Every year, I look forward to going to the Honolulu Festival to see my favorite performers, the parade and the fireworks.
This year I caught the lantern performance. They balance lanterns on their head, shoulder and back side. Side note, it was super dark inside and w/o the high ISO and work in photoshop, it would be impossible to get any pics.
It was really awesome to see their balancing skill.
These lanterns aren't that small or light..even though it's paper and bamboo.
I walked around to catch some craft booths.. pounding this leaf-shaped copper piece.
It turns into a cool chopstick holder..
At the parade, there were groups from all over the world like this band from Mexico playing the song 'Tequila'.
This group's from Taiwan.
Flag throwers from Italy.
The setting sun was hard to shoot because of the bright glare, but after the sunset, it started to get dark and even harder to shoot.
Finally the lighted floats started to arrive... meaning the end of the parade is near.
After waiting 2 hours, I finally get my shot at the fire breathing dragon... very difficult to shoot because it's dark, and very bright and lots of crowds..
At 8:30pm, the Nagaoka Firework Show started. The crowd seem larger than previous year, The tide seems higher so there was less sand to sit on.. so I ended up setting up in the crowd w/ my tripod. I didn't read my manual so I couldn't find the BULB setting!! I nearly panicked and called it a day but then I realize I can just set it for 8 secs. It worked out quite well at F11.
It started to get larger w/ this chrysanthemum pattern. I had to zoom out.. thus catching the coconut tree in my shot.
Towards the end when the fireworks got really large, the entire trunk was caught in my shot..
I learned a few things from this shot.. 1) Found the BULB setting in the turn knob after I got home, 2) even though my 'neighbor' next to me kicked my tripod (3 times), the darkness and the long exposure didn't pick up any blurriness. 3)Next time check for coconut trees. I had no idea it would block my view.
At the festival, the guy pointed out that the fireworks show used only the two smaller balls, the ones in Japan uses the larger size one. From the looks of the firework show, The Nagaoka fireworks show must be HUGE.
2 comments:
I like how you let us know the challenges and yet you are able to come out with beautiful photos. It was fun taking photos of the Nagaoka Fireworks with you. My 2nd cousin really enjoyed the show.
Great shots! I like the colors from your new camera, it seems deeper, richer. Great action shots with the lantern balancing performers. Awesome job!
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