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A Fourth of July Drone Show Helps Military Families With Special Needs

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Last year, Brianna Santos and her family didn’t leave home for the Fourth of July. Stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, Santos and her husband, a senior airman with the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron, have seven children, five of whom have specialized medical needs. Her youngest daughter has a tracheostomy tube. Getting into a nearby town for a fireworks show was logistically overwhelming; even if they’d made it, the sounds and lights were overwhelming to some of her older kids.

The Santoses are just one of 1,000 families stationed at Travis who participate the Exceptional Family Member Program, which offers additional support for active personnel who have dependents who require ongoing medical care, be it physical or psychological. This year, they’ll celebrate Independence Day on base, thanks in part to a drone-powered light show that promises all the spectacle of a traditional fireworks display but far fewer complications.

Video by Intel

“Having it here on base, it really reduces that stress,” Santos says. “Just being somewhere familiar.”

You might remember the Intel Shooting Star drones from the Pyeongchang Olympics Opening Ceremony in February and Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show in 2017. On Wednesday night, 500 of the foot-long, 8-ounce quadcopters will ascend over an open field near the edge of Travis Air Force Base (weather permitting—winds have been picking up this week), dodging and zipping though a preprogrammed show that includes simulated fireworks, sure, but also custom-crafted imagery, like a pixelated homage to the KC-10 and C-17 aircraft that call Travis home. [Update: The July 4 drone show was canceled due to 30 mph winds, and rescheduled for July 5.]

Putting It Together

A number of factors make traditional fireworks impractical for the base, home to 10,000 active duty personnel and their family members, who bring the total population to 26,000. There’s the climate, first of all; fires start too easily in Northern California to send sparks flying with confidence. And then there’s the high concentration of EFMP members, for many of whom a fireworks show is untenable. Last year, rather than host a Fourth of July event, the base directed people to celebrations in nearby towns.

In early May this year, though, leaders at Travis had a thought that quickly turned into a revelation. The base has an existing relationship with Intel through its “grassroots innovation” program called Phoenix Spark. Having seen Intel’s glossy drone productions in the past, they wondered if there might be an opportunity to do the same for Travis. The timing felt right: This year also marks the base’s 75th anniversary.

That may seem like a short timeline in which to organize an original drone display, but the Shooting Star system allows for quick work. An animator choreographs a routine using 3-D design software, and each drone gets mapped onto an individual pixel. That also allows for a lot more flexibility than a traditional fireworks display might; imagination becomes the main limiting factor.

“A light show is a lot more than digitized fireworks. Fireworks have certain shapes and categorizations that come with what you can visualize with fireworks,” says Anil Nanduri, general manager of Intel’s drone group. “You can do all that visualization with drones, as well, but a lot more. You can put letters, you can put logos and animations. You can put stories in the sky.”

Intel

That flexibility means that while Wednesday’s show will be the first Intel drone light show to sub in for traditional Fourth of July fireworks, it won’t be a one-to-one replacement. It adds those planes, as well as an American flag, a hashtag with special significance to the base, and a few other custom touches, all by special request.

“We gave them a series of images that we were hoping to incorporate into the show,” says Captain Lyndsey Horn, chief of public affairs for the 60th Air Mobility Wing. “We basically provided those images, and they created the show around that.”

The most important difference from traditional fireworks, though, will be its inclusiveness. Drones may not pack quite the same visceral wallop as literal explosions in the sky, but they’ll help the Santos family and many others at Travis celebrate the Fourth in a way they haven’t been able to for years.

Lights, Action

Travis provides a compelling backdrop for a drone light show, but quadcopters aren’t likely to displace traditional fireworks displays anytime soon. While Nanduri notes that a Shooting Star show has more customization options and less of an environmental impact than pointing colorful boom-rockets toward the heavens, the drones come with some caveats.

There’s the wind, first of all; anything greater than 18 miles per hour or so will scuttle the flight. Current battery technology also allows for maximum duration of only about 20 minutes. Most shows come in well under that, between four and seven minutes a pop. That may feel slight next to the sustained quake of a fireworks display. And then there’s the cost: Nanduri says an individual Shooting Star drone show can run up a six-figure tab. (Intel will provide the Travis display free of charge.)

That said, Intel’s swarm has started making appearances apart from the globally significant sporting events where they first gained notice. They showed up at Pride Week in San Francisco in June and at Coachella before that. And like any new technology, each iteration helps expand capabilities and drive down cost.

“With drones, they’re reusable. You have to look at the economics of it as value creation. They’re not just about doing a one-off fireworks display; you can do a lot more with it,” Nanduri says. “The economics work based on reuse of the platform.”

