The World Behind The Viewfinder

Rushed to Titiwangsa Lake from home in order to snap some fireworks display at the Eye On Malaysia - tonight is the last night where the routine fireworks happen here. Arriving at the parking ~9:10pm, the Jet Ski show has started, just in time for me to setup the fragile tripod (it is not mine, I borrowed from Hiu) among the crowd. The crowd is not too overwhelming but certain more than normal nights to witness the last of the fireworks here. I wish I had come earlier to get a better viewpoint.

This was actually my first fireworks shoots with a tripod. I've taken some fireworks hand-held previously but they sucked. The tripod is filmsy and not up to eye level when fully extended - I have to bend my knees quite a bit to be able to view thru the viewfinder and compose. Also, adjusting and locking the camera in certain position is non-trivial in the dark, as I have to feel the adjustment knobs/stick and screw them tight. I was using Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 initially for composing, and decided to change to Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 for the wider view to include the Eye On Malaysia and most of the skies.

Fireworks started at 9:30pm and lasted about 10mins.

Lesson from this photoshoot:

1. To get a stable and tall enough tripod with ball head.
2. To arrive much earlier to get better position.
3. To bring the tripod bag along with me instead of throw it somewhere under a tree - someone had taken the tripod bag when I finished the shootin yesterday!

More photos here: eye_ii