Since the new year is coming up, I’m sure many of you are itching to take pictures of fireworks. If you’ve read Jayvee’s post on the World Pyro Olympics, you might be excited to shoot there too. Mind you, getting a good shot isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either.

My best tip for you is to use a tripod - this will minimize, if not eliminate, camera shake. If you have one, use a remote shutter release as well. These two tools will ensure that your camera stays perfectly still during your shots.

Of course, if the ground moves, or if somebody else nudges your tripod, that’s pretty much beyond your control. Then again, this is where another tip comes in handy - scout your location beforehand. You want to make sure that nobody else can ruin your shot but you. Stay away from spots where other people can hit your camera or even get in the way of the lens. Of course, in an event like the Pyro Olympics, finding this spot might be difficult.

I’ve got a few more tips in mind, but they’ve already been tackled by Darren Rowse in his article on photographing fireworks. Yes, our problogging guru is also, via the Digital Photography School, a photography guru. No, he isn’t a pro photographer - I guess that’s why he writes in a way that, at least in my opinion, can be understood even by those who aren’t interested in photography. Check it out - it’s one of the sites I visit regularly.

Once you’re done reading his tips, go grab your cameras - I’m sure some of you received brand-new ones this Christmas. Put them to good use and shoot some fireworks this New Year.