Long-term prospects aside, though, Wednesday’s drone light show at Travis Air Force Base highlights a benefit that has no dollar sign attached.

“There’s lots of families with kids on base, mine included, where you can’t take them to your typical fireworks show, because the sounds and the lights of the show can be very overwhelming,” Santos says. “We really appreciate that they have this.”

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4th of July Tech Sales (2018): Osprey, Nest, iPad, V-Moda

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To be honest, the Fourth of July is not the first, or even the fifth or sixth, retail holiday on our calendars. It’s a day for grilling and lighting things on fire, not buying them. And a lot of people—both customers and retailers—are saving up their big guns for Amazon Prime Day, our real national summer shopping holiday.

Nevertheless, it’s still possible to save a couple bucks, especially if you’re shopping for travel and outdoor gear for your summer vacaciones. In our opinion, the best deal of all is a year’s subscription to WIRED for $5, which still comes with a free Yubikey. But we’ve rounded up a few others for you to look at on National Fireworks Day.

OUTDOOR GEAR

HOME GOODS

COMPUTER SALES

MOBILE AND WEARABLE

AUDIO

TV AND STREAMING DEVICE SALES

GAMING AND MOVIE SALES

FOURTH OF JULY SALE PAGES

Want to do your own shopping? Peruse the retailers yourself!

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.

How to Take Photos of Fireworks With a Smartphone or a Camera

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A thrilling fireworks display can confuse a modern camera’s automated settings. The explosions are fast, dynamic, and bright, and they disappear just as quickly as they appear. But by tweaking a few manual settings on whatever camera you’re using, you can take advantage of some battle-tested methods for capturing dramatic photos of those explosions in the sky. Even if you’re using a smartphone, there are a few apps and quick tips that will help you nab the best shots.

Scout Your Location

If you can visit the location of the fireworks show ahead of time, it’ll help you gauge the best angles for your photos. You obviously want a clear shot of the sky, and a nice wide-angle view of the skyline should do wonders for your shot composition.

But you won’t be able to predict the crowds, so make sure you scout out a couple of backup, super-secret locations too. There’s another thing you won’t be able to predict ahead of time: The wind. If it’s blowing towards you from the direction of the fireworks, you may end up with increasingly murky photos as the show goes on. If that’s the case, try to get as many good shots early on as possible. If the wind’s at your back, you’ll have great shooting conditions during the whole display.

The early part of the display is crucial: It’ll let you frame the entire show and take a few test shots to make sure your settings are producing the look you like. Plus, the early part of the show is the best time to get any wide-angle shots. Once the sky starts filling up with smoke, you can still get some good shots if you use a tighter zoom that features less of the smoke-filled skyline.

Prep Your Smartphone

You can certainly get great shots of fireworks with a smartphone, but the rules of engagement are a bit different than they are with a full-on camera. You won’t have a zoom lens or deep manual controls at your disposal, and because phones don’t come with standard tripod mounts, you’ll need a special case or a special tripod to keep it steady.

Here are the basics.

  • Turn off the flash. The fireworks will be hundreds of feet away, so you won’t need it.

  • Learn how to manually adjust your camera’s settings—or get an app that lets you do it.

  • Practice. Test your setup by taking pictures of a sparkler in a dark room.

  • Use a tripod for the best results

  • Get as close to the action as possible.

When shooting with your phone, you’re going to want to be even closer to the action than you would with any other kind of camera. Because your phone doesn’t come with an optical zoom lens, getting closer helps you fill the as much of the frame as possible with fireworks. There’s another good reason to get close: Your smartphone’s auto-exposure settings will probably boost the ISO if you’re composing a shot of faraway fireworks against a dark sky. This may lead to noisy photos with inaccurate colors. Post up as close to the fireworks as you possibly can. Find the barricades and plant yourself against them. Even better, use rooftops creatively, sneak onto the fireworks barge as a stowaway—anything to get really close to the action and force your smartphone to expose the shot for the fireworks themselves.

I know what you’re thinking: Why not just use digital zoom, which lets you stand wherever you’d like? That one’s easy: Because the results are terrible. Digital zoom just crops and enlarges the photo, making your photo look fuzzy and dull. Zooming in too far makes your decent-looking 12-megapixel still look like a grainy and embarrassing 3-megapixel disaster.

