New Year's Eve 2010 - 2011 Fireworks Photo Hunting in Hong Kong

What did I do when the clock strikes 00:00:00 1-1-2011?

I went to Statue Square, Central, trying to photograph the fireworks display.
This was my first attempt, so I was pretty nervous.
What had I learnt about photographing fireworks? Well...let's just say that everything I learnt was from Professor Google ^_^
So, this is not a tutorial, I am just sharing how I did my shots ^_*
Share your tips, especially, tell me where I did wrong... T_T

Why Statue Square and not Tsim Sha Tsui harbour side?
Tsim Sha Tsui would be suicide :D
Statue Square wasn't crowded at all...although you can only see and shoot the fireworks up close and personal.

My setup:
Canon Eos 7D
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens
Wireless Remote Controller
El Cheapo Tripod
Sparkly Disco Camera Strap. Heheheh


f/18
exposure time: 4 sec
ISO 100

f/18

exposure time: 7 sec

ISO 100

I used Canon 7D's B mode (Bulb) which allows me to control the shutter speed, and manual focus set to infinity, so that I didn't have to worry about changing focus points. I used wireless remote controller to "open" just before an "explosion" started and "close" the shutter after a few bursts of fireworks. It was not as hard as I imagined.

What did I wear?

Thrifted shirt, threadless photography tee, puffy pants (belt comes with), pink work boots and puffy jacket...and my Marc by Marc Jacobs baby bag to carry the tripod and Crumpler camera bag to carry the camera and lenses ^_^

Worried that I might have zero nice shots, I also asked SC to randomly take shots of the fireworks using Olympus EP-L1 and its kit lens. Simply using its night portrait mode and good luck.
He took some gorgeous shots! Even better than the ones from 7D! Why did I even bother? ^_^'

Woohoo~!

After a while, SC asked if he could stop shooting.
He wanted to enjoy the fireworks and not worrying about photography.

Good point.
Sometimes we forget about that.

What did SC wear?

Uniqlo plaid shirt, Uniqlo Monster Hunter tee (Quest Clear), Zara puffy jacket, my gray skinny jeans, Salem boots and my H&M bowler's hat.

When else could we sit in the middle of the road in Central? ;)

Since our exhibitionist asses just had to upload some pictures immediately...SC also took some pictures using iPhone4 HDR mode.

...and it's not bad at all.

Most importantly, we got to spend new year's eve together and had a blast photographing the fireworks.
Happy new year 2011 from Hong Kong and its tiny fireworks display~!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Hong Kong!

It's funny how many of us debated whether there's gonna be fireworks on NYE in Hong Kong.
Apparently (and I never paid attention to this as I was mostly away during NYE during my 7 yrs stay in HK), it is not a tradition to have fireworks on NYE, normally they'd only put up that hideous light show. Ouch.

Light show or fireworks, I've decided that I'd do more than just sit in front of my TV to see it.
I debated watching it from Tsim Sha Tsui (the most popular spot with the best view of Hong Kong island skyline from across the harbour), but the crowd scared the shit outta me, so...no. I thought of watching it from Chater garden/statue square, Central, which means I'd see the fireworks really up close, right underneath it, which is fun, but my friend gave me the best idea, which is watching it from Peak Tower at Victoria Peak.

I got up there by 11 pm, waited in the cold (dancing obnoxiously to my music playlist helped a lot), and finally...the moment of truth...fireworks or light show?

HAHA! Fireworks! SC and I shouted out obscenities into the clouds (we were so close to the clouds, it's crazy!), I just set my camera on P (which is pretty much auto), took continuous shots, did absolutely none of those "how to photograph fireworks" tips and had a great time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wish you....(fill in the blanks)...