Hong Kong no Phooey TR (Apr 2012)! The Yee's have it....TR finish #1101, 07/09
- Thread starter PrincessInOz
- Start date
dgbg100106
Missing the Tag Fiary
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Ditto.
hjd0411
DIS Veteran
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Wow - just - WOW!! Loving the photos of festive Melbourne. There are not a lot of lights in Brisbane city! Maybe one day!!!
And your food - yummmmm!! Love it all!
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are relaxing today! And, perhaps, dare I say - fasting???
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
And your food - yummmmm!! Love it all!
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are relaxing today! And, perhaps, dare I say - fasting???
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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Wow - just - WOW!! Loving the photos of festive Melbourne. There are not a lot of lights in Brisbane city! Maybe one day!!!
And your food - yummmmm!! Love it all!
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are relaxing today! And, perhaps, dare I say - fasting???
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thanks! Merry Christmas to you too!
Try substituting the 's' with an 'r' in that 'f' word.
skier_pete
DIsney-holics Anon
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What a yummy looking Christmas feast! We've been eating so much leading up to Christmas, and only had a few people at our house, we stripped Christmas dinner down to basics this year. Christmas celebration was a day of rest. Today - more wrapping for visiting relatives over New Year's.
hjd0411
DIS Veteran
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Thanks! Merry Christmas to you too!
Try substituting the 's' with an 'r' in that 'f' word.
You make me laugh!!
Hey - I meant to check that you fared OK in those storms on Christmas night. They caused us some havoc at work that night and the next day..!!
From the news footage they looked pretty fierce!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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You make me laugh!!
Hey - I meant to check that you fared OK in those storms on Christmas night. They caused us some havoc at work that night and the next day..!!
From the news footage they looked pretty fierce!
Thanks for asking!
We had an amazing lightning and thunder show here and I didn't think about my camera until too late.
Lots of rain (probably about an inch of rain in 40 minutes or so) and small hail. No where near as bad as further north and east of us.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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Thank you.
Pete - you might find the Sambal Prawns on the menu for you and your family, should you decide on the home cooked meal.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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OT That Fireworks Curse Again!
I think I mentioned that we were planning a trip into the city to catch some fireworks in a previous post. Naturally, there's always a story with my pictures.....
Some of you may be aware that the camera I shoot with was never intended for me. It was always going to be DHs toy. DH has always had an interest in photography and never seemed to be without his SLR (no d) when I first met him. Getting into the d had been a long time coming for him .we had gotten into the point and shoots for a long time and he had stuck with film. We bought it in April 2010 in preparation for our trip to WDW in May of that year.
Whilst I did use the camera (sparingly), most of the pictures we took were from DH. But when we came home, that very expensive toy stayed in the bag for 6 weeks. In my opinion what.a.waste!
And then I found the scavenger hunts on the Disboard photography sub-forum. Ever since July of last year, that camera has been mine.
Ive been trying to take fireworks shots with it since July last. Hanging out of the Disboard photography sub-forum is expensive .it makes you want to go out and get better lenses in order to take pictures like some of the pro-sumers and pro-fessionals that hang out on that board.
Curse #1. Taking the tripod all the way to the World and NOT using it! October 2010
I had learnt enough from that subforum to know that if I wanted to take firework shots with long trails, I was gonna need a tripod. And (to cut a very long story short) I had the unexpected opportunity to re-visit the World in October 2010.
The tripod came all the way with me to the World. But I really dont know what I was thinking when, on the day that we were going to check out HalloWishes, I PACKED the tripod in the bottom of the suitcase in preparation for out departure the next morning. So, I went to Magic Kingdom without a tripod; and ended up with shots like this.
Lets just say that if I wish I was one of those Chinese acrobats capable of contorting my body. Leg to bahookie! comes to mind.
Curse #2. Always find out where the fireworks are going to be set off from BEFORE going out to see them. NYE 2010
There are maybe about 4 or 5 events in Melbourne where I have the opportunity to go shoot fireworks. One of them is New Years Eve. So for NYE last year, we headed into town .on a day over 40 C (over 100 F) .in search of a shot. I had assumed that the fireworks would be fired from over the Yarra River or over the city. Afterall, where else could they be let off when this had been the case year after year?
