Finale Grande!, a photo from Scania, Gotaland

Photographer's Note

During the end of August this year Malmö and Scania was the scene of Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7, two in a series of regattas that open the 32nd America's Cup. Returning to Europe for the first time in over 150 years.

The region of Scania is oriented toward the sea, with over 500 km of coastline, and some of Sweden's nicest beaches. Within 90-minutes of the venue there are 60 Yacht Clubs, and 50 000 yachts.

On the final evening of the event there was a fireworks display offered by the city of Valencia, Spain, which was the hosting city for acts 4 & 5. This was my primary reason for visiting, and my first attempt to photograph fireworks.

I started with 10 second exposures, reduced to 5 seconds, to 2 seconds, to one second and finally 1/2 second exposures (f/6.3 all times). This is my final shot and at the same time the 'Finale Grande' of the display!

The next day the final race was cancelled due to fog!

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Image cropped, increased saturation +25, ran NeatImage 60%, resized for TE, USM 100/0,4/8, framed and saved for Web.

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In the WS area are a 5 seconds and a 2 seconds shot, which show the differences due to different exposure time.

santhosh_ermal, ajcsousa, FORJP001, sotirios, digi-mom, nwoehnl, maphoto, pamastro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

santhosh_ermal (122) 2005-09-25 19:40

Hello Kaj,

wonderfull potography,nice lighting effect..also note given with this photograph also quite informative & impressive..

well done

thanks
santhosh

ajcsousa (1804) 2005-09-25 19:51

Hi Kaj,
A very nice photo of fireworks. Great colors, light and a very well done esposure. Well done
Regards, António

rodoula (119) 2005-09-25 19:55 [Comment]

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FORJP001 (3819) 2005-09-25 22:13

Very helpful the photographer's note on how this shot was taken. (Re: "I started with 10 second exposures, reduced to 5 seconds, to 2 seconds, to one second and finally 1/2 second exposures (f/6.3 all times). This is my final shot and at the same time the 'Finale Grande' of the display!")
It gives us a technical reference on how to proceed.

sotirios (20) 2005-09-26 2:37 [Comment]

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nwoehnl (122) 2005-09-26 13:22

Fireworks photos are not the easiest discipline in photography - I guess my primary learning is that you want to take your good photos early on during the event, before the whole thing is engulfed into smoke and haze. You got a nice result here, Kaj, in which the ½ sec shutter speed was a balanced choice to render the "bouquet" of the colorful fireworks well. The low positioning of the horizon was an obvious and good choice.

maphoto (8082) 2005-09-26 22:34

Very nice presentation Kaj, I don't know about the other picture with longer exposition, but this one look good for sure. Nicely framed with nice colors, I've experienced it last summer, it is not that easy, so well done and excellent choice.

pamastro (7218) 2005-09-26 23:41

Well at least the fog didn't stop the fireworks show. I didn't get to see any from close up this year. Just a couple across town from my balcony. So your photo captures the exuberance of a finale. The various types of fireworks, the colors and the triangular shape all give it a booming feel as they explode upward and outward. I think the motion blur was long enough for this one, too. I do think it could be cropped. At the bottom right beneath the lights of the buildings so it would have a cleaner bottom. The black strip sort of distracts me. Another option would be a tight crop of fireworks filling the composition. But it is a very good night shot of these fireworks.

And, yes, the opening of the Torso was the other event that turned my attention to Malmö recently.

cloverstar (0) 2005-09-27 11:53

Excellent night shot of the fireworks. Very colourful indeed.

jiherka (4528) 2005-09-29 17:40

Nice picture of this fireworks. Good exposure and really good picture with all colours.
Just a remark... the Amrica's cup return in Europe, and specially in Switzerland... a country that do not have sea side ???

well done Kaj.

kent_s (1911) 2005-11-12 14:18

Hej Kaj
En helt lysande bild. Mina egna trevande försök till fyrverkeribilder har milt sagt varit rena rama rappakaljan. Här har du lyckats frysa smälleriet.

Kanonskott
Hälsningar
Kent

Clairedelune (4911) 2005-11-12 23:16

Hi Kaj,
I'm a fan of fireworks pictures! I tried it two times since I got my camera in June. It is not easy at all. This is one of the most beautiful fireworks shots I have seen. I like the fact that the sky is black, that there is no overexposed lights, the good sharpness (not too much) of it. The colors are also good. If you ask me, I do not especially like the 5 seconds one. There is parts that are too burnt for my taste. This one is truly a very beautiful one! Well done!
Claire