July Theme Challenge – Fireworks & Street Photography

Posted on June 21, 2024 by tgawalt

For this month, July 2024, it’s an information packed dual theme challenge; “Fireworks“ and “Street Photography“. We’re publishing this post more than a week early so you have a chance to review the information and to prepare/practice for your Fireworks challenge for example; Canada Day July 1st or Independence Day July 4th in the United States where there is a chance to experience fireworks in your area.

Please leave a comment to let us know your Country and when the national holiday takes place so we can appreciate your celebration and receive some education at the same time (thank you for sharing in advance).

With typically only one evening during July to get a chance to shoot “Fireworks”, we thought it would make sense to have an alternative challenge, “Street Photography”, to give you more opportunity to capture an image this month. Note you can choose to present your images in either Colour or Monochrome. The above fireworks image shown was taken, with a Canon 5DmkII, f/10, 4sec, ISO 100, @28mm, in our local area, Deep Cove on the Aspotogan Peninsula Nova Scotia which is appreciated each year made possible from local donations with local volunteers and our Fire Department running the event.

Fireworks

General Starting tips: Fireworks can be shot using various methods and techniques however I prefer to use the following approach;

typically choose a lens with a focal length between 24mm – 100mm
an aperture setting between f/5.6 and f/11
a shutter speed between 2sec – 5 sec
with an ISO setting between 100 – 200
a wired shutter release, and a tripod
white balance should typically be set between daylight (5200) to shade (7500) depending on your scenario, however you may need to go lower even down to Tungsten (3200) if there are street and building lights in your scene
setup your tripod and make sure your camera is level.
turn off image stabilization
enable highlight alert
know how to put your camera in Live View mode
manual focus works best

Pre-focus where the fireworks are going to be lit, be careful not to touch your lens focus ring once you have acquired focus. Alternatively you can use auto focus once the fireworks start then switch to manual once you have acquired focus, again be careful not to touch your lens focus ring once you have established focus. Press the shutter when the fireworks starts rising, once the shutter time has elapsed check your image to make sure you’re image is as expected. Make any necessary adjustments to; Shutter Speed, ISO, Aperture as necessary, and composition then catch the next one and repeat.

Get to know your Camera is Important: Before the day of the fireworks, practice spending time with your camera so you are able to change the Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, and switch between playback and live view mode while working in the dark.

Additional tips to consider:

Check with your local organizations to find out when the fireworks are scheduled in your area and how to get notified of a cancellation due to rain or foggy weather, Facebook is usually a great platform for this.
It’s best to arrive 30 – 45 minutes minutes before dark so you can find the exact location where the fireworks will originate from and where the viewing areas are.
You may experience keeping the area in front of you clear as people may just walk right in front of you. Just explain what you are doing and be courteous working with them to resolve the issue.
Setup your tripod first and get it as level as possible. Then mount your camera and adjust your tripod head for your composition and horizontal level as possible. Turn off image stabilization. Consider including a foreground for sense of place if it is bright enough, an example would be water because it will include a reflection.
You may need to keep adjusting your exposure during the event due to the amount of light the fireworks are emitting. Some bursts are not as intense as others and also your ambient light may change depending on the start time of the event. Use one of the larger bursts as a guide and just keep adjusting your Shutter Speed, ISO and Aperture slightly to find the setting that works the best for your situation.
The idea of using 2sec – 5sec for the shutter speed is to mainly to get consistent exposure results plus include the light trails of the fireworks as they are raising from the ground (if you choose to use bulb mode try to be consistent with your duration so your result will be somewhat consistent).
Start your shot when the light is on it’s way up and the shutter should still be open when the burst occurs at its peak (be aware of your timing). Also keep an eye on your composition so you don’t cut off the burst at the top remembering that not all bursts will occur at the same height. Adjust your focal length if necessary making small adjustments, however this can affect your focus so refocus if necessary, and keep checking your LCD.
Although it may be difficult as everything is happening quickly, but try to enjoy the event as well. Don’t get too wrapped up in what you are doing or get overwhelmed, take a deep breath, relax a bit, and enjoy the experience.

In your Local Area: Below are a number of images that shows an example of how the ambient light can change throughout a fireworks event, you can view the settings for each image while viewing the gallery, just click the ( i ) “image Info” at the bottom right. The ISO settings were 200 for the lighter background images and ISO 100 for the darker background images.