On NYE, there are two firework displays. The early Childrens Fireworks is set off at 9.30 pm and the later show is at midnight to herald in the New Year. Last year, we decided to catch the Childrens Fireworks only because DS didnt think he could stay up past midnight.
So, into the city we went .in the heat. We made our way to what I thought would be prime viewing location .only to find out that the City of Melbourne had changed the location of the fireworks that afternoon due to the heat. They moved them down river, near the sporting complexes; about a mile down from the city. By the time we found out, it was too late for us to head down there, so instead of getting a nice city lit up as the backdrop, these are the types of shot that I got.
Nice but no cigar in my book! And no amount of persuasion, bribes (nor threats) was budging my DS from wanting to go home afterwards.
Curse #3. Even when Im in the right spot, the Fireworks Gods will NOT align the moons for me (yet). March 2011
Melbourne is a festival town. It hardly seems like there is a week that goes by without yet another festival or event! Sadly for me, not many of them include fireworks .so the next occasion that I had to take fireworks was in March 2011. The festival that is typically Melbourne is the Moomba Festival.
Moomba is an aboriginal word as best as anyone can work out .it roughly translates to lets get together and have fun.
I checked the newspapers and confirmed that the fireworks would be let off from pontoons on the river. There would be 6 pontoons, stretch out over a mile on the river.
So, we headed into the city to enjoy the festivities and I went to scope out these pontoon and shooting angles. Take a look on the river .theres a pontoon there. And I had worked out that I liked this backdrop with the city and the carnival rides going off in the back.
There we were .all set up .waiting for the fireworks to start. A boat came round and started to fiddle with the pontoon .my pontoon. The schedule start time came round and we waited .the boat was still there. 3 minutes .5 minutes .6, 7, 10 before the boat finally took off. And then an announcement. Apologies for the delays, but there was a problem with one of the pontoons. Fireworks about to start.
Guess which pontoon it was?
Yes .my fireworks shot from that night .sadly, like this; from the pontoon down stream from me.
Now I would say that Im more a glass half-full type of person than a glass half-empty. But the fireworks gods were starting to get on my nerves at this point.
Curse No 4. What good is good positioning if there isnt a spectacular background in the back? July 2011
July in Melbourne is winter time. Even though it doesnt snow in Melbourne, dont be fooled. We can have a biting wind that blows up from the Antarctic that cuts through you like you wouldnt believe.
There are areas in the city that are natural wind tunnels and one of these is the Docklands precinct. So, in order to encourage visitors there during winter, they offer fireworks on a Friday night on every Friday in July.
And there I headed. I was determined to set up in front of a pontoon and didnt pay any attention to the backdrop. So, the fireworks shots are decent .only; when I came home and looked at the shots properly, the background is a little lacking.
I should have moved further down the waterfront so that I could get the city in the background. But I guess maybe the Fireworks Gods liked me a little...as long as I was cold?
Curse #5. The Fireworks Gods are really not kind to me at all!!!!! December 2011
December 2011 and I found out that the Docklands were running their yearly Carols night; closing with fireworks. On the event website, the fireworks were planned for 10.30 pm.
So, off we went. It was a beautiful balmy summer night.
This time, I had planned to move further down the waterfront no wind chill but I couldnt see pontoons anywhere on the water.
We werent sure where the fireworks would be let off from, so DH asked one of the organizer people walking around. Turns out, there would be pontoons brought into the harbour around 9.30. So, I scoped out the location and decided that I wouldnt mind this backdrop. Not spectacular; but not unreasonable either.
Id barely taken the above shot (and it was 9.30 pm) when all of a sudden .I heard explosions happening above head .behind me!
I whipped the tripod round; and just hoped for the best .
All DH and I could do afterwards, was . Laugh! Hes well aware that Im on the naughty list where those Fireworks Gods are concerned.
