I decided to capture a few images of the annual firework display fired by Orvi of Dragon Fireworks. He kindly notified me of the event details and also suggested a few locations that would be best to view it from. Just 2 hours before shooting he texted me to say that the Pryce Plaza hotel, way up on the hillside, would be a good location so I decided to give it a go!

I typically get reasonably close to a display and use a short lens but Pryce Plaze hotel is a whole kilometre from the display and way above it so I latched on the 70-200 and tried to guess the area of sky it would occupy from that distance.

The weather, once again like last year, was unkind. The only good news is that I was set up on the covered dining terrace of the hotel with a coffee! I took only a couple of test shots to realize these captures would not actually be so good from this distance and in the rain too. Having said this, they did actually come out clearer than I expected – the benefit of good glass! I was actually very impressed to be able to read the illuminated sign on the roof of the Limketkai Luxe hotel exactly 3km away that was impossible to read with the naked eye! This appears in some of the images just to the left of the display area that, incidentally and coincidentally, was located in the exact location where I stood to take last years display! Glad I was not standing there this year!

The display was easily as good as last year but the weather prevented my images being as good. There were so great colours though and I still caught these. I am very glad I tried shooting a display at some distance but I doubt I will do it again. Being remote from the sound, smell and atmosphere of a display does not give the same pleasure. It was like watching it on TV lol. However, the hotel coffee was so good, I had two cups!

ENJOY!