Oh Canada !! Photo

Photographer’s Note

July 1 was the Canada Day (Fête du Canada).
Yes Canada turned 139 years on July 1, 2006.

This is a rather unconventional view of the Canada day festivities as I included the Chateau Laurier instead of the Canadian Parliament in the photo. From the place where I took this photo, I could not see Parliament (the heart of all the festivities on the Canada Day).

I would like to dedicate this photo to my friend Charles McSween on TE for extending me some very good tips and ideas about my mediocre photos.

For this photo I must thank my friend Georgina who invited me to her office so that I could take some photos of the fireworks. I found this lookout very impressive as I could take some good photos from here but still keep my sanity by avoiding being a part of the Canada Day maelstorm. It was as if watching a show in a theatre. For privacy reasons, I will not put the Map View along with this photo as I do not want my friend to get into trouble for letting me in this high profile governmental building.

The Urban Legend:
One of the urban legend in Ottawa-Hull area has it that it always rains on the Canada Day (July 1), and it is always sunny on "La Fête de la St-Jean-Baptiste" (Fête nationale du Québec) on June 24. I can vouch that this trend has held true for the last four years (the time I have been living in Ottawa). I don't know what makes my quebecoise friends more happy the rain on Canada day or the sun on Fête de la St-Jean, whatever the reason, they are very happy about it. ;-))

WS: In the WS, i will include a close up of the Chateau Laurier.

isabela_sor, Henryk_Bilor, summersun, delkoo, sabyasachi1212, peter1892, bibiweb, fabio_ts, PixelTerror, riclopes, Silke, Deepforest, aznegrao, weswang, triptych2003, alana, annagrace, zeca, cam has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Luan (15935) 2006-07-03 13:25

Hello Sarju,
une jolie image concernant cet evenement, elle est bien expose et bien cadree je trouve. Il me semble qu'il y a beaucoup de monde ici.
Amities
Luan

isabela_sor (42177) 2006-07-03 13:25

Congratulations and a happy,happy birthday Canada!!Fireworks aren't easy to take but you've done a excellent job here...and an amazing night shot!!
Gretings from Romania
Isabela

Henryk_Bilor (20367) 2006-07-03 13:30

Hello Sarju
Great capture, amazing night colours of this place. Very nice composition.
Regards

summersun (4964) 2006-07-03 13:32

nice night capture. the fireworks look very good and it is pretty sharp ! the high pov gives a good idea of the crowded atmosphere in the streets.
well done.
Vanessa

delkoo (34370) 2006-07-03 13:39

hi sarju
festival of colours in the canadian sky, you did a nice photograph well composed.

thanks didier

danyy (68947) 2006-07-03 14:02

Hello Sarju,
très réussie cette prise de feu d'artifice.
Il a rassemblé la grande foule, ton pov et ton cadrage permet de voir ces gens admiratifs.
Le coin est inondé de belles lumières, les couleurs sont agréables.
Belle capture.
Daniel.

peter1892 (3201) 2006-07-03 17:34

A nice night-time shot, with good exposure levels. I like the way you've got the firwroks off in the top left corner as an alternative focal point to the illuminated building on the right.

mbasil (2117) 2006-07-03 19:04

This turned out magnificently, Sarju. Nice balance between the fireworks and Chateau Laurier on the composition. Then the exposure on the fireworks looks great to me. I don't know what else is in the shot, or if you have the space, but if you do my suggestion would be a little more breathing room on either side -- with this tight of a crop it seems they're opposing one another instead of in the shot together.
Mike

Quentin (5278) 2006-07-03 19:44

Hi Sarju
Beautiful night shot ! The light is excellent as the composition and the point of view. It is very interesting to have included the pople and this illuminated building and not only the fire works. I like all the details of your photo. Cheers
Quentin

bibiweb (8) 2006-07-04 1:14

Hi Sarju,
Wonderful POV! How lucky you are to have a friend that gave you access to her office. Judging from the crowd we can see in the streets, you we're much better off setting up your tripod in a quieter place. The result is splendid and I like the way you captured the fireworks, the castle and the crowd. One thing that strikes me is that all the streets are lit up. In Geneva, When we have fireworks, all the lights are switched off during the show.
Have a nice day.
Brigitte

fabio_ts (13674) 2006-07-04 3:36

Hi Sarju, I like a lot how you have composed this picture.. perfect balanced.. really well done, compliments!!

have a nice day,
Fabio.

