We found a tiny chapel outside of Reykholt Iceland while exploring on Sunday. Before the shooting commenced, we asked a local if it was OK to photograph the church. Not only did we get permission, but I found out there was going to be a wedding later that day. I was thrilled, since I wasn't able to participate in the wedding I had planned on attending the day before. We just couldn't work out the transportation. Now, out of nowhere, Iceland provided me with a second chance.

I've published a few of those images, along with shots from eight other photographers on the team, at this Adventure Web Gallery. If you have a moment, I recommend that you take a look at the work of these great artists. Hopefully, we'll publish a second gallery very soon.

Oh, and back to the wedding. The couple didn't have a photographer lined up. So, I'll be providing them with a few dozen images as a thank you for letting be part of their event.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, Iceland

We left Reykjavik Saturday morning and headed north to Reykholt, where we would establish base operations for the next three days. Even though we had done some casual shooting in the city, I could tell the photographers were getting anxious to start working the Iceland landscape. To compound matters, the weather was quite good. So the process of getting organized, packing up, and finally hitting the road was agonizing.

Once we got Reykholt, we had some soup (no one was serving meals in the mid afternoon), and the various factions of photographers scurried in different directions like startled baby quail. Our party shot until 8 pm, had a light dinner, then went out and shot the sunset 11 pm. It's 12:30 am now as I write this post. There's still light in the sky, but not enough for shooting.

Today's shot was captured on the road to Reykholt. I used the Caonon 5D in Raw mode, ISO 100, 1/125th @ f-8, using the Canon 24-105 mm f-4 L zoom. I'm using a custom white balance setting with the help of an ExpoDisc, which I'll talk about more in another post. I'm using only Lightroom to upload, organize, and process these images.

Tomorrow I'm going to catch a ferry out to the islands. If the weather holds, it should be another great day of shooting.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, Iceland, Lightroom Adventure

None of us have slept since Wednesday night, and it's about 1:30 am Saturday here in Reykjavik, Iceland. The sky is finally darkening. I took this image around 11:30 pm, and there was still plenty of light.

We had a great gathering tonight, beginning with an amazing slideshow presentation by master photographer Sigurgeir Sigurjonsson, followed by a three-course meal at the SAS Radission 1919 Hotel. All of the photographers had a chance to talk shop, compare travel notes, and get to know a bit more about each other.

In the morning we'll leave the city and head out to the country. But now it's time for a few hours sleep, for soon it will be light again.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, Iceland, Lightroom Adventure

I'm at SFO about ready to get on a plane for Reykjavik as part of the Adobe Lightroom Adventure, and will be depending on my Canon 5D, MacBook Pro, and Adobe Lightroom to handle all of my photography needs. The days are 22 hours long, and I plan on working most of that time. (Although, I hear that the Runtur - pub crawl - in Reykjavik is must-do. And since I'm a people shooter, I think I can justify immersing myself in the experience.)

When I return, I'll have a very good idea of how well this version of Lightroom performs in the field under real shooting conditions. We'll be posting our shots, comments, and hopefully some video on the official Lightroom Adventure site. I'll also post more personal anecdotes, along with audio, here on The Digital Story. So stay tuned throughout the week for updates.

We return from the Adventure the week WWDC begins. I'm speaking at the San Francisco Apple Store on Wednesday, August 9 at 5pm. If you want to see some of what I shot, you might want to drop by. In the meantime, standby, I'm about to board the plane...

"While traveling in central Arkansas," said Jan Blanchard, "I was exploring a beautiful botanical garden and happened upon this scene. I wondered if the koi were attracted by the food or by the orange shirt on the little boy. The matching vibrant colors certainly attracted this photographer's eye."

Jan captured this scene with her Canon Digital Rebel set to 1/50 of a second at f-5.6. Her ISO was 100.

If you have an interesting candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, grab shot

If you have QuickTime on Mac or Windows, you can make a cool digital flipbook in just minutes. "What the heck is that?" you say. Well, it's a sequence of photographs played in rapid succession and saved as a QuickTime movie. You can see for yourself with the flipbook I created called The Bridge.

