Firstly, thanks to Noelle for sending out a group text to the club members telling us about the fireworks.
Having never tried to take photos of fireworks before, I did a quiet Google for some tips. As with most things on the internet there are loads of different and sometimes conflicting opinions!
These are what I took from them and it worked for me.
Tripod
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (I used a 17-55mm APS-C)
Shot in Bulb mode
Aperture f/8
ISO 400 (I also tried ISO100 for longer exposures)
I picked the end of Ferry point to try and get Youghal town in the background, to add some depth to the photo and add some local interest. It also offered a wide view of the river as the fireworks were launched from a boat that was moving with the tide.
Shooting a moving target in the dark can be tricky but I’d prefocused the camera manually and because it was ~100m away at f/8 it would stay in focus. Good old Hyperfocal distance.
So with my tripod setup, camera ready and test shot taken, I waited for the fireworks to start…
… 45 mins later than planned, the ABBA tribute band (who sounded very good, even across the water) finally finished with Dancing Queen and we were off.
The extra 45 mins was a blessing as the sky went from twilight to night giving much more contrast to the fireworks.
The bulb mode worked well with the remote cable as I could watch the fireworks directly and just press and release as needed. I found multiple fireworks were too bright because the latter ones would illuminate the smoke from the first ones.
After checking the first few shots, I found 2 – 3 seconds would catch the launch and explosion without being too bright or losing detail.
This is where the remote cable is great. After the first few you get an idea of when to press it and then release, each firework is different.
The main trick is to keep shooting, you’ve no idea will the next firework be a huge dramatic explosion or several launched at once.
It was a very enjoyable spectacle, and thanks to the organisers of The Queen of the Sea festival for putting it on.
Click here to see a gallery of images from the shoot. Enjoy!
– Zane Llewellyn
The “Morgenster” is a brig, a two masted, filly square rigged sailing ship. Her rigging is based on the American clippers from the Eighteenth Century. She is a stunning and elegant ship and has been sailing as a clipperbrik since 2008 when her restoration was finished. Its mission is to preserve a historical heritage of seafaring and to help further develop all persons on board. During Tall Ship races she can always be found in the leading group and is always a feared competitor. Her rigging is said to be dated to 1840. As a training ship she is allowed to sail around the world with up to 36 trainees and a crew of 10. Her young apprentices take sail training voyages supported by the Cork Sail Training Bursary Scheme.
We passed by the Irish Lights vessel, ILV Granuaile, anchored securely in the Harbour. She stood majestically above us as we ventured close to her. Her size would have been no match for us had she decided to move!!
corkscrew – a cast iron support system that enabled construction in deep water on mud and sandbanks. The Lighthouse itself was designed by George Halpin and was first lit in 1853 and remains a working light to this day. It has a focal plane of 10 metres and white and red lenses depending on direction of approach.
It was then time for Finbarr and me to hold on as Kevin turned up the throttle and we sped in the direction of Crosshaven. We passed beneath Camden Fort Meagher looking out protectively across the Harbour. We then slowed again as we were now entering into the Owenabue Estuary and the Sunday daytrippers were out in their boats. Crosshaven is home to The Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest Yacht Club in the world. We cruised by the magnificent yachts, standing stately on the still waters. We went up the estuary towards Curabinny Wood and then turned back again. The day was very overcast and unfortunately the sky was not lending itself to showing any colour at all. It would definitely be a place to revisit with a blue sky overhead.
We then decided to head for East Ferry. White knuckled, Finbarr and I held on as we sped off. As we neared East Ferry, looking east across the Owenacurra River to the mainland we could see the Bell Tower of the Holy Trinity Church. It was built in 1867 of red brick and limestone banding and its Bell Tower stands 75ft high. We slowed as we neared the church sitting at the foot of a wooded hill. This was a rare opportunity to photograph this church in such a tranquil setting. Only the noise of the cameras clicking could be heard over the peace and quiet of the birds singing in the evening.