Sydney On A School Night, a photo from New South Wales, East

Photographer's Note

These fireworks really took me by surprise. I'd gone down to the shore to see the Bridge and all of a sudden these fireworks started. And just as soon as they started, they were finished. I didn't have the right lens and there were lots of people walking in front of me, but this is one of the shots that turned out alright. I;ve since tried to discover why the fireworks show was on - completely unannounced - and can only guess that they were a part of Opera Australia's Opera on The Harbour.

Canon 5D MkII
ISO 100
f/11
4 seconds

bayno, ciakgiak, macjake, timecapturer, Sonata11, pajaran, ikeharel, PecoBud, kordinator, mirosu, ourania, Noel_Byrne, kennyblack has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ifege (9440) 2012-11-01 1:42

Hi Lisa
Wrong lens don't guarantee a dud photo. Accidents and surprises!
This one has worked with good clarity and colour and a great view of the Opera House etc
cheers
Ian

bayno (16209) 2012-11-01 2:04

Ciao Lisa, come si dice quì a Roma...tanta robba...taglio perfetto e uno spettacolo in tutti i sensi...i tempi lenti hanno reso ancora più gradevoli i fuochi di artificio, ottima esposizione...
un caro abbraccio...
valter

mauro61 (52527) 2012-11-01 2:25

ciao Lisa,
mi piace il taglio che concentra l'attenzione sull'Opera House e sui fuochi.
Ottimo il trattamento della luce,
un abbraccio
maurizio

ciakgiak (30331) 2012-11-01 2:42

Ciao Lisa,
Wow! Che tempismo, hai scattato una foto memorabile, difficilissima, con la consueta bravura. Il risultato é straordinariamente bello.
Un caro abbraccio
Giorgio

hidibyendu (587) 2012-11-01 2:53

Hi Lisa,
Very nice view of the great Opera House and nice firework.
Very well composed. The horizontal line in the FG is a bit distracting.
TFS,
Dibyendu

dale54 (4922) 2012-11-01 3:56

lisa hello,well if this is sydney on a school night,its beautifull,wonderfull night work! tfs! dr

macjake (39235) 2012-11-01 4:08

Lisa, come on....they had fireworks going on for one simple reason, can't you get it?
its because you showed up!
They were like....Hey...its Lisa! get out the fireworks!
lol
Fireworks are extremely hard to photograph even when totaly prepared to do so - so given that this was totally unexpected i'll give you all the cudos.
I take it the dimensions are small because you cut out people in the lower FG?
still love those shells on the right! :)
cheers
craig

snunney (67346) 2012-11-01 4:55

Ciao Lisa,
A very successful shot despite the absence of the 'right' equipment. Well exposed and with excellent detail.

sabermonajati (7595) 2012-11-01 5:55

hi lisa
amazing combine from firework and building you captured.
regard
saber

timecapturer (30334) 2012-11-01 6:03

Hi Lisa
stunning image this. Such an accomplished execution with immaculate detail and superbly managed light. Hard to believe all this took you by surprise because the result here is fantastic. Bravo!

Have a good day - Brian.

Sergiom (39259) 2012-11-01 6:37

Ciao Lisa

Sometimes, you make your own luck. Even if there are lines of light crossing the frame they add to the picture. I see that you always bring your tripod with you. Very good shot.

Have a nice day

Serge

Silvio1953 (98183) 2012-11-01 9:05

Ciao Lisa, devo venire a trovarti che mi dai lezioni per come far foto così bene ai fuochi d'artificio, fantastica l'opera House, ma di quella ti fanno pagare l'affitto, è un poì lòa tua Castelluccio, grande esposizione e favolose luci, bravissima, un abbraccio Silvio

lousat (57674) 2012-11-01 9:44

Ciao Lisa,una grande esercitazione per un lavoro fotografico in notturna tra i piu' difficili ma che da' le migliori soddisfazioni,spettacolo di luci e colori e di eccezzionale qualita' come sempre,tu sai come manovrare la tua camera..ehehe...complimenti e buona giornata,Luciano

kathryn_weir (1742) 2012-11-01 10:17

Hello dear Lisa,
What a happy accident...you must have been walking on air after this :) love the golden tones and the slightly elongated crop. I really like the way the opera house seems to be watching the spectacle. Perfect exposure despite the hurried circumstances, bravo!
Thanks for sharing
Kathryn

