TOM'S PICS

No matter where I am on the 4th, I must watch (or set off) fireworks. Usually I'm in Missouri setting them off, but this year I stayed in Boise. Luckily, the show they put on in Ann Morrison Park is always fantastic.

This year, they also had a drone show prior to the fireworks. I had never seen one before... it was pretty nice!

I love photographing fireworks. Not only because fireworks are simply cool, but I get to use fun techniques and end up with abstract, colorful results. I brought a star filter this time and photographed most of the drone show and some of the fireworks with it on. The star filter is much more impressive in the video...