First, Take the Shots

All I did was catch a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge with my Canon Digital Rebel XT pointed at the passing bicyclists. I had the camera set to burst mode so I could fire off a series of shots quickly. I took pictures from one end of the bridge to the other.

Next, Sequence the Shots

I then uploaded the shots to a folder and launched QuickTime Pro. If you don't have the Pro version of QuickTime, it's $29 from Apple and available upon purchase. It has all sorts of nifty editing and presentation tools. The function we use for this project is called Image Sequence.

Go to File > Open Image Sequence... and navigate to the first image in your folder of shots. Click Open, and you'll be presented with the Image Sequence Settings, as shown here. I usually select "2 frames per second" from the pop up window because I like things to move along at a good clip. But you can pick any setting that suits you.

Finally, Add a Little Audio

Click OK, and QuickTime will build your digital flipbook and open it in a 640 wide window. All you have to do now is add the audio. I usually grab a free loop out of GarageBand and make it as long as the flipbook I've just created. Once you've exported the file out of GarageBand (or whatever audio tool you use including QuickTime itself), the add it to your flipbook.

Make sure the scrub head is positioned at the beginning of the movie, then go to Edit > Add to movie... You audio is now positioned as a sound track to accompany your flipbook. Go to File > Save As, give you completed work a name, and click the radio button "save as self-contained movie." You're finished!

The version of The Bridge I posted here was exported as iPod compatible so I can include it with my other whacky projects on my iPod video.

Give it a try... it's a really quite fun.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, technique, software

Members of the Iceland Adventure Team - Photo by Richard Morgenstein

On July 27 I board a plane for Iceland as part of a team of photographers aiming to capture the beauty of this land and process the images using Adobe Lightroom. This project is really two adventures in one. The first is to work in the stunning but challenging Iceland landscape where the days are 22 hours long and weather is unpredictable. The second is to use a new workflow based on Adobe Lightroom loaded on to laptops for field use. There are many variables surrounding this project, and I don't think anyone knows how it's going to go.

We've created a page that will cover the Adventure before, during, and after we return from Iceland. So you if want to find out more details, take a look at the official Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop Adventure 2006 site.

In this podcast I talk about preparing for the trip to Iceland, provide some tips for traveling photographers, and interview members of the Adventure team. In the photo above, I'm on the left (with my portable recorder and mic), then Martin Sundberg, Angela Drury, and Addy Roff. The photo was taken by Adventure photographer Richard Morgenstein (shown on the right). The team interview included in this show is informative, and I think will give you a good taste of the type of shooters going on this trip.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Iceland Adventure" You can download the podcast here (27 minutes).

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography, podcast, Iceland

"My favourite lens is the Canon 85mm F1.8," says Peter Moxom, "as much of my favourite things to shoot are portraits, both indoor and location based. It's purely a hobby, but i do love this lens, the depth of field, the sharpness and the softness in it too are amazing."

"I shoot on a 5D, and have a bag full of great glass, but this is still my favourite..."

To tell us about your favorite lens, all you have to do is send an email to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with "Your Name: My Favorite Lens" in the subject line. Provide a paragraph or two about why you like your favorite lens so much. Include the brand, focal length, maximum aperture, and camera body you mount it on. If you have an anecdote about your lens, please include it. You may also submit a picture you took with the lens to illustrate why you like it so much.

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography, my favorite lens

I grabbed this shot while taking architecture pictures for my company," said Chris Glass. We just built a new restaurant, and I was the 'go to' guy for capturing the images."

"While taking all the required wide-angle standard shots, my eye kept going to the bar area in the restaurant. It had frosted glass shelves with neon lights backlighting everything inside. The blue through the bottles was amazing, so when I had a chance, I crawled with my camera and tripod under the boxes to get to the bar shelves, set up the camera, and snapped this shot."

"It was taken with a Nikon D50 with a 50mm f/1.8 (my favorite lens BTW) at 1/100th of a sec with the white balance set to "tungsten". This has become my new favorite picture for my computer background!"

If you have an interesting candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography

Maybe your next point and shoot won't be just a camera, but a camera phone. Until recently, no self-respecting photographer would even consider using a camera phone instead of a dedicated digicam, but times are changing.