PixelTerror (86234) 2006-07-04 4:09

Allo mon cousin Quebecois Sarju !
Looks like you're having fun with your new toy, I find this one excellent. Exposure is good on the various light sources, the firework spreading light is well captured and sharp, we feel the excitement looking at the crowd on the bridge and finally the two main elements, Chateau Laurier and firework balance each other nicely.
When do you depart to India ?
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2006-07-04 4:09

Hi Sarju,
I was going through your gallery and was suitably impressed with the wide ranging images. Spoilt for choice, I chose this only coz it is the latest:) Superb night shot this, I am amazed how you managed to capture those fireworks in perfect sharpness. Well Done!
Best Wishes
Sabyasachi

jafadabret (39757) 2006-07-04 4:40

Bel équilibre, Sarju, entre le feu d'artifice et le monument éclairé. Une chose me gêne un peu c'est la surface blanche sous le feu d'artifice qui capte trop l'attention. Il n'en reste pas moins un excellent cliché.
Jacques

riclopes (33007) 2006-07-04 5:33

Olá Sarju,
How nice to see a photo from you and especially this magnificent night one! How lucky of you to get such an advantage POV over the party. I laughed at the part of you not put the Map View. The quality of this image is amazing and you got a good cacth of the fire. Well balanced composition and nice to see the extra close approach in ws. Impressive crowd and lovely lighting on the Parliament "Castle". I also loved the Legend story. Thanks a lot for sharing and hope to see you more times.
Cheers,
Ricardo

Silke (3023) 2006-07-04 13:32

This is a superb shot and very well timed to get the best of the fireworks in the right place :)
Great POV, colours, composition & complimentary frame
A+
Silke

xavshot (62567) 2006-07-04 14:42

Bonsoir Sarju
très belle photo de cette fête du 1er juillet. Bel équilibre entre le feu d'artifice et le chateau éclairé et bonne maitrise des différentes sources lumineuses. Bravo
Xavier

UlfE (9000) 2006-07-04 14:49

Hi Sarju,

Great composition and a very sharp and colorful photo. Usually it is quite difficult to take a sharp photo when you are far away. I guess that it partly depends on that you have upgraded your camera equipment, but also a skilful photographer.
Regards,

Ulf

oochappan (22032) 2006-07-04 16:03

Hi Sarju
What a quality in sharpness and coloring in this nightshot with the firework, most wondering is the fine details, wondering wich ISO. A fine POV to get this overview.
greetings
Henk

Clairedelune (4885) 2006-07-04 22:13

A photo of Sarju Sooch! Once every month now? Are you trying to be slower than me? ;)
You know, I am a child when it comes to fireworks. So, it is a real pleasure for my heart to look at those ones. Thanks to your friend, for sure, cause you had a wonderfull lookout. Very nice to have included the Château Laurier. I like the way the golden color of the Château are the same as the biggest fireworks.
Personally, I would change two things. First, I would work the big white highlight at the bottom of the fireworks. It distract to much, IMO. And, I would put another color for the frame. Which color, well... I don't know. Maybe a small black frame. Again, I think it attract too much attention.
Nevertherless, a good photo of fireworks! It is not an easy task!
Claire
(P.S.: I hope Charles will see your dedication when he will come back from some travel)
(2nd P.S.: I saw that you lost your exif. Did you "save for the web"? I read somewhere that in doing that, you loose your exif information.)