Richard/Flickr

For those manual camera settings, there are many variables you’ll have to navigate to find the right settings. But as a starting point, slow the shutter speed way down. Begin with leaving the shutter open for one or two seconds, then go longer if needed. This technique will capture light trails as the fireworks fall to earth post-explosion, and it will help illuminate more of the scene, like the skyline or the crowd of spectators. Fireworks photos are much better if they show more than just the fireworks. In long-exposure shots, you’ll need a tripod—or at least an unmoving surface you can use to prop up your phone—to avoid blur. You can still get great shots of fireworks with faster shutter speeds (and you won’t need a tripod). The key is to experiment and shoot as many photos as it takes to find the right mix of settings.

Apps and Accessories

Some devices (like, for instance, LG’s G7 and the OnePlus 6) include a comprehensive camera app that gives you manual control of the shutter speed and other parameters. If your phone doesn’t have settings you can tweak, there are plenty of options. On Android, try Camera FV-5 or Open Camera. Both of those apps will let you set your shutter speed and control your ISO settings. Got an iPhone? Manual and Halide are both great picks that give you more control.

Nothing beats a tripod when it comes to keeping your phone or camera stable. Manfrotto makes excellent aluminum tripods. Prefer to travel light? You can get something like a Joby GorillaPod. Don’t forget to grab a dedicated phone mount whether you’re buying your first tripod or using one you already own.

Shoot a 4K Video Instead

If your phone can capture high-resolution 4K/30p video, try that instead. You’ll be able to relax during the show and enjoy the spectacle while your phone captures footage. Later on, it’s easy to grab single, 8-megapixel frames that are more than good enough to post to Facebook or Instagram. Why stop at stills? Make a GIF! Or, edit the video down to just the highlights.

DSLRs, Mirrorless, and Cameras With Manual Controls

Most modern cameras have a “Fireworks” scene mode that optimize all the in-camera settings for you: It slows the shutter speed down, sets the focus to infinity, stops down the aperture, uses a low ISO setting, and prompts you to put the camera on a tripod. If you’re cool with letting the camera do all the work, go for it.

If you’d rather put a personal touch on your fireworks photos, here are the basics for any camera with manual controls.

  • Use a tripod.

  • Turn off the flash.

  • If you use slow shutter speeds, use a narrower aperture. (f/8.0 to f/16).

  • If you use faster shutter speeds, use a wider aperture.

  • Keep your ISO as low as possible. It keeps the colors accurate and the sky looking black and noise-free.

  • Consider shooting RAW instead of JPEG

Beyond those guidelines, here’s some additional advice.

Turn Off Autofocus. You won’t be adjusting your focus from shot to shot in this scenario, so flip your camera to manual focus and set that focus to infinity. It should keep the entire show in focus.

Turn Off Image Stabilization. Disable the camera’s image-stabilization system if you’re using a tripod. This may seem counterintuitive, but some stabilization systems actually introduce shake if there isn’t any, and some of them also boost the ISO or use a faster shutter speed to snap a crisper shot.

Slow Your Shutter. The general rule of thumb for fireworks is that if you use a slow shutter speed, you’ll get more-dramatic photos—start by leaving the shutter open for 4 or 5 seconds, then experiment from there. The slower your shutter speed, the narrower you’ll want your aperture to be. You also may want to use exposure compensation downward with slower shutter speeds.

Nail the Timing. You may want to press the shutter button just as you see shells launch into the sky so that your long-exposure shot depicts the light trails from that upward journey as well as the full drama of the explosion. If your camera has it, you should use “bulb mode” to get the greatest control over your shots. In bulb mode, the camera takes a shot for as long as you press the shutter button, so you can start the exposure exactly when you want and end it just as precisely.

Try Video. Have a lousy sense of timing? Consider shooting a video of the fireworks instead! If you have the ability to capture 4K video with your camera, you can keep rolling for the entire show. Not only will you get a video of the event, you’ll also be able to pull 8-megapixel photos to print or post online—all without missing a moment.

Get a Tripod. Unless you want to get really creative and light-painty, a camera-stabilizing tripod is a must-have. Any movement of the camera will make the light trails and other objects in the scene look like blurs, but this feature can also be used to great creative effect. If you’d rather keep your images looking tack-sharp, use a tripod and a remote-control app or shutter-release cable. Many modern cameras have sidecar mobile apps that let you take control of the camera without touching it. This is especially handy for fireworks photos, because you can unwittingly move the camera slightly every time you physically touch its shutter button or controls.

Shoot RAW. If you like to edit and process your photos before sharing them, try shooting in RAW. Using this file format, which most higher-end cameras support, gives you more options for correcting color and exposure, and can bring out nuances that aren’t visible when shooting in JPEG mode.

