Team Spain has won the 2nd Malaysia International Fireworks Competition (MIFC). And it's a great achievement despite the drizzle that came halfway through their show on Sunday night. I guess it proved that the rain didn't dampen their chances of winning at all.

And the grand finale on Friday night? Jointly designed and produced by last year's winner - Team Australia - and our very own MIFC producer, it was a night which I believe blew everyone's mind away.

It was a show of shapes, colours, height and size!

I love this shape!

The designers and producers surely deserve a good pat on their backs for the awesome grand finale!

More pics at my [gallery].

Labels: fireworks

The final team to take to the challenge at the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition (MIFC) this year was Team Spain.

Very unfortunate for them, I think, it drizzled the entire night on and off. Thinking it had stopped when the show finally started, the drizzle came back again midway through. By the time the show was over, it started to pour! We were glad we made it back to the car in time -_-"

I think the drizzle kinda dampened their show. I noticed some fireworks didn't manage to explode in full bursts. But nonetheless, I find their ground fireworks rather pretty and awesome.

I love the colours in this!

Now I'm looking forward to the finale this coming Friday! And I hope the skies would be clear :D

More pics from Team Spain at my [gallery].

Labels: fireworks

I changed location. I was late. Mistake.

Didn't nail a good shooting location. By the time I reached, the open ground was filled with everybody and everyone. And the street lights were not turned off.

And there was someone standing in front view -_-"

But nonetheless, the fireworks by Team Canada on Wednesday night was beautiful. Despite some misfires and failed launches, I was quite taken aback with the fireworks that exploded in the sky and then left sparkling lights like glittering stars in the sky. Pretty :)

Lotsa glittering stars

In my opinion, better than the previous team -_-"

Now, I'm hoping all will turn out even better tonight.

Labels: fireworks

The second team that lighted up the sky for the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition (MIFC) 2008 yesterday nite was Team China.

Team China opened the show with pretty blue fireworks.



As for the rest of the entire show, I could only think of two words. Doubly. And smoky -_-"

Doubly because I noticed most of the fireworks were launched in pairs.

Smoky because ... well, um ... smoky! There wasn't much wind that night to help disperse the smoke.

Anyway, here are my 2 favourite shots from the night ...

Looks like dandelion, don't they?!

I likey the shapes!

More (smoky) pics are at my [gallery].

Labels: fireworks

Yes, the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition (MIFC) is back again this year. It marks the 2nd MIFC we're hosting here in Putrajaya. How time flies, huh -_-"

The first team that took to the sky on last Wednesday was our very own Team Malaysia. Hehe, I was meant to post this earlier but procrastination got the better of me :P



There was quite a variety of fireworks in terms of shapes and colours that pretty much kept me going oooh, aaah, and waah.

I love the blue!

To end the show, Team Malaysia lighted up the sky with massive fireworks going off together. To which the audiences went waah and clapped at the end of it.

Massive fireworks lighting up the sky

I'm not an expert at judging fireworks, but as an audience I enjoyed the beautiful fireworks in the sky that night while clicking away on my shutter release cable. Not to mention of course, I was quite close to the fireworks this time (compared to last year). And watching it up close is so much more fun :)

More pics at my [gallery].

Labels: fireworks

Went for the Grand Finale of the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition (MIFC). This time, we got the parking pass into PICC beforehand. We didn't want to get diverted away again like the last time >_<

Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen or heard of the roads and highways in Putrajaya or Cyberjaya being this jam before!!!

Reached PICC at 8pm. It was raining by the time we got there. And we were hoping time would pass by like a breeze. 2 hours to go!!! Just to stand there and secure a relatively good spot! By the time the fireworks went off, my legs were already gonna break! Really -_-"

And thank goodness, the rain stopped in time for the fireworks!



The grand finale display was a collaboration between the particpating countries and Pyrofest Canada, with each given about 5 minutes to light up the sky! I couldn't make out which part was by who because the sound system seemed rather soft that night.

This one was really nice. Not the big explosive kind, but rather little lights that looked like a molecule. A molecule of like 4 or 5 atoms that falls slowly, and breaks off after a period of time.

A 100% crop of the falling lights!

Pretty, aren't they?!!

