My Favorite Holiday Is...

[SciurusNiger]

...the 4th of July.

And what better way to learn to work with the big new bazooka lens than at the annual family get-together at my mom's house, where after stuffing our Selves on a great grilled feast we sit and watch the city's fireworks show from the no-fuss comfort of her driveway. The same way we've done it for the last...oh, let's just say we've done it for a LOT of years.


http://SciurusNiger.smugmug.com/photos/325461926_V9ms8-L.jpg


http://SciurusNiger.smugmug.com/photos/325462104_JD8Dj-L.jpg


http://SciurusNiger.smugmug.com/photos/325462059_YbcVK-L.jpg


What would a fireworks display be without a hell-breaking-loose grand finale?

http://SciurusNiger.smugmug.com/photos/325462013_WF7f7-L.jpg

Yee-haw!

[scottV]

those are great, i feel like im right in the middle of it all. As I was sitting there watching tonight with my 24-70 they seemed so far away, wishing i had brought the 400 to really get some good detail. what were your settings?

[anwmn1]

I like these as well. I would like to see your exif too.

I found myself wanting 2 tripods. One for wide and one for zoom.

Maybe next show.

[SciurusNiger]

Thanks! It's definitely a different kind of shooting. :)

We were so close that I stayed at 200mm, ISO 200. All are 0 EV. I always shoot RAW.

#1: 1/25, f5

#2: 1/160, f4

#3: 1/125, f4

#4: 1/50, f4

This is deceptive, though, because the D2Xs allows multiple image layering in-camera so the finale shot (for sure) is a 6-shot composite. I started using the image layering about halfway through the show, so think the first one is a single image, the 2nd and 3rd are 3 layers, and the last one is 6.

In post, I removed all the camera's software display settings, cropped to 8x10, adjusted levels, and ran the smart sharpen at .6px and 200%; then used the plain sharpen filter (fading it if necessary).

[eL eSs Vee]

These are great! I feel like I'm right there in the middle of the explosions! :thumb :clap