Gaspé Peninsula, Québec Canada: In 2018 during our trip around the Gaspé Peninsula to see the Northern Gannet bird colony on Bonaventure Island in Percé, We unexpectedly got to see a bonfire, the moon, and fireworks at Haldimand Beach near the town of Gaspé celebrating Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24th). The logs (drift-wood) for these large bonfires come from each respective local shoreline of the Gaspé Peninsula which are gathered by the locals and stacked using tractors with the final result shown in the image below at Cap-Chat Beach, Québec, with this one being approximately 15-20 feet high. The remaining three images were from Haldimand Beach just before the lighting of the bonfire and then during the fireworks. The moon and the bonfire are brighter than ideal, however within a single frame the dynamic range is too high for the camera to capture them with a better exposure, as the main subject is the fireworks we sacrificed the exposure of the bonfire and moon. Consider presenting a series of your photographs to tell the story.

Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada: A number of years ago visiting Niagara Falls Canada we were lucky to experience the fireworks display during our stay. Niagara Tourism present the Summer Fireworks Series, See the Schedule, held daily from late May through early October sponsored by local hotels and the Niagara Parks Commission. This photo shows a fireworks burst, the lights that shine on the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and the light trails of the vehicles passing by, showing more of the chaos of the busy activity during the fireworks show. Spend time prior to the event to get the best vantage point that works for you, using pre-visualization as a technique to help you decide.

Street Photography

Street photography can be approached and accomplished in many different ways. The type of photos you decide to attempt can depend on how interactive you want to be with people. There are many images you can take limiting your interaction with people as well, however if you do take images of people consider;

In general for photojournalism or personnel use it’s your right as a photographer to photograph anyone in a public place where the person(s) assumes there is no possibility of privacy (disclaimer it’s up to you to investigate the laws in your area, some Canadian examples: CMRU.ca & PENcanada.ca)
However, if asked to delete an image you have taken of a person at their request be gracious and do so, it will help avoid any possible confrontation
Minimize the visibility of the person’s face, or ask them if they mind their photo being taken and gracefully respect their wishes
Avoid taking images of children
Do not take any image showing anyone in a compromising situation or in an unflattering way
If you do ask and get permission to take a persons photo get their information, such as their email, so you can send them a free digital photo (8×10), and make a note of the image number from your camera so you can identify them with the associated email, which can be easily done using a notes app on your phone (not a good idea to send the wrong photo to the person you promised)

General Camera Setting Suggestions:

use Shutter Priority Mode (Canon = TV, Nikon = S) with a shutter speed starting around 1/500
however, If you want a shallow depth of field, use Aperture Priority mode (Canon = Av, Nikon = A) and set your aperture as required, but keep track of your shutter speed to make sure it’s fast enough to minimize motion blur
ISO set to Auto
set exposure metering for the whole scene (Canon = Evaluative, Nikon = Matrix)
set exposure compensation to -1/3 to start (you may have to adjust it more negative depending on the scene, you’ll need more negative with a higher contrast scene), and also enable highlight alert
typically for a lens use anything from 24mm through 100mm, it really depends on the composition of each photograph, it’s best to fill the frame in camera but remember you can always crop your images in post if necessary
compose your shoots as level as possible and with wide angle images including buildings remember to leave enough room to allow for vertical correction in post and at the same time try to keep people subjects away from the edges to minimize wide angle distortion

Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada: Halifax has so many locations with opportunities especially the downtown and waterfront. A very friendly city however, the same as anywhere it’s always good to be careful. Here are just a few safety suggestions to consider, which also apply to travel photography;

Minimize your camera kit, depending on how long you expect to be out this can make a big difference in having an enjoyable experience
Never set anything down to avoid your gear from being stolen
Carry your gear in a way to reduce the possibility of snatch and grab scenarios
Make sure your phone is charged in case of any emergency situation
If you don’t know the area, take a friend or be with a group
Stay away from areas that could possibly be unfriendly
Choose areas where there are more people during daytime which would typically be much safer than at night
Consider sun protection and bring along a bottle of water

The first image of the sentry guard, is located at the entrance of the Halifax Citadel Historic Site, a great location with lots to see at the top of downtown Halifax which also includes a magnificent view of the Harbour. The second image of the Drunken Lampposts are located on the Halifax waterfront, was designed by NSCAD which the artist(s) intended to show behaviours that could be playing out on the streets after dark. During the recent Sail GP Halifax event (YouTube Day1), June 2024, there was a lot of activity on the Halifax waterfront; your friendly neighbourhood spidey was out posing with kids and families for candid photos which also provided an opportunity to include a composite placing them within an AsheDesign dramatic poster, Peterfillmanmusic is a local Halifax musician out entertaining, a random person framed within a portable cart walking by Pane e Circo Cafe, who serve high quality Italian Products, then we see a random person walking by a unique yellow, blue, and orange stone wall shaped like a wave, and finally an image of a “Farmers Market” truck delivering goods to some local establishments.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Canada: Take advantage of what each town or city has to offer by doing some research in advance. For example; in Lunenburg there is a Historical horse-drawn carriage ride available, by Trot in Time Carriage Tours. The tour takes about 45min taking you on a guided historical tour within the heart of the town of Lunenburg. The images shown below show the contrast of modern day transportation vs the historical means of travel during the 1800’s.

