One of the better captures from the Seattle Lake Union fireworks display this year. The pano mount helps to concentrate on the most pleasing part of the image. Approximately 40 foot stereo base.
Independence Day fireworks over Seattle’s Lake union, July 2023
Independence Day fireworks over Lake Union in Seattle
The cameras are aimed into the sky during the day. This usually works out well, but last year I got burned. The cameras were aimed normally high but the fireworks were set off abnormally low. So I got almost nothing. This year I’m planning to shoot with a wider lens to capture more of the entire scene, and I’m in the process of running tests on those lenses to see if they match.
Independence Day fireworks above Seattle’s Lake Union, July 2017
This year (2018) I aimed my cameras high based on the height of the fireworks from last year. That turned out to be sub-optimal, as they put on a “low show,” and I didn’t get nearly as many shots as I might have. I’m thinking next year I may try to go wide and capture the whole scene, with the barge and city background.
The classic view of Seattle from Kerry Park on Queen Anne hill. Shot with 2 Mamiya Press cameras triggered with an air bulb. At least 10 feet separation and 150mm lenses.
Don Lopp passed away Feb 24, 2019. His mastery of craft and is impeccable eye missed. He was a generous and helpful man. [JRT February, 2019.]
One of my favorite fireworks shots, especially for the fineness of the light trails, and the color. I shared this image with someone who told me it made her feel like she was on top of the magic castle at Disneyland — one of my all-time favorite responses to a 3D slide.
Shot with twin Hasselblad 500Cs sporting 150mm lenses. Approximately 40 foot separation (based on the half mile distance between me and the fireworks, and the fact that we don’t discern any details behind the firworks — otherwise the 40 foot separation would be a problem).
I went to the old Steam Plant south of the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. Its no longer in operation, but you can walk around among the old machinery once a month. Visually, its a treat. Wonderful and almost free way to spend the morning.
This first shot here has a shallow DOF because I didn’t know we were allowed to bring tripods, which had been banned in the past. Also, I had mistakenly brought ISO 100 film, instead of ISO400. I ended up finding things to put the camera on and pray my hands were steady. If not for these reasons, I would have used a smaller aperture.
The other 2 shots are from a business which sells rusty ornamental garden sculptures. Can’t say I’d buy one, but it was a fantastic place to shoot stereo. In many instances, the visual jumble of lines of rusty metal did a great job of demonstrating how a 2D photo made it hard to pick out the form of objects, but in stereo, you see them immediately. That day, it was sunny enough that I didn’t need a tripod.
I shot these with a Sputnik.
Japanese Garden near the Arboretum in Seattle.
Fireworks on Lake Union in Seattle
This was captured on US Independence Day 2013 from the roof of a condo overlooking Seattle’s Lake Union. I had the roof to myself and was able to space my cameras 40 feet apart. On a previous attempt I had spaced the cameras 20 feet apart based on calculations from a Don Lopp formula. But when Don saw the images he told me that since there was nothing behind the fireworks I could go double on the distance. As usual, things go well when I listen to Don.
The cameras were 2 Hasselblad 500Cs with 150mm lenses. Film is Provia 100F. Aperture at f16 and I would count off about 8 seconds from when the fireworks started popping.
Welcome Jet Weston Co! Mazeltov!
Fireworks on Seattle's Lake Union, 4 July 2013
This is the fourth year I’ve attempted to capture Seattle’s 4th of July fireworks display. I have a perfect spot for shooting them, provided by a good friend. Every previous attempt has had its problems. In 2010 the triggers I used worked in my basement but not in the field. So I came down off the roof disappointed and my friend Jim, an inventor, asked me to describe the problem. Some months later he presented me with a box containing some solenoid triggers.
2011 worked better but I was trying to do too many things at once. The triggers worked pretty well but in the end I only had a couple of usable shots. When I say usable I mean awesome. The Hasselblads were spaced about 20 feet apart, based on a formula I got from Don Lopp.
When Don saw the photos he said, “You know, since you don’t have infinity in the shot you could double the distance between the cameras.” I was shooting the fireworks against a dark sky (which presents a problem in aiming the cameras) but I resolved to shoot with greater separation.
In 2012 I had 40 foot separation but my aim was not good and I didn’t get anything I could use.
Fast forward to 2013. I asked my friend to make the triggers more powerful as there were times when it seemed the signal wasn’t strong enough to go over long distances. James did beef up the triggers such that he thinks I could trigger from several miles without that problem! This year the triggers were good, the aim was near perfect, and a I got some really nice shots. 40 foot separation between cameras. I’m currently too protective of the best ones to send them out on tour but even the “also-rans” are quite good! And I hope I can get to share some of these with you in person!
And I can’t wait ’til next year!
1) Multnomah Falls
My home-made stereo camera • Velvia 50 • probably f22
2) Garden@ Mansion in Lakewood
Taken around 2000, using twin Fuji 645s with 45mm lenses. As sharp as any I’ve ever owned. Triggered with a twin cable release.
3) Montlake Japanese Garden
My home-made stereo camera • Velvia 50 • probably f22
4) Reflections in a Swamp
Taken in Bellevue, Washington with my home-made stereo camera • probably f22
Tom Noddy and Bubble Tetrahedron
One of my best friends is Tom Noddy, aka “the Bubble Guy.” Tom appeared on the Tonight Show back when Johnny Carson was still host, and he travels the world doing his act. I’d always wanted to shoot some of his bubbles, but I had no experience shooting portraits in MF 3d. This is one of the simplest bubbles he makes. He also makes a cube, a dodecahedron, a 6-pointed star, a carousel, etc, etc.
Settings unrecorded. I had help from Don Lopp, who attended the shoot. We draped black velvet behind Tom, had a floor lamp beside him, and I bounced a flash off the ceiling.
Experience Music Project, Seattle Center
The EMP (Experience Music Project) is Seattle’s version of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum, at the Seattle Center. The building is designed by Frank Gehry. I’ve never been inside (it’s kinda pricey – I’d rather have a new camera filter) but the outside has given me a lot of photo ops. Remember waaaaay back in loop 19A, when Dave Casey had a photo of the “sculpture thingie by the EMP?” The shadow of that sculpture thingie can be seen in this shot.
Shot with a TL-120, Provia 100F, 2 minutes.
