Friday, July 4, 2008

Sky Watch Friday


I'm sure I won't be the only person from the USA posting fireworks this week since this Sky Watch falls upon one of our biggest national holidays, but I can't resist. The 4th of July - also known as Independence Day - in America is a celebration of the date in 1776 when the American colonies issued their Declaration of Independence from England.

The below firework shot is actually from 2006 in a fireworks display in downtown Jacksonville, FL on the river, with the moon shining as the small white speck at the top and the US national and Florida state flags flying in the bottom right. It has become tradition in America to set of fireworks on the night of July 4th to celebrate our independence and most large cities have at least one very large display, often set to music, and some of those largest ones are broadcast nationwide over the television (such as from Washington, D.C. or New York).

It is all great fun until you want to go to bed and there are still people in the neighborhood firing off fireworks until the wee small hours of the morning... :-/

Apologies to any Brits who might still be brooding over that whole rebellion thing. :)

Head over to visit Tom to see what else is popping for Sky Watch this week.

50 comments:

Tom said...

No Brooding from this quarter Alan... I've been looking forward to this weeks Sky Watch just knowing the flags will be out and about.. have a great Day.. by the way... I laughed at your fresh veal comment.. I have just sorted out the Sky Watch link which will be post on my blog in around 5 hours time and I will now add you to the link.. youwill get one of the early numbers.
Have a great day tomorrow.
Tom

Unknown said...

I hope to have some firework pictures up tomorrow. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

It is well known that we Portuguese once sailed the seven seas searching for new lands, wealth and adventures.
We were brave in those days and gave the world new worlds!

Luckily I don’t have to sail the big oceans on a small ship to sea the wonders of our world …
No Sir, I just need to check with Mr. Tom, the finest host there is, for a trip around the world with SKY WATCH TOURS and with a click here, a click there I am quickly in the USA, England, Brazil, Italy, China, Australia, Finland … well, everywhere.

And on each stop I come to see a little marvel of our world under a great sky!
Hope you can come and see my piece of the sky at lenses & visions

Happy 4th of July.

Unknown said...

wow! great capture of the fireworks!
My Sky Watch Friday posts

bobbie said...

This is a gorgeous shot. I love the moon up there.

Rose said...

Great shots!

Anne said...

Just great, but I have never ever seen firework in this time of the year. Like it most when the night is dark, and the sky is almost black.

Nice weekend to you.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Alan: What a thoughtful picture to post. I almost did a flag but have already done it a couple of times. Glad you did this great post.

Anonymous said...

I think this is going to be the best Sky Watch Friday yet. The things I have seen are very encouraging

and the photography is spot on.

I really admire your photography skills and your critical eye for composition, lighting and texture.

Abraham Lincoln
—Brookville Daily Photo

Reader Wil said...

Happy Independance day! Beautiful fireworks.

***Fotografia e Luz*** said...

Pretty picture with rockets and congratulations flag

SandyCarlson said...

What fun! FS Key would be very pleased.

Carletta said...

Love this!!
Happy 4th to you!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Cool shot, Alan! Fireworks are banned in my community, and although there is a large "authorized" fireworks display in our capital city, I choose not to undertake the trip for a few minutes ooohing and aaahing. I'll be content to look at Sky Watch photos and watch some of it on TV.

Kim said...

I am looking forward to making my first attempts at taking fireworks shots tomorrow. I hope mine turn out as wonderful as yours did. Happy 4th.

VaQueenBee said...

I love this shot! Really nice with the flags in the corner and the moon above! Pretty sky, too!

I posted fireworks photos as well (taken this past Sunday).

Petunia said...

Fantastic firework picture:)Very well done!


Petunia's SWF

Champ Townboy said...

Very nice!!

Anonymous said...

Love it!

AnneKa said...

Great Sky Watch Photo!!!!

Anonymous said...

A beautiful display of fireworks and flags! Wonderful Sky Watch picture! Have a great fourth of July weekend.

Michele said...

It's beautiful... Hope your day is happy tomorrow. Canada celebrate it's happy day on July 1st... 141!
Mountain Retreat Photos

Anonymous said...

I love fireworks photos, and yours is great. Happy 4th of July to you! :)

Pappy said...

I think they were glad to get rid of us. Rebellious bunch of rabble. Great post. Pappy

Anonymous said...

Oh I so hear you on the people who are still doing their fireworks till the wee hours of the morning! Great picture! Happy Foruth!!

Anonymous said...

amazingly sharp; I, too, look forward to them until I want to sleep.

becky aka theRAV said...

Love the fireworks especially against that blue! I love that hue.

EG CameraGirl said...

Happy Independence Day from Canada!

Anonymous said...

Happy Fourth. Now that's what I call sky watching. :)

D Herrod said...

Sweet. Love the fireworks. I posted a SWF a while back with a decent shot of fireworks I took at EPCOT. Think your's is better though. Also, I have a Florida flag on mine this week as well, it is hard to see on mine.

Aisha said...

I love fireworks! They're just amazing to watch!

NikkiD said...

Wonderful capture!! I am in Australia so no fireworks here for us today, but I can't wait till next year when we are back in the USA!!

Linda said...

Great post. I love the apologies to the Brits comment. My brother-in-law is from Whales -
He just loves the 4th of July and Thanksgiving. We've had a lot of fun with it. But, he's a "good sport about it".

Raven said...

Triple header - beautiful fire works, a flag and the moon. Great shot. Happy July 4th.

abb said...

Perfection! I tried in vain to take a fireworks shot. Didn't work. Great SWF.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Great shot and can't wait to see all the fireworks photos

Pearl Maple said...

Fireworks are so hard to capture in a photo but yours are lovely and a perfect addition to this week's SkyWatch Friday.

thanks for sharing.

Ladynred said...

Nice shot of the fireworks. I really wanted to take fireworks shots during our Canada Day but unfortunately I had to work. Happy 4th of July.
Scrapbooking and Photography

Unknown said...

Happy Independence Day!! How can we brood when there is such talent!!

Great shot.

Gary
Bodge's Bulletin

Patty said...

Perfect shot. I can never capture fireworks, but this one is awesome

Anonymous said...

wow-wonderful! i love that US flag on the side -- gives more meaning to the fireworks!

My SWF Photo is posted HERE.

Hope you could drop by as well. Happy weekends!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Very appropriate for your most important day over there and a gorgeous image.

pts said...

fantastic shot!

lv2scpbk said...

Very good photo for sky watch and for the Fourth of July.

Roan said...

I'm impressed!

docemdy said...

Happy 4th of July!

Kerri Farley said...

Beautiful...I love how you have the flag in it too!
Great Skywatch shot!!

Travis said...

Great sky watch. God Bless America! I love seeing the flag in the backdrop of fireworks.

Rune Eide said...

Fireworks must be a real Sky Watch (and a belated congrats with the DAY!)

PS Yes, the bird was painted on the glass. I have been using Photoshop CS3, but there was also a program included. Maybe the latest version of Photoshop Elements will do it also. Check with Adobe.

Amila Salgado said...

Wow! This is super Sky Watch shot!
Have a great day!