Fireworks Without Focus

Blurry Fireworks

I took a zillion photos of last night’s Independence Day fireworks display, but this one stood out for an odd reason: The camera didn’t focus properly. I’m not sure why “fireworks mode” doesn’t automatically set focus to infinity, but it made for a really interesting effect.

Here are ten more highlights from the evening.

At last, it’s the highlights from the photo challenge!

At last, it’s the highlights from the photo challenge! Thanks to everyone who participated by showing off your favorite Flash memorabilia.  You have a great mix of toys, customs, comics, original art, and even fan art! Starting from upper left, we have @asowrey1158, @flash_jlanm, @i_am_flash, @royalflood, @shaerileth, @flash_jlanm again, and @bigragzz

At last, it’s the highlights from the #speedforce5th photo challenge! Thanks to everyone who participated by showing off your favorite Flash memorabilia. You have a great mix of toys, customs, comics, original art, and even fan art! Starting from upper left, we have @asowrey1158, @flash_jlanm, @i_am_flash, @royalflood, @shaerileth, @flash_jlanm again, and @bigragzz. #theflash #speedforce #dccomics

The challenge is still open!

The challenge is still open! Post your favorite flash memorabilia with that tag. As for this pic, I love the expression on the doomed construction worker that the Flashes of two worlds are racing to rescue. I couldn’t use this for the announcement, but wanted to put it somewhere

The #speedforce5th challenge is still open! Post your favorite flash memorabilia with that tag. As for this pic, I love the expression on the doomed construction worker that the Flashes of two worlds are racing to rescue. I couldn’t use this for the announcement, but wanted to put it somewhere.
#theflash #comics #collectibles #doomed

Speed Force is running a photo challenge for our fifth anniversary!

Speed Force is running a photo challenge for our fifth anniversary! To participate, follow @SpeedForceOrg on Instagram and post a photo of/with your favorite piece of Flash memorabilia tagged. It can be a comic book, a toy, a statue, a costume, a poster, a piece of original art, a DVD, a shirt or towel, a game piece, anything. It can be official or custom-made. It can be something you own, or something you’ve seen. We’ll post the highlights next Friday. (Please post your own photos only.)

Speed Force is running a photo challenge for our fifth anniversary! To participate, follow @SpeedForceOrg on Instagram and post a photo of/with your favorite piece of Flash memorabilia tagged #speedforce5th. It can be a comic book, a toy, a statue, a costume, a poster, a piece of original art, a DVD, a shirt or towel, a game piece, anything. It can be official or custom-made. It can be something you own, or something you’ve seen. We’ll post the highlights next Friday. (Please post your own photos only.)

These Pride of Bolivia trees line one side of the sidewalk, jacarandas the other.

These Pride of Bolivia trees line one side of the sidewalk, jacarandas the other. When not flowering, they look so similar that I didn’t realize they were two kinds of trees until they started blooming. #yellow #trees #prideofbolivia #jacaranda #spring #hadtolookitup

These Pride of Bolivia trees line one side of the sidewalk, jacarandas the other. When not flowering, they look so similar that I didn’t realize they were two kinds of trees until they started blooming. #yellow #trees #prideofbolivia #jacaranda #spring #hadtolookitup

Fleeting Rays of Sunlight

Fire Dragon

I’m fascinated by the interplay of sunlight and clouds, particularly oddly-shaped clouds and optical effects like haloes and sundogs. The trick with photographing them is that you have to take the picture now. You can’t run and get another camera and come back. You can’t wait until you reach your destination even if it’s only 5-10 minutes away.

Lighting conditions will change. A halo might get stronger, or it might vanish entirely. A cloud that looks like a flaming dragon or phoenix right now will be a dull gray in a few minutes. Patterns of rays will fade from view. I’ve missed my chance a lot of times by being stuck on the road, unable to find a suitable place to stop until the moment had passed.

Light Rays After the Storm

Flying into the Sunset

Feathery Not-a-Rainbow

This last shot is a circumhorizon arc formed by ice crystals. It always appears parallel to the horizon, like a flattened out rainbow, and if the crystals cover enough of the sky it will actually form a circle all the way around the sky. I spotted it while walking back to work from lunch and only had my phone with me — and I actually ran the rest of the way to the office so I could get my camera. I was lucky, since these really don’t appear very often.