Sonata11 (28341) 2012-11-01 12:50

Hi Lisa,
Very beautiful blue hour shot. Very spectacular and attractive scene. Fantastic colors, perfect sharpness, pov and dof exvellent too. Like it.
All the best,
Barbara

williewhistler (7283) 2012-11-01 13:09

Hello Lisa,the pano format works ever so well with the burst of fireworks balancing the scene nicely.
You`ve taken full advantage of a nice slice of Lady luck.
Kind regards Les.

jjcordier (62344) 2012-11-01 13:24

Lisa
Tu as bien saisi ta chance pour obtenir cette étonnante et belle photo. C'est une belle réussite.
Amicalement
JJ

ACL1978 (5783) 2012-11-01 16:20

If this is the wrong lens, I'm glad you didn't have the right one, or the shot would really put us all to shame! This is awesome - a celebratory, clean sharp view of this iconic building. And the fireworks are beautifully captured as well, with an exposure just long enough to show us movement. Those light trails are vaguely distracting, but not enough to really detract, and obviously unavoidable. But obviously the star is the Opera House, and it looks just great here - you've done it justice.

Andrew

chrisvek (5483) 2012-11-01 20:48

Hi Lisa

WOW!That's a superb shoot with amazing llightning details and colors.Very nice POV and excellent atmosphere.Very well done for this great job,

Bets Regards
Chris

pajaran (36246) 2012-11-01 22:52

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled na kucu opere i trenutak sa vatrometom ...
Dobra ostrina i kontrast, lepe boje.
Dobar tekst i kompozicija, moje cestitke na ulovljenom trenutku.
Lepa arhitektura i vatromet.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Srecno.
Paja.

SnapRJW (18752) 2012-11-01 23:31

Hello Lisa - For a serendipitous moment you did really well here. I've never managed to produce a half-way decent firework shot. This one of yours has the benefit of a fantastic BG. The exposure on the opera house is excellent with details all nicely captured (I love the gum tree on the edge of the frame) and you've done a good job on the fireworks too; some areas of sharp detail and soft trails of light against the sky. The only thing that is a slight nit-pick is the cropping of the top of the fireworks but as you say you had the wrong lens for the job and how does one gauge how high the lights are going to shoot? Have a super day and warmest regards rosemary

fabbs99 (5471) 2012-11-02 7:44

Hello Lisa,

Excellent shot even without proper lens.The shot has sufficient clarity and sharpness.Fascinating composition with great exposure, splendid light and wonderful warm colors.A quality image and stunning presentation.TFS.

Best Regards
Farhat

ikeharel (37356) 2012-11-02 8:54

Hi Lisa,
I recon Sydney residence are overwhelmed with fireworks - any occasion is a good reason to light-up the sky over the Opera and Bridge, famous places.
Your swift action provide a marvelous view on town.
Enjoy a nice weekend, work little less...
Ike

PecoBud (3778) 2012-11-02 9:30

Lisa, sweet photo capture, the results are perfect. The clarity of the lit buildings are outstanding. Awesome timing on the fireworks, beautiful colors with stunning effects. Love the POV here.

I've dedicated my last photo to you for your kind concern for my family. I know how you love old ships and boats that are in ruins, so I have posted a great one in your honor.

Have a wonderful weekend Lisa!!