I've been testing the Sony Ericsson W810i, that includes among other features, a 2-megapixel (1632x1224) digital camera with autofocus, f-2.8 lens, variable ISO, white balance adjustment, macro mode, assist light, self timer, burst mode, and panaroma mode. It also includes an amazingly good video capture (174×144, 10fps, .3gp, 8KHz mono). QuickTime handles the files with ease.

I can save all of this data to a Memory Stick PRO Duo memory card that comes in sizes up to 2 GBs. The W810i comes with a 512 MB Memory Stick. And the best part is, the card is easily accessible from a side slot.

You can make photo quality 5x7 prints with this device, and up to 8x10s are possible. And they look good! Plus, it's a phone, Walkman MP3 player, and FM radio... all bundled up in a package that slides easily in your top shirt pocket.

The SE W810i works great with Cingular's GSM/GPRS network. Cingular isn't offering it on their site yet, but you can buy unlocked W810i handsets on the open market, then put your Cingular phonecard in it. Going price for the W810i is around $380.

Camera phones may be coming of age...

Technorati Tags: digital photography, product review, gadgets

"Small flash gear is especially well suited for shooting macro shots and other small-object still life and product shots," says David on his Strobist blog. "And this little studio in a box does not even technically need a flash to work its wonders. Any bright lamp will do if you are shooting digital, because it is very easy to balance for tungsten light and get the color balance spot on."

"This is basically a light tent, albeit a very controllable one. It pretty much creates beautiful light be default. Frankly, it's very difficult to get it wrong. This is one of the most useful DIY gadgets you could make - especially when you consider the single-digit price tag."

You can find out all the details by reading, How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, technique, tips

Looking to get started with Aperture? I've collaborated with Scott Bourne and Lynda.com to publish, Aperture 1.1 Essential Training.

In over 6 hours of QuickTime movies that you can watch from the comfort of your computer, Scott and I walk you through all of the essential functions of Aperture 1.1. In some of the sections I teach alone, and others Scott and I work together to make sure you get a solid foundation for Apple's breakthrough photo management application.

You can try some of the movies for free or subscribe to the full training for as little as $25. I'll also have a DVD available on this site soon.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, software

Film can be an important part of your digital workflow. Even though you're starting out the process capturing "analog," it can be scanned at the time of processing and those images can be uploaded to your photo application just like original digital source files.

In some situations, film can even be advantageous. For example, print film has a wide exposure latitude, broader than most digital cameras for sure. So in tricky lighting conditions, you can capture your highlights and shadows on film, then continue to "work" the scene later using the high resolution scan of the image.

Your negatives also provide an excellent archive of your photos that's immune to hard drive crashes and optical disc deterioration. Plus, you can use camera gear you already have instead of having to invest hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the latest digital bodies.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "What About Film?" You can download the podcast here (28 minutes).

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography, podcast, film

"My favorite lens is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8," says Matt Jorgensen. "My dad suggested that I get a 50mm lens to complement the kit lens on my Nikon D70. I took him up on it mostly because he's usually right about most things and the lens only cost $99."

"I soon found myself turning to it quite frequently for candids and low-light shots. It is fantastic for portraits of my kids when I want a shallow depth of field (see attached shot of my son Lucas).

"I also think it improves my photography because it is a fixed focal length lens. I tend to get too caught up in determining the best focal length with zoom lenses and this simple lens seems to make me think more about composition and forces me to move around more. In short, I think everyone should go out and get a low-end 50mm lens. I use mine for both digital and film (Nikon N75 - the attached shot was taken on film)."

"For me the extra speed of an f/1.4 lens isn't worth the added cost. An f/1.8 50mm lens costs under $100, is much faster than any kit zoom lens, is small enough to bring along just about anywhere, and will definitely improve your photography."

To tell us about your favorite lens, all you have to do is send an email to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with "Your Name: My Favorite Lens" in the subject line. Provide a paragraph or two about why you like your favorite lens so much. Include the brand, focal length, maximum aperture, and camera body you mount it on. If you have an anecdote about your lens, please include it. You may also submit a picture you took with the lens to illustrate why you like it so much.