I don't know if it was intentional, but I find there were a few times when things didn't go right. Malfunction. Problems. Like how the fireworks didn't go off at the first 2 tries! Or how this set of fireworks (on the left) seem to have exploded too low ...

Close-up of the above

At first the smoke control was looking quite good as the wind was blowing it away from our direction! But then somehow at the later stage, the smoke became so bad, the bridge could hardly be seen at some points! I bet the people down there must have been choking from the bad smoke.

Smoke! Urgh!

To me, some of the displays last night were like they've decided to just use whatever explosives that were gonna expire soon!! Don't care what display nor arrangement, just burn 'em off!!! LOL

But nevertheless, it was still a spectacular display of colours, shapes and size. And ... I managed to watch it from the front!!! Finally! Woo-hoooo .... >_<




More pics here.

Labels: fireworks

Went for the MIFC Merdeka Eve countdown. It was Team Japan that night. Instead of the usual 10pm start, this time it was at 12am in conjunction with the country's 50th Independence Day!

Went with hubby, Jon & Cassie. Arrived around 11pm. Wanted to get into PICC, but didn't know how. The police just kept diverting us away from it! Instead, we ended up on the roadside. Again :P But it was a different location this time.

The first set that went off right after Negaraku and countdown ...



Oh yeah, we could hear it from where we were that night >_<

It was nice and spectacular! I missed some really nice fireworks like the star, heart and planet. Gosh, I wonder what I was doing -_-"

Japan was nothing short of colour! The purplish-blue ones were simply beautiful.





And shapes.





And size!

The closing set

The closing set was simply big! Couldn't even capture all at the height it went off! It was really big, beautiful and high. 'Tho it kinda reminded me of the tree lights outside Istana Negara at night >_<

Reached home close to 3am -_-"

Selamat Hari Merdeka, Malaysia! Well, better late than never!!! :P


More pics here.

Labels: fireworks, merdeka

New Year's eve countdown calls for either parties, sleeping the year through or photography opportunities. Parties are already a no-no for a domesticated me *meow*, so that leaves me with either sleep or clickety-click! And so I chose the latter.

Earlier in the day, my hubby and I drove round the Curve area to scout for a nice place to make-out ... ahem, errr, I mean to photograph the fireworks display later in the night :P We found two places - an open, deserted area nearby The Curve/Ikano, and an open parking area in Damansara Perdana overlooking The Curve. We decided to go for the deserted area nearby the shopping mall, but instead ended up in Damansara Perdana!

Reaching there around 9.30pm, the parking area was deserted and we had second thoughts if the place was going to be safe. We actually went with my sister, her hubby and their super-cheeky son. Having some drinks at a nearby mamak while waiting for the time to pass, we made crazy stories of being hijacked, robbed, etc. But whaddaya know, by the time we went to that place again later at around 11, there were already a few families there. *phew* what-a-relief! Minutes later, I decided to "pre-book" a spot and proceeded to setup the tripod and camera. More people starting coming in, *phew* extra relieved!

I took a few test shots. I was hoping the fireworks would be launched in between the Curve building (left) and the Cineleisure (right). And I told myself I need to get the first few shots right before the smoke builds up.



Few more minutes, and it was 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 ... boom, bam, boom.



And I was like "sh*t, it's on the right!! Alamak!!! Fast, fast, re-compose, re-compose ... urgh!"

Re-composed, and proceeded to press the remote shutter happily!



And then, it was boom-bam-boom somewhere else ... there, right at the spot where I initially hoped it would be!!! Urggghhh ... re-compose, re-compose ... quick, quick!!! :)

They got bigger ...

... and higher!

And I decided to try another composition.



And went click-click-click all the way!

Trying out black-and-white.

One more ...

And finally, a sky blanketed with the smoke from the fireworks. The white streak of light you see on the top-left was from a helicopter that was hovering above the area right after the fireworks display.



We quickly packed our stuffs and headed off, hoping to beat any traffic congestions!

The display went on for a good 10 to 15 minutes, giving me enough time to recompose and such. Only disappointment I have is not being able to capture the first few moments without the heavy smokes, but overall I'm pretty happy with the outing this time as compared to the fail-fail-fail one I had last year in KLCC.

Labels: celebration, fireworks, new, year