July 4th celebrations are a great opportunity to get some explosive shots, literally. This was an early shot when learning how to take photos of fireworks. A singular explosion is accentuated by previous explosions creating beautiful colors around it.

100mm, 1.6 sec., f/9, ISO 100

There's a lot to do in Dallas, and the museums are absolutely in that list. This was taken at one of the many museums that can be found in Dallas. While a small water feature, getting up close and seeing the symmetry of the water spouts is undeniably satisfying. The calming trickle noise amongst the light chatter of passersby is meditation-worthy.

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Sparklers are a classic, albeit quieter, option for celebrations requiring casual pyrotechnics. This photo shows the sparks flying off of the sparkler rod, burnt at the top and powder waiting to burn at the bottom. You can see some sparks in crystal clear focus, while others shoot at the camera just out of focus.

100mm MACRO, 1/100 sec., f/2.8, ISO 200

At a University of North Texas event, a stage with multi-color lights was a perfect opportunity to get some 

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This is an early shot of mine taken during a Christmas holiday. While practicing my photography, I happened to capture this warm picture of shining bells contrasted against the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree in the background. This was one of my favorites growing up, as it accurately represented the feelings I had when the Christmas season rolled around. The only thing this photo is missing is some hot cacao and the Christmas music playlist.

55mm, 5 sec., f/14, ISO 100

In between classes, organizations, and meetings, I took time at the University of North Texas one day to rest next to a community piano. Before COVID-19, piano music could be heard daily in the halls of the Student Union. While resting admidst the hustle and bustle of students rushing to their next classes, I listened to a student perform on the piano. It was absolutely beautiful. I asked if I could take the person's picture and the answer was yes. His hands moved swiftly across the keys, a motion I wanted to deliberately catch with some motion blur. The result was a slice in time of a wonderful piece, one of many that graced the halls of the University of North Texas.

130mm, 1/10 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800

This Fourth of July firework show ended spectacularly with a final show of multiple explosions that shook the earth beneath me. A slow shutter speed was required to get this shot, which captured the direction and colors of the explosive aftermath. While a little busy, this is one of my favorite firework pictures.

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Water crashes down on a small pool below the fountain in this picture taken at the University of North Texas. The water fountain can be seen from the main street cutting through campus as you drive by. It's a calming sound in what can be a hectic environment. This photo was taken as the sun set for the day, giving it a cooler color. While I prefer to shoot with a lower shutter speed for water pictures (to capture the motion blur), I enjoyed the crisp nature of this photo, and it aptly matches the title of this photo.

50mm, 1/2000 sec., f/1.8, ISO 100

I'll be the first to admit that this photo is not the technically best picture I've ever taken. However, I believe that you don't always have to get it technically right to get a fun photo. This one involved fireworks explosions moving in a certain direction, which was affected by the slow shutter speed in the final image. This picture is unique because there is just enough light to see the smoke from previous explosions wafting in the air as new cluster explosions pop off.

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