January 18, 2007

Fabulous Fireworks

"In the right light,
at the right time,
everything is extraordinary."

- Aaron Rose

The World Pyro Olympics is an annual competition amongst the most prestigious fireworks companies in the world. The event is said to be the largest and most intense international fireworks competition. It runs through a period of five consecutive days allowing locals and tourists alike to behold the greatest fireworks display in the world.

The Second Annual World Pyro Olympics, like the first, was hosted right here in the Philippines. My family had a truly unforgettable experience watching the incredibly dazzling display last week at The Esplanade in the newly-built SM Mall of Asia.

Of course, my darling photographer husband had the time of his life shooting away at the spectacular sights with his camera.

Here are some of his personal favorites, which our studio is now making available for sale as stock photos:











Amazing, don't you think?

The participants this year included Australia, Poland, USA, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and China. The Philippines, as host country, did not compete but put on an exhibition on the final night. The UK beat last year's winner Australia as 2007 World Pyro Olympics Champion while China received a special award for People's Choice.

Can't wait for next year's big blast!

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Absolutely fabulous, lucky you.

Irene said...

Ellee: Glad you enjoyed. =)

thethinker said...

Beautiful photos. I've always loved fireworks. It's too bad I only stop to watch them on the Fourth of July, and sometimes only on TV.

Menchie said...

These are great pics! We were planning to watch it too but the prospect of the traffic was just too much.

Ms. Val said...

Irene, these photos are fabulous! I have never been able to photograph fireworks. They always come out looking like big, colorful blurs.

M- Filer said...

Gorgeous photos, particularly of the rowing boat illuminated by the fire bursts.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE fireworks!! They're so beautiful!!

Thanks for posting these photos!

Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

Wow, Irene! Thank you for sharing all these beautiful pictures with us. Everytime I come to your blog, I get set for a spectacular wonder.
Love you lots, (((Irene)))

Michael C said...

I love fireworks! How great to get to watch a competition of them! I am jealous! Great photos! I think i just broke the ! button on my Keyboard! Oh wait, I guess I didn't!
;-)
!

Irene said...

The Thinker: We don't celebrate the 4th of July here. But on New Year's Eve, we go all out with the fireworks. Everyone lights up in their own backyard. The sky becomes peppered with bursts of color and the sounds are just deafening. It's a total blast! =)

Mench: Traffic....arrrrgh! On the last day, we were stuck in the coastal road for three hours. We actually had no choice but to watch from the car!

But all the hassle was worth it just seeing Niccolo's eyes fill with amazement at the splendid show and hearing him exclaim "WOW!" a gazillion times. c",)

Ms. Val: I know! Fireworks are very tricky to shoot because you never know what's going to come next. My husband came armed with all his professional gear and shot using his tripod to keep the camera steady. And even then, it took him quite a while to fully get the hang of it.

M-Filer: Keen observation! My husband was elated when he espied that rowboat. He knew it would make a perfect accent to his composition. =)

Urban Butterfly: Glad you enjoyed. Have a beautiful weekend!

Sweet Susan: Uh-oh... PRESSURE! ;p

Michael: Happy you enjoyed. (",)

!!!!!Woohoo!!!!!

Rmada: Thanks and happy weekend, dahling!

choochoo said...

lol - if I ever get sick of being a dog owner, I'll take the pooch there. She'll die of fright in a matter of seconds, poor thing.

Claudia said...

Truly amazing!

Tracy said...

How Beautiful! I am so very glad you had a good time.

Peg said...

Absolutely GORGEOUS photos!! What beautiful fireworks displays, too!

Irene said...

Choochoo: Oh, you're so right! Everyone's pets get frightened and scamper for cover here during New Year's big blasts. Come to think of it...so do most babies.

I guess our son is just extra brave. He pinches my arm really hard when he hears the explosions, but he still staunchly stays on to watch the colorful lights. =)

Captivating Claudia: Glad you enjoyed, dahling!

Mysti: Hope you're having a great weekend and making good progress with the painting. =)

Pretty Peg: Thanks, gorgeous! ;p

Mimi Lenox said...

Hi!
Thanks for your submission to Bestest Blog's Meme Carnival!
I have enjoyed reading all the great memes out there in the blogosphere.

The Carnival will be all day Monday, January 22 at
Mimi Writes
(also known as Bloggingham Palace for this event!)

If you have a chance, can you post about the carnival either Sunday evening or on Monday, and include a link?

Thanks for participating!
Mimi - Queen of Memes

http://mimiwrites.blogspot.com

Ian said...

I really like the ones with the boat in the foreground.

Ian

JR's Thumbprints said...

I'll bet alot of money's spent on this. It must really be something to experience with all those countries involved.

mika said...

excellent! your husband has some serious skill!

Tom Atkins said...

I didn't even know there WAS such a thing, but how marvelous! Thank you for sharing! I'd love to see such a show of light and beauty!

Tom

Irene said...

Queen Mimi: Can't wait to see the fabulously grand BlogCarnival Her Highness will come up with! Woohoo! ;p

Ian: Those are my favorite, too. The rowboat provides a wonderful balance to the composition of the photos. =)

JR: Right you are! The largest fireworks manufacturing companies from the participating countries are the ones who put on the displays. So, they do indeed spare no expense in putting up the grandest show possible in order to prove that they are the best pyro manufacturers in the world.

Mika: Thanks! My husband is truly lucky to be able to make a living out of something he loves to do. =)

Poet Tom: Oh, you would have loved the show! Had you been there to witness the splendor of the sights in the sky, you would have surely gotten more inspiration for your poetry and artwork. :p

krystyna said...

Hi Irene!
Woow! Wonderful fireworks. Thanks for sharing this fabulous photos. Your husband is the Great Man!
This Studio - very interesting and amazing place!!
Good luck!

TCP said...

Amazing pictures. Your husband is a true artist.

Jess B said...

How beautiful!!

Keshi said...

OMG these pics look so unreal! BEAUTIFUL!!

Keshi.

Amalendu said...

fabulous images....

Bud Weiser, WTIT said...

Great shots! I've added your blog to my links!

Bud

ShadowFalcon said...

Fantastic photos!

slaghammer said...

Those are truly excellent photos. I love everything about fireworks including the smell of burned gunpowder. I think an attraction to fire was hardwired in our brains from ancient times, a remnant of some survival instinct maybe. Who can resist picking up a stick and stirring the embers of a campfire, it’s mesmerizing.

Katie said...

VERY pretty pictures! Fireworks festival...sounds, well, pretty!

Cherry Popcorn said...

I just love fireworks! They are so amazingly beautiful! You can't help but think how beautiful the world is every time u look at them! Ah...but they're expensive too.. =( Can't have it yourself.

Smalltown RN said...

I love fireworks....the ooohing and the awhing....oh yeah!! Love them...great photos!!!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Arent these absolutely fantabulous!

We got them in Vancouver, called the International Festival of Lights.

WOnderful photos, and here I thought you we the photographer...

Love and joy to you and yours

Maria said...

these are amazing photographs! did your hubby take it? he is some photographer! what's his camera of choice?

Anonymous said...

nice photographs!

btw, care to exchange links?

Romeo Morningwood said...

OOOH! Look at all of those beautiful Desktop shots!
I think that the appropriate word is Spectacular!

AMIT said...

Love the first quote.And the pictures are wonderful.

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