Dec 29 2008
2009 New Years Celebration Seattle Space Needle
Space Needle Photograph by James Chen
Fireworks and the Seattle Space Needle – what photographer can resist?
This year might even include a little snow – making for some really unusual photos.
Known as the world’s tallest structure-launched Fireworks Show with more than 2,000 Pyrotechnic Effects the Space Needle, will host another spectacular New Years event.
The base of the Space Needle will host more than 50,000 people bringing in the New Year, dancing and watching the Fireworks shoot across the night sky with an estimated 400,000 viewing the show from surrounding neighborhoods.
For photographers vantage points range from the bottom of the Space Needle to Myrtle Edwards Park to Kerry Park. If you don’t mind sharing your favorite spot, please comment below.
Just a few quick tips on getting the best shots:
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Use a tripod – this is a must!
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Set your camera to manual and adjust it to bulb (the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the release).
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Use a shutter release cable (or IR shutter release) to prevent camera shake as you press and hold the shutter open
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Set your ISO speed to 100 or 200
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Use F/Stop F/11 or F/16
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Prefocus using the manual focus – auto-focus won’t work
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Experiment – take some with several bursts and some with just one
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For multi bursts cover the lens with something black between explosions to prevent over-exposure – try not to touch your camera to prevent shake
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Try for an upwind position (if the smoke surrounds you, your photos will turn out hazy).
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Use a UV filter, but remove the polarizing filter for this type of work
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Have an extra battery charged up and ready – long exposures with the shutter held open – runs down batteries quickly
If you take some photos that you’d like to share, be sure to join the Space Needle Flickr group
Photo above by James Chen. To see more great photos from James Chen visit his flickr page
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