World Pyro Olympics 2008 Finale
La Mancha’s Streak of Colors
UPDATE: Team Italy won!
The much awaited World Pyro Olympics 2008 has finally came to a close last night. After much delays in actually starting it, some cancellations and back-outs the event did fairly well to cap it off. Oddly enough, we weren’t able to hear who the winner was. My bet’s with Italy but will update this post when I hear word. Not only was this special ending, was able to meet some other photographers at the event as well.
The Finale Day’s Esplanade Crowd
Og and I were already at the venue around 4pm to make sure we got a good parking and get to choose a different vantage point from what we had before. We bought our 150 tickets and bought some foods first at the Suermarket. This is gonna be a long night and it’s hard not to get hungry. You wouldn’t want to leave your place here I tell you once you secured your position.
Esplanade Setting Sun
As we waited there as the sun goes down, some new acquaintances joined us. First was Red and his friend Joel. Red is a fellow Olympus user, a professional photographer who specializes in Food and Portraits. I have seen some of his works and am impressed by his portrait shots as well. Very natural catch light and compositions.
Closing Curtains
Next who came was Allan Baredo of Lantaw. We’ve been in contact with Allan from Flickr since our Lake Sebu trip in which he saw us. I’m also impressed with his nature and landscape works. He has a number of works published in Picture Perfect and is well traveled as well. He also didn’t pay the 150 ticket when he went to the venue. hahaha. I don’t know what Jedi-mind trick he did, but he was able to pass through the guards, the ticket inspectors and the bouncers.
Fellowship