Alamogordo Fireworks

[SenorNikonMan]

This is my first attempt at fireworks photos with my D200. I took these photos in Alamogordo, N.M. on the way back from our Colorado vacation last week. I didn't have a remote release of any kind with me so I didn't use the bulb setting on my camera. Instead I used shutter speeds of between 10 & 30 seconds at different f/stops in manual mode. I did of course have my camera on a tripod for all of these.

These were all taken with my Nikon 18 - 200mm VR lens set at 18mm. That's because I was almost directly under the fireworks as they were going off. As a matter of fact, there were burning embers falling all around me and the fire department ran me off about halfway through the show. Fortunately I was able to find a spot not too far from where I originally set up to shoot the rest of the show.

I have cropped these a bit and resized them for use here, but that is pretty much all I've done to them. I shot both in RAW and in Large/Fine jpeg. I had my white balance set to Automatic.

Your critiques and comments are welcome.

[Asmarlak]

This is my first attempt too.

[GB1]

I think they're good as pure fireworks shots. Nothing wrong with that either; quite colorful, good angle. What I've found over the years of shooting them is to include an interesting foreground or such though -- too bad you couldn't incorporate some White Sands dunes in there too (but I know they close and kick you out at sunset ).

Can't blame the fire dept from being concerned I suppose... it wouldn't be fun to have some embers come down and catch your hair on fire.

G

[gahspidy]

SenorNikonMan , these are very nice but i think the crops are too tight in all of them. I would prefer to see a looser crop.
Good stuff, glad you didn't catch on fire . . .

[SenorNikonMan]

SenorNikonMan , these are very nice but i think the crops are too tight in all of them. I would prefer to see a looser crop.
Good stuff, glad you didn't catch on fire . . .

Fair enough. Here are the same pics uncropped.

While I wasn't too worried about catching on fire, the fact that I was set up among the cactus and brush at the base of the mountain they were shooting these fireworks from did cause me to worry about the loud noises scaring up some snakes or other wildlife that might've been in the area. I didn't have a flashlight with me so I found myself looking around on the ground every time a firework lit up the area enough for me to see what might be trying to sneak up on me.

The things we do for our photography. :crazy:

[gahspidy]

Yes, I like the uncrops more but an even looser crop with an expansive sky would be nice.
Don't get me wrong though, i like them and feel they are very good but just giving you my two cents for what I think could make an improvement.
I can relate to your story of the shoot. While I can't say that I have been in any situation as potentially dangerous as that, i do find myself trespassing quite alot and always thinking i'm gonna get a bullet in the back one day.
BTW, there is a thread in our Viewfinder forum about fireworks shots. I don't recall seeing you images in that thread but I think you should post them there as well and share them with our other members who may not pass by this forum for a while.
4th July Fireworks anyone else shoot any?

[gahspidy]

This is my first attempt too.

Asmarlak, pretty nice shots. You should also post in the Viewfinder forum thread as well
4th July Fireworks anyone else shoot any?

Please start a thread of your own in the critique forum if you would like comments on your photo. This thread belongs to SenorNikonMan. You may comment on his works and offer constructive critique, but please save your images for your own threads.
Thanks,

[SenorNikonMan]

Yes, I like the uncrops more but an even looser crop with an expansive sky would be nice.
Don't get me wrong though, i like them and feel they are very good but just giving you my two cents for what I think could make an improvement.
I can relate to your story of the shoot. While I can't say that I have been in any situation as potentially dangerous as that, i do find myself trespassing quite alot and always thinking i'm gonna get a bullet in the back one day.
BTW, there is a thread in our Viewfinder forum about fireworks shots. I don't recall seeing you images in that thread but I think you should post them there as well and share them with our other members who may not pass by this forum for a while.
4th July Fireworks anyone else shoot any?

Thanks for the tip and the critiques. I just posted these pics in the Fireworks thread in the Viewfinder forum. Since I am still fairly new to this site, I wasn't sure where to post them so I decided to post them here to get some feedback.

As for the looser crop and more expansive sky, I wish I could've gotten more of the sky in but even with my lens' focal length set at 18mm, I was just too close. I was lucky to find the spot I did because I didn't find out about the fireworks until shortly before they started and I was in a hurry to get set-up somewhere away from the crowd of people and the street lights. I ended up parking in a no parking zone and walking a bit to find a secluded spot in front of the spot people told me the fireworks would be going off.

I really wasn't sure if my car would still be there or not when I got back as it could've been towed away. I can just imagine my wife's reaction had that happened. Especially since we were just passing through Alamogordo on our way home to Texas.

Anyway, thanks again for your critique and thanks to the others that have commented on my photos.