ISO Speed: 400
Aperture Value: f/4.0
Shutter Speed: 15 seconds
Focal Length: 28mm
Lens: 28-90mm
There's a cute story behind this shot. First of all, this was taken without a tripod (a no-no when it comes to shooting fireworks). I had just returned from Grandma and Grandpa's house when my younger brother, Andy, said he wanted to go shoot some fireworks out in the street. He had bought some illegal fireworks so I decided that it couldn't hurt too much. If there was a problem then there would be more than one person to go call for help if there was a problem. Andy set up this rig he created for shooting mortars at the end of the driveway. I stood down the street about fifty feet. He asked if I was ready and I said that I was. He lit the fuse, dropped the mortar and ran. I stood ready with my camera. There was a malfunction with the explosive!
The mortar detonated prematurely. This is a shot of the firework as it exploded directly over my head about fifty feet off of the ground. :d There was a massive "boom" like what you'd expect from the fireworks that cities use. The concussion felt like a hammer trying to drive me and my camera into the pavement. He asked if I was alright and I said that I was undamaged. We both decided that he wouldn't shoot anymore of those that evening. I went in the house and found that the camera was undamaged (thankfully). I reviewed the shot. "This one's a keeper!"
This work was released July 5, 2005 12:20 AM and can be found in the following galleries: Photography , Photography: Fireworks .