Apparently I had never posted this final launch from my initial portfolio.
In 2020 when lightning struck the house and I had to live out of a hotel for a few months, i put my nose to the grindstone and built out a portfolio, editing photos from all the launches I'd seen since 2016. This was the last one from that timeframe.
As I mentioned in a recent ask, this was also the first launch that saw me go out on my bike all by myself to shoot it. It was the last Delta IV medium, and it produced one of the most unexpected photos I've ever been lucky enough to hit the shutter on.
Of course, all the final photos are in aspect ratios that don't want to play nice with each other. This will be post 1 of 3 as such.
My vantage point of choice was the Cocoa Beach Pier. I didn't realize they would be charging money for pier access that day specifically due to the launch, so despite riding there myself, I had to call my family and ask them to drive my way with some cash 'cause I didn't bring enough, and their ATM charged absurd fees.
I also packed tripods I wasn't allowed to use (the cocoa beach pier doesn't permit their use), so. This was a learning experience, I wasn't quite self-sufficient yet or able to do it on my own.
But having those ten or twenty feet of height to put your camera above the onlooking crowd was a treat.
My camera of choice at this point (and honestly, still now) was a canon powershot SX530 HS, for that 1200mm effective optical zoom. Despite its shortcomings, I still know it best and put it to good use.
This photo was taken after it had climbed past the clouds, bbut actually before the previous picture, and look how much detail it could see despite the distance.
These photos are all available for purchase on my photo site, and while I'm dealing with some minor financial struggles I would be extremely appreciative if, should any photos on there speak to you, you purchased some prints.
The smaller stuff has better margins for me, just because like a big metal print costs a lot doesnt mean that goes to me, a lot of it goes to the cost of manufacture but a 5x7 paper print is mostly profit.
Next up: either whatever launches next, or maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to start working through the backlog between July 2020 and now.
