July 4, 2019 Celebration and Fireworks

July 4, 2019!  Sterling Photography International wishes you a happy Independence Day.  Did you begin celebrating Independence Day last weekend?  With the holiday coming in the middle of the week, some of the lucky ones started shooting fireworks and celebrating last weekend and will continue through the coming weekend.

Either way, let’s make the Celebration of the “Land of the free and Home of the brave” last all week.  As is the July 4 custom at Sterling Photography International, we place our emphasis on Independence Day.

Additionally, we will try to answer one question amateur photographers always ask this time of year.  How do you photograph fireworks?

Tips on Photographing July 4, 2019, Fireworks

During July 4, 2019, you should have no problem finding fireworks displays.  And it’s true, almost anyone can shoot fireworks.  However, as Nikon points out,

“Fireworks against a black sky are colorful but not that exciting in a photograph.”

Therefore, try to find elements such as Skylights, bridges, or other landmarks to help create interest.  So, plan to leave space at the bottom of your shots if you plan to add scenic elements.

Also remember, to get truly satisfying shots, you must first look at the obstacles you face.

There are 3 very obvious ones.

• Low Light – Obviously it’s dark outside.  Most photographers set their apertures at f5.6 or f8.
• Bright Fireworks – The combination of bright subjects and low light means a long shutter speed, usually 2 – 4 seconds.
• Movement – True, the explosions of light are moving, but most movement problems are caused by hand-held cameras.  If you want good shots, you must have a stable tripod and a cable shutter release.  Keep your hands off the camera.

Additional Suggestions for the Best Shots

1. Get to the location early.  Check out the terrain and pick a high vantage point. You obviously don’t want people or other objects in your photographs.
2. Set up your tripod.
3. Then focus your camera.  Otherwise, your autofocus will constantly be trying to focus.  Result: you will end up with blurry pictures.
4. Set your aperture, speed, and ISo. Start with a 100 ISO.
5. And then, turn off auto features.
6. Frame your shots. Here, you will need to anticipate where the burst is going to occur.  Also, if you plan to add in a skyline or other landmarks, you may want to frame, leaving space at the bottom of the frame.

Of course, this is a very abbreviated procedure to get you started.  For more detail on the art of shooting fireworks, check out this authoritative source.

Don’t forget to enjoy the Fireworks.

July 4, 2019,  Independence Day History

How much do you know about the beginning of Independence Day?  It wasn’t until 1941 that July 4^th was established as a national Holiday.  And at that time, Congress declared Independence Day, the 4th of July to be a federal legal holiday.

Surprisingly, Independence Day is one of the few federal holidays that isn’t moved to the nearest Friday or Monday

That is why Sterling Photography International believes it should be a justifiable week-long Holiday spirit, especially since the Fourth of July falls on Thursday of this week.

July 4, 2019, America’s Independence Day

“Taxation without representation!” was the battle cry in America’s 13 Colonies.”  You probably remember from school history that the colonists were forced to pay taxes to King George III.  And the colonists were particularly angry because they were refused representation in British Parliament.

King George sent troops to put down what he called an “early movement toward rebellion.”

You may imagine this did little to ease the fears or anger of colonist.

So, on June 11, 1776, the Colonies’ Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia.  The specific purpose of this group was to draft a document to formally end ties with England.

The result of this gathering was the Colonies “Declaration of Independence.”

In almost the beginning of the document, we find these powerful and often quoted words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Those words make our government and way of life distinctly different from any other country in the world.

Most of us are familiar with the men who drafted the Declaration of Independence.  They included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

Then, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress officially adopted the final version.

The Beginning of Our July 4 Celebration

Here are facts not nearly as well known.  Surprisingly, the next day, (July 5) copies of the Declaration of Independence were distributed.

The reaction to the document was startling even to the local colonist.  That fact was verified only one day later.  On July 6, The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print the extraordinary document.

Public Readings of the Declaration

On July 8, 1776, there were “public readings of the Declaration in Philadelphia’s Independence Square to the ringing of bells and band music.”

Philadelphia celebrated Independence Day the next year (July 4, 1777) with bonfires, bells, and fireworks.  And celebrations were said to include processions, oratory, picnics, contests, games, military displays and fireworks.

So, we have been doing the same ever since.

Celebrate Freedom July 4, 2019

So, on July 4, if someone asks what you are celebrating.  The answer is easy.  We are celebrating our freedom.

Happy July 4, 2019

Be Happy. But Be Safe.  Happy Independence Day from Sterling Photography International to all of you in Florida, in the USA, in the world, and the known galaxy.  We live in the land of the free because we are the home of the brave.

We thank you for reading our blog and leave you with these special thoughts.

John Wayne:  “Sure I wave the American flag!  Do you know a better flag to wave?  Sure I love my country with all her faults. I’m not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be.”

President Reagan:  “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
Or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children
what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”