IN THIS ISSUE
Tips For Photographing Fireworks

Summer Print Sale - 19¢ Color Corrected 4" x 6" Proofs on Lustre/Matt; Kodak Metallic Just 25¢

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Dear ,

Wednesday is July 4th!

We'll be celebrating our
country's 236th birthday with barbeques, family get-togethers, block parties and most of all...fireworks.

Here are ten simple tips on how to take better fireworks pictures!

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Summer Sale on 4"x 6" Prints!

Order fully color corrected prints at great prices. Pro lustre or glossy prints are just 19¢ each; metallic only 25¢.


This sale runs through the entire summer!

No special codes are required. Just take your best shots and order online at iPrints.com!*

Enjoy your Independence Day celebrations...and your summer!



Best regards,
Dale

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Tip #1: Location is Everything!

Arrive at the fireworks venue well before dark to be sure there are no trees in your way.

If you’re sitting on the grass, take the higher ground so those who arrive after you do not block your view.

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Tip #2: Bring a Tripod

If carrying a tripod is inconvenient, bring a monopod.

Your tripod is an accessory that can improve EVERY image you capture.

For sharp fireworks pictures it is almost a necessity.

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Tip #3: Set Your Camera’s ISO to 400

Keep in mind high ISO settings and undesirable image "grain" go hand-in-hand.

Experiment with ISO settings of 800 and 200, and other ISO settings, too. But, for the best results...and minimal noise...we'd suggest keeping your ISO to 400 max.


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Tip #4: Turn Your Camera’s Built-in Flash OFF

This setting is generally indicated by the circle-slash-lightning bolt icon.

You may want to try a shot or two using the Night Portrait flash setting on your camera if there are people in the shot. Try it at least once.


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Tip #5: Set the Camera on Manual and the f/Stop to the Largest Setting (Remember, that’s the smallest number, like f2.8 or f3.5)

Set the shutter speed to 1/60th of a second for starters. Later you’ll shoot at 1/30, and 1/15 settings ... or time exposures ... until you find the right combination. If you’re quick you can shoot two or three shots of each burst of fireworks, and if you’re really quick you can change shutter speeds on the fly.

Use the LCD monitor to judge whether or not you’ve achieved proper exposure. When you do, continue to shoot at that combination. Fireworks are much brighter than you think. So, err on the side of under exposure and you’ll probably be right.


Enlarge your images on your LCD and check to be sure your shots are sharp.

No manual settings? Then you’ll have to shoot on Auto. The only way you can adjust the camera is by increasing and decreasing the ISO setting.

If your camera incorrectly selects too long a shutter speed you'll get over-exposed pictures with white streaks instead of the brilliant colors of the fireworks.

Begin with the highest possible ISO setting and work your way down to the lowest ISO that gives you both sharp pictures and brilliant color.


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Tip #6: The Key to Long Exposure Fireworks Photos Is In Your Timing

Anticipating the rockets' flash point and snapping the shutter so that it’s open during the peak brilliance of the explosion can be a bit tricky.

Here's a great timing technique from Liz Masoner, the senior photo editor at the About.com Guide.
  1. Listen - Fireworks are loud when they are initially launched. When you hear the the boom start counting.
  2. Look - When the fireworks explosion starts, count again.
  3. Act - Use the time from the "listen" step to know when to push the shutter button just before an explosion begins. Use the time from the "look" step to know how long a shutter speed you need to capture the entire explosion bloom.
That's it! The #1 secret to fireworks photography is just that simple. Know your timing and you'll get the shot you want.

An Important Reminder: To capture the full bloom of fireworks explosions you'll be taking time exposures. These long exposures will look sharp only if you have your camera on a tripod. Consider taking a small, compact tripod like this one if you'd rather not carry a large one.

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Tip #7: Smart Exposure and Story-Telling Techniques

Focusing Tips -

If your camera has Manual Focus, Landscape Mode or forced Infinity Focus setting, you’re in luck.

If not, you’ll probably still be okay, but you may lose some time...and a shot or two...while your camera searches for its correct focus.

How To Click the Shutter Without Blurring Your Picture -


Use your infrared remote release (if you have one), which allows you to trigger the camera without touching it. Touching the camera, even when it’s on a tripod, transfers movement which can reduce sharpness in the picture.

If you must press the shutter release button by hand, do it ever so gently.

Put Your Story Into Context -


If you’re lucky enough to be watching fireworks launched over water try to include some reflections.

At theme parks or over cities, catch part of the scenery on the ground to add a sense of the surroundings and better tell the story of the event.



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Tip #8: Fireworks Are Small Explosions

Fireworks burn on their way to the ground and leave a trail of sparks and smoke.

Watch which way the wind is blowing and, if practical, have the wind at your back. It will blow the debris away from your view and you’ll get better pictures.


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Tip #9: A Few Words of Caution
  • Don’t set your camera down on the ground (as in wet grass) or it may become damaged.
  • Since you’ll be running the LCD monitor continuously for up to thirty minutes, bring a spare battery if you have one. Buy a spare battery if you do not.
  • High ISO settings will cause image noise to appear in your otherwise perfect pictures. Try, if at all possible, to use ISOs of 400 or less.
  • Bring a small flashlight.

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Tip #10: Consider A Photo Book

Independence Day festivities include more than just fireworks. There are parades, barbeques and...most of all...memorable times with family and friends.

Why not bring your images together as an impressive set of photographs?

A photo book lets you combine pictures and text to tell the complete story of a single day's activities or an entire vacation. It's a convenient "keeper" your family will cherish for years.

Here is a photo book of pictures I took during a one-day family visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom.


8" x 8" Front Cover




These are 2 page spreads. The left & right side are each 8" x 8".

You'll be surprised at how easy it is to use our free online software. I was able to create this beautiful 10 page photo book (your cost just $18.95) in about 20 minutes.

To learn how to create your photo books please click here!

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If You Don't Live In Florida:

Orders sent to you from our laboratory via U.S. First Class and Priority Mail will usually arrive at your home in 2 - 4 days ... no matter where you live in the U.S. (Not much longer for Canada.)

Digital In - Mail Out ... For the Best Enlargements In America

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(M - F if received by 3:00 PM EDT):
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  • iPrintsPro.com (ROES) -
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    • Mounting - Add 1 day
Expedited Shipping Via UPS Is Also Available

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Our Summer Sale: Prices Slashed on All 4" x 6" Proofs ... Including Metallic

Images on cell phones and iPads are nice.

But, making sure that your important family pictures will be there into the future is best done with real photographic prints.

No matter how computer technology changes you'll always be able to view your printed photos.

So, we're reducing our prices for 4" x 6" proofs on iPrints.com to just 19¢ ea. for glossy or lustre/matte prints and to only 25¢ for metallic.

There are no discount codes or anything special for you to do. Just place your online order at iPrints.com any time between now and September 5th.

You snap the pictures ... we'll do the rest!


Best wishes,

Dale
Dale Farkas
President, iPrints.com & iPrintsPro.com
(Online services of Dale Laboratories)

Questions? Call (800) 327-1776. We're here to help!
 
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*These proofing sale prices for color corrected lustre/matte, glossy and metallic proofs are available on iPrints.com. Pros and advanced amateurs can order 19¢ lustre proofs on our ROES professional site in the Proofing (Studio Adjusted Color) catalog (no lab color corrections.)


  
 

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