ENDING THE NIGHT WITH A BANG

So on this day of Chap Goh Mei, the 15th and last day of Chinese New Year, we celebrated the morning with a lion dance at the primary school my kids attend. The remaining daylight hours were spent at home with the kids killing time before dinner at my in-laws, a 1+ hour commute. Right after a hearty dinner, another 1+ hour drive back home and my son Jamie went straight to bed. Jewel on the other hand was adamant about finishing the night off lighting up the night sky and burning off whatever’s left in our arsenal.

Here’s one of a number of  explosive momenta at the SHIM residence earlier tonight. I shot this on the EOS 5D and an ultrawide EF17-40mm to get the brightly lit moon in the frame and had positioned myself too close for comfort where I was peppered with firecracker debris and my face protected only by the camera—the risks we photographers put ourselves in to produce art—not forgetting to mention, potential hearing loss! (what’s that ringing noise?)

© Jan Shim Photography

I shot a series of this composition @ ISO1600 1/100 f/4 in my attempts to capture the moon, the flying bits of paper, the explosive flare, the smoke while balancing available light from the gate and a hint of the red lantern all in one scene.

Other Chinese New Year links

• AND ON THE 15TH DAY
• AWAKENING THE LION
• AUSPICIOUS 8
• MAJESTIC LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION