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Posts Tagged ‘Falls Church’

Event, Personal, Photography, Technology | 0 comment

Fireworks Photo Tips

Fireworks show in Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media
Fireworks show in Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media

Falls Church, Virginia

If you follow any photography blogs, they probably have a post of ‘Fireworks Photo Tips’ this week. Obviously, this site is focused on photos, so here is my take! Firstly, I enjoy watching fireworks shows. Since it is both an audio, and visual experience, I do not want to spend the entire night concentrating on photos. Thus, I make my setup flexible for me to both capture images while enjoying the show live. As can be seen in the following photo, this is my setup:

DSLR set up for a fireworks show ©TimeLine Media
DSLR set up for a fireworks show ©TimeLine Media

At this time, I mounted the camera on a tripod with a 24mm wide-angle lens. Additionally, I installed a remote release so that I could open the shutter without having my hand on the camera. This is the small cord coming out of the left of the camera body. For camera settings, I have the shutter speed set on ‘bulb’. When you have the camera in this mode, you can control when the shutter opens and closes by pressing on the remote release.

With this in mind, I point the camera in the direction of where I think the fireworks will be exploding overhead. With the wide angle lens, there is a good chance that I will get the fireworks in the frame. Moreover, in your post-processing application, you can crop to a nice composition later. Since the backgrounds are dark and the subjects are just streaks of light, these files can handle a lot of cropping.

When I see the firework shot into the sky, I press the remote to open the shutter. Soon after the brightest flash, I close the shutter again to capture the full explosion. You will likely have to spot check during the show to see a result. However, don’t take too long! Adjust your timing quickly so you can go back to watching the show at the same time. Happy 4th!

Fireworks photo tips from a previous year's July 4 show ©TimeLine Media
Fireworks photo tips from a previous year's July 4 show ©TimeLine Media
Fireworks photo tips from a previous year’s July 4 show ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Photography, Travel | 0 comment

Quarantine 4 – Water Long Exposure

Water Long Exposure of Holmes Run Creek ©TimeLine Media
Holmes Run Creek after an afternoon rain ©TimeLine Media

Falls Church, VA

During our daily walk, I wanted to test water long exposure images since we have a large creek in the neighborhood. In addition to practicing, this more casual photography helps my planning and pre-visualizing skills. When I made some images low to a running creek, I started planning on another shoot with different gear and conditions.

Running stream on sunny afternoon ©TimeLine Media

In the light of this first example, I knew that I was there at the wrong time. Now that there was some strong sunlight coming through the trees, it would be difficult to get a long exposure of the flowing water. To get what I needed I would have to come back on a different day. Specifically, I would need a time when the light was not as strong. With this in mind, I waited until an overcast / rainy day to try again.

Water Long Exposure

Water Long Exposure of Holmes Run Creek ©TimeLine Media
Bridge over Holmes Run Creek ©TimeLine Media

Subsequently, I brought out the tripod and planned to set it with longer exposures in mind. For what I was planning hand-holding the camera would not be an option. For these, I think it was successful. However, I already have some ideas to make them even better. Just waiting for another rainy day!

Large branch in a running stream ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Commercial, Personal, Photography | 0 comment

Quarantine 3 – America Strong

Blue Angels flying over Falls Church, Virginia - May 2, 2020 ©TimeLine Media
Blue Angels flying over Falls Church, Virginia – May 2, 2020 ©TimeLine Media

Falls Church, Virginia

Earlier this month, the America Strong flyovers started over the East Coast of the US. With attention to saluting first responders, hospital workers, who are on the front line of this disease, these planes flew to lift spirits. Moreover this was another reminder that working together is the only way we will get through this difficult time.

USAF Thunderbirds performing their America Strong flyover Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media
USAF Thunderbirds performing their America Strong flyover Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media

Since I had a few days notice, I scouted a few different places to see the teams flyover. The teams released flyover maps, so in general I had an idea where they would be overhead. When I was looking for a spot, some were nice, but had large powerlines. Some, I thought had trees that were very tall. In summary, there are obstacles, that I never saw while casually traveling through the neighborhood.

USAF Thunderbird flyover - Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media

In this case, I decided that just going across the street would be the best place to catch the flyover. As for camera gear, I put my iPhone on a tripod to get video and sound of the flyover while I had two still cameras ready. One had a longer 70-200mm telephoto lens, and one a normal 24-70mm zoom lens.

America Strong Flyover

Blue Angels America Strong flyover in Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media

Reviewing the video, this flyover lasted only a few seconds! While the teams were over downtown Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA, I could hear them approaching. Even though I had three cameras available, I only had time to use the telephoto lens. Knowing that there would only be one pass, I got as many photos as they were overhead. Although 200mm was the longest lens I had, it was still a bit short without large cropping in the final images.

Blue Angels America Strong flyover in Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media

By all means, this was not the best photos from this flyover. Similar to other photo shoots, it is important to review afterwards to see how things could have been done better. I hope I would get better results with a different shooting position, and a longer focal length. I hope all of you are staying safe, and I look forward to getting out and seeing you in person soon!

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

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