Polonaise (5636) 2006-07-04 22:53

You're belated, Sarju.
Our friends down south took the relay from us.
Fireworks !!
Misticism for me. Mighty God, you're the only one who knows that I have tried, and tried and never being satified with the results.
I know now...Possibly, I missed that high profile building you mention Sarju, in your note.
Very charming work.
Somehow...The red frame doesn't distract me. Actually, it sits there quite comfortably.
Well, Happy Canada Day my friend.
Stay white & red.
George
George

alana (2607) 2006-07-05 1:31

Hello, Sarju
I was going through your gallery, probably, the 10th time since I discovered TE, and I always amazed by your point of view. VERY creative. Especially on Canada Day, thanks so much to your friend! Excellent composition, Sarju, to shoot the fireworks - it is something beyond my comprehension how you did it. Superb.

**Alana**

Deepforest (8813) 2006-07-05 9:14

Hi Sarju,
what a fantastic night shot of fireworks!! The light is excellent. I like the composition, amazing colours and so perfect sharpness with all details.
You have done an excellent job here. Congratulations.
Andrzej

rhizomes (15325) 2006-07-05 13:58

Hi Sarju,
Very impressive picture ! The fireworks is a geat element on this nightshot.
Nice lights and colors !
Christophe

aznegrao (10246) 2006-07-05 19:40

Hi Sarju!!
Fantastica essa composição noturna, as cores bem balanceadas da exposição estão excelentes.
Greetings.
Friend.
aznegrao.

weswang (18223) 2006-07-05 23:29

Oh a beautiful shot, Sarju. You did a great job to capture the fireworks, the celebrative mood, and the beautiful scenery of the city covered by the fireworks smoke. A nice postcard shot. Well done.

triptych2003 (1398) 2006-07-06 22:46

i love the clarity and detail in this photo. i recognised the place as it is one i have seen in my travels. this photo has brought back some great memories. the only thing that is a little bad, is the flag not being still.. must have been a windy night.. thank you

john_c (24635) 2006-07-07 11:03

Hi Sarju,
A belated happy Canada Day. This is well composed with superb hues and tones. I like your "unconventional" view. The WS is also very appealing. Very well captured. Have a good weekend.
John

Stepan (27175) 2006-07-07 14:56

Beautiful night shot, with an impressive sharpness, especially on the fireworks. Well composed, even if I regret the big white spot light...
Stéphane

rosaline (0) 2006-07-08 5:17

Hi Sarju
Nice shot and an excellent capture of the fireworks. I like the composition too and the general look and feel of the shot. There's no blue hour here, but then I suspect you had to wait until the fireworks started. Nice overall capture and a stunning view. Well done.
Aubrey

sayan (2609) 2006-07-11 3:28

Hi Sarju,
Lovely night shot. I like the sharpness in it! Very nice colours too! Wonderful capture!
Best Regards,
Sayan

annagrace (2463) 2006-07-16 14:25

LOL, good for you for protecting your friend! Great POV here, you captured the fireworks very well. I'm posting one today of fireworks taken last night but it is not nearly as good as yours.

Alli

capthaddock (28640) 2006-07-18 10:20

Hi Sarju - welcome back, the capture of the fireworks is pretty enough, but when combined with the floodlit chateau, it becomes outrstanding, I only wish the flag was not so blurred.

zeca (20026) 2006-07-18 19:38

Hello Sarju!
What a beautiful capture! Great details! Colours are nice, POV either. Very well exposed!
Regards,
Zeca

rmatthews (941) 2006-07-28 5:00

Very nice. Very well done on capturing the fireworks. I like the detail in the building as well. The framing is very compelling. Good job.

cam (8880) 2007-02-10 18:53

Hi Sarju
Well,Claire was right after all,If I had to miss one photo,it had to be the one you dedicated to me,what a shame.
First,thank you for this honor,well appreciated.I never know if my suggestion are appreciated and what you just did,tells me that yes,it helps others as I was helped along the way.
Well,thanks again
Take care
Charles

There is only one thing that I do not agree in your note,it is about the quality of your photos,which I have always found very interresting.There is always something to learn through your notes and your photographic testing of all kind.I never know what your next picture will be,I could not predict,and I like it as I learn a lot through your experiments.

I see that you are a man with good connection,to get this vantage point over the city and eye level with the fireworks.Good impact here,sharpness wise.Like to see the smoke clouds going away,they give the feeling that it was a windy night.