Hello Singapura!–Fireworks in the Marina Bay

The Story:

 

As some of you might have known, I moved to Singapore last week. It has really been a tough two weeks – Packing up everything from Zurich, a week’s stopover back home and then moving here to Singapore - Owing to which I didn’t even touch my camera equipment over this time.

 

I also have a humongous backlog of photos to process. So if you are that friend of mine who is expecting a few photos from me, please be patient. You will be rewarded soon!

 

However, to break the ice and start shooting something, I headed over to the Marina bay to capture the National Day Fireworks. Well, the Singapore National day is not until the 9th of August. But why the fireworks now? They apparently have 3 full fledged rehearsals and a preview show before the actual national day festivities. Photobuffs rejoice, Ain’t it?

 

In addition, I’m told by that nice guy who was camping out alongside me that during these rehearsals they fire about 50% of the total firepower and on the preview it is 75%. Things can’t be better for the serious photographer as this means that the show is less messy and that I don’t have to worry about the wind direction and where will the smoke accumulate during the course of the show. Just pick the spot where you need to fire from and voila, you are all set!

 

Being new in Singapore, I studied the map had narrowed in on at least 3 different spots to shoot this from. Here is the first. I shot this from the Marina Bay on the pier (?) leading to the Marina Bay Sands (that new integrated resort) looking towards the Central Area (City Hall). I moved into position around 5:30 PM and thus began a long wait until 8PM when they eventually fired up the shots.

 

The Scene:

 

Panning from Left to Right on the shot, we have the Fullerton Hotel, the Esplanade and a portion of the city’s skyline near the City Hall area leading to the Singapore Flyer and the Space Museum. Nothing much to add, all fancy high rise buildings. Singapore has over 4,300 completed high-rises, the majority of which are located in the Downtown Core. In the city, there are 49 skyscrapers that rise higher than 140 metres (459 ft).There is a height restriction of 280 metres (919 ft) for structures in the central business district of Singapore because of the proximity of Paya Lebar Airbase; which is why you don't find one of the tallest buildings in the World here in Singapore.

 

The Shot:

Canon 10-22 @ 10mm | ISO 100 | f/16 | BULB mode @ 24 sec