If it wasn't for this month's challenge...I would NOT have taken as many pictures as I did last night!  I have attempted firework pictures before....but they were never anything I loved.  Last night I tried again!  I will share what I did---nothing too scientific---maybe you can try some new things tonight!  If you have already had success with firework pictures---please share your tricks we would love to hear them!!!

All of these shot were taken on my Canon 5d, 24-70mm 2.8L @ f 9.0 and ISO 1600.  I used "B Mode" or bulb mode.  Bulb mode allows you to have full shutter speed control.  **Bulb mode is found in most SLR cameras.  If you don't see it with your regular mode settings slow your shutter down until you see a B or BULB!** The shutter triggers and releases as long as you hold down the shutter button. 

These first two were taken with a 1 second shutter (which really is holding down and releasing):

These last two were taken with a 4 second shutter (which feels like forever when you are holding it down):

I loved the sillouettes of people on these and the glow of the low light all around.  There was a man next to us who had a tripod set up hours before the sun went down.  I was introspectively making fun of his photog nerdiness...BUT as you can see by the moon blur I had a lot of hand movement...so the tripod would have eliminated that and the people would be less blurry.  Next time I might bring a tripod- but sneak it out after the sun goes down so nobody is making fun of me...at least for my photog nerdiness ;)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!