Fireworks merge shot

[Antero52]

The city we were in for New Year didn't arrange any public fireworks, and any private ones were few and far between. However, I managed to capture a party shooting up a series of rockets fairly close to where I was with my M3. The first image is the one of 10 shots that has the most rockets visible, while the second was created by merging all the 10 shots. I loaded all the 10 shots as layers in Photoshop, aligned them and made a copy of the shot with the best foreground (best with regard to people). I then converted all 10 shots into a smart object and set the stack mode to "Lighten". As a result, the resulting image from the stack is one where each pixel equals the lightest pixel of the 10 shots in the stack. Finally, I used layer masking to merge the sky and fireworks from the stack and the foreground from the copy of the shot with the best foreground. I was suprised that the photos were quite sharp despite the relatively long exposure time (0.4s) and the strong wind (10 m/s or about 22 mph, look at the smokes from the smokestacks).

 

[OkDrone]

Good job in processing. They look great and the nighttime color is sure vivid.

 

[Deleted member 103366]

I'd be inclined to take out the big upper left explosion, I get the impression it's wiping out the red ones. Are those star constellations in the left background?
Nice work.

 

[DoomMeister]

Are those star constellations in the left background?

Yes, Big Dipper above and Little Dipper below, but odd no others are showing that are just as bright.

 

[SJGMoney]

I really like them

 

[FlyingFilmmaker]

These are awesome! Really shows where the M3 shines.

 

[Antero52]

To all who commented: Thank you very much for your comments.