How to Take Awesome Fireworks Photos on Your Phone

MY FELLOW AMERICANS:

Put your hands up. They’re playing your song. You know everything’s gonna be okay. So PARTY IN THE USA. *imagine Miley twerking GIF here*

The 4th of July is upon us, which means BBQs, beer, and (our favorite) FIREWORKS. Get ready to see those dark purple night skies turn into a plethora of sparkling red, white and blue spangled stars. Here in the land of the free and home of the brave, we sure know how to throw a patriotic party to celebrate our country’s most momentous day ever. And you know what we ‘muricans do on momentous days: INSTAGRAM IT.

You know you’re gonna wanna show off how much cooler your fireworks view was than everyone else’s in the world, so here’s a little guide on how to take some super awesome fireworks photos on your PHONE (cause not everyone has access to a fancy DSLR, plus phones are IG-friendly).

• STEP ONE : LOCATION :: Choose a location that’s far from the fireworks scene, so that you’ll get to capture a wider view on your phone. Pro-tip: Don’t zoom in once you choose your spot.
• STEP TWO : FLASH :: Turn it off. The flash will only reflect on the space directly in front of you (aka, people’s heads and that kid sitting on Dad’s shoulders), and it’ll also slow down your shutter speed, so disable it (and don’t put it on auto) for fireworks.
• STEP THREE : ENABLE HDR :: HDR mode=different exposures than original=(possibly) better pictures. When reviewing, you get to see what the original and HDR shots look like so you can choose which to keep.
• STEP FOUR : SHOOT (A LOT) :: Take TONS of photos. T-O-N-S. (It’s like taking 5 billion selfies and only liking 1!) Pro-tip: Use BURST mode if your phone has the option to. On iPhones, you just hold down the camera button for however long you want to continuously capture.
• STEP FIVE: EXPOSURE LOCK :: Your phone will constantly change its’ focus depending on the lighting available, so once you figure out the where your best exposure focus is (tap around your screen in the little yellow box and test how it affects the exposure focus on your phone), LOCK it in by holding on that spot for a few seconds.

And BOOM (pun intended), you have a splendid fireworks photos that will gain you 500 likes on IG and a ton of new followers. (DISCLAIMER: we’re not actually sure about the likes and followers part.)

We love the Fourth of July and 239 years later, we celebrate this day just as John Adams said to- “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” So, this Fourth of July while you are barbequing and watching fireworks, remember the significance of the Declaration of Independence. Celebrate for our freedom, for equality, for life and sacrifice and the blessing of being an American.

God bless ‘MURICA and HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.