Additional Resources

We try to seek out additional instructional resources for our monthly challenges, we hope you get some worth while tips and hints with the PDF and Youtube video links below:

Links to some free PDF short guides from Photzy.com/blog:

Fireworks YouTube Links

Below are some YouTube video links to help with techniques, hints, and ideas for Fireworks Photography:

■ How to photograph fireworks : 10 Essential tips for beginners: by Photo Genius (14min 5sec)
■ Capture Awesome Firework Photos using an Entry Level DSLR: by RealWorld (17min 9sec)
■ How to photograph Fireworks: by Neil Creek (18min 15sec)
■ Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 19: Shooting Fireworks: by Adorama (6min 16sec)
■ How To Photograph Fireworks – Part 1: by Mike Browne (6min 42sec)
■ How To Photograph Fireworks – Part 2: by Mike Browne (11min 54sec)
■ A Different Approach Fireworks Photography: from shooting to editing (step-by-step): by Miklós Mayer (15min 50sec)

Street Photography YouTube Links

Below are some YouTube video links to help with techniques, hints, and ideas for Street Photography:

■ How To Shoot Street Photography: by Gary Gough (17min 17sec)
■ 5 Street Photography Tips Every Photographer Should Know: by Faizal Westcott (12min 54sec)
■ 6 Years of Street Photography Knowledge in 6 Minutes: by Tim Jamieson (6min 23sec)
■ 5 Tips for Street Photography Composition with Phil Penman: by B&H Photo Video (4min 25sec)
■ 5 Street Photography Tips You MUST KNOW – Advice from a Photojournalist: by Sean Gallagher (12min 16sec)
■ 50mm Street Photography with Composition Breakdown: by Adrien Sanguinetti (14min 53sec)
■ Fine Art Street Photography Perfect First Lesson: by Gary Gough (26min 58sec)

You’re encouraged to develop the ability to “tell a story or invoke an emotion“, as well as learn to plan and troubleshoot while creating images.

It’s important to not only create an image but to also include a “Title”, this process helps with; determining your subject or story, and composition.
Try writing a short paragraph about; how you came up with the idea, any interesting back ground that compelled you to make the image, and describe any techniques how you overcame any obstacles.
Do some research and include any relevant information behind the subject of your image. This helps with planning and your approach for a story

An important part of improving your photography is practice, which is one important aspect of the monthly theme challenge, in addition you have an opportunity to learn about different genres, techniques and tips that you may not be familiar with.

Share your images and stories experienced this month

Even though there is no facility to directly upload your image to the this post, you can achieve something similar by commenting on this post; firstly pasting your social media link to your image in the comment, then type any additional message you’d like to share. Everyone who visits will be able to visit your link. Note comments are moderated so it will not show up right away. We do get notifications when any comment is posted, so it won’t take long to get approved and subsequently show up. By pasting your social media link in your comment, it gives everyone visiting the bog a chance to click the link to see your image for the challenge and also the ability to look at your other work by viewing your social media through your pasted link. We want sharing to be a positive experience and we hope you have fun with this month’s dual photo challenge.

June Theme Challenge – Silhouette

Posted on June 2, 2024 by tgawalt

For this month, June 2024, the theme challenge is “Silhouette“, interpreted as a dark shape of something visible against a light background. This month’s challenge opens up many possibilities to interpret your subject concentrating on it’s shape standing out from the background. Typically this challenge will require you to be outdoors while concentrating on light, shadow, and shape which are three important concepts when considering composition of your images. Similar to last month, continue to learn to reduce your composition to make your subject stand out by excluding elements not wanted within the frame. You can choose to present your images in either Colour or Monochrome. The above image of a Flowerpot rock, at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick Canada, is typical of the many commonly referred to as “Sea Stacks” or “Flowerpot Rocks” at this location which are in shadow as the sun approaches the west direction during the mid afternoon to later in the day.

