Seattle over 4th of July - fireworks shooting suggestions

[jayz]

going on a west coast trip with the family.  Doubt if we'll be able to make it out to Ranier or Olympic, as this trip is more geared for a family trip.  But would appreciate some suggestions on what to shoot in the seattle area over 3-4 day period.

wanted to know what are some good spots for good seattle skyline photos, waterfront shots and nearby landscape locations, from those that are familiar with the area.  with a couple of toddlers, i'm not looking to do a lot of driving around, so suggestions for a good base camp would also help.

Also wanted to know what is the best place in Seattle to catch 4th of july fireworks. would also appreciate advice on shooting fireworks.  I've never really taken any good fireworks photos, despite 4-5 attempts.  Also seem to be just a lot of smoke, over-exposed or streaky photos.  did try to read and get some info on the web, but always been unhappy with results.

appreciate advice on both location for 4th of july fireworks as well as firework shooting techniques. is it possible to get good firework photos on a single exposure or is it necessary to blend multiple shots?  how do you avoid just having a lot of smoke?  would also appreciate exposure guidance. have tried long exposure (4 to 10 seconds, covering lens in between fireworks), shorter exposures ranging from 1/15 sec to 2-3 seconds with very lousy results.  

[jayz]

No one from the Seattle area that can suggest good locations to shoot 4th of July firework

[PatBeug]

http://www.family4th.org/
Gasworks Park on Lake Union, in the center of the city, has a great fireworks display, and awesome views of the city skyline. 
http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/puget/fireworks_ta.htm  for some other ideas. 

Tacoma's Commencement Bay fireworks display on Schuster parkway is spectacular as well, but best seen from the water as the area becomes impossibly conjested for Freedom Fair.
http://www.freedomfair.com/



Pat

[riwong]

http://riwong.smugmug.com/Travel/Seattle/525583_NxzZY#P-2-10
Link to my Seattle Gallery.
The only game in town this year is Lk union


Since the lake is located in the middle of the city you have a view from just about any where you see the lake.  The above shot was taken from the south end of the lake looking north.  The fireworks are fired off a barge in the lake so if you want a front row seat you need to be in a boat.

Take a look on Google earth and center in on Lk union and decide where you want to be.  There are hotels that have a view of the lake.  If you do head into the area the traffic will be bad. some people spend the day to get their spots.  The trick to get good firework shots is not to use auto and set the exposure manually for the display and not the sky or forground.  if you are seeing lots of smoke it's because you are over exposing your picture.

Because it does not get dark up here till 10pm if you are driving into town you might not get home till way after midnight because of the traffic.  most streets around the lake are just two lane city streets and everyone will be leaving at the same time.

As for city shots the iconic Seattle shot is taken at Kerry Park just north of Seattle Center.




If you plan to see the sights Seattle is part of the CityPass program.
http://www.citypass.com/seattle

There are sites like the space needle and the harbor cruise which will allow you to get shots of the city that you can do no other way.  Also if you just want to get away to shoot drop the family off at the zoo and go shooting nearby.

if you want to shoot nature in the city the Seattle Arboretum Wetlands are right by the UW campus. near the zoo.

http://riwong.smugmug.com/Nature/Seattle-Arboretum-Wetlands/2163366_f9iqi#P-1-10



At the UW boat house you can rent row boats or canoes by the hour.


If you stay in the downtown core you can get around the city core for free during the day because the buses have a free ride zone in the city downtown area.

There is also a light rail into the downtown core from the airport for $2.50 per person.

[jayz]

I really appreciate the advice and links Pat!

http://www.family4th.org/
Gasworks Park on Lake Union, in the center of the city, has a great fireworks display, and awesome views of the city skyline. 
http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/puget/fireworks_ta.htm  for some other ideas. 

Tacoma's Commencement Bay fireworks display on Schuster parkway is spectacular as well, but best seen from the water as the area becomes impossibly conjested for Freedom Fair.
http://www.freedomfair.com/



Pat

[jayz]

Thanks so much for the suggestions Rick!!  I really appreciate you posting photos as well as links to your gallery!! You have some amazing photos - I really wish I could be in Seattle during the full moon!  Are the firework photos with the space needle from Kerry Park or somewhere else??? 

I also really appreciate your advice for shooting fireworks, hopefully your advice will help improve my firework photos. We are staying in downtown pretty close to the space needle, so shooting being able to shoot from close to the hotel with the kids.

http://riwong.smugmug.com/Travel/Seattle/525583_NxzZY#P-2-10
Link to my Seattle Gallery.
The only game in town this year is Lk union


Since the lake is located in the middle of the city you have a view from just about any where you see the lake.  The above shot was taken from the south end of the lake looking north.  The fireworks are fired off a barge in the lake so if you want a front row seat you need to be in a boat.

