and, of course, firework displays.

But capturing a perfect photo of those fireworks can prove tricky. Todd Zimmermann, a professional photographer based in Bryn Mawr, has some tips to point fireworks spectators in the right direction.

Zimmermann recommends SLR cameras for higher quality firework photos because they offer the most control over the camera options, leading to the best possible firework shots.

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For the casual photographer, however, Zimmermann said point-and-shoot cameras can still produce great pictures of fireworks.

Regardless of what camera you use, make sure that the camera is in manual mode. Check the camera’s sensitivity setting (ISO) and set it between 100 and 200.

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“Even though it's dark out, fireworks are very bright and you don't need to use a higher ISO” Zimmermann said.

Turning off auto-focus is also a great help for shooting fireworks. If you leave it on, the camera will spend too much time focusing, causing you to miss your shot. Just focus the camera near a point where the fireworks will go off, Zimmermann suggested.

Timing is very important for firework photography, he added. Being too early or too late can make you miss the shot entirely. Try shooting about four seconds before the actual firework explodes in the sky.

And don’t be discouraged if your first several tries aren't stellar—when you're at a firework show, you have plenty of chances to catch a great shot, Zimmermann said. He recommends experimenting to get the perfect photo.

“Keep taking pictures and looking at your screen so you can see what's working and what's not,” Zimmermann said.

Just be sure to keep trying—and enjoy the show.

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