Fireworks, Diwali 2019 – Austin, Texas

I’m finishing this year’s coverage of Diwali with fireworks. I experimented a lot with the Fujifilm X-T10 this year, but when the chips are down, I reach for my Olympus micro 4/3 systems. Tripods are slow and cumbersome. I needed to rely heavily on the best in-body image stabilization in the business for flexible shooting.

Last year, I made a fireworks photo that I liked so much, I got it printed, framed, and hung it on my wall. I was thinking of making something similar when I packed the Olympus PEN-F this year.

What resulted wasn’t nearly as dramatic — I didn’t find a visual striking couple for the foreground. But, what I did make this year looks particularly attractive in black and white. And, creating a monochrome of an inherently colorful subject makes it all the more unusual.

In reality, everyone knows what fireworks look like. Today’s photograph represents more of a mood than anything else, with the slight motion blur adding some dreaminess. The 1/2 second hand-held image is stable, though almost everything else in the frame is moving.

I have a free monthly newsletter that’s perfect for busy people. Signup for the Newsletter to get the best of my posts, old and new, plus additional content not available anywhere else.