Tag Archives: gas works park

Bring a Couch to the Fireworks

Fireworks displays attract lots of people and they come prepared in all sorts of ways.  Some will come with a blanket to sit on.  Others will bring folding chair and tables and maybe a bunch of food to go with it.  It may be that they just come as they are ready to sit on the grass and keep it simple.  However, I haven’t seen anyone bring a couch – until now!

Fireworks at Gas Works Park

On our first 4th July in the Seattle area, we watched fireworks from Kirkland.  In the distance we could see the fireworks over Lake Union and we figured at some point we should make the effort to go and see them more directly.  We did so this year.  We based ourselves in Gas Works Park at the north end of the lake and we had a great vantage point for enjoying them.  I took the camera along because the nice thing for me about fireworks is that I can enjoy them and shoot at the same time courtesy of the cable release.

My normal result with fireworks is that I get a lot of shots that are just not that special and a few that I really like.  For some reason with this display, I had a far higher hit rate.  I am not sure whether it is a function of their sequencing of the fireworks or just good luck but running through the shots I found so many I was pleased with.  I won’t bore you with tons of shots but here are a few samples of what was a fantastic display.  The coordination with music was great and my only gripe was that the finale was put to a piece that rather peters out instead of having a crashing ending.  This seems to be more appropriate to fireworks.  However, a minor gripe and a very impressive display.

Floatplanes Coming at You

Standing in Gas Works Park, you have a view straight down Lake Union.  At the other end of Lake Union is one of the bases for Kenmore Air.  They operate floatplanes from there on a regular series of services as well as some sightseeing trips.  We got there just as a bunch of planes took off in close succession and I was a bit annoyed to miss out the chance to get some shots of them.  However, they are a busy company so we knew we would get some more flight before too long.

They start their takeoff run at the other end of the lake so they get airborne long before they reached us.  With so much clutter in the background and a lot of ambient noise, you didn’t always immediately pick out that a departure was coming your way.  Once they got airborne and a lot closer, they were easier to identify.  They would turn before they reached us and head off en route.  I could probably have spent a lot of time there watching the flights but Nancy is not quite so keen so we lingered a short while and then moved on.

Gas Works Park

In the days before natural gas, the gas supplies for towns and cities came from making gas from other sources such as coal.  Gas works were a big feature of towns.  However, they have disappeared as natural gas replaced them.  The huge metallic structures have been taken away and the land has found new purposes.  Seattle managed to both find a new use and keep the works.

The north end of Lake Union has Gas Works Park.  Much of the gas works has been cleared away but substantial chunks of the metal work remain in place.  Some is cordoned off but other parts have been integrated into displays.  We both commented on the complexity of the pipes and valves and how everything had a role.  The geometry of the structures and the connecting pipework were great to look at.  The middle of the day is not the best time to photograph this so I will think about coming back at some point to have a wander around specifically for photography.  However, on a sunny day, a park by the lake with tons of people seemed to be a very relaxing place compared to how this would have been when it was in use.