This post was updated on 7/3/2017. It was originally published on 7/3/2014 by Tim Moynihan.

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Man Steps Into His Garage And Suddenly Feels Like He’s Being Watched

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As Lalor the snake catcher pointed out later, coastal carpet pythons might look a little scary, but they pose no threat to humans. He went ahead and escorted the snake out of the garage, just to help this homeowner get on his way.

“He was about to head off to work but couldn’t get into this car,” Lalor told Chinchilla News, adding that intervention like this isn’t really necessary. “A big part of what we do is education. If we can get around relocating them, we will but if someone has a bad phobia we will come get it.”

In the end, the “problem” solved was never really a problem to begin with — but it’s fair to say that it was a memorable morning all around.

Two Dogs Found Chained Up Alone In Empty Basement

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The two older pit bulls were being kept in the basement on the same leash, which was wrapped tightly around a pole, giving the dogs only a few inches of space to move around in. The whole basement was dirty and smelled terrible, and there was no food, water, toys, beds or anything else to bring the dogs even a little bit of comfort in sight.

Poodle Arrives At Shelter With Pounds Of ‘Dreadlocks’ Hanging Off Him

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On a Tuesday in late June, a truck pulled up to an animal shelter in Fort Worth, Texas, after driving for five hours in the sweltering heat. In the flatbed of the truck was some cargo covered by a tarp. Under the tarp were kennels containing over 20 animals — and they were in terrible shape.

“A woman surrendered them to us from Houston,” Cassie Lackey, community relations manager for the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT), told The Dodo. “We don’t have a lot of info on her and, honestly, considering the conditions these animals were in, our first priority was to save their lives.”

The people at the shelter sprung into action, taking all the animals inside. There were dogs and cats — six cats were discovered stuffed in a single crate. There were also exotic animals: four sugar gliders, a snake and a red-footed turtle in a box “inches deep with fecal matter and he couldn’t even turn around in the box,” Lackey said. “These animals had a myriad of health concerns, heatstroke being top on the list.”

Police Officer Finds Eagle In Trouble — And Gives Her A Ride To Help

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At Badger Run Wildlife Rehab (BRWR) in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the eagle was given an examination and it was discovered that something was wrong with her wing: She had tissue damage to one shoulder, which will require physical therapy. She was prescribed a lot of rest and relaxation, as well as some medication to help her get stronger.

“She is doing well, eating voraciously,” Liz Burton, animal care coordinator for BRWR, told The Dodo. “She has extensive soft tissue damage and that takes a lot of time to heal.” Because of this, it’s uncertain whether she’ll be strong enough to return to the wild. “We won’t know for several weeks, possibly months.”

If the eagle remains too injured to return safely to the wild, she may be adopted by a native tribe for an eagle aviary or she will stay at BRWR, joining the center’s three other wildlife ambassador eagles.

10 Best Android Phones of 2018 (New, Unlocked, and Cheap)

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Gadgets for Shooting Movies on Your iPhone: DJI, Rode, Joby, Moment

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As directors like Steven Soderbergh and Sean Baker have shown, you can conjure movie magic with an iPhone.

1. Apple iPhone X

The dual rear cameras on the X are nearly as capable as professional shooters. You get 4K video at 60 frames per second, excellent slo-mo, optical image stabilization, continuous focus—and did we mention it fits in your pocket? Bonus: The crisp OLED screen doubles as a mini movie theater for playback. Take total command of your video controls with Filmic Pro ($15), a favorite app of iPhone auteurs.

$999

2. DJI Osmo 2 Mobile

Stick your phone onto this stabilizing gimbal for smoother handheld footage. Cue up one of its automated modes to shoot a slick panorama or fake the look of a dolly zoom. Filming a scene on the run? An active tracking feature keeps your subject in the frame while you frantically give chase.

$129

3. Joby GripTight One Magnetic

If you’re the director and the star, you’ll need a way to film yourself. Clamp your phone into this tiny tripod. Its flexible legs wrap around branches and signposts, and its magnetic feet stick to metal car hoods. The Bluetooth remote (included) lets you hit Record from up to90 feet away.

$60

4. Rode Video Micro

Don’t let distracting background noise ruin a perfectly good take. This compact cardioid condenser mic jacks into the phone via a Lightning dongle to bring your sparkling dialog into focus. Go handheld for tight close-ups or place it on a tripod for wide shots, where the shock mount cancels any noisy rumbles.