Take a look on Google earth and center in on Lk union and decide where you want to be.  There are hotels that have a view of the lake.  If you do head into the area the traffic will be bad. some people spend the day to get their spots.  The trick to get good firework shots is not to use auto and set the exposure manually for the display and not the sky or forground.  if you are seeing lots of smoke it's because you are over exposing your picture.

Because it does not get dark up here till 10pm if you are driving into town you might not get home till way after midnight because of the traffic.  most streets around the lake are just two lane city streets and everyone will be leaving at the same time.

As for city shots the iconic Seattle shot is taken at Kerry Park just north of Seattle Center.




If you plan to see the sights Seattle is part of the CityPass program.
http://www.citypass.com/seattle

There are sites like the space needle and the harbor cruise which will allow you to get shots of the city that you can do no other way.  Also if you just want to get away to shoot drop the family off at the zoo and go shooting nearby.

if you want to shoot nature in the city the Seattle Arboretum Wetlands are right by the UW campus. near the zoo.

http://riwong.smugmug.com/Nature/Seattle-Arboretum-Wetlands/2163366_f9iqi#P-1-10



At the UW boat house you can rent row boats or canoes by the hour.


If you stay in the downtown core you can get around the city core for free during the day because the buses have a free ride zone in the city downtown area.

There is also a light rail into the downtown core from the airport for $2.50 per person.

[riwong]

The space needle shot is from Kerry Park.

The fireworks was shot from the southeast side of the lake looking north near I-5.

If you want to getup close Gasworks park is the spot to be and that is at the northern part of the lake

The spaceneedle is closer to the southwest part of the lake.  There is a park on that side of the lake and if you take the SLUT streetcar from downtown westlake center it will drop you right at the entrance.

since the fireworks are fired off in the lake anywhere you can see the lake the fire works will be seen.  The east side of the lake are where the house boats are located (sleepless in Seattle)
there are a few small parks along that side of the lake but they will be full of people.

[Scott Hargis]

Kerry Park is the ultimate viewpoint, if only because you can get Ranier next to the city.
Gasworks is a ZOO on the 4th. If you intend to shoot from there, plan to arrive before 10:00am. Seriously. It's elbow-to-elbow. Not sure about Kerry Park.

[neile]

Parking to get to Kerry Park is tricky on a normal day. On the 4th I'd say it'd be downright impossible.

Neil

[jayz]

The space needle shot is from Kerry Park.

The fireworks was shot from the southeast side of the lake looking north near I-5.

If you want to getup close Gasworks park is the spot to be and that is at the northern part of the lake

The spaceneedle is closer to the southwest part of the lake.  There is a park on that side of the lake and if you take the SLUT streetcar from downtown westlake center it will drop you right at the entrance.

since the fireworks are fired off in the lake anywhere you can see the lake the fire works will be seen.  The east side of the lake are where the house boats are located (sleepless in Seattle)
there are a few small parks along that side of the lake but they will be full of people.

Thanks again Rick!

[jayz]

Kerry Park is the ultimate viewpoint, if only because you can get Ranier next to the city.
Gasworks is a ZOO on the 4th. If you intend to shoot from there, plan to arrive before 10:00am. Seriously. It's elbow-to-elbow. Not sure about Kerry Park.

Thanks for the information Scott!  Have never been to the USA during 4th before - yikes arrive for 10AM, that's going to be a challenge with two toddlers!

Will have to take that into consideration as well.

[jayz]

Parking to get to Kerry Park is tricky on a normal day. On the 4th I'd say it'd be downright impossible.

Neil

THanks for the info - more food for thought.  I've been to July 1st events at Canadian cities, but this will be my first time at a 4th of July in the USA.

[bobtowery]

Thanks for the information Scott!  Have never been to the USA during 4th before - yikes arrive for 10AM, that's going to be a challenge with two toddlers!

Will have to take that into consideration as well.

Scott's advice is good. I shot these same fireworks a couple of years ago.



People arrive at the park and sit in the sun (assuming it is sunny) all day long. And with Seattle's latitude, it doesn't get dark enough for the fireworks to start until about 9:30 pm if I remember correctly.

For me personally, I could never just sit for 11 hours waiting for nearly anything. Well, maybe a Beatles concert. Inconceivable with kids. So here is my advice. See the attached map. The #1 marker is sort of a park. It's like a wharf with businesses. It has a direct view up the lake, with gas works park at the end. We stayed at a Marriott right across the street. I think I went down to this wharf around 7 pm, and got my front row position. 

Just google for fireworks techniques. You'll find a lot of good info.  Good luck!