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This year for the Fourth of July fireworks I tried a new technique that I read about in several various posts around the web. The basic premise is to use focus to create blur around a fireworks explosion. I set my focus at just short of infinity and then refocused after tripping the shutter. I used shutter speeds of 1 and 2 seconds at f5.6 and f8 to experiment with this technique.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
Click on any image to enlarge it in another window.
I finished all the images in Aperture 3 and really cranked up the sharpening both in the RAW file and in the finished image. I also played around a lot with the Saturation, Luminance and Range sliders in the individual color channels to intensify the colors.
All in all I am better satisfied with these fireworks images than any I have attempted in the past. I think I’ll work on refining the technique the next time a fireworks opportunity presents itself.
WOW! Beautiful shots! Thanks for the tips….I definitely want to try that!
Thank you Karen I’m glad you think it was helpful too.
absolutely beautiful! Love them. They look like flowers. You did a great capture of them. Thanks for sharing. Reba
Thank you Reba.
Wow, great! Quite honestly, I get tired of fireworks photos because they all tend to look alike, but now you’ve developed something out of the ordinary. Can’t wait to see more!
Thanks Nancy. I have to say I didn’t come up with the idea I just tried applying the technique. I did it because fireworks are quite often cliched and uninteresting subject matter.
Wow! Awesome! Wonderful! Great! Very nice!
Thanks Gerlyn.
I used the same technique this year with similar results! I especially like cosmic dust! Beautiful.
Thanks Sari I think with practice I can learn to better employ the technique.
Nice shots Nick, like to see some of your Arizona road trip images.
These are beautiful! I love the ‘cosmic dust’ one.
Thanks Karen. I can see how Cosmic Dust would appeal to you. Thanks for taking time to comment.