Happy Independence Day! If you're going to do a holiday wedding on the Fourth of July, it's gotta have fireworks! But the bursting brights make a wedding extra special no matter what time of year it is. See some of our favorite explosive big days featuring fireworks that light up the night with their patriotic and romantic beauty.
Planning on staking out the perfect patch of grass to take in this week's Fourth of July pyrotechnic show? Be sure to pack your camera before you head out! It's not hard to capture great moments, but you'll have to be ready for everything, so heed these simple tips for awesome fireworks photography.
Find a good position
Tree branches, street lamps, tall buildings, and fireworks don't mix, so be sure to find a good location. You probably won't be moving around, so search for a position where buildings and people won't obstruct your view.
Hold the camera extra steady
To avoid blurry pictures, brace your camera on a railing, the back of a chair or a table, or against a column or tree. This helps keep the camera from moving and blurring the pictures. Or use a pocket or full-size tripod that will attach to anything, like the GorillaPod.
Take lots of pictures
This one may seem silly, but we all know it's hard to estimate how long the fireworks will keep bursting. You'll want to try to catch the bursts at their maximum bloom. So keep snappin' away to make sure you go home with pictures to treasure. Also, if you know your camera is a little slow, try to anticipate a bit and snap a little early.
Try some light trails
If you want to experiment during the firework show, try shooting some light trails! Whether you're capturing the crowds as you wait, the cars as they leave, or the fireworks themselves, now's the time to try everything — you never know what you might end up with!
Source: Flickr User bayasaa
It just wouldn't be the Fourth of July without a big fireworks display. And odds are, your kids are obsessed with the holiday's sparkling, explosive side. But as much fun as fireworks can be, don't forget that they can be extremely dangerous, especially for little ones. We enlisted the help of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to get 11 simple tips that will keep your kids safe this Fourth of July. Read them yourself and to your spouse and kids before you set off that first sparkler to keep your holiday injury-free!
For the rest of the government-approved fireworks safety tips, read more
Whether you live in a place with a no-fireworks rule or just don't feel comfortable letting your lil ones near anything with imminent burn potential, it is possible to have a fun fireworks experience — minus the fire — this Fourth of July. Create imitation sparklers with silver pipe cleaners, make exploding confetti balloons, or use doilies to create firework art. Keep clicking for eight great firework crafts that will keep your kids safe and smiling!
Source: Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens, and Makes and Takes
Fireworks, just like barbecue and American flags, are synonymous with the celebration of the Fourth of July. But since the country has just emerged from a recession, state and city budgets are looking worse for wear, and the light display doesn't come cheap — Chicago's 2010 fireworks show cost a pretty penny of $750,000, and Austin raised $150,000 for its display this year, which they unfortunately had to cancel because of extreme drought. Although cities like Chicago are downsizing their fireworks show this year, or in some cases doing without them completely, I'm wondering if you think this is a good move.
Do you think cities should spend money on fireworks for the sake of tradition or should they save the money for other uses?
Fireworks can be very frightening to a dog. Since it's the season of sparklers, I'm offering some quick tips to help your pets cope with these scary sounds.
If you're looking to build up your pup's ability to cope with the loud blasts, consider these free downloads (when you right-click). To use these audio effects with a pet, start playing at a low volume and build up to normal volume over time. If you play repeatedly, furry friends can get desensitized to the noise (at a level from inside the house).
Remember, if it's loud to you, it's definitely too loud for your dog — canines can hear sounds at an ultra-high frequency (like those "silent" dog whistles) and can register sounds three times greater than your ear can — keep your pets safe!
Earlier today Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco married at a civil ceremony, and tonight they celebrated with a concert at Port Hercule. Get in the romantic Fourth of July spirit early with these stunning images of French electropop artist Jean Michel Jarre's sound and light show and the explosive fireworks over the water.
While every city and country has its own unique way of celebrating the new year, fireworks and sparkling lights seem to be universal. I thought it would be fun to take a virtual world tour of some of the lights and sights of New Year's Eve. So, even if you're hunkered down at home this evening, you can still say that you've celebrated internationally.
I'm ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, but must admit I am not a fan of the noise that accompanies fireworks — lovely as they may be. Those booming sounds can really damage the delicate structures in your ears; once they're damaged, they never regenerate and can't be repaired. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The loss is permanent and may cause impaired hearing or total loss of hearing down the road.
NIHL can be caused by one exposure to a loud noise such as an explosion, or by regular exposure over an extended period of time. If you continuously experience sounds over 85 decibels (dB) then a hearing aid may be in your future. Check out how some common sounds compare:
Rustling leaves: 10 dB
A whisper: 20 dB
Humming of a fridge: 40 dB
A conversation: 60 dB
Busy street traffic: 70 dB
Vacuum cleaner: 80 dB
Lawn mower: 90 dB
A large orchestra: 98 dB
To see how fireworks measure up read more
