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Fireworks

Fireworks make for a fantastic subject for photography. The general technique for taking photos of fireworks is to use a long exposure, so that the image captures multiple fireworks in one go. This makes for some rather striking images!

31 December 1999 - 1 January 2000, Leica R6.2, Elmarit-R 28mm f/2.8, 60sec @ f/8, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

Middlesbrough welcomes the Millennium! And yes the date range shown is correct which at first glance seems odd, as photographs are usually created in a fraction of a second. This is a very unique photograph, possibly the most unique one I have ever taken or indeed ever likely to take. The location is at the top of Eston hills, overlooking the town of Middlesbrough, on New Year’s Eve 1999, the last day of the 20th century. I opened the camera shutter at thirty seconds to midnight, closing it one minute later, which was thirty seconds into New Year’s Day. So the photograph began in one millennium and ended in the next, capturing the fireworks going off in the town. Hence the date range!

I attempted a similar photo 25 years later, on the eve of the year 2025; I was in Kendal that day on the grounds of Kendal Castle, but it was very windy, so it wasn’t possible. Makes me appreciate the stillness of the night in 1999 all the more!

The following photos were all taken at large-scale organised firework displays.

Photograph details unknown - 1995 (presumably 5 November), film Fujichrome.

With the firework displays being large-scale events, in specific locations, I have tried to include some of the natural environment with street lighting, which seems to work well.

5 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Minolta 28mm f/2.8, 30sec @ f/5.6, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

5 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Minolta 28mm f/2.8, 30sec @ f/5.6, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

5 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Minolta 28mm f/2.8, 60sec @ f/5.6, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

5 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Minolta 28mm f/2.8, 120sec @ f/8, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

A stroke of luck with this one! See the three lines of light going up to the top right? This was an aeroplane, that just happened to fly over as my camera shutter was open, so it recorded the lights of the plane as it passed overhead. Also note the spots of light on the left line, this was a flashing light on the plane. Really pleased with this one!

5 November 1997, Minolta 9000, Minolta 28mm f/2.8, 105sec @ f/8, Fujichrome Velvia ISO 50.

Photograph details unknown - 1995 (presumably 5 November), film Fujichrome.

Ground-based spotlights add to the dramatic look of this photo.

Photograph details unknown for both photos above - 1993 (presumably 5 November), film Fujichrome.

Interesting silhouette effect with the people and trees.

Photograph details unknown - 1995 (presumably 5 November), film Fujichrome.

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Exposure details unknown - 1995 (presumably 5 November), film Fujichrome, 28mm f/2.8 + 0.42 fisheye converter (effective focal length 12mm)

I used the special fisheye converter to give the bendy effect, which gives a unique perspective.