Trying Fireworks

Recently we went to a Minor League Baseball game, the Cedar Rapids Kernels, and after the game they had fireworks. They have fireworks after games through out the season so I can go back and try fireworks again and again.

I took pictures of the games and fireworks but want to share the firework photographs. I was hand holding the camera for all of these shots. I will talk about how I could improve them after the photos.

Fireworks one. iso 800, f/3.5, 1/20sec

Fireworks two. iso 800, f/3.5 1/20sec

Fireworks three, iso 800, f/3.5, 1/10sec

All of these photos have the same problems.

1- I had my shutter speed too slow. I should have had it at 2-4 sec which means that I would have needed a tripod of someplace to set my camera.
2- too low of f stop. A higher f stop would have helped because I would not over expose the image with a slower shutter speed.
3- lower iso. This would have allowed for longer shutter, lower noise and better quality image.

If I had done these I would have had more colors and longer tails which would be more interesting to look at and come closer to what we see with our eyes.

In images one and two more in the foreground would have helped make a more interesting by giving more dimension to the images, where as image 3 had things in the background that added interest.

I will try again with fireworks and share my results. While I did not photograph the firework well I did learn what I did wrong so I can improve next time.

A Beginning

I am going to try blogging again. This time I am going to write about something I have fun with and want to improve my skill at- Photography.

I am not much or a portait photographer but I do love taking photos of architure, nature and things around me. I am getting more into Macro photography.

Not all my posts will have photos but at least one a week will be a photograph. My assignment for the year is to post a photograph a week. This does not mean that all the photos will be good. It does mean that for one reason or another this is a photograph that I want to share. It maybe that there were mistakes in the photo or I am trying a new technique or it is one I like or it could be that I think it is good.

I will appreciate all comments, others looking and commenting on my work as well as passing on tips and links will help me to improve as a photographer.

As to my camera. I am using a Canon T2i. It fits my hands well and was afforable and has been very dependable. I have had very good luck in the past with Canon cameras. I have an old Canon Powershot that I took on a trip and unfortunately it was dropped on to a tiled concret floor several times and continued to work for a few more years.

My lens are: a EF-S 18-135mm and Canon EF 100mm Macro. I am looking at other lens but right now I have to wait a bit before I can buy another lens. I occassionally rent lens to try out so I can decide which lenses I would like to buy and will post my results and my opinion of the lens.

I think that I have rambled enough. Welcome to this adventure of this dangerous combination: A Mom (me) and a Camera.