Keep Your Face to the Sunshine

Fire in the Sky

I saw a challenge on my 365 Project to use the "Bulb" Setting, I had seen the word bulb pop up on my camera's read out before when I was using a long shutter speed, but I thought it was some sort of error message, low and behold it is not an error, but a super cool setting that allows you to manually control how long the shutter stays open...as long as you are holding the button down it takes the picture!!

It is the perfect setting for fireworks, so I knew I had to play around. Unfortunately my tripod is missing a piece and I was not going to the big fireworks display. I was not going to let that hold me back though. So here are my hand held, driveway fireworks shots...

This is a sparkling fountain, I framed the shot to the right of the main fountain to just get the sparks along the side and not the big stream coming up the middle.


This is the one shot I got of a large one exploding high in the sky, only a few of the local town display made it over the roof line, so I didn't have many chances, You can see the effects of not having a tripod in the squiggly lines...but I actually like the effect! :)


One of our fountains fell over and was shooting things sideways just above the pavement...I like the way it almost looks industrial, like a welding shot or something


This last one is my favorite, again just a ground fountain, I just love the colors on this one and with the tight framing it almost looks like a big finale in the sky rather than a little fountain!


Hope you all had a wonderful 4th!!!!

If you want to see more fireworks shots I am sharing these along with many other photographers at:

Love That Shot
Kent Weakley Photography
Sky Watch Friday
Chickens on the Moon

Tilt Back Your Head...

Camel's Back

A couple friends and I climbed Camel's Back to grab shots of the sunset. I was not planning on going so I was not prepared and my battery died after only 2 shots of the sunset, of course I did not have my spare battery. Luckily I got a few good shots before the sun went down along with my power.


As I drove home the moon came up, all orange and huge like a big wheel of cheddar in the sky, I came straight in the house, grabbed the extra battery and headed outside for a full moon shot, the first with my new lens!!

Chasing Neon...

It was a cold, wet, windy evening...but we had a Neon Photo Tour planned and we weren't letting the weather stop us!!! It was very informative for me to get out at night. I haven't used manual mode at night before with good results and with the help of Google and lots of fiddling I think I got it figured out.

I have more, but I will post them another time! :D

dPs Weekly Challenge: SIGNS

Sky Watch Friday

P52: Cabin Fever

We have had grey, windy cold days for the last little while here in Boise. Wednesday just before sunset the wind finally blew the clouds away for long enough to see blue sky. The sun was low on the horizon and touched the top of the clouds. It was beautiful! Too bad it was still Frfrfreeeeezing outside, so I had to just look out the window and wish I was out in the sun.

Historic Boise Photo Walk...

Tuesday evening I joined Amber Daley for her amazing Histora{c}ity Photo Walk through Downtown Boise, it was a truly amazing experience! I have seen the architecture of downtown, but never thought to look at it through a lens. What I found was surprising and beautiful!

Amazing buildings...

{Just Click to Enlarge any Photo}

and Alleys, who knew alleys could be so cool?




Of course the beauty is in the details...

Thanks for taking a look!

Magic Hour...

I have been enjoying a new App on my Droid called Magic Hour, so fun to play with different actions and make your own!! I played up a few of my sunset shots recently.

This was last week looking West in my backyard...


Here is a shot the next night looking East, the sun lit up the clouds on the other side of the sky!


And another quick Magic Hour photo...

I am in No ways a Green thumb, but Holly Hocks don't hate me, so they are my favorite flower to grow! :D