HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Buboy, Bless, Moi and Peter at Esplanade.....





For us photographers, one of the most challenging things to photograph are fireworks displays. Each exposure value represents a different kind of image in relation to the kind of fireworks being photographed. This makes it difficult to perceive the intended outcome of the image. Hence the World Pyro Olympics always causes a shooting frenzy among amateurs and professionals alike as we all headed along the breakwaters of Esplanade and with tripod and cable release in tow, took shots of exploding fireworks during the weekends of the first and second weeks of January. Unlike New Year's Eve, these displays lasted for 30 to 45 minutes and were carefully constructed by each country representative to create a symphony of color, fleeting images and noise. Such an activity can test the skill and the quick reflexes of a photographer hence the huge turnout.

For me, it's the amazingly colorful patterns that the fireworks produce that I go for. Though it is impossible to predict what kind of image will register in a camera, its rather awesome to see these fireworks exploding and leaving lasting impressions. Some look like particles of dust suspended in mid-air, while the others look like long spindles of thread emanating from nowhere. The shapes that it produces are interesting to photograph too. Some appear like palm trees, others appear like scallop shells and others look like hearts and cowboy hats.

Much has been said in photography how to- books about the techniques involved in shooting fireworks. But one thing that is seldom mentioned is the importance of the photographer's location in relation to the firing area. Hence I wasn't surprised when almost all people who understood photography and wanted to shoot the fireworks lined up along the barrier walls of the breakwater, with their tripods marking each other's territory. But during the last day, me and my club mates had to position ourselves down the wall and on to the huge boulders that line the shore because the entire stretch of the wall that was near the firing area was already occupied. We wanted to shoot the display with minimal interruption of the foreground area by unwanted human heads and our chosen location proved ideal but uncomfortable.

I wasn't able to go each night to shoot the event, since I had commitments to shoot a wedding in between, unlike some of my NAYON colleagues who were present each time.
But whenever I went there, it was such an amazing experience. At some point, I would just stop from taking pictures and with child like eyes, ogle at the display as it took my breath away. And finding inspiration in what I see, I revert back to being a photographer and fire my shutter button, hoping that the pictures will come out great. With the advent of digital cameras, it is easier to weed out the bad from the good ones. But nothing beats an image that in my mind, gives me satisfaction.

The only dilemma that I have to face in such a crowded area was when it was time to leave and go home. Traffic was at a standstill and the overflowing sea of humanity made it more difficult to get out of the Esplanade and get a ride going home to Las Pinas. At one point, I reached home at around 2 am the next day and was committed to go back that night and shoot again! In another day, I had to ask my friend Bless, if I could hitch a ride with her going to Quezon City, along Welcome Rotonda. Then I had to go back to Lawton and take a bus or an FX cab. It seemed I went full circle for the trip going home but I just didn't care anymore! At least it assured me of riding comfortably, seated in an air conditioned vehicle, not standing! But despite all of the hardships, I did enjoy the experience of shooting something which presents a different dynamic from shooting people. As most physical instructors say, "No Pain, No Gain!"