This year we were again in Columbus, Ohio for the fireworks and I enjoyed joining the thundering herd for the downtown display.
I also found a great location in Westerville to both observe and photograph their show. All of these shows seem to last about a half hour, but smaller communities on a more limited budget space theirs out to be enjoyed individually. I have found over the years that volume is not always quality. For the grand fanalie they always use the adage that quantity has a quality all it's own but the individuals do photograph better.
In the 25 years I worked in Columbus, Ohio I don't think I ever missed the annual downtown fireworks show. Working in Columbus I was subject to their wage tax but living outside the city limits this is the only tangible benefit I could see I was getting.
Over the years we have parked in various locations and walked down to be within about a few hundred yards of launch site where each of the bombs are not only seen but felt. In the early 2000s we also parked at the downtown boat launch and kayaked down to be almost right under the explosions.
Photographing fireworks is a rather specialized endeavor and lugging heavy camera equipment and a tripod into a milling crowd never seemed like a really good idea. Many times our view would be partially obstructed by trees, buildings, street lights, or even the smoke from the fireworks themselves. Obviously taking a good camera on the water was not a very good idea either.
Like so many things there is also the choice between watching the show and photographing the show. This year we parked at Fort Hayes about two miles from ground zero near where I worked for many years and I could setup the camera undisturbed. In these last views blue light streams from the building where my office was on the top floor right behind the tree.