While Mark A. Schaffer has used both film and digital photography techniques, he prefers the latter. For this photo, Schaffer was able to use his Nikon D90—an “old model by today’s standards,” he says—along with a 50 millimeter lens with exposure for highlights. This causes the lights in a photograph to be vibrant and, in turn, causes shadows to look nearly black.
A Maple Grove resident since 1986, Schaffer, like most community members, is very excited about the Maple Grove Central Park. In addition to seeing the plans and construction for the new park area evolve, he was able to be present on August 24 for the final test of the water splash pad and lighting system. It was then that he noticed “how the cool colors of the fountain lights at night reminded him of the annual Maple Grove fireworks display.” Inspiration from his own community experience inspired him to take the photo.
The fountains are turned off during wintertime but look for the “fireworks” again in mid to late spring, when the danger of freezing is nowhere in sight.
