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It's actually easier to get great shots of fireworks displays than you might think. The trick to getting good shots though is to a/ keep the camera steady and b/ to keep the shutter open for many seconds.

Kit needed:

• Camera with manual controls or Camera with Fireworks Scene Mode
• Tripod
• Cable Release or Remote Release that allows immediate firing (or use the self timer)

Technique to capture a SINGLE BURST with a camera that has Manual Controls

• Put the camera on the tripod.
• Go to MANUAL mode.
• Set the ISO to the lowest number (don't use Auto ISO).
• Point the camera towards a bright light in the distance (such as a floodlit building) to focus the lens. As soon as you get a focus then immediately switch the lens into MANUAL FOCUS.
• Now point the camera in the general direction of the fireworks (you might wait to see the first couple of bursts to get an idea).
• How much you zoom in depends on how far away the fireworks are. Wide angle might be best to start with.
• Tighten every nut on the tripod to make sure it is steady, also spread the tripod legs as wide as possible to give your camera a stable platform.
• Choose a Shutter Speed of 4 seconds and an aperture of f8.
• Using the cable release fire the camera just as you hear the boom of the firework.
• If your shot is too bright set a larger f number (f11 or f16). If it's too dark then choose a smaller f number (f5.6, f4).
• If you keep missing the burst then set a longer shutter speed.

Technique to capture MULTIPLE BURSTS with a camera that has Manual Controls

• As above except for:
• Choose a Shutter Speed of 20 or 30 seconds and an aperture of f8 (assuming there are multiple bursts within the 20 seconds).
• If your shot is too bright set a larger f number (f11 or f16). If it's too dark then choose a smaller f number (f5.6, f4).
• If you keep missing the multiple bursts then go to BULB (this really only works with a Cable Release) and as long as you keep the button pressed the shutter stays open. With this technique it is possible to keep the shutter open for many minutes. With fireworks it is rarely necessary to go much longer than 30 seconds, unless the bursts are far apart in time.

Technique to capture a SINGLE BURST with a camera that has FIREWORKS SCENE MODE

• Put the camera on a tripod.
• Set the ISO to the lowest number (don't use Auto ISO).
• Make sure the FLASH IS OFF
• Set the camera to the FIREWORKS MODE.
• Now point the camera in the general direction of the fireworks (you might wait to see the first couple of bursts to get an idea of where they are).
• How much you zoom in depends on how far away the fireworks are. Wide angle might be best to start with.
• Tighten every nut on the tripod to make sure it is steady, also spread the tripod legs as wide as possible to give your camera a stable platform.
• Using the self timer or a remote release (if your camera can use one) to fire the camera.
• If using the self timer you will have to shoot a little ahead of the fireworks burst (2 seconds or 10 seconds, depending on the self timer time that's been set). This is going to be hit and miss due to the time delay, but keep trying.

Enjoy!