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography, my favorite lens

"This shot of my clunky electric stove top (just outta photo school -- I can't afford a nice gas one yet) was shot with my D200 and my old manual nikon 70-150mm series E zoom (yes it actaully meters on the D200)" said Rob Sackyta. "The exposure was a whopping 15 seconds @ f-5.6 in RAW, and surprisingly, not a whole lot of noise.

"I used Nikon Capture 4 tethered to My Macbook Pro, so I wouldn't pass out from the heat, as I actually had all four coils going at once. Capture runs pretty slow on the Intel side, but it still has great advantages, especially when shooting product shots."

If you have an interesting candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography

The new Fuji FinePix F20 has an incredible array of features including 6.3 MP CCD, image stabilization, 2.5" LCD, extended battery life, 30fps movie capture, 10MB internal memory, and ISO up to 2000. All of this in a compact that will slide into your shirt pocket.

Two of the features that really caught my eye were the i-Flash technology that does a much better job of identifying scenes and exposing them properly with the flash. I think this will have a great impact on party and wedding reception snapshots. I also like the Dual Shot Mode that takes two pictures with a single press of the shutter button: one with flash on and the other with natural lighting. Then you choose which one you like the best.

Add the excellent Fujinon 3x zoom and their new RP Processor II, and I think this compact will be a real winner. Fuji says it will be available in August. They haven't announced the price yet.

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography

"My family went to a local airshow with friends," said Andrew Mein. "It was a long day and we were all getting tired. As we walked round some of the static exhibits our friend's son just sat down in the middle of the hangar. I managed to grab the camera and got this great shot."

Andrew used a Fuji Finepix 602Z. ISO 200, 1/49 sec F/2.8 to capture this sit-in by his son.

If you have an interesting candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography

"When I ordered my Nikon D200 I decided to get the current hot lens designed to go with it," said Mark Thalman, "the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor. This lens has been getting rave reviews in both lab and real world tests. I think Pop Photo said it was the best superzoom ever. I was excited when my order went through."

"The day the package arrived, The Raptor Project was doing a show in the parking lot of my office. In fact the show was to start in less than half an hour. I couldn't get my D200 set up in time, so I decided to use a Nikon body I had been borrowing. I put away the Nikkor 80-200 F/2.8 lens, a large hunk of glass weighing in at roughly 2.8 pounds, that was already mounted on the camera. I unwrapped and mounted the brand new 18-200."

"I set the camera to Aperture priority mode, set the lens to wide open, turned VR on and only thought about image composition for the next hour and a half. This is the fastest focusing, smoothest focusing, quietest lens I have ever used. But the most important aspect of a lens is the final product. I went inside to view the images and was happy with my decision to buy this lens."

"About a week later, I decided to print one of my images as large as I could to see how it would turn out. This is where the rubber meets the road. The 11"X17" (A3) size print that I made of the Bald Eagle (Uncle Sam) with a backlit flag as the background was better than I had expected. The image on the screen is good, but the print is spectacular. With the zoom range and VRII this is my favorite lens for all of my photography."

To tell us about your favorite lens, all you have to do is send an email to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with "Your Name: My Favorite Lens" in the subject line. Provide a paragraph or two about why you like your favorite lens so much. Include the brand, focal length, maximum aperture, and camera body you mount it on. If you have an anecdote about your lens, please include it. You may also submit a picture you took with the lens to illustrate why you like it so much.

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography, my favorite lens

Lenses are to a photographer what brushes are to a painter. In this podcast I discuss some of the attributes that you might want to keep in mind when researching your next lens. Features such as maximum aperture, zooming range, construction, and focusing speed can be the difference between loving your lens or owning an expensive dust collector.

Keep in mind that a protection filter and lens hoods are more than just accessories, I consider them essentials. And if your lens is wide angle, you may want to investigate those special "thin" filters that don't cause vignetting around the edges.

I've also launched a new feature on The Digital Story called My Favorite Lens. This is your opportunity to tell others in the TDS community about your "go to glass" and why you like it so.

All of this and more in this week's podcast...

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Great Glass." You can download the podcast here (24 minutes).