Observation: Typically you’ll be looking for a shape in shadow that stands out from your background such as the first image of the trees against the sunset background, however don’t limit yourself by the obvious. Slow down to take the time to view the scene in front of you and take notice if there is a different image to be captured. In the second image we see a similar but different image being reflected in the pond which also, because of the water, provides more contrast can enhance the image.

Low Light: Trying to shoot wildlife early or late in the day when there is not much light and when the subject is back-lit makes capturing a detailed image of the subject more difficult. By embracing the subject shape which uniquely defines it, we can use it’s silhouette to capture the image instead. This allows for enhancing the amazing colour in the sky or reflection during that time of day. In the first image of the Heron it shows the norm, scouring the shoreline looking for food. Look for something different or unique, in the second image we capture a not as often seen situation of the Heron up in a tree.

Travel: Visiting a location while away or near your area during sunrise, sunset or twilight is when you can typically find situations to shoot a silhouette. In the first image during civil twilight we see the steeples of The Three Churches in Mahone Bay Nova Scotia against the sunset light with a reflection in the bay, we also captured and included the street lights adding some depth to the image. The second image taken also during civil twilight is using the silhouette of the surrounding landscape to frame a section of the Reversing Falls in Saint John New Brunswick.

By The Ocean: Take in the the sunset or sunrise by the ocean there are many opportunities for silhouettes. In these situations typically the landscape is much darker due to the sunrise or sunset colourful light back-lighting the landscape.

During the Day: Silhouette’s are also possible during the day if the light is in your favour. The image of a Flowerpot Rock during daylight is made possible thy the surrounding landscape as the position of the sun places the rock in shadow leading to the possibility of a silhouette. Here the shape that is in shadow makes the image, which looks like an alien head with a bad hair day extending out of the landscape. The dappled light also helps with the features you want to standout within the subject to help make it more identifiable.

We try with our monthly theme challenges to seek out additional instructional resources, below are a number of YouTube video links to help with some hints and ideas. Landscape Photography instructional aids:
■ How to shoot silhouet t es: by Photography Online (7min 15sec)
■ How to shoot silhouettes in street photography: by Rupert Vandervell (6min 7sec)
■ Shooting A Silhouette with Lindsay Adler: by Creativelive (3min 4sec)

Students are encouraged to develop their ability to tell a story or invoke an emotion, as well as how to plan and troubleshoot while creating their images. As such it’s important to not only create the image but to also include a “title”, and write a short paragraph about; how they came up with the idea, any interesting back ground that compelled them to make the image, and describe any techniques on how they overcame any obstacles. Also do some research and include the story behind your iconic location.

An important part of improving your photography is practice, which is one aspect of the monthly theme challenge, in addition you have an opportunity to learn about different genres, techniques and tips.

Share with us the images you create this month, even though there is no facility to upload your image directly to the this post, just comment on the post and paste your social media link of your image in your comment and everyone who visits will be able to see your image. Please note comments are moderated so it will not show up right away, however we do get a notification when any comment is posted so it won’t take long to get approved and subsequently show up. By posting your social media link of your image in your comment, it gives everyone visiting the bog a chance to not only see your image for the challenge but also the ability to look at your other work as well by visiting your social media through your link. We want sharing to be a positive experience and we hope you have fun with this month’s photo challenge.

April Theme Challenge – A Lone Tree

Posted on April 4, 2024 by tgawalt

For this month, April 2024, the theme challenge is “A Lone Tree“. This month’s challenge requires you to get outdoors and search for a location that has a lone tree. This challenge is an initial exercise to introduce “Minimalism” in your photography, essentially learning to reduce your composition to make your subject, in this case a lone tree, to stand out typically in a landscape by using weather, light, focal length, and/or position to exclude elements that you do not want within the frame.

Colour or Monochrome: You can create your image as colour or monochrome (black & white) depending on how you want your final image to look. If you choose “Monochrome” you can either create it using post processing software or in camera by choosing a monochrome picture style setting on your camera. Note that you can also edit the settings in any picture style, specifically in this case contrast to help make your monochrome images more dramatic. This time of year, the start of spring, the trees are void of or have minimal leaves so monochrome could help.

It is important to understand that if you shoot in “Jpeg” with a monochrome picture style setting on your camera, the image saved to the memory card will not have any colour, so remember to change your picture style camera setting back to a colour style such as; standard or landscape or portrait, when finished shooting in camera monochrome images.

Use of Light: One example, the following image uses the light from the fire to show the tree as a silhouette. Also the surrounding darkness effectively separates/softens the surrounding trees from the image to help make the tree silhouette stand out.