Fireworks Gods if youre hanging around on the Dis .I really could do with a break for the curse.
New Years Eve 2011 fireworks is coming round again .as is Moomba ..and I really want to get some decent fireworks shots behind me before I hit HKDL in April.
Keep watching out for the next installment in this story. Who knows how it's gonna end?
I think I mentioned that we were planning a trip into the city to catch some fireworks in a previous post. Naturally, there's always a story with my pictures.....
Some of you may be aware that the camera I shoot with was never intended for me. It was always going to be DHs toy. DH has always had an interest in photography and never seemed to be without his SLR (no d) when I first met him. Getting into the d had been a long time coming for him .we had gotten into the point and shoots for a long time and he had stuck with film. We bought it in April 2010 in preparation for our trip to WDW in May of that year.
Whilst I did use the camera (sparingly), most of the pictures we took were from DH. But when we came home, that very expensive toy stayed in the bag for 6 weeks. In my opinion what.a.waste!
And then I found the scavenger hunts on the Disboard photography sub-forum. Ever since July of last year, that camera has been mine.
Ive been trying to take fireworks shots with it since July last. Hanging out of the Disboard photography sub-forum is expensive .it makes you want to go out and get better lenses in order to take pictures like some of the pro-sumers and pro-fessionals that hang out on that board.
Curse #1. Taking the tripod all the way to the World and NOT using it! October 2010
I had learnt enough from that subforum to know that if I wanted to take firework shots with long trails, I was gonna need a tripod. And (to cut a very long story short) I had the unexpected opportunity to re-visit the World in October 2010.
The tripod came all the way with me to the World. But I really dont know what I was thinking when, on the day that we were going to check out HalloWishes, I PACKED the tripod in the bottom of the suitcase in preparation for out departure the next morning. So, I went to Magic Kingdom without a tripod; and ended up with shots like this.
Lets just say that if I wish I was one of those Chinese acrobats capable of contorting my body. Leg to bahookie! comes to mind.
Curse #2. Always find out where the fireworks are going to be set off from BEFORE going out to see them. NYE 2010
There are maybe about 4 or 5 events in Melbourne where I have the opportunity to go shoot fireworks. One of them is New Years Eve. So for NYE last year, we headed into town .on a day over 40 C (over 100 F) .in search of a shot. I had assumed that the fireworks would be fired from over the Yarra River or over the city. Afterall, where else could they be let off when this had been the case year after year?
On NYE, there are two firework displays. The early Childrens Fireworks is set off at 9.30 pm and the later show is at midnight to herald in the New Year. Last year, we decided to catch the Childrens Fireworks only because DS didnt think he could stay up past midnight.
So, into the city we went .in the heat. We made our way to what I thought would be prime viewing location .only to find out that the City of Melbourne had changed the location of the fireworks that afternoon due to the heat. They moved them down river, near the sporting complexes; about a mile down from the city. By the time we found out, it was too late for us to head down there, so instead of getting a nice city lit up as the backdrop, these are the types of shot that I got.
Nice but no cigar in my book! And no amount of persuasion, bribes (nor threats) was budging my DS from wanting to go home afterwards.
Curse #3. Even when Im in the right spot, the Fireworks Gods will NOT align the moons for me (yet). March 2011
Melbourne is a festival town. It hardly seems like there is a week that goes by without yet another festival or event! Sadly for me, not many of them include fireworks .so the next occasion that I had to take fireworks was in March 2011. The festival that is typically Melbourne is the Moomba Festival.
Moomba is an aboriginal word as best as anyone can work out .it roughly translates to lets get together and have fun.
I checked the newspapers and confirmed that the fireworks would be let off from pontoons on the river. There would be 6 pontoons, stretch out over a mile on the river.
So, we headed into the city to enjoy the festivities and I went to scope out these pontoon and shooting angles. Take a look on the river .theres a pontoon there. And I had worked out that I liked this backdrop with the city and the carnival rides going off in the back.
