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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.