Baltimore Photo Safari Newsletter

June 2009

My wife and I are finally in our new home near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  It was worth the wait and all the work involved with the move.  As you can see, we have a great view of the Domino Sugars sign, one of Baltimore’s iconic sights.

As expected, the recent spring photo safari to Wild and Wonderful West Virginia was awesome.  Blackwater Falls was shrouded in fog.  Elakala Falls cascaded over mossy green rocks.  The sun shone brightly over Spruce Knob.  And, wildflowers were in full bloom.  You will find additional images from this trip in the Mid-Atlantic Gallery on my newly-revamped website www.davidmusephoto.com.

Wish you had attended this year’s WV photo safari?  Do not fret.  Plan to attend the four-day photo workshop I will conduct there next May for Photographers Alliance Workshops (www.paworkshops.net).  Details about this dream-come-true for landscape and nature photographers will soon be online.

Looking for some uproarious fun and something truly different to photograph?  Then plan to attend this year’s HonFest, June 13-14, in Hampden.  Hon, short for Honey, is a term of endearment here in Baltimore … oops, I mean here in Bawlmer.  The food is great.  The music is live.  And, there is a photo op every 3 milliseconds.  For full information and directions see www.honfest.net.

Summer is right around the block, and one event you will want to photograph is the spectacular July 4^th fireworks in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  Here are a few tips to help you create amazing fireworks images:

• Arrive early to stake out an unobstructed view along the waterfront promenade. Or, if you know someone with a rooftop view of the Inner Harbor, wrangle an invitation.
• Use a sturdy tripod.
• Set your ISO to 100-200.
• Use a wide angle zoom lens set to an aperture of f/11-f/16.
• Autofocus will be problematic once the action starts. So before the show begin, set and lock focus on a key element in your composition.
• Set your camera to manual exposure, and then set your shutter speed to bulb. You have to experiment a bit with the actual speed. Use a cable or remote release to open the shutter right before the rocket first begins to explode and hold it open until that burst is finished. This will be a few seconds. Do not hold the shutter open too long or you run the risk of overexposing your image.
• Firework shows last only 15-20 minutes so you have to work fast and efficiently. Resist the temptation to check each exposure. Rather, check your results after the first few exposures, make any necessary adjustments, and then quickly check again maybe 5 minutes later.
• On your first fireworks photo shoot I strongly recommend you concentrate on capturing a spectacular single-burst image. Having said that, here is a technique to use to capture multiple bursts in one exposure. Place a piece of thick dark cardboard (or a dark-colored hat) in front of the lens. Use a cable release to lock the shutter open in the bulb setting. Each time a rocket is about to burst, remove the cardboard (or hat) from in front of the lens, and re-cover the lens once the burst is finished. You will have to experiment to see how many exposures you can effectively capture on one exposure.
• Watch and enjoy the fireworks finale because the risk of overexposure is pretty much guaranteed.

Here is a recent sunrise view visible from our new place.  I am beginning to think I should schedule a rooftop photo safari.  Of course, our crazy attack cat may not like that idea.

Again, thanks for your interest in Baltimore Photo Safari and David Muse Photography.  I appreciate it.

Best wishes!

David Muse

Also on the web at: David Muse Photo, Photographers Alliance Workshops

Contact David

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