There we were .all set up .waiting for the fireworks to start. A boat came round and started to fiddle with the pontoon .my pontoon. The schedule start time came round and we waited .the boat was still there. 3 minutes .5 minutes .6, 7, 10 before the boat finally took off. And then an announcement. Apologies for the delays, but there was a problem with one of the pontoons. Fireworks about to start.
Guess which pontoon it was?
Yes .my fireworks shot from that night .sadly, like this; from the pontoon down stream from me.
Now I would say that Im more a glass half-full type of person than a glass half-empty. But the fireworks gods were starting to get on my nerves at this point.
Curse No 4. What good is good positioning if there isnt a spectacular background in the back? July 2011
July in Melbourne is winter time. Even though it doesnt snow in Melbourne, dont be fooled. We can have a biting wind that blows up from the Antarctic that cuts through you like you wouldnt believe.
There are areas in the city that are natural wind tunnels and one of these is the Docklands precinct. So, in order to encourage visitors there during winter, they offer fireworks on a Friday night on every Friday in July.
And there I headed. I was determined to set up in front of a pontoon and didnt pay any attention to the backdrop. So, the fireworks shots are decent .only; when I came home and looked at the shots properly, the background is a little lacking.
I should have moved further down the waterfront so that I could get the city in the background. But I guess maybe the Fireworks Gods liked me a little...as long as I was cold?
Curse #5. The Fireworks Gods are really not kind to me at all!!!!! December 2011
December 2011 and I found out that the Docklands were running their yearly Carols night; closing with fireworks. On the event website, the fireworks were planned for 10.30 pm.
So, off we went. It was a beautiful balmy summer night.
This time, I had planned to move further down the waterfront no wind chill but I couldnt see pontoons anywhere on the water.
We werent sure where the fireworks would be let off from, so DH asked one of the organizer people walking around. Turns out, there would be pontoons brought into the harbour around 9.30. So, I scoped out the location and decided that I wouldnt mind this backdrop. Not spectacular; but not unreasonable either.
Id barely taken the above shot (and it was 9.30 pm) when all of a sudden .I heard explosions happening above head .behind me!
I whipped the tripod round; and just hoped for the best .
All DH and I could do afterwards, was . Laugh! Hes well aware that Im on the naughty list where those Fireworks Gods are concerned.
Fireworks Gods if youre hanging around on the Dis .I really could do with a break for the curse.
New Years Eve 2011 fireworks is coming round again .as is Moomba ..and I really want to get some decent fireworks shots behind me before I hit HKDL in April.
Keep watching out for the next installment in this story. Who knows how it's gonna end?
focusondisney
DIS Legend
- Joined
- May 7, 2009
- Messages
- 16,589
OK, those might be bad pictures to you, but I think they're beautiful!! 
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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- 108,006
OK, those might be bad pictures to you, but I think they're beautiful!!
Thanks. I think the fireworks themselves are pretty good. It's just that I've been trying to get a 'great' shot to post on the photoboard (and at least feel like I've held my own), you know? Some of the regulars there just have FANTASTIC shots.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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Well at least you'll know where to stand in HKDL!
I hope your luck improves on Saturday!
Where ever I choose to stand in HKDL, after I've set up, I just have to turn around 180 degrees!
I hope my luck improves on Saturday as well. I've been wording DS up about the Children's fireworks (confirmed to be over the sports precinct) and the midnight ones (confirmed to be NOT over the river; but off the buildings in Melbourne).
usnuzuloose
Loosing Boo Boo
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Well at least yours are excellent and I love looking at them, we only get fireworks for the 4th of july or the River cats games. Dont beat yourself up, it takes time to learn. But I still love seeing them despite what you think!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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ACDSNY
Let the countdown begin!
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I love his pictures!
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
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Some of the older term regulars on the Photoboard still remember when he bought his first dSLR and looked to them for inspiration. If I've understood correctly, he's been taking pictures for about 5 or 6 years now.
PrincessInOz
Thanks for my avatar, Mary Jo!
- Joined
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No one understands me at all. I'm really not complaining about my shots....I'm pretty happy with most of them. It's just that I see the missed opportunity for how much better they could have been.
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