Been scanning old things over the past couple of days...

I've tried to do fireworks many times now, but it turns out the the best images I've taken - hands down - were the first ones (I was till a steen). This one is from the 1983 4th of July fireworks in the Mall. This image and others I might add were taken from the top o f the Lincoln Memorial steps looking down the Mall towards the Washington Monument and Capitol Hill.

Three factors went into making this a great environment to shot:

1. Right before the fireworks there was a SPECTACULAR thunderstorm and downburst - everyone was soaked and many, many people ended up in the reflecting pool (might be hard to see at this web size).

2. Secretary of the Interior Watt (Reagan administration) had cancelled the beloved Beach Boy's concert in favor of Wayne Newton - creating a generally rebellious crowd - this was also a factor in the "people in the reflecting pool".

3. and finally MANY of the fireworks went awry, many of them went off way too low, as the one right at the top of the reflecting pool. If I remember s afew people suffered minor burns, but I'm not sure.

A Few More: