4th Of July: What You Need To Photograph On Independence Day
It’s nearly Independence Day, and you know what that means? Yes, yes, celebrate America’s independence, yada yada, but it also means photo opportunities!
The 4th of July is one of the most exciting days for any red, white and blue-blooded American, and for photographers, it creates some brilliant opportunities to get out your phone and capture the festivities.
You can even make a photo book out of it. Of course, you’re not likely to take hundreds of photos on a single day – unless you’ve had a bit too much celebratory Root Beer that morning – so it’s also an excellent opportunity to utilize our square photo book and create something cute, streamlined and neat for your bookshelf!
But, with this in mind, what photographs should you be taking exactly, and what’s the best way to capture them?
Well, just for you, we’ve concocted a quick list of ten things to photograph on Independence Day and how to photograph them. So, let’s get straight into it.
Channel Your Inner Lana Del Rey
One of the most iconic American singers is Lana Del Rey. She’s known for her affinity with America, and she has several American flag photo shoots under her belt too. So why not channel her energy and get some American flag pictures of your own?
The best thing about our flag is that it’s so photogenic. No matter what device you’re photographing from, the American flag's colors will always pop and stand out in a portfolio of Independence Day pictures.
Heat, Heat, Heat
Remember, Independence Day takes place on the 4th of July, so it will be pretty hot! Remember the importance of getting the season into your photographs, including blue skies, sunny landscapes, and perhaps even some beach pictures.
Parades – If You’re Near Any
Another great thing about Independence Day is the carnival-like atmosphere. In line with this atmosphere, there are always several Independence Day parades around the country, so if you live nearby, make sure you go out and snap up some festival photographs whilst they’re passing along!
Foodie Pics
What else is good about Independence Day? Well, the food, obviously. Are you even American if you don’t enjoy barbecued hot dogs or those special Independence Day pancake stacks? Nurturing your inner foodie is what the 4th of July is all about, so make sure that you don’t only indulge, but capture all of the best Independence Day recipes while doing so!
Red, White And Blue Colour Scheme
Color schemes are always important, especially if you’re creating a portfolio for a photo book maker. Not only do they draw the viewer in, but they also give a photo book coherency and help tell the story of the event itself. What are the colors of Independence Day, you ask? Red, white, and blue. Duh!
Don’t Forget The Pets!
If you’re in doubt of your photography skills, there’s two things you can do. One, visit our blog on how to take better photographs. Failing that, bring out your pets. Seriously, it doesn’t matter what your pictures are like; if there are pets involved, they’re going to be brilliant. Even more so if you get your pets in on the American flag action, perhaps with a little doggie cape or a dog coat for when the evening gets chilly!
The Gathering
The other important thing about Independence Day is, of course, family. It’s a bit of a sad truth, but most of us don’t spend nearly enough time with the whole family, so opportunities like this should be cherished. Make sure you take as many family photographs as possible.
Close-Up Sparklers
When testing your photography skills, a good way to do it is with some close-up sparkler shots. We don’t know how it started, but sparklers have become a staple of Independence Day, and the best photographs are the ones that capture sparklers up close, preferably with an excitable kid having the time of their life along with it!
The Fireworks – But Not The Fireworks
This one’s a bit tricky, but if you’re the photographer we think you are, you should be up for a challenge. One of the mistakes many photographers make – especially on Independence Day – is taking photographs of the fireworks. But these photographs are boring. Seriously, they are.
Without the pops and the bangs, fireworks are simply little glares of light in front of a black background. For this reason, you should attempt to photograph the fireworks through the eyes of the observers. Try to capture reflections, the world around them turning green, blue, red, or beautiful silhouettes of your family against the gorgeous, flaring lights.
Your Country As You Know It
Lastly, if you want to take good Independence Day photographs, capture America through your eyes. The best photography always has a personal stamp on it, so think about your America – or what you recognise as distinctly American – and go from there. That’s the best way to honor your country… and make a pretty good photo book whilst you’re at it!
