Where To Go and What To Shoot in July

Annual Gettysburg Civil War Re-enactment

When: July 1-3.

Where: Gettysburg, PA.

What: Three days of battles and thousands of participants in Civil War-era garb kick off the photographic month with style.

Tip: Though the action comes close, it's never close enough to really use that wide-angle effectively. Zoom in, and single out moments in the field. Gunfire makes for dramatic backdrops.

For info: 717-338-1525; www.gettysburgreenactment.com.

Boston 4 Celebrations

When: July 4. Where: Boston.

What: The 23-minute Independence Day fireworks show in Beantown draws an average of 500,000 spectators annually for a perfect chance to grab candids and fireworks shots.

Tip: Cross over to the Cambridge side of the Charles River, and capture the fireworks above the Boston skyline. For our top five tips on shooting fireworks, go to www.PopPhoto.com/fireworks.

For info: 888-484-7677; www.july4th.org.

World's Largest Sockeye Salmon Run

When: First week of July.

Where: Katmai National Park & Preserve, AK. What: More than 2.4 million salmon swam through Brooks River last year to lay their eggs…and that meant up to 60 bears at a time were lined up every few feet along the riverbanks to feast.

Tip: The falls platform gives the best view to photograph bears with their mouths open, waiting for fish to jump in.

For info: 907-246-3305; www.nps.gov/katm.

Lumberjack World Championships

When: July 28-30.

Where: Hayward, WI.

What: Sawing, axe throwing, and log chopping competitions. Plus, chainsaws rigged with snow-mobile engines. These are not your everyday photos.

Tip: Tight spaces make tripods unwieldy, so stabilized zoom lenses are a must. Get down by the pole climbers for dramatic shots upward.

For info: 715-634-2484; www.lumberjackworldchampionships.com.