49 replies to this topic

[stormitecture]

Because I may be bored while awaiting fireworks tomorrow, needed a thread to see what else is happening.

Due to cancelations, I'll be in DC for the fireworks. Gonna be hot as hell, but hopefully I can find me some ways to keep cool. Probably be on the bike to help find my way around and a good spot.

[Bob Chill]

I've been going to the same field to watch the Gaithersburg show with my kids for 7 straight years......and they're cancelled.....

Gonna road trip up to Ski Liberty and watch from Carrol Park. Live music, car show, kids rides, etc so should still be a good time. Fireworks are launched from the top of the mountain so it will be interesting seeing that.

[Ian]

I was tempted to skip fireworks but I'm being goaded on. I may hit the river somewhere again--it's just a hefty return back home considering there's work the next day.

[stormitecture]

I was tempted to skip fireworks but I'm being goaded on. I may hit the river somewhere again--it's just a hefty return back home considering there's work the next day.

And let me guess...you also have to do a forecast ;-)

I tried to see if Ellinwood was interested in heading down...an IonWarriorWood reunion hahaha. Although actually, I do have your copy of Funnel Vision. If I don't bring it...I should just pop it in the mail so you have some reading during the next derecho / power outage.

[Ian]

And let me guess...you also have to do a forecast ;-)

I tried to see if Ellinwood was interested in heading down...an IonWarriorWood reunion hahaha. Although actually, I do have your copy of Funnel Vision. If I don't bring it...I should just pop it in the mail so you have some reading during the next derecho / power outage.

mm, i think im technically supposed to be on call but if im out im out.

yeah i figured i forgot that as i have not seen it since. we might cross paths.. can see what plans are at some pt tomorrow. i was initially considering something closer but im not sure there are the angles i want at the white house etc.

[stormitecture]

mm, i think im technically supposed to be on call but if im out im out.

yeah i figured i forgot that as i have not seen it since. we might cross paths.. can see what plans are at some pt tomorrow. i was initially considering something closer but im not sure there are the angles i want at the white house etc.

I move most years. I've done the tidal basin, Memorial Bridge (last year), and the Mall is too tedious and crowded. I'm considering Arlington Cemetery (I have family there, so got permit to park there), or nearby at the Air Force memorial (although I really wanted a nice zoom lens for that).

I'll likely also be shooting a bit of night shots post event. Getting crowd shots, and other fun stuff.

If I'm out...gonna make it count ;-)

[mapgirl]

No fireworks for me, got some family stuff I'll be dealing with. Take pics for those who do go and please share

[Aviationdave]

I may volunteer a 4 hour shift tomorrow then come home, throw some burgers on the grill and then we bought some local fireworks to shoot off here plus we are getting ready to leave Thursday for our trip to Pittsburgh, yay!!!! Busy day tomorrow plus my wife has a 5 k in the morning to run

[Kmlwx]

No fireworks for me. I would usually just hit up something local like Takoma Park but I will be working a park patrol detail from 10-6 so I don't think I'll want to venture out after that.

[Riptide]

Delaware Bay - Ferry Terminal

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[Fozz]

Saw some decent fireworks about 3 hrs ago right from my house looking south.

Wish I had taken a few pics.

[Tenman Johnson]

Happy 4th July all you nice people and if so inclined have a 5th on the 4th!

[Ian]

Happy 4th July all you nice pepole and if so inclined have a 5th on the 4th!

if only it wasnt a wednesday

[Tenman Johnson]

if only it wasnt a wednesday

Please take some great pictures and share them with us.

[H2O]

Williamsburg always puts on a nice show in CW and that is where we are for this one. Pool in a bit then church cookout then fireworks. HI of 105 down here today so it will be a warm one

[The Dude]

Has anyone ever been to Fairfax City's or McLean's fireworks? I'm looking for alternates with most of MoCo's cancelled.

[Bob Chill]

Has anyone ever been to Fairfax City's or McLean's fireworks? I'm looking for alternates with most of MoCo's cancelled.

