Fireworks Display 2019 Sullivan Fairgrounds

Posted on January 4, 2020 by jwj

This year`s fireworks display at the Sullivan Fairgrounds was another first for me…earlier in the day there was a rainstorm that apparently damaged the electronics board that controls the launch of the fireworks, and the company that has the contract for that detail in our city, apparently didn`t notice that damage til right before the timed launch, we everyone that drove there to watch and everyone that set up outside the perimeter in their special place, had to wait and wait, and wait before we were able to see the beautiful fireworks bursts…at least there was a nice sunset and a few small shows by private citizens before the big show started to keep some of us entertained….

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Thunderhead Overhead AVI952

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Sunset & Japanese Lanterns AVI107

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Mini Fountain Show at Mercy Bldg AVI 143

So as the sun began to set that evening, I had set up across the highway from the Mercy Building and there was a huge Thunderhead sitting above the Fairgrounds…apparently this isn`t why there was a delay tho, because when the fireworks show finally did start at 10:45 pm, those clouds were still up there…

…and the view behind me even sweeter…

…and then we waited some more..normally the show starts around 9:15 pm…this time it was an hour and a half late getting started…I would imagine some left since there was no communication between the company hired to launch the fireworks show and Sullivan City Officials to the people…since so many of us were in the dark anyway, so to speak, many of us remained in place and waited…finally it began about 10:45 pm…I shot it with two different cameras, one on a tripod and one on the hood of my truck, the latter did a pretty good job…the first 5 photos below were of the pre-show, fired off by citizens in the area of the police station before the Big Show started…those folks did a pretty good job in my opinion…

…and finally the Big Show started….

…and since it`s much easier to capture the colors and detail better in the finale once it starts, I shot it completely on video this time around…

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Late Show Finally Starts 1045 PM AVI 158

Fireworks 2019-0704 Sullivan Fairgrounds AVI 159

Fireworks 2019-0704 Sullivan Fairgrounds AVI 160

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Late Show AVI 1601

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Late Show AVI 172

Fireworks 2019-0704 Sullivan Fairgrounds Late Show AVI 173

Fireworks 2019-0705 Sullivan Fairgrounds Late Show Red White & Blue Bursts AVI 183

…and then the finale began, with more glitches on timing of the bursts, so I captured it in two videos…

Fireworks 2019-0704 Sullivan Fairgrounds Start of Finale AVI 200

Fireworks 2019-0704 Sullivan Fairgrounds Finale Continues AVI 2051

Fireworks over Sullivan July 4th, 2018

Posted on August 25, 2018 by jwj

I decided to try and find a different location to photograph the fireworks over Sullivan this year…wanted to try and shoot from the Hwy D Overpass that crosses the BNSF tracks, however the foliage on the west side of the bridge obscured my view of the Fairgrounds, so I drove down to the former doctors office building right across from the former Betz Printing and set up in the parking lot next to a nice couple. Just as the sun was setting, a nice guy came over and chatted me up about how to take better photos of fireworks, he had a nice camera and I gave him some tips, told him how I normally shoot them, and told him it can be a matter of luck, even for those of us that have been shooting them for years…we talked about Canon and Nikon Cameras as well as good lenses and settings…as he walked back to his spot to join his wife, I wished him the best of luck in getting some good images…as we were talking, folks down by the ball fields were lighting Japanese Lanterns and launching them into the skies overhead….

…the trails of the Lanterns became easier to see once the skies darkened more…

and then others with smaller fireworks set theirs off before the big show as well, some were very pretty…these just north of the railroad tracks….

…then the Big Show started off with a VERY appropriate burst of colors….too bad there was no music with it this year….here are the best of over 200 images that I shot of the show….

…this show was nice, some vibrant blues and purples in the colors….here are a few videos of the show….

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…and the finale video as well…..

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Another great show for sure, thanks to the City of Sullivan and the co-sponsors !!

Mini Vacation and Fireworks 4th of July Week

Posted on July 15, 2016 by jwj

Mom, Onyx, and I headed south to Arkansas on Thursday June 30th for a four day mini vacation…I had the week off and now wish I had spent a few extra days down in Hot Springs just relaxing a bit more and chilling out. We dropped Mom off in Fort Smith on the way down there so she could chill out for a few days as well. Onyx and I spent three days rockhunting with fellow rockhounds at a couple of quartz mines and visiting with a couple of mineral dealer friends as well….can see more of that story at my rocks blog site www.jwjrocks.com

I also photographed the fireworks Saturday night from the condo I was renting on Lake Hamilton, with a few of my rockhound friends watching from the balcony with me as well. Last summer I photographed the Mountain Harbor Display on Lake Ouachita, and this year I got to photograph the Lake Hamilton show once again, last time was in 2010. This year`s show was at a little bit slower pace, but still a great show to watch and photograph….

…yes it sure was a great show this year…great reflections and look at the crowd out there on the water in front of us.

We came home on Monday July 4th and got home in time to rest up a bit and I shot the Sullivan Fireworks Display, this year across I-44 from the Fairgrounds….