After weeks of brutal, back-breaking work putting in the back yard at our new house (moving dirt, spreading rock, and laying sod), my husband and I made the decision to have a nice, relaxing holiday at home. We planned on grilling up some pork chops (for the first time ever) and I had accepted the idea that this year may just be the year I don’t capture any cool fireworks shots. But that was okay because we needed a bit of a break.
As dusk approached, a nice breeze picked up, and we sat out on our back patio watching the sun set over the trees behind our property. Then it began, a fireworks show we couldn’t have planned for! There were big, beautiful fireworks being shot off in every direction around us. Some close. Some in the distance.
Not wanting to let this opportunity pass, I ran inside and grabbed my gear! I quickly set things up and was ready to capture some of the awesome color exploding around us. But then I realized something… with the city events I’m used to, I always know where to point my camera in order to fire off one shot after the other. These were going off so randomly that all I could do was point my camera in one direction and hope I captured something in the frame. Here are a few of the shots I was able to capture using my favorite de-focusing technique…
Nikon D7000 | 55-200mm lens at 155mm | f/13 | 1.6 sec | ISO 100
You should have seen me. I was like one of those fisherman that zips all over the lake trying to find that perfect fishing hole! After seeing a barrage of fireworks to the south, I would point my camera in that direction, only to wait. And wait some more. Hoping they were reloading and not finished for the night.
Nikon D7000 | 55-200mm lens at 65mm | f/13 | 2.5 sec | ISO 100
Then another bunch of fireworks would begin to the north, so I’d point my camera in that direction to try and capture something. Then what do you know, they’d stop, too!
Nikon D7000 | 55-200mm lens at 200mm | f/13 | 3.4 sec | ISO 100
This went on and on for over and hour. My husband and I got a good laugh and it turned into kind of a game… where were the next ones going to be? And could I frame my camera in time to capture something? I came away with some very unexpected and brightly colored shots and that’s always my goal when photographing fireworks, so I’d say it was a success! …especially when I wasn’t really prepared for any of it!
Nikon D7000 | 55-200mm lens at 150mm | f/13 | 3.2 sec | ISO 100
Granted, when photographing the big fireworks shows, I’m able to capture some amazing shots as they fire off one right after the other. But these shots right here, they’re a bit sentimental. They represent to my husband and I, our very first 4th of July at our new place. Fireworks being shot off in the same sky that drew us to this little piece of paradise in the first place. And I couldn’t ask for anything more!
Tell me, what did your 4th of July celebration look like? Did you capture any fireworks shots? I’d love to see what you came away with, leave me a comment below so I can leave you some love.
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