Shoot Abstract Photos of Fireworks with Long Exposures and No Tripod

There’s plenty of tutorials online teaching you the “proper” techniques for photographing fireworks, but have you ever tried shooting them “incorrectly” on purpose? When photography enthusiast Pete Rogina took his Canon 5D Mark II out to capture fireworks this past Independence Day, he decided to try “light painting” with the fireworks by shooting them at long exposures without a tripod, waving the camera so that the streaks of light would take on abstract shapes.

This might be something you could try your hand at if you’re ever shooting 4th of July fireworks and suddenly realize all your shots look exactly like last year’s.

Image credits: Photographs by Pete Rogina and used with permission