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography, podcast, my favorite lens

Sigma's new 70mm macro lens is approximately 105mm on most APS-sensor DSLRs. Since it focuses from infinity to really close up (1:1 macro), it can serve double duty for portraits too.

Initially it will be available for Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts (probably in August). But not long after you'll be able to get the lens for Sony and Pentax DSLRs too. It's a handsome lens with a 62mm front filter ring, super multi-layer lens coating, special low dispersion glass, and an included lens hood.

Street price for the Sigma 70mm should be around $400, which is reasonable for a high performance macro lens that can be used for portrait work also.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, lens

When Nikon made a big splash at PMA 2006 with its Capture NX software, I was throughly impressed. Unlike applications we typically see from camera manufacturers, Capture NX looks and behaves like finely-crafted software made by engineers who really know what they're doing. Actually, that's the case. Nik software has teamed up with Nikon to produce a real breakthrough for Nikon shooters.

Capture NX brings nondestructive image editing to the NEF format (Nikon's RAW). You can also edit JPEGs and TIFFs with Capture NX, although to avoid compromising the quality of those pictures, you'll need to save those images under a different file name, or simply covert the files into Nikon's NEF format.

One of Capture NX's real innovations is U Point technology. Quite simply, you point to an area of the image you want to edit, then adjust sliders right there on the screen until you're satisfied with the results. This approach is very intuitive and enables you to work quickly.

Windows users need to have XP or 2000 Professional to run Capture NX. Mac users need OS X 10.3.9 or later. Capture NX is not Universal Binary, so it will not run on a Mac/Intel processor. [Update, I should have said run "natively" on a Mac/Intel processor.] As you may have guessed, you can't edit other types of RAW files with this software, although any flavor of JPEG or TIFF is welcome.

For a limited time, you can download a 30-day free trial from Nikon's Software Download page. When released later in July, Capture NX will cost $149.95 for the full package or $89.95 as an upgrade.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, product review, software

"I rented a Nikon SB-800 flash and took a bunch of shots of my two sons to test the unit," said Matt Jorgensen. "After about 10 minutes, they were getting pretty sick of me and the camera. I think this shot sums up my youngest son's thoughts (the older son is collapsed on the couch in disgust)."

Here are the shooting details: Camera: Nikon D70, Shutter: 1/60 sec, Aperture: f/3.5, ISO: 100, Focal Length: 18mm, Flash: SB-800.

If you have an interesting candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography

I'm launching a new feature on The Digital Story that I think you're going to like. It's called My Favorite Lens. To participate, all you have to do is send an email to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with "Your Name: My Favorite Lens" in the subject line. Provide a paragraph or two about why you like your favorite lens so much. Include the brand, focal length, maximum aperture, and camera body you mount it on. If you have an anecdote about your lens, please include it. You may also submit a picture you took with the lens to illustrate why you like it so much.

To get the party rolling, I'll tell you about my favorite lens, the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens.

By popular demand, TDS readers have asked that I post the photo assignments on the web site as well as discussing them in the podcast. You got it!

The July 2006 photo assignment is "heat." It's summer, so let's fire things up and get those sizzling images turned in by July 31. I'll post the images on August 7 (a slightly longer lead time than usual because I'll be on assignment). If you have any questions about the details, visit our Submissions page. To see past winners, take a look at previous photo assignments.

On a different note, the second episode of the iLifeZone is now available in the iTunes Music Store.

Scott Bourne interviews Jason Snell of Macworld Magazine fame, plus we have an iTunes tip from Chris Breen, an introduction to iPhoto Library Manager by me, and a GarageBand goodie from Scott. It's a great show. I hope you have a chance to listen...

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast

Back when Digital SLRs were wildly expensive, "prosumer" cameras satisfied the needs of advanced amateurs and some pros. These cameras had many SLR features -- such as hotshoes, filter rings, spot meter, manual exposure, fast lenses, and more. Consumers paid a premium price for these cameras, but compared to the even more expensive DSLRs, prosumer models seemed worth it.

