We are go for fireworks!

[Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  My wife Dawn gave the okay for MF stereo
fireworks shooting at Canada Day (July 1)
this year. She has to watch the kids so I
need her assistance/approval. I also need
a helper for set up but I'll arrange that later.

  So I started work on upgraded big non-sliding
slidebar. I am going to try to make it 12' long
so that I can be a little further back (than '97)
and still get good depth. I lost too many shots
with the fireworks off the top so backing up a
little bit will help I think.

  My superbar is going to have a little plate
at each end where the Ricohflex sits, with a
fixed piece at the back to keep it square (both
pointing forward). Should reduce the number
of things that could go wrong (yeah right).

  I need to get some longer cable releases
to be able to trip my two cameras. B&H sells
several 40" long ones and one 60" one. I'll
have to decide whether two 40's are enough
or if I need a 40 and a 60' one.

  (No one suggest air releases please. I
need good synchronization to avoid retinal
rivalry in the photos).

  My 8' bar breaks into two pieces for transport.
The 12 footer will too, plus the 2' extensions
at each end will fold back so the "carry" length
will remain unchanged.

  I already did the extension at one end and it
is quite cool. But I ran out of aluminum "angle
iron" extrusion and need to get another piece to
finish the other side. I'll snap some photos of
it set up and collapsed for my web page ASAP.

---

  I also need to think about my film choice: use
EPY (64 speed tungsten balanced film) again or try
something else. I'll probably stop down 1/2 stop
more than last time (used f8) to get a little less
wash out and darker skys (it's still dusk up here
at 10pm when the fireworks start).

  Any film suggestions?

Greg