Nebraskaland

18 NEBRASKAland • JULY 2015 With Fourth of July upon us, impressive fireworks displays throughout the state will provide ample opportunity for photographers. Many shutterbugs will be satisfied by snapping a few shots with their mobile phones for sharing on social media, but those of you with DSLR cameras should aim higher. Here are basic tips, a declaration if you will, to make the most of your fireworks photography. Don't Flash – A direct flash will do nothing to improve your fireworks photos and will likely hurt them. Turn it off. Keep it Steady – A tripod with a remote release is all but required for getting sharp firework photos with no blur. If you don't have a tripod, try to find something besides your shaky hands to keep the camera steady. Setting the Scene – No need to buy any special lenses. An average focal length lens will be adequate to compose a scene for fireworks. My favorite fireworks photos have something in the scene besides just the pyrotechnics. Look around. Are the bursts reflecting off the lake? Is there a crowd of people or landmark below? Can you use the silhouette of an interesting shape in the foreground? Being Sharp – Some assume they need to open their aperture wide because it's night, but your subject is bright enough it's not necessary. You can use f/8 and higher and ensure the subjects in your scene stay in focus. If your camera lens is searching to find the fireworks, switch to manual focus. Shutter Control – Generally, try to have the shutter open from the time the firework explodes to the end of its burst. The bulb setting on your camera, with the use of a remote, allows you to open and close the shutter as the "oooohs" and "ahhhs" are occurring. No Noise – It's best to let the fireworks make the noise, not your photos. Noise, which used to be referred to as grain in film days, becomes a problem with high ISO settings. Set the ISO at 100 for sharp, noise-free photos. Independence! – When shooting digital it's easy to see what's working and what isn't. The Fourth of July is all about independence, so break away from your camera's automatic settings and bravely go manual to record the "rocket's red glare." Your forefathers of photography would be proud. ■ Fireworks Photos By Justin Haag PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG Bucket List By Julie Geiser Five-gallon buckets are one of my favorite tools to take tent camping. They can be used to keep items clean and dry, to store camp water, a place to sit around the campfire, a nightstand inside a tent, and they are easy to carry. Here are some other ideas. A bucket can be used for storing cleaning items and to wash clothes or dishes at camp. Place an ice cream bucket or another smaller bucket inside and use that to store smaller items such as a bottle of dish soap and wash cloths in a plastic bag. Don't forget disposable wipes, Clorox spray and hand sanitizer. Fill another bucket with paper plates, disposable cups, plastic utensils and other kitchen items. If you have young children, a bucket makes a great potty; line the bucket with a heavy-duty trash bag and buy an inexpensive child's training ring for comfort to sit on. Those night trips to an outhouse will be eliminated. More expensive, regular toilet seats that fit over five-gallon buckets are also available. Store clothes in buckets to keep them dry and out of the rain. Make a bucket for each person, and label buckets with a permanent marker to eliminate the guesswork of what's inside. Be creative and put your favorite camping items in five-gallon buckets. They're inexpensive and stack easily in a garage or shed, ready for the next camping adventure. ■

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