Towns often come alive at night, as the lights go on inside buildings, their exteriors are floodlit, and street lights get  switched on. If you’re going to a public display, arrive as early as possible, so you can check out the location and find the best  vantage point. If you’re not sure where to stand, ask where the fireworks are expected to explode, so you can position  yourself to get a clear view.

While it’s tempting to go really close to the display, you’ll get a much better perspective by staying well back. You’re  also less likely to have people getting in front of the camera or knocking into your tripod. It’s a waste of time and effort  trying to hand-hold for aerial displays, so remember to take a tripod, because it takes a few seconds for each volley of  fireworks to fill the sky.

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In order to capture the color in the sky with your digital camera, make sure you shoot at dusk, around 30 minutes after  sunset whereupon the sky will be a magical blue color. This window of opportunity will be longer during summer months and is  often referred to as the “golden hour”. In the city it is easier to get the timing right, because you will see building and  street lights become subtly brighter. The contrast between the sky and the buildings will also become more subdued.

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