Across the Bay:
Photographing Weymouth Fireworks from Bowleaze Cove
There is something truly special about summer nights on the Dorset coast, and the Weymouth fireworks displays are always a seasonal highlight. While most people crowd the main esplanade to watch the show, I decided to head further down the coast to Bowleaze Cove for a completely different perspective.
Shooting across the dark expanse of Weymouth Bay with the fireworks reflecting on the water makes for a fantastic subject, but it’s also a great test for your camera setup. I brought along my Fujifilm X-T4 paired with the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens, and it proved to be exactly the right tool for the job.
Bridging the Distance: Fuji X-T4 & 50-140mm
Because the Weymouth displays are fired from a boat moored out in the bay, shooting all the way from Bowleaze Cove means you are working with a significant distance.
This is where the 50-140mm really earned its keep. Being a fair way out, the 140mm focal length (giving a full-frame equivalent of around 210mm) was crucial. It allowed me to reach right across the bay and compress the scene, pulling the vibrant explosions closer while keeping them tight in the frame. Shooting at the longer end of the zoom meant I could isolate the most dramatic bursts without them looking like tiny specks in a massive, empty night sky.
Meanwhile, the Fuji X-T4 handled the dynamic range beautifully. The transition from the bright, intense core of the explosions to the deep blacks of the night sky was remarkably smooth, and the sensor captured every vivid red, gold, and blue perfectly.
The Bowleaze Advantage
One of the best parts about shooting from Bowleaze Cove, aside from having a bit more breathing room for the tripod, is the water. Watching the reflections of the fireworks dance across the dark ripples all the way across the bay adds an incredible layer of depth to the images. You also get a beautiful sense of scale when you frame the bursts against the distant lights of Weymouth itself.
If you are planning to shoot the displays this season, stepping away from the main town can yield some stunning, unique results. Just make sure you pack a telephoto lens!