Skyflower

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted July 2, 20101,045 views24 comments

We visited Bighorn Canyon National Rec Area last week, and were lucky enough to witness their annual 4th of July celebration. For some reason they do this a week early, maybe so they can go somewhere else? Not sure really, but it was amazing to witness, and we totally lucked out. Pictures do fireworks shows little justice as half of the experience is the sound. This location even more so as they used some concussive rounds that boomed off of the canyon walls behind them. You could hear it echoing down the reservoir for miles. Totally awesome. Just glad I had the chance to see it.

Found a flower for some foreground. For whatever reason 90 percent of the people were down at the marina, so my wife and I had this section completely to ourselves. ISO 800, f9, Multiple exposures (between 16 and 1/2 second), blending via screen overlays in photoshop. Really quite easy. ;]

Thanks for looking. And to everyone Happy 4th of July!

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on July 2, 2010 at 5:51 PM

That's a great fireworks shot! The comp with the flower is very well done.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 2, 2010 at 6:15 PM

This is great, and fun too!. Nice work Nicolaus. Happy 4th to you too.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on July 2, 2010 at 7:36 PM

Wonderfully executed image. So much to enjoy from foreground to background and back again.

Love how you found your own spot away from the madding crowd to enjoy the show.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on July 3, 2010 at 6:44 AM

Very well done! Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 3, 2010 at 2:38 PM

A really nice composite image and I like the lighting in the FG. It would have been preferred to my eye for the flowers to be a little off center but otherwise this is nice and a good inspiration.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on July 4, 2010 at 2:26 AM

This is really nice!

Great shot! No fireworks up here, it doesn't get dark enough to do them justice, and they are illegal most places because of starting forest fires.....but right now it's raining, so.........have a happy one.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 5, 2010 at 8:29 PM

Wonderful display and blending of the successive rounds.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 5, 2010 at 9:57 PM

Super image. Great that you fought the urge to follow the crowd and instead took a more unique vantage point. Nice technical achievement putting the multiple exposures together expertly.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on July 5, 2010 at 11:25 PM

well worth the effort to blend the exposures, I like the flower as a foreground item, and the multiple blasts at varying levels adds tons of color and interest

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on July 6, 2010 at 12:31 PM

Too cool! Great idea and execution. Congrats on the EP.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on July 6, 2010 at 2:55 PM

Congratulations, Nicolaus, on winning the weekly pick. This is awesome.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on July 6, 2010 at 6:12 PM

Definitely a winner!! Congrats!!!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 6, 2010 at 6:48 PM

Congratulations Nicholas on the EP! Excellent capture!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 6, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Beautiful shot!
Congrats on the EP!
and fine technical work..
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Miro Susta on July 7, 2010 at 1:11 AM

Beautiful image. Congratulations Nicolaus.

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on July 7, 2010 at 10:23 AM

Stunning and original. Just great! Congratulations.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on July 7, 2010 at 11:26 AM

Cool shot, the overlays work so well together. Congrats on the EP too!

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Roane on July 7, 2010 at 12:15 PM

Congrats on the EP Nicolaus. This is fantastic and the flowers make it more than the average fireworks shot. You found a great spot. I live in Billings, and would love to know exactly where this was shot for reference for next year. Is this above the dam on the Montana side, and is that the ok-a-beh marina?

Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on July 8, 2010 at 7:48 AM

superb, with the flowers in FG. well done.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on July 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM

Like the foreground which helps lead you into the frame. Great job capturing the fireworks, they are beautiful.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on July 8, 2010 at 10:21 PM

Thanks for the EP!

Doug, sorry for the late reply. Wife and I have been up in the Winds for the past week. To answer your question, this shot was taken on the Wyoming side of BCNRA. I believe this event is held every year, a week before the 4th of July, at the Horseshoe Bend Campground area. While you're there, be sure to take the time to venture into the Pryor Mountain Range and check out the wild horses. They are pretty flippin awesome.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on July 10, 2010 at 12:19 PM

nice technique you apply here

lovely

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Mervyn Dublin on July 15, 2010 at 3:45 PM

Well captured!

Registered on September 23, 2009, 42 Posts, 110 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Lessard on July 25, 2010 at 11:59 PM

Great job! I love it. Particularly how the form of the flower petals is echoed by many of the fireworks. Quite impressive!

Registered on January 14, 2009, 38 Posts, 219 Comments