  Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 209 Registered: 08-2006 |
Like many of you I went downtown for the fireworks. It was a great time and since im a photo nut I had my camera with me. I had a pretty good seat just north of downtown so i got to see the show with the skyline in the foreground. Here are a few of the shots. Enjoy! http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/646415502/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/648705650/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/650054192/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/650054354/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/649244603/ | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 1570 Registered: 01-2005 |
Ah! Unique angle, Southen. Thx for posting! | ||
Pamequus Member Username: Pamequus Post Number: 116 Registered: 07-2005 |
Thank you Southen. Wish I could have been there too!! | ||
Tiberius Member Username: Tiberius Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2007 |
nice work, manual settings or automatic? | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 210 Registered: 08-2006 |
Definitely manual. I had to play around to see what exposure would capture the skyline nicely as well as freeze the fireworks a bit. It was the first time Ive tried to capture fireworks and im pretty pleased with how they turned out. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 324 Registered: 07-2006 |
I know how difficult fireworks must be to capture (I haven't tried yet since I only got my camera a month or so ago), so I think that's a great first try. Good work! | ||
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone Post Number: 93 Registered: 03-2007 |
Terrific photos, Southen. You really have talent! Thanks so much for sharing! | ||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 56 Registered: 06-2007 |
The view was great from my condo in Brush Park. I wish I took some of my own pictures to share with you all of the 1/2 dozen people I yelled at for peeing in my front yard, my back yard, and next to my car. I wish I also had a pic of the guy with his pants saggin' down to his knees who threatened me and threw up gang signs at me when I told him to stop peeing. I wish I captured the moment when a lovely couple passed their 2 year old son back and forth as they sucked on a joint and exhaled right in the face of the little scamp (I'm not lying). Or maybe a picture of the young kids singing, word for word, to every profane lyric on the hip hop music that mom and dad were blasting out of their cars. Also, I'm sure you guys would have loved a snapshot of the broken glass and tons of litter left behind. I really can't wait until next year's fireworks!! I think I am going to buy a machine gun and build a bunker out of sand bags in my living room. (Message edited by kid dynamite on June 28, 2007) | ||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 59 Registered: 06-2007 |
sorry to threadjack above, Southen. They are really cool pics. Where where they taken from? | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 212 Registered: 08-2006 |
So it was a good time kid_dynamite?.....jk Sorry to hear you had those issues. The shots I took were from the top of the Park Avenue Hotel just outside of downtown. Fantastic view. | ||
Ja1mz Member Username: Ja1mz Post Number: 53 Registered: 02-2007 |
Kid-LMAO | ||
Terryh Member Username: Terryh Post Number: 377 Registered: 11-2006 |
What setting did you end up with on the first pic? To freeze an ovject you increased the shutter speed? | ||
Abracadabra Member Username: Abracadabra Post Number: 34 Registered: 04-2007 |
Kid, I wish you had taken them. Fireworks are pretty an all, but I wouldn't hang them in my living room. Pissing gang signs? Puff, puff, pass the baby? That would be an excellent conversation piece. Let's just hope the sports championship drought holds out for ya. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 722 Registered: 01-2007 |
Southen, the third shot is a fave. Good work as always. Hey Kid_dynamite, I wish you had taken those shots too! Please, next year invite me over. The retards in this city are something... | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1530 Registered: 11-2003 |
Southen- As a bit of a thread jack, I've got a few camera Q's for you. I've have fun with what little I've done with my old Canon S230 point and shoot. But I'm really considering getting a digital SLR. However, I have no idea which to choose. I will say the Canon XTi is a bit small for my hands, but otherwise seems like a good entry-level DSLR. That Nikon D40X also seems to get good reviews, but doesn't come with software for editing RAW images and apprently doesn't have some sort of dust reduction mechanism. Also, it has the autofocus motor in the lens and not the body, apparently making lens selection smaller. For that reason, I'm considering the D80 (I think the D200 is too much money). What do you think of the D40X vs the D80? Solves the dust thing and the lens thing, but not the RAW software thing. And beyond that, how about the Canon 30D? Anything else I should be looking at? Lastly, I've seen some of these photos that seem to have a very contrasted, almost surreal look to them. Like everything is crisper and brighter than it really is. There is some term for this right? Some camera setting to get that type of shot? What is that called and do any of the cameras I mention above have that ability? Oh, and lastly, I need a new computer soon. Always used PC. For photo editing, you a Mac guy or PC guy? I'm considering switching as the Mac seems to have everything I'd want included. Just a little reluctant to have to learn a new setup. Vista seems cool, but I know a couple people with it and it seems to be having some serious issues. Slow sometimes, network connection issues, etc. Looks cool but reliability wise it seems to not be quite up to snuff. Should I get the mac? Back on topic: Love the photos! | ||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 63 Registered: 06-2007 |
It was revolting. But I will invite you over if you bring a tazer with you. | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 213 Registered: 08-2006 |
Terryh - For shutter I used 1.6 and I believe the aperture was at 5.6 if that helps at all. It captured the light of the skyline as well as freezed the action. Jerome - I used the D50 for a long time until this week when my D200 arrived after 6 months of saving. The fireworks shots were taken with that and im very pleased with how they turned out. As you can see im a Nikon man but I cant argue not going with Canon. I think the D40X come with 10 mp but the options are very limited. The D80 is also a 10 mp camera and really is more user friendly. I would go with the D80 but it really depends on how much you would like to spend. Both cameras are nice and will take great shots for you. I think what your refering to in terms of the surreal photographs is the HDR technique I use. Its the process of taking multiple exposures of the same subject (same aperture but different shutter speeds) and then combining them in a program like photoshop cs2 or photomatix. Heres an example of a recent one I tried that turned out good. http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/623164025/ Im a Mac guy. I bought my Mac before I really got serious into this photography thing and since I have no complaints. I am looking into getting another one simply for photography since when im working on photos I have soo many programs running that the computer bogs down just a tad. I would definitely recommend the Mac though. It may take some getting used to but I havent run into anyone that doesnt like theirs. Hope that helps. | ||
