How HLP Photographer Captured Stunning Fireworks Show

Local Photographer Brian Knudson's time lapse capture of Highland Park's annual unofficial fireworks show dazzled local bloggers earlier this week and is steadily making its way toward 4,000 views on Youtube.com

We recently exchanged e-mails with Knudson, who explained how he captured the display and his feelings about the neighborhood's illegal fireworks tradition. [ed. note: some responses have been edited for length]

Where and when was this video shot?

BK: These were shot from my bedroom window near Avenue 52 and Irvington from around 7 p.m. until midnight on the 4th (though I actually started shooting a bit before 5 p.m.).

What inspired you to capture this year's fireworks show?

I've been out of town for the last couple of 4th's and I had forgotten how spectacular they are here in Highland Park. Had I remembered, I would have made a bigger production out of it, but instead I just set up my "rig" to do time-lapse - almost as an after thought - while preparing for an impromptu BBQ with a few friends. I had no idea how interesting the video would be until I assembled it for the first time.

Can you share some of the technical aspects of the production?

I initially set the camera for 8 seconds between each frame start. I set it to aperture priority with an f-stop of around 6 & a 200 ISO. This meant the daytime shots had a shutter of around 1/3500s expanding to around 15s+ at night (it should be noted, I was using one of the worst lenses made, but my one other lens is too long for this sort of thing). As the shutter times got longer, I increased the capture rate so that there would be no more than 3 seconds between the end of one frame and the start of the next... that was the plan anyway.

I underexposed by one stop so that the fireworks would maintain some color and not be completely washed out (I probably should have gone 2 stops. Next time). The video was assembled using all open-source (read: legitimately free) tools.

What are your feelings about these illegal fireworks shows?

I am a huge fan of the unofficial shows. Of course, it's hard for me to surmise any specifics while sitting on my porch, but from my perspective, it seemed like good, clean fun. The city didn't burn down, there was no looting or rioting in the streets, many neighbors came out and had a chat with one another; I heard loads of cheering, music, and good times all around. Relative to other places I've lived in the L.A. area, I've always felt a great sense of community in Highland Park (at least in the block or two around where I live) and days like these make me feel that even more.

It may sound cliche, but I believe life's too short to worry about what may happen when the thing that is happening is so worth being a part of. Now, had we been in a 100 year drought or if the people partaking were being irresponsible or disrespectful, I may be singing a different tune, but as it was, I am all for it.