Swaffs
6th of November 2006 (Mon), 08:26
Ok, this was my third year trying firework photography, the family and I decided to goto Leeds Castle (in Kent) on Sat 04/11 for the 'Firework Spectacular' I thought this would be a fantastic location to shoot with the moat and castle etc.
We had to book months in advance and it cost around £40 for the family.
There were 18000 people there, so you can imagine the crowds. a 80 mile each way drive coupled with the queue to get out!
The view was very scenic with the castle and moat etc (well as long as you were at the front)I would have had to get there about 3 hours before the event to get a front line photographic position, so ended up about 20ft back in the crowd with camera at eye level on tripod.
The organisers were unlucky with the weather as it was a perfectly clear still night. Which meant there was a huge cloud of smoke after 10 minutes, that just hung over the castle hiding all the fireworks. Perhaps the 30 minute delay in starting was waiting for some wind!
As for the fireworks we did see, they were ok, nothing amazing. Seen them all before, in fact once we got home the fireworks in Morden park were just as good (and they were more in time with the music!) and we can watch them for free from the garden.
I took the 20D with a 24-70 Sigma f/2.8 Lens and shot in TV or Manual at 1-6 seconds iso ~200 Manual focus at a bit back from infinity, I tried to keep the apeture around 5 as it enabled keeping the castle in focus.
Photos:
#1:at first the skies were nice and clear
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0060.jpg
#2: However the smoke quickly settled
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0180.jpg
#3:blinded!
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0101.jpg
#4:Did manage to get a few reasonable shots
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0157.jpg
#5:Probably my favourite from the night, it was big enough to burst through the smoke
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0210.jpg
#6: The fireworks visible from the garden
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0263.jpg
Many more >>HERE (http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=64)<<
C&C very welcome
Next year we are going to drive home to Plymouth for the fireworks where they are always better, probably for the Championships.
Thanks for looking
Rich Swaffs
We had to book months in advance and it cost around £40 for the family.
There were 18000 people there, so you can imagine the crowds. a 80 mile each way drive coupled with the queue to get out!
The view was very scenic with the castle and moat etc (well as long as you were at the front)I would have had to get there about 3 hours before the event to get a front line photographic position, so ended up about 20ft back in the crowd with camera at eye level on tripod.
The organisers were unlucky with the weather as it was a perfectly clear still night. Which meant there was a huge cloud of smoke after 10 minutes, that just hung over the castle hiding all the fireworks. Perhaps the 30 minute delay in starting was waiting for some wind!
As for the fireworks we did see, they were ok, nothing amazing. Seen them all before, in fact once we got home the fireworks in Morden park were just as good (and they were more in time with the music!) and we can watch them for free from the garden.
I took the 20D with a 24-70 Sigma f/2.8 Lens and shot in TV or Manual at 1-6 seconds iso ~200 Manual focus at a bit back from infinity, I tried to keep the apeture around 5 as it enabled keeping the castle in focus.
Photos:
#1:at first the skies were nice and clear
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0060.jpg
#2: However the smoke quickly settled
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0180.jpg
#3:blinded!
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0101.jpg
#4:Did manage to get a few reasonable shots
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0157.jpg
#5:Probably my favourite from the night, it was big enough to burst through the smoke
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0210.jpg
#6: The fireworks visible from the garden
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/albums/Fireworks2006-web/Swaffs-Fireworks06-0263.jpg
Many more >>HERE (http://www.swaffs.co.uk/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=64)<<
C&C very welcome
Next year we are going to drive home to Plymouth for the fireworks where they are always better, probably for the Championships.
Thanks for looking
Rich Swaffs