2024 Fourth of July Photography Guide
Shooting Fireworks + Where to See in Bergen County
2024 Fourth of July Photography Guide: It is that time of year again – summer is officially here, and everyone is getting ready for Fourth of July celebrations! For many, viewing fireworks is a beloved summer tradition. With a few helpful tips, you too can be on your way to having a great time photographing fireworks this summer season. Continue reading below for Alan’s Guide to Fireworks Photography and a list of where to see fireworks in Bergen county this year!
Thank you to those who were able to make it to our Firework Photography Focus Session with Alan Schwab last week on 6/29! Missed the Focus Session and still want to photograph fireworks this July Fourth? No problem – Learn from home – check out our pre-recorded Fireworks Photography webinar on our Summit page. Please stop in or call with any questions.
Bergen County Camera will be closed on 7/4/24 – BCC wishes you a Happy Fourth of July – We will see you back on 7/5!
2024 Fourth of July Photography Guide
Alan’s Guide: How to Shoot Fireworks
Alan Schwab’s How to Shoot Fireworks – 20 Tips to Master the Craft
- Use the bulb setting available in manual (M), see tip 17 for the finale’!
- Use a low ISO 100-200
- No long exposure noise reduction, high ISO NR can stay on, but it’s not needed
- F8-F11
- Use auto white balance
- No mirror lock up
- Use infinity focus, switch to manual focus, tape the lens focus ring @ infinity. Some lenses are not marked. Test focus in manual at farthest subject your lens can resolve sharply.
- O D lighting or auto lighting optimizer, these control contrast and brightness.
- Vivid color mode, leave saturation at normal, landscape (picture style) for Canon uses.
- IS-VR off, since you will be on a tripod.
- Metering: use matrix or evaluative
- Note: you will not have to meter anything for shooting (F11, ISO 100, bulb = done)
- Tripod, short zoom lens 18-70mm, 24-70mm, 18-105mm and a cable release (no need to lock)
- Tripod will possibly need to be repositioned (tilted etc) once the show starts. I’ll shoot vertical more often than horizontal.
- Vary zoom length for composition
- Fire the shutter (with a cable release) hold rather than lock. Hold for multiple bursts 2-8 or maybe more. Check the monitor, exposures should average 2-4 or 4-7 seconds, and can even be as long as 8-15 seconds. Disregard the histogram.
- Finale’ shots need to happen quickly in manual mode, burst or continuous 1 second, ½ second, ¼ second, 1/8 second, 1/10 second, 1/25 second, 1/30 second. These shorts can be blown out if taken for longer time periods (such as with bulb). Still maintain the F number 8-11.
- JPEGS or Raw? Raw is not necessary unless you feel a need to recover highlights. Shoot JPEG or raw together, or JPEG alone. Use a fast card for recovery of write speed times. Raw will offer a bit more color information too.
- Bring extra cards, batteries, and a mini flashlight. The show may be 30 minutes to an hour long. Be careful about inserting memory cards in the dark.
- Add an element of scenic interest in your picture. Bridges, skylines, crowds, etc
2024 Fourth of July Photography Guide
Where to See Fireworks in Bergen County:
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Ridgewood, NJ – Please join us for our annual flag raising ceremony in Wilsey Square at 9am followed by parade beginning at 10am. Evening Entertainment with live music, food trucks, beer garden, and fireworks finale begins at 6pm!
Paramus, NJ – Independence Day Parade – The parade commences at 9:00 am at the intersection of East Century Road and Farview Avenue. It proceeds northward on Farview Avenue before culminating at the Grand Stand located at Memorial Elementary School.
Ridgefield Park, NJ – The Ridgefield Park Fourth of July Parade and Celebration, founded in 1894 is one of the oldest parades in the United States, and the oldest in New Jersey.
Hackensack, NJ – 4th of July at Foschini Park – Food Trucks, Family Games, Music, and a Fireworks Spectacular!
Allendale, NJ – Crestwood Lake Independence Day – Fireworks
Oradell, NJ – Parade, Beer garden, Wetdown
Saturday, July 6, 2024
Ramsey, NJ – The Independence Day Celebration @ Finch Park will be held on Saturday, July 6th.
- 6:30PM – 7:30PM Face to Face
- 8:00PM – 9:30PM Mushmouth
- 9:30PM – Fireworks will begin (approximately) accompanied by the Ramsey Wind Symphony
Maywood, NJ – Fireworks Celebration
Tenafly, NJ – Annual Fireworks Display
Sunday, July 7, 2024
Paramus, NJ – Food Truck Festival + Fireworks Show