Canadutch
The view from my balcony last night as my neighbours brought in the New Year with a bang!
Every year on New Years Eve I am on my balcony in hopes of getting some good firework photos. Back in 2007 I was bummed because it was raining on NYE so not as many people were out. Also it made for very foggy weather. The fact that I was trying to get photos with my point and shoot didn’t help either. Without a tripod I didn’t have a chance of getting anything decent.
Then in 2008 it was really foggy so I thought I’d be clever and take video instead, knowing from my 2007 experience that I didn’t have a hope in hell of getting any good photos. What was not so clever though? Deleting the files off my camera before realizing that for some reason, the videos weren’t uploaded along with the few photos I did take. I was thankful for the noise of the fireworks, it drowned out my long string of screamed profanities.
Another photo of the same view. I didn’t catch the big one on the left fully, but I still like it.
This year I had two things going in my favor. Firstly, my new camera, a Sony A300 that I bought back in March. It’s my first digital SLR camera and it’s a very steep learning curve. I still consider myself a total beginner, but a beginner who is having bucket loads of fun with it.
Another thing that made all the difference was the Hama Star 63 Tripod my husband bought me for Christmas! When you start doing anything in regards to photography, everyone will tell you to get a tripod, and now I know why. I am generally a pretty unsteady and shaky person, so trying to get photos in any kind of low light situation is a nightmare. With the tripod it’s so much easier. I’ll definitely be dragging it with me most places in the future.
There weren’t as many fireworks this year at midnight as there have been other years. Maybe it’s the financial crisis, maybe it has something to do with them cracking down on the sale of illegal fireworks, I’m not sure. I do wish people would put more money into the beautiful, photo worthy fireworks to be set off at night than they do in the annoying, loud and unnecessary bangers and firecrackers they set off all day.
You can see all my firework photos, past and present, in my Fireworks Set on Flickr.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Tammy the pictures are beautiful, you could even frame some of them, I love them. I miss the fireworks over there a lot, I use to love them. Here they are a poor excuse for fireworks, too bad the doggies don’t enjoy them though.
.-= Melissa D´s last blog ..I thought I would never have to say/do this… =-.
So funny how we don’t realize the things we’ll miss while we are here. If I moved back to NS now I’d probably miss the fireworks too, even though I bitch about them every single year I still look forward to it!
Lovely photos, and a great view, in general! Congrats on the new equipment! I’d love to do more nighttime shots, but I definitely need a tripod before I even think halfway seriously about doing it.
I didn’t have much luck getting any good shots last night, but my attempts were a bit half-assed anyway, as they were taken from our bedroom window and interrupted by me trying to calm my poor dog who was not happy with the noise at all.
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Foto Vrijdag 2.0 =-.
The tripod really does make all the difference. I just took a little stool and my gear out on the balcony and loved not having all that hassle of trying to hold the camera steady myself (which I NEVER manage to do!).
Don’t even get me started on the dogs and fireworks. I was pretty sure I was gonna cut someone by yesterday at noon time with all the firecrackers. We had to sedate our dogs, very frustrating and sad for us to see them so upset, as I’m sure you understand!
I think we may have to sedate our dog next year, especially as he’s getting older. I was worried he’d have a heart attack last night during the display from midnight until 1 a.m. He was panting like crazy and quivering. It broke my heart!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Foto Vrijdag 2.0 =-.
Ours have acted like that in the past too. We spoke to the vet and they said they have to order a lot of extra sedative for the dogs because SO many people in the neighbourhood request it. Apparently it’s Xanax! Who knew dogs could take it too! Ours started pacing, panting, walking circles and climbing all over us at about 10am, we knew it was a good thing that we had it then. It kept them quite calm most of the day through the firecrackers, they did get a little antsy when I was running around getting photos, but once I settled down they did too :P
GREAT photos Tammy! Hubs just bought me a new camera yesterday! A Canon Rebel 500. And as you mentioned, I’m sure the learning curve will be steep so no really great photos last night for me.
The colours are really amazing – I love these!
.-= Renée´s last blog ..It’s time for a wrap up =-.
Hey awesome Renee!! I’m so chuffed for you that you got a new camera. I hope we’ll be seeing a lot of new photos from you in the new year then :D
Wow Tammy! Great job! The photos are gorgeous!!!!!!
Thank you! I went into it saying that I’d be happy if I got even just ONE that came out looking like something other than a colored splotch. So I’m pleasantly surprised! :)
Beautiful Pictures and Sweet Cam! Good location for fireworks too!
.-= Candee´s last blog ..Christmas =-.
Yeah we usually have a pretty good view over the neighbourhood on New Years. I’d love to some year go see the fireworks at the Erasmusbrug but I don’t think I’ll ever have the patience for those crowds!
BEAUTIFUL photos Tammy! next year Im going to set up my tripod and do the same thing! they came out perfect!
.-= Sonya´s last blog ..Dutch New Year =-.
Thanks Sonya! You really should give it a go, I quite enjoyed playing with the settings and learning a bit about how to do it.