Jerry Biddlecom  

Nature's Fireworks by Jerry Biddlecom

July 2026 - Nature's Fireworks

July 2026 - Jerry Biddlecom

Original

About the Image(s)

With July Fourth fireworks around the corner, I thought I might post some of nature's fireworks (literally) taken from my backyard. About ten or so days ago some large grass fires sprang up in various parts of Miami-Dade County and it took days to get them under control. Around sundown I was out cutting my grass when I happened to glance over to the west and noticed this nearby blaze. I quickly ran indoors to grab my camera and got off some exposures. In Adobe Bridge I went into Camera Raw and played around with the various settings, then opened up into Photoshop. After working in CR the main thing left to do was play around with the final crop. Taken with my Nikon D500 with 30-77mm zoom lens. I didn't think I had enough time to set up a tripod, so this is hand-held.

6 comments posted

Mike Patterson   Mike Patterson
I don't know if it was a display issue, but the original looked very soft, especially the houses along the shoreline. If so, you've done a great job of getting them in focus in your processed version. That being said, I don't find this a particularly compelling image or composition. Smoke from fires can be photogenic, if you catch the right light. However, I find this image flat and lacking a strong visual appeal.   Posted: 07/06/2026 15:30:28
Jerry Biddlecom   Jerry Biddlecom
I almost always retrieve the "originals" via screenshots taken from Adobe Bridge, hence the softness.   Posted: 07/08/2026 01:43:43
Marti Buckely   Marti Buckely
I have to agree with Mike that it's more of a "record shot". At first I thought it might be storm clouds that needed a lightning bolt to make it interesting...then I saw the description.   Posted: 07/06/2026 18:21:09
Jerry Biddlecom   Jerry Biddlecom
I guess I thought an out of control fire and large billows of smoke near a populated area might be interesting.   Posted: 07/12/2026 18:57:37
Joseph J Zaia   Joseph J Zaia
Jerry, for someone to run inside to grab his camera, you must have seen something that excited you, hence, the fiery cloud formations in a stormy sky, I presume. I must say that it is not a view that we see too often. The most important thing here is that each image must please the maker. With that in mind, all mimages do not need to be competition or works of art. Record shots or story telling pictures also have their value. I would keep this image as it is, but if you want to spend a little extra time on it, I would suggest that you blend in a couple of your lightning bolts in the sky; perhaps just for fun or to create something different.   Posted: 07/12/2026 19:13:38
Al Swanson   Al Swanson
I live in Colorado wildfire country so I can imagine what you felt when you saw this. But I agree with Mike. When I first saw this I thought it was a thunderstorm and I looked for the lightning. Hope you don't mind but I took your image and played with NIK and Topaz a little to dramatize the sky.   Posted: 07/13/2026 22:53:21
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