How We Viewed Our Independence Day

 

We decided to do something different this year for the Fourth of July as far as fireworks viewing, so we headed up to Central City, Iowa, where a dusk fireworks display was held from the Linn County Fairgrounds. On the way there, mother nature had her own special viewing as well. This view looks east at 8:04 pm CDT while northbound on Highway 13 just south of Central City. Occurring at this time was a towering updraft with a lowering beneath it -- but with no watches or warnings attached.

 

Close-up of the lowering.

8:25 pm. Now at our fireworks viewing location on Marion Road South at Central City Road just outside the fairgrounds. This view looks southeast at a sunlit sheared cloud from the previously seen updraft. The system is now dissipating.

9:49 pm. Fireworks under way. Five second exposure at f/5, ISO 100, 27mm focal length.

9:50 pm. 5 second exposure at f/8, ISO 100, 27mm focal length.

A group of four fireworks bursts with similar exposures and settings.

9:48-9:49 pm. Blend of three separate exposures, each 5 seconds at f/8, ISO 100, 27mm focal length.

Another blended image, this one with two exposures. The fireworks display lasted about 15 minutes. Nikon Z6ii camera.