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Missing from the EXIF: Docklands Fireworks

Docklands Fireworks 1/4It has been a while since I did one of these posts, actually it has been a while since I did any camera related posts to be honest, but twins do that to you.  Since the last post, there has been one small change, I can haz new camera.  Why yes, I have a new D7100, and wow am I loving it.  ( but that is another post )

First real get out and shoot something opportunity came a week and a day after I purchased the D7100, the Docklands Winter Fireworks.  I was going for the day after I purchased the camera, but #manflu got in the way.  Which is not a bad thing on reflection, as I had another week to play and get used to the camera.

This was my first set of long exposures taken with the D7100, and my trusty Tokina 11-16mm lens.

The biggest advantage of the Docklands fireworks is that you get more than one opportunity.  Last year they were only on in July, this year, they are on in July and August so I have a few more chances to get the shot right.  Although after this shot, I may just stay home on the next few Friday nights.

Of course I got there nice and early, got my gear set up and fired off a few test shots.  Then as is often the case, the environment changed.  Someone decided to put some extra lights on the wharf.  These lights ended up as massive lens flares in every test shot.  So I had 10 minutes to move to a new location before the show began.

Being a fan of the interval timer mode, I had test shots to check for lighting and referencing last years shots I knew the basic F stop and Exposure settings I was after anyway.  So click click click goes the camera.  Just near the end of the show I think, wow check out the reflection and quickly rotate the D7100 into portrait mode.  And bang there is the shot.

Someone on Twitter asked me what settings I had used, well here they all are, and all the tweaks I did in Lightroom.  Tweaks that took me less than two min. As I say got to love shooting RAW ( and oh yeah 6000×4000 300dpi from the D7100 does give me some wiggle room for crops )

Stage 1 – Import the RAW – The Image as is off the camera
Docklands Fireworks - Lightroom - Stage 1

Stage 2
fix the angles and lens correction, then auto tone
Docklands Fireworks - Lightroom - Stage 2


Stage 3

Tweak the White Balance to get the colours correct
Docklands Fireworks - Lightroom - Stage 3


Stage 4

Final tweet to Vibrance and Clarity and then hit export… time in lightroom, less than 2 min.
Docklands Fireworks - Lightroom - Stage 4

 

 

The EXIF Info:

Camera Nikon D7100
Exposure 5 Seconds
Aperture f/9.0
Focal Length 11 mm
ISO Speed 250
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
Software Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.4 (Windows)
Exposure Program Manual
Date and Time (Original) 2013:07:12 19:15:34
Exposure Mode Manual
White Balance Auto
Lens Info 11-16mm f/2.8
Date Created 2013:07:12
Time Created 19:15:34
Creator Tool Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.4 (Windows)
Image Number 830

 

and of course you can purchase this print:

From Redbubble as a print, postcard, framed or poster

and also from 500PX as a canvas print, or you can vote for it.