Jb3 Member Username: Jb3 Post Number: 40 Registered: 06-2007 |
Southen, Awesome shots as always. Let me know if you're looking to unload the D50  . Kid-D, mind boggling isn't it? makes you wonder what were feeding these people. I went into a gas station somewheres in Highland Park a few weeks back and they have all these gangsta rap CD's lining the counter and windows, hundreds of em. I was in shock, stupefied more like it. Little kids were in there with their parents buying armfuls of garbage candy and chips...is this it? i thought, thousands of years of evolution? reduced to demagogues of murder, violence and instant satisfaction. No wonder half these kids end up on crack and heroin. Where are our afterschool workshops that teach these kids how to build a house, tend a garden, do something productive other than feed into consumerism enmasse?...sorry all, i'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired of all the bullshit i see and that Kid-D wants to murder for. On the other hand, i hear shock therapy goes a long way. | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 215 Registered: 08-2006 |
Thanks Jb3. Odds are ill probably hold onto the D50 but ill keep that in mind. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1532 Registered: 11-2003 |
Southen, I believe HDR is what I am referring to. So this is done with a computer in processing, not necessarily a "setting" on a digital camera, yes? I didn't realize it but the first few photos I saw of this stuff, and one was yours! Saw this one last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/171657855/ Also like this one (not yours): http://www.flickr.com/photos/u rbantiki/143915361/ And finally, what is this one? Looks sorta HDR, but it seems a bit more "ghostly", like the sharpness is softer? What is this technique called? http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/466248298/ Is flickr the online photo sharing of choice? I've used Kodak PhotoGallery as it seems easier for family and friends to page through than flickr does. What do you like for just sharing photos that are easy for non-computer savvy people? Ya know, I didn't realize it but most of my favorite detroit shots on flickr are yours. I'm impressed! | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1533 Registered: 11-2003 |
Damn: http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/119126606/ | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 216 Registered: 08-2006 |
Thanks Jerome. That "ghostly" shot is a slightly desaturated HDR photo. I personally like using flickr. I think it offers a lot more than some other photo sharing sites, but I use it for more then just sharing with friends and family. I use it for getting critiques and opinions as well which flickr is really good for. You could always try the free account and see if you like it for yourself. | ||
Hans57 Member Username: Hans57 Post Number: 179 Registered: 05-2006 |
What's the tallest abandoned skyscraper, Book Tower? | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 217 Registered: 08-2006 |
The Book Tower is occupied, the Broderick is the tallest in Detroit. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 328 Registered: 07-2006 |
Jerome81, It looks like you've done your homework on dSLR's. I recently bought one myself, and came to many of the same conclusions you did. I ended up purchasing a Digital Rebel XTi because I have smaller hands and I was actually concerned about the D80 being a bit too large for me. In the future, if I stick with photography, I don't think the larger size will be an issue, but for me, the XTi was the best choice for now. I agree with Southen that the D80 would be a great choice for you, given your preferences. It will have all the features you want, and you can also find it for a reasonable price, too. If you like taking pictures of buildings, like many of us on here, I think the D80 has a grid you can superimpose on the viewfinder, which could be helpful. I wish the XTi had that feature. For a REALLY in depth review of the D80, take a look at this review: http://www.dpreview.com/review s/nikond80/ That website is actually generally great for camera reviews. It also has a review of the Canon 30D, which is also a great camera, but more expensive than the D80. When you do buy your camera, check out the prices on Amazon, B&H, or J&R, as I've found that those three have similar prices. Do not buy the camera at a Best Buy or Circuit City, as you'll be paying a good deal more for the same merchandise. | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 218 Registered: 08-2006 |
I bought my most recent camera and equipment from B&H and have zero complaints. | ||
Hans57 Member Username: Hans57 Post Number: 181 Registered: 05-2006 |
If your talking about the Book Building as a whole, your right. I was under the impression that all tenants of the tower had to leave because of no power. But I guess you could consider Broderick occupied as well with that logic. | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 220 Registered: 08-2006 |
No im pretty sure power was restored and there still are some tenants in the Book Tower. The Broderick on the other hand is a complete mess on the inside. You wont find scenes like this in the Book Tower: http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/254161920/in/set-720575 94105322572/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/258511192/in/set-720575 94105322572/ | ||
Southen Member Username: Southen Post Number: 224 Registered: 08-2006 |
Being that it is the 4th of July I figured it would be a bad idea to post some more fireworks shots from the Freedom Festival. Enjoy and I hope everyone has a great holiday. http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/716491825/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/716492109/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/s outhen/716492341/ | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 674 Registered: 02-2007 |
again you guys amaze me...thanks | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2676 Registered: 10-2003 |
I don't have any from this year. These are a few from years past.    | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 674 Registered: 01-2006 |
It's exciting looking east from my Lafayette Towers apartment right now as I'm watching a good 10-15 displays of various sizes around east Detroit and out on the horizon in the suburban communities. Regardless of your political opinion, it's always exciting to celebrate freedom! God Bless America! | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 4385 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here is some firework video from Sky 4: http://www.clickondetroit.com/ video/13585155/index.html |