I've been to Mclean before. Nice show but traffic stunk afterwards. Fairfax is prob better but I haven't seen them.

We changed our plans and are hauling the kids to Columbia. Live music and stuff for the kids. Gonna set up a picnic early so we have good real state. With the main shows in Moco cancelled I think its going to be extra crowded but no biggie.

[WVclimo]

Never saw any in N.VA. The years we didn't do the Mall, the best venues I remember were Columbia, Greenbelt (and Gaithersburg.)

[mapgirl]

I've been to a firework show in NOVA, in the Ashburn area... Weren't terrible

[stormitecture]

Has anyone ever been to Fairfax City's or McLean's fireworks? I'm looking for alternates with most of MoCo's cancelled.

Bit of a haul, but Baltimore was my next consideration. Watching from Federal Hill toward the inner harbor. It was a no go for me due to wind (wnw winds ruin pics) but it would be awesome for family fun. You'd have to leave now though.

FB Photo (hopefully everyone sees it) of the view from Federal Hill. Rough Cut Panoramic:

In the end I'm looking to set up along the Pot. Rvr (most likely) SW of the Lincoln. Want the the smoke to be to the side, not blocking, but not backdropping either.

I'll TRY to post from DC once I'm down there. But not sure how the cell networks will be AND AmWx not a priority for me (sorry). I'll post tomorrow or the day following (I may be busy tomorrow picking up my replacement Spitfire).

[Aviationdave]

Has anyone ever been to Fairfax City's or McLean's fireworks? I'm looking for alternates with most of MoCo's cancelled.

they always put on a good show in Leesburg at Ida Lee Park. We went the first year here and was impressed. Had a jimmy buffet cover band playing music and a few food stands. I know it is a haul from Bethesda but less traffic than FFX area

[The Dude]

Thanks for all the tips, and nice pic Jason.

[Kmlwx]

MoCo Park Police are really getting swamped now - lots of alcohol complaints in parks and some firework complaints too - a few more violent ones too it seems.

I spent 10-5:30 standing in the hot sun - I look like a lobster now.

[The Dude]

Thanks for all the tips, and nice pic Jason.

We ended up going to the Vienna Metro garage, where we had a great view of Fairfax, Falls Church, and McLean's shows, as well as half-a-dozen others in the distance. We also had a nice view of the storms rolling in from the West. Best of all, we had no traffic to deal with. Good times.

[Hank Scorpio]

We ended up going to the Vienna Metro garage, where we had a great view of Fairfax, Falls Church, and McLean's shows, as well as half-a-dozen others in the distance. We also had a nice view of the storms rolling in from the West. Best of all, we had no traffic to deal with. Good times.

Whoa crazy, I ended up at the same parking garage. It was neat watching the two shows at once, with the distant show being visible way off down 66. The Fairfax fireworks were good, but what was up with the end? They just sort of stopped, no finale or anything.

[Bob Chill]

Columbia was packed last night. We went early enough for decent viewing area and we were pretty close to the live music so that was a bonus.

I'm not sure why by my favortite fireworks are the concussion tubes. There's just something about the power of the explosion that I dig. The finale last night has an excellent series of concussion tubes at the end. Here's the last minute and a half of the show:

[Kmlwx]

Columbia was packed last night. We went early enough for decent viewing area and we were pretty close to the live music so that was a bonus.

I'm not sure why by my favortite fireworks are the concussion tubes. There's just something about the power of the explosion that I dig. The finale last night has an excellent series of concussion tubes at the end. Here's the last minute and a half of the show:

Great video!

[Scuddz]

Columbia was packed last night. We went early enough for decent viewing area and we were pretty close to the live music so that was a bonus.

I'm not sure why by my favortite fireworks are the concussion tubes. There's just something about the power of the explosion that I dig. The finale last night has an excellent series of concussion tubes at the end. Here's the last minute and a half of the show:

I live off brokenland right across from merriweather on a little bit of a hill that gives us a great fiew of everything but the lowest fireworks. I always enjoy looking down at the parking lot that is brokelnand pkway and seeing all the reactions ass the fireworks are starting and they're still sitting in traffic with the kids in the back yelling and screaming. It happens every year and it's my favorite part. If you're not in Columbia by like 8pm, you're never getting a spot.