$70

5. Moment Anamorphic Lens System

Add cinematic punch by capturing action in a wide-screen format. This lens lets you squeeze a 2.4:1 shot into the iPhone’s native 16:9 frame for a sumptuously wide image. It slots into Moment’s newest battery case ($100). Using a gimbal? Add a $40 counterweight to stabilize your rig.$150

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SteelSeries Arctis Gaming Headset Sale (and 10 Other Tech Deals)

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Maybe you’re going to throw a giant barbecue for the 4th of July, and if you are, be sure to read our Grillin’ Gear picks. But backyard parties aren’t for everyone. If you’re planning to stay indoors and do a little gaming (or need other new tech), check out these deals. There is a great sale on WIRED’s favorite gaming headsets, and some other kickass discounts happening this weekend. As always, thanks to our friends at TechBargains for helping us find some of these deals.

Our Favorite Gaming Headsets are On Sale

SteelSeries

The SteelSeries Arctis series currently tops our list of best gaming headsets, and a number of models are currently discounted on Amazon. Every Arctis Pro we’ve tested so far has impressed us.

Other Awesome Tech Deals

Vizio

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Brave Cop Wades Into Swamp To Save A Stranded Dog

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On Thursday, Florida’s Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call from Cody’s owner. Somehow, the dog had gotten himself trapped in a swamp, and judging from his desperate cries, was helpless in returning to drier land without assistance.

Fortunately for Cody, Deputy Matt Patellis soon arrived to help.

After stripping off his uniform, Patellis proceeded to wade into the foreboding waters — a potential hangout for alligators — with one goal in mind: Save Cody. And after cajoling the frightened canine, that’s exactly what he did.

Here’s a video of the rescue:

Fox And Hedgehog Become Friends, Meet Up For Dinner Every Night

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Goacher lives in England where, in many parts of the country, native species like foxes have been forced to adapt to urban life. Their close proximity to humans, and perceived aloofness as scavengers, have given foxes a negative reputation with some folks.

Early on, Goacher was one of them.

“My family and I have had fox visitors for years, but like a lot of people we believed they were dangerous creatures and that they’d be a danger to our cats,” Goacher told The Dodo. “But a few years ago we realized how gentle they really are.”

Ever Wonder Why Your Dog Is Scared Of Fireworks?

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If your dog is already conditioned to a noisy or raucous environment, he may have no problem with the booming. However, dogs are far more sensitive to fireworks’ vibrations than humans, so it’s best not to take any chances.

“It’s the loudness of the fireworks themselves and the vibrations — the percussion of those fireworks — that they feel,” Gicking tells The Dodo. “Especially for animals who live in homes that are somewhat quiet.”

If noise isn’t an issue for your pet, he may still have trouble adjusting to the excitement surrounding the festivities, notes Victoria Cussen, director of anti-cruelty behavior research for the ASPCA.

“Fireworks also often accompany other loud gatherings or events, which can be confusing or upsetting to pets,” Cussen tells The Dodo. “Animals do well with consistency, so fireworks and the celebrations they come with can catch animals off guard.”

So how do you help your dog make it through the holiday? Here’s how to keep your pup safe and still celebrate the red, white and blue.

People Notice Someone Strange Stranded On An Iceberg Miles Out At Sea

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Last week, while aboard a crab-fishing boat off the coast of Labrador, Canada, Mallory Harrigan and her colleagues noticed something unusual. There, about 4 miles from shore, was a rather sizable mushroom-shaped iceberg — and it had an unwitting passenger stranded atop it.

“We thought it was a baby seal,” Harrigan told The Dodo.

But then they got a closer look.

Kitten Trapped In Chimney For 3 Days Is Rescued Just In Time

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Jose and Jocelyn Pascual were hanging out inside their home one day when they started to hear tiny meows coming out of nowhere. They searched and searched, trying to find where the sound was coming from — and soon realized it was coming from their chimney.

Once they realized there was a kitten stuck inside the chimney, the couple spent three days doing everything they could think of to try and rescue him, but nothing was working. Finally, the couple’s niece decided to contact Hope for Paws to see if it could help, and rescuers Loreta Frankonyte and Eldad Hagar drove out in the middle of the night in hopes of freeing the very stuck kitten.

Stray Cat Was In Such Bad Shape People Couldn’t Tell What He Was

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“He is such a sweetheart. I could not ask for a more humble, easygoing, laid-back cat,” Latham said.

Most people would have seen Battle Cat and assumed he was a lost cause. Latham knew he deserved a chance, though, and now he’s blossoming into the cutest, friendliest cat, and his new mom can’t wait to see all the progress he’s going to make as he continues on his journey to recovery.