I started out my holiday weekend enjoying fireworks in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. An area which used to be run down and useless. Over the last few years Syracuse has transformed it into a park area for concerts, festivals and, on this night, community fireworks in celebration of the birth of America.
Fireworks over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 25s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, 3-stop ND filter.
This was my first opportunity to use the Neutral Density filter on a non-Disney fireworks show. I flubbed the first few attempts early in the show as I did not wait for a series of bursts at various heights. These created the most interesting photos using the ND filter over a long span of time.
Two sets of bursts over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 31.5s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, 3-stop ND filter.
The next one probably would not have needed an ND filter. Once the top bursts had dispersed, they fired off the streamers you see below. Still, the filter gave me the confidence to keep the shutter open for 36.9 seconds.
A long exposure captured these bursts and streamers over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 36.9s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, 3-stop ND filter.
Did any of you go see fireworks this weekend?
Views Infinitum 
Beautiful shots, Scott! I do enjoy fireworks. None here this weekend, though!
LikeLike
Bummer…is there a day in the year Ireland uses fireworks in celebration?
LikeLike
Awesome shots. But why the 3-stop Neutral Density Filter. Wasn’t it dark enough? Besides the equipment, what is your process in taking fireworks photos?
LikeLike
Check out the links in the post, Scott. You’ll find my techniques I use. The reason for the ND filter for fireworks is to be able to hold open the shutter longer WITHOUT blowing out the colors. Get a lot more bursts in the exposure, too.
LikeLike
Thanks Scott. I don’t take fireworks photos very often but when I do I have kept the shutter open and placed a black silk cloth over the lens. lol I like your way much better.
LikeLike
Great shots, Scott! We found some fireworks to see yesterday, but unfortunately I didn’t have a tripod or anything to set the camera on, and the longest exposures I set, were 2 seconds (in years past, I’ve left the shutter open for more than a minute). Still got some cool shots, though. I think! At least they didn’t look too bad on the LCD. 😉
LikeLike
Glad you did, I heard a lot of firework shows in Texas were cancelled due to the hot and dry conditions.
LikeLike
Hmm, I thought I posted a comment here this morning from my iPod when I came and looked through Twitter. I must have done something wrong. Anyway, I love your shots! I also wanted to say thank you for your advice on shooting fireworks. I wouldn’t have known where to begin. My shots are not nearly as good as yours, but I think I took the best shots of fireworks I’ve ever taken before. I did go get that shutter release cable and I enjoyed being able to sit and enjoy the fireworks at the same time I clicked away.
LikeLike
Glad to be of help, Karma! Firework shows are challenging and fun to photograph. Yes, the cable release is a bit freeing once you get the camera set up.
LikeLike
Wow! They are really beautiful.
I can see that I should look for fireworks. I bought a ND filter but havent used it yet.
LikeLike
Yes, you should, Carsten. My only disappointment was there was no structure to use in the foreground. Well, none that I was smart enough to use. Others in the group I was with used people, larger water area for reflections and docked boats for better compositions.
LikeLike
Beautiful, Scott!
LikeLike
Thanks, Terry. Sorry to see the oil pipeline burst in your state over the weekend. 😦
LikeLike
Very festive and beautiful ! I love to see the various patterns and shades you captured in those fireworks.
LikeLike
Thanks, Isa! These were the best of the lot where I found the bursts just right.
LikeLike
Nicely done! The first shot is my fav.
LikeLike
Scott, Love the shots. I can see now that the ND filter can be use in numerous occasions, sounds like a good investment.
LikeLike