[Bob Chill]

I live off brokenland right across from merriweather on a little bit of a hill that gives us a great fiew of everything but the lowest fireworks. I always enjoy looking down at the parking lot that is brokelnand pkway and seeing all the reactions ass the fireworks are starting and they're still sitting in traffic with the kids in the back yelling and screaming. It happens every year and it's my favorite part. If you're not in Columbia by like 8pm, you're never getting a spot.

Boy you aren't kidding about getting a spot. It was majorly packed anywhere near the lake and stage. We got there at 630 and actually got a really nice spot on the deck above the stage but tons of folks were not happy trying to find a slice of space later on. We had great neighbors on the deck so it felt like a big party but it was standing room only by the time the show kicked off.

The one smart thing i did was drop everyone off close to the stage and parked way up in the mall lot right next to an exit. All our gear was on wheels and we had 7 of us so getting back was not a big deal. Were were out of the lot and on rt 29 in 15 minutes. Deeper into the lots was total gridlock.

[Scuddz]

Yeah, my first year I made the mistake of thinking I could just walk over at about 8:45 or so and get a spot fine. Silly me.

[The Dude]

Whoa crazy, I ended up at the same parking garage. It was neat watching the two shows at once, with the distant show being visible way off down 66. The Fairfax fireworks were good, but what was up with the end? They just sort of stopped, no finale or anything.

Wow. That is random. Where were you sitting on the garage? I was standing closer to the East side on my gray Camry holding a baby, with my 4-year old on the hood.

The end was really weird. We thought maybe there was some sort of technical problem. It definitely didn't seem like they had a finale.

[FXW176]

Whoa crazy, I ended up at the same parking garage. It was neat watching the two shows at once, with the distant show being visible way off down 66. The Fairfax fireworks were good, but what was up with the end? They just sort of stopped, no finale or anything.

Wow. That is random. Where were you sitting on the garage? I was standing closer to the East side on my gray Camry holding a baby, with my 4-year old on the hood.

The end was really weird. We thought maybe there was some sort of technical problem. It definitely didn't seem like they had a finale.

Debris from the show was falling too close to spectators so the finale was 86ed.

[stormitecture]

ha, I had my old Dodge Minivan with scorch marks from a Gaithersburg show one year. I was right across from the fairgrounds where they set them off. In a funny way though....the next summer...the van caught fire...hahaha.

Anyhow...here is picture your ya from DC:


I suspect Ian will post before too long. Actually met up with him for a about and hour and half. Also briefly met Kevin Ambrose (Ian was already meeting up with him). I moved back south about a 1000 feet from them. I wanted to get more of Memorial Bridge in my video/pictures. This is a rough edit. Later I'm going to try and stack some images for multi-exposure images. Bring the bridge out a tad more.

[Ian]

nice shot. our spot was definitely a bit confined with the framing. but.. i already shot up pretty close to where you were 2 yrs ago so i was not terribly wedded to any one thing. i think i'll either reshoot from the netherlands carillon next time or actually do a shoot in dc for once. i talked to some guy who took photos from the top of the steps next to the river in front of the lincoln.. he got a few cool ones with a really wide angle. it's hard to leave the water though...

i will post the rest of the good ones to flickr by the weekend but here's two i posted there. first is the first shells which i always try to get. i had started an exposure before they went up so it's verging on "hot" but i think it's ok. should have been a bit wider angle i guess.





here's a combined set from kevin and me: http://www.washingto...3RSPW_blog.html

[stormitecture]

God, those are nice Ian. I wish I had time to shot more pictures. Really need to get a nice second lens for the second 7D. Then I can do video and photos. I haven't checked the GoPro, but I suspect I was too far as the super wide angle would have been perfect for right under the fireworks.