In my recent podcast, Five Must-Have Camera Features, I noted the functions that I would insist on if I were buying a prosumer model today. I discuss these because I'm seeing features that were once standard -- such as RAW mode and a hotshoe -- disappearing from this class. Or is it possible this breed of camera is disappearing all together?

Personally, I like cameras such as the Canon G6 and the Sony Cybershot DSC-R1. But these compact, sophisticated picture machines will cost you between $650 and $900. Some people, such as TDS reader Ben D ask, "Why not just buy a DSLR?"

We've already seen Nikon pull back on building prosumer models. Will others follow such as Canon, Olympus, and Sony? Is it time to choose between a beefed-up compact such as the Canon PowerShot S3 IS ($460, but not RAW mode, hotshoe and other "prosumer" features) or a full-blown DSLR such as the Nikon D50? I'm curious about your thoughts around this...

Technorati Tags: equipment, digital photography

Serious cameras should have serious features. Many advanced amateur cameras can fill the shoes of DSLRs, but in more compact packages. But not all advanced amateur cameras are created equal. Here are five features that I require on my serious cameras.

1) Hot Shoe
2) RAW format
3) Fast lens - maximum aperture of f-2.4 or brighter. I prefer f-2.0
4) Filter ring
5) Remote release

Two "serious" advanced amateur cameras that meet these requirements are the Canon PowerShot Pro 1 and the Sony Cybershot DSC-R1. These are examples only and certainly not the only two advanced cameras that fit these requirements. At the moment, the Sony is the higher rated of the two cameras and has better customer feedback on Amazon.com.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Five Must-Have Camera Features." You can download the podcast here (24 minutes).

Technorati Tags: review, digital photography, product review

"A true grab shot," said Landon Michaelson. "We were on our way out of town and a storm was sweeping across the valley. Just before the rain hit, I snapped three photos out the windshield of the car (I was the passenger) with camera at the ready ;-)"

"I stitched them together, gave it a crop and a curves adjustment. It became an eye catcher. Setting sun was behind that bank of clouds. Appears somewhat composited, but was actually how it looked. The technical term is Mammatus clouds, so the title for this shot is "Mammatus Indigestus" (bowels of the storm) -- it's just a mashed together title and play on words for what it looked like to me."

If you have an interesting candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography

Photo by TDS reader, Brian C Davenport -- Details at end of article.

Pyromaniacs all across the States are gearing up for their favorite day: The Fourth of July. Technically, it's an American holiday to celebrate independence from England. But we all know its true popularity stems from great BBQ and dazzling fireworks displays. If you want to capture your own fiery composition, here are a few tips.

Let's start with the basics: turn off your flash. Yes, you're going to be shooting in a dark environment, and if your camera is set to auto flash, it's going to fire. This is the last thing you want, so turn it off.

Next, break out the tripod. You're going to be using long exposures. Use a cable or remote release if you have one. If not, just gently press the shutter button with your finger.

Resist the urge to increase your ISO setting. Keep it at 100 to help reduce image noise. You'll also have to switch to manual exposure. Auto exposure will overexpose your dark skies turning them to mushy gray. Start with a manual setting of 3 seconds at F-5.6 or F-8, and see what you get. Adjust accordingly from there.

Finally, use a wide angle lens so you can capture as much of the sky as possible. If you know the display is going to peak in a certain area, you can zoom in a bit. Remember, since you're shooting at the highest resolution possible, you can always crop your image later.

These tips will ensure that you come away from your 4th of July celebration with more than a tummy full of hot dogs and beer. Have a great time!

About the Photo
Brian C Davenport recently went to Windsor,Canada to shoot the Freedom Festival fireworks over the Detroit skyline. Here's how he got the shot.

"It was a very long day but the last 30 min was outstanding," said Brian. "Getting there early in the day gave us a front row seat, right on the shoreline to set up our tripods. I shot about 200 images during the day, and the fireworks shots came out really nice. It was a little tricky as this was a show where there were very few single bursts so there was alot of light in the air most of the time. I settled on 18mm, ISO 100, f8 and 3-5 sec exposure. These settings gave some definition to the bursts without too much "blow-out" of the highlights."

Great shot Brian! Thanks for sending it in.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, technique, tips