July 4th - i Suck at Using a DLSR 2

So, yesterday was some kind of a holiday (or something in the US), i think.  i don't view it as a birthday for a country (really, still celebrating after 200 years - i though females stopped having birthdays when they hit 29.  Countries are often referred to in feminine ways).   So, i view it as a firework holiday.  To paraphrase a Simpsons show... what better way to celebrate the birthday of a country than by blowing up a small part of it.


Anyway, i may or may not have a DSLR (Nikon D3100 - an entry entry level DSLR camera).  If i do have a DSLR, which i am not explicitly admitting, i am not good at using it.  i would probably just be shooting everything in full auto anyway (and the pictures wouldn't be that good anyway). 

Why am i so bad at using a theoretical DLSR?  i am kind of unfamiliar with the modes of operations and what the settings should be in specific instances.  i can't adequately tell light gradiations - so that could be a problem (especially with aperature).  i kind of  blur any shot that has less than 1/50 of a second shutter speed (or 1/25th).

i looked online and they recommended taking firework pictures at: f8-11 aperature, ISO 100-200, 2-8 second shutter speed or so (way too slow).  i guess a tripod probably would have been a good idea too (and turning off auto focus).  You may ask yourself (though you probably won't) what would happen if this entity took some shots in manual mode. It would be a metaphorical train wreck, right?  Maybe there will be a bonus shot or several in auto mode. 

Full Auto