fourpointedstar

Back in 2023, I wanted to photograph the 4th of July fireworks, but not from the normal location on Chicago Street. So I found this little hole in the trees along the river. I nearly dropped my camera and tripod into the water because the hill was steep, but I really like the uniqueness of the photos.

One of my photographer friends has taken images that are similar to this concept; what happens if you photograph while the crossing guards close? But at the Metra crossing at National Street, you have additional options – what if you merge traffic, train, casino boat, and crossing guard?

I always want for my next photo to be better than the last image; a better composition or representation, or maybe a different, unique view. I’ve photographed fireworks many times, and I’ve seen some fantastic ideas using zoom and focus that I’d love to try…but what if I took my idea from Christmas lights – spinning the camera during the exposure – and tried it during a longer exposure of fireworks?