At past fireworks displays we’ve seen, I noticed plane(s) circling and wondered what it would look like from up there. So this year, with Tripp tied to the ground looking frisky out at SBA, we decided to check out the show from above.
7682 Wow!
The first one we saw evoked a gasp! How truly magnificent it was from the air! Even though we were 1/2 mile away it was crisp and breathtaking. Something about slowly circling them gave a special “3D” quality to the display. Plus we were above all the smoke that usually dims the show from the ground. The only thing missing was the “Oooh” from the watching crowd, but we did see a surging flicker of camera flashes all during the show for miles in every direction. In the one above, you can see lights of Stearn’s Wharf on the left and harbor on the right, and light reflecting on the sands of West Beach. Note that some of these are much larger than the version displayed with this text, so if there’s one you like you can click on it.
7641 Well Red
Because we were above the smoke, colors were especially brilliant and the light reflecting from the white sands of West Beach amplified the effect.
7651 Fire Flower
The smoke was gently wafting out over the water, so when we were flying over the water the smoke showed up more as backlit foreground. After some high bursts, lower ones would be partially in smoke and this one created a pink floral arrangement effect.
7661 Canon Fire
We enjoyed the fluffy white ones, and the way the starbust accented it. I also like how this snap caught the canons firing more.
7734 Green Machine
I like how the sand bar mingles with the reflected green in this one, and how the wharf joins beach and harbor to frame the next against the inky black water.
7755 Framed Fire
7791 Red Domination
Timing is everything. As the blue was just fading, the red burst and all but wiped out the brilliant blue that still remained.
7830 Blue Streaks
The smoke from the previous firework blooms anew in blue as the next burst lights it from close by.
7934 Red Curtain
There’s a curtain of red trailing to the beach below this one.
7954 Finale
Another plane joined us at the end, so we went further out to give them a spot closer to the show. Just as the spectacular finale began we went behind the smoke, but this shot of the start captures some of the intensity. Wish these photos could begin to convey how amazing this was! I wonder if watching fireworks in any other way will ever be the same.
John & Anne Wiley 
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