TFS.........Your Friend from California.......Buddy

carlo62 (12610) 2012-11-02 14:30

Ciao Lisuccia
una foto "imbarazzante", non si riesce a decidere dove mandare lo sguardo, gli occhi continuano ad andare dall'Opera ai fuochi e viceversa, entrambi sono bellissimi e catturano l'attenzione, il che vuol dire che l'insieme è strabiliante.
Salutissimi
Carlo

emka (58152) 2012-11-02 23:46

Ciao Lisa, You were unprepared (the good photographer should always camera handy :)) but the result is spectacular. Fantastic fireworks against the beautifully lit Opera House. even when I am prepared for fireworks, on new Year's Eve, the result is very poor :(.
Awesome shot.

Warm regrads

MAlgo

gus72 (2508) 2012-11-03 0:03

Ciao Bambina !!
Nice photo and what I like is that you got the Opera house with the fireworks and not the harbour bridge which is the better known sight.
I think that you were lucky to be on this spot at the time and reacted " like a pro "
Have a nice Sunday.
un calido abrazo and a nice win for you next tuesday at 14.30 PM.
Cheers
Gus

dkmurphys (36819) 2012-11-03 1:08

Ciao Lisa,
Spectacular night capture. I like the festive atmosphere and the good quality. Well seen.

Daniel

kordinator (13411) 2012-11-03 1:16

Dear Lisa
I like this mood from your image,with fireworks.
Very nice view of the great Opera House.
You've already shown earlier this magnificent building.
Lovely composition.
Hugs
Saša

mirosu (5533) 2012-11-03 3:01

Hello Lisa,
This is a beautiful image! The light and colors are wonderful, along with overall composition. What a great looking place. The firework and the illuminated opera house are fabulous focal points of this photo. I also like the clear contrast against clean dark sky in BG. Have a nice Sunday.

brianmcc (5536) 2012-11-03 13:21

hi lisa,
you maybe didn't have the right lens with you, but you managed to compose and capture this shot perfectly. the opera house is placed perfectly in the frame with the firework exploding very nicley to fill the left side of the picture. you caught it superbly. the light is beuatiful as are the lights around the opera house. great detail in the architecture. a cracking firework shot.
have a great weekend,
brian

berek (31921) 2012-11-04 0:19

Hi Lisa

very nice fireworks show. light management is very good. tfs.
greetings.
Burak

ourania (12397) 2012-11-04 1:23

Ciao cara Lisa,
una splendida foto. Le forme luminose sono chiarissime e ben definite contro l' ambiente serale. L'Opera, una struttura solida, elegante ed armoniosa; i fuochi d' artificio impressioni brevissime affascinanti che mettono entusiasmo. Mi piace tanto la loro coesistenza nel quadro uno accanto al altro. Il calore della luminosita' di entrambi e' meraviglioso. Complimenti e grazie!
Tanti saluti e buona settimana,
Ourania

Noel_Byrne (7374) 2012-11-04 5:58

Gidday Lisa,
You;ve done a superb job capturing this, especially it being unexpected. One thing I simply cannot do is capture fireworks, so I love this. And of course, the wonderful composition with the opera house to right and the skyline behind, nicely done indeed!
All the best
Noel

Bluejeans (64239) 2012-11-06 5:51

Ola Lisa ,
Beleza esta tua foto noturna com abertura de 4 segundos o efeito do fogo no ar é lindo , bonitos os detalhes de arquitetura da ópera de Sydney , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

kennyblack (4139) 2012-11-06 6:04

ciao Lisa
Anche se Sidney l' ho vista solo dalle foto posso dirti che è incantevole e l' Opera deve essere qualcosa di veramente bello e sopratutto vista dalle tue foto quelle di Santo,Paolo e Francio. Questa notturna con l' aria di festa e fantastica e molto dettagliata avendo bilanciato bene la gestione della luce. Bravissima Lisa.
Un grande saluto e abbraccio a te e Kevin da parte nostra ... Marino e Desy

mkamionka (24537) 2012-11-06 13:55

Ciao Lisa,
spectacular capture. I am glad you are not afraid to show the opera again. The fireworks make a wonderful decoration. I like the star shapes lights on the building.
Excellent work,
M