Fireworks!

They did fireworks from Crystal Lake this year, which meant that I could stay home and photograph them from our bedroom window with my 250mm lens. I watched a YouTube video for my camera settings (Camera: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi; Exposure: 2 sec; Aperture: f/14.0; Focal Length: 250 mm; ISO Speed: 400), set up the tripod and was ready to go. I was supposed to use manual focus and set it on infinity, but there is no such setting on my 250mm lens so I used autofocus. I also forgot to set ISO to 100 and white balance to daylight. There were not as many fireworks this year, but it was good enough for me. After looking at professional photos of fireworks, I feel that these are very squiggly, but I'm satisfied. Next year I'll do better!

      Barton, Vermont 2010 Fireworks Set

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PhotoSunday: Fast

Shutter Priority: Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10); Aperture: f/10.0; Focal Length: 55 mm; ISO Speed: 200

John, Arthur and I walked up May Brook from the beaver ponds across the road towards May Pond. We didn't get far because Arthur had to return to New Hampshire. But it was beautiful and we saw new things. I lagged behind on the hike to experiment with shutter speeds and fast water to see if I could get the effect I wanted. I think I did. The first photo gives me the feeling I always have in the woods with John — calm contentment (it is also John's favorite effect with water). The photo below reproduces nature but without any memories attached to it.

UPDATE: I found two other water photos from the May Brook hike that I like better than this. I have posted them here.

Program Mode: Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/600): Aperture: f/5.6; Focal Length: 55 mm; ISO Speed: 500

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful Fourth of July!

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