New Year’s

Part of my New Year’s fireworks series.

I’ve shot the London New Year’s fireworks quite a few times - they look great coming off of the Eye. These shots are actually from 2018 rather than this year - but today seemed a good time to post them.

A crowd on Lambeth Bridge watch the New Years fireworks display over the London Eye. Many are holding phones in the air taking photos.

2018/01/01
1/45s at f/2.8, 24mm, ISO 6400, Nikon D800

Taking a leaf from Timo’s people using phones series I decided to try a different kind of shot. Whilst impressive, one years’s photos of the fireworks look a lot like another years’s. Shooting people shooting fireworks was a nice challenge.

A phone is held taking a photo of fireworks in the distance.

2018/01/01
1/90s at f/4, 135mm, ISO 2500, Nikon D800

Something you might notice is that nearly all of the phones in these shots are shooting video. Lots of people started out taking photos, and then stopped after 30 seconds. Only the videoers kept going.

Three phones are held in the air taking photos of fireworks in the distance.

2018/01/01
1/60s at f/4, 92mm, ISO 5000, Nikon D800

I mostly shot at f/4 which I now realise is too wide to get an sense of the wheel in the background. Another lesson for next time.

A phone is held taking a photo of fireworks in the distance.

2018/01/01
1/90s at f/4, 190mm, ISO 6400, Nikon D800

Four phones are held in the air taking photos and videos of fireworks in the distance.

2018/01/01
1/45s at f/4, 70mm, ISO 800, Nikon D800

One great thing about shooting like this is I didn’t need to jostle to get a good position, or hold that position for hours before midnight. The best spot to be was right at the back.

Part of my New Year’s fireworks series. Shot at Lambeth bridge in London.