Use the Fog: Make use of the fog is a technique used in woodland photography to help soften or remove distracting elements from the frame to help make your subject stand out. You will notice the background is very soft due to the fog essentially removing the distant trees from the image. Although not a complete minimalistic image the fog has significantly helped the subject, tree, stand out.

Share with us the images you create this month.

We try with our monthly theme challenges to seek out additional instructional resources, below are a number of YouTube video links to help with some hints and ideas. Taking Photos of Iconic Locations instructional aids:
■ How to photograph lone trees and golden eagles: by Photography Online (36min 59sec)
■ Stormy Minimalist Landscape Photography: by Mads Peter Iversen (13min 41sec)
■ 5 STEPS to INCREDIBLE MINIMALIST photography: by Mads Peter Iversen (17min 27sec)

March Theme Challenge – Iconic Location

Posted on March 7, 2024 by tgawalt

For this month, March 2024, the theme challenge is “Iconic Location“. Go out and make photos of some of the locations in your area that are most famous and many tourists come to visit each year. The hard part of this challenge is to try to take a photo that shows the location differently than anyone has photographed it before. Below are just a small sample of iconic locations in Nova Scotia. This month share some of your iconic location images.

Peggy’s Cove; Nova Scotia has many lighthouses, and one of the most well known is Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse. Many tour companies bring many tourists from around the world to see this lighthouse and local fishing community. The Lighthouse was originally established in 1868 which was subsequently replaced in 1914 with the existing structure, automated in 1958, and it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Nova Scotia. A recent Revitalization Plan implemented an upgrade to the walkway, surrounding road and parking area as well as an accessible viewing area completed in the fall of 2021. Out of season is the best time to get images at Peggy’s Cove, providing the opportunity to take images with less people around. The images shown in this first gallery were taken in 2022.

This following image was taken in 2012. Remember to be safe in these types of locations, be aware of the water levels, tides, and stay away from black rocks which indicates the water has reached that level.

Halifax Town Clock; The Old Town Clock, Halifax Nova Scotia, is one of Halifax’s iconic locations. This clock was erected in 1803, survived the Halifax explosion of 1917, and had many restorations over the years, 1960, 1990, 2005, & 2018. To find out more take a look at the “Halifax Town Clock Wiki”. This image was taken during civil twilight to include the backdrop of some of the downtown of Halifax as well as the dramatic clouds in the sky and the light trails from the traffic.

Three Churches, Mahone Bay; The town of Mahone Bay , founded in 1754, includes three prominent churches along it’s shoreline, St James’ Anglican 1887, St John’s Evangelical Lutheran 1869, and Trinity United 1923. There are many angles to take images of these century old churches with reflections when there is little to no wind and are lit by the light at sunrise and are basked in colourful sunsets as the light disappears behind. Mahone Bay hosts many shops and celebrations throughout the tourist season and the fall.

St. John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg; (Wiki) Was the first church established in 1753 Lunenburg Nova Scotia which suffered significant damage from a fire in November 2001 and was restored and rededicated June 2005. This image was taken using a tripod and multiple exposures.

Chester Yacht Club; A drone image of Chester Yacht Club, incorporated 1902, is the home of Chester Race Week known as Canada’s largest keel-boat regatta in which racers come from across Canada and New England to complete.

Share with us the images of your iconic locations you create this month.

We try with our monthly theme challenges to seek out additional instructional resources, below are a number of YouTube video links to help with some hints and ideas. Taking Photos of Iconic Locations instructional aids:
■ How to get Unique Photos in Popular Locations: by Nigel Danson (20min 14sec)
■ In The Field: Photographing Iconic Places: by Scott Davenport (7min 11sec)
■ Making Unique Photos of Iconic Photography Spots: by Brendan van Son (11min 8sec)

February Theme Challenge – Red or Green

Posted on February 5, 2024 by tgawalt

We are working on overcoming some recent computer problems, so we are going to keep the challenge simple this month which is making photos of subjects that are the colour “Red” or “Green”.

With this challenge you can either stay inside and do some still life photography or head outdoors and seek out some subjects to photograph.

Below are a few outdoor examples to spark some ideas.

Boats; There are many boats or vehicles out there that are Red or Green, but find a perspective to make something unique. Take your time with composition including thinking about the focal length that best suits the situation. As shown here we used a longer focal length and a lower angle to isolate part of a subject to make it more interesting.

Reflections; Make use of the reflection to show a different perspective, sometimes the image will be a bit more abstract.

Timing; As shown in this wildlife image all of the ducks are eating except for the one male mallard where the image was captured just as he raised his head.

let’s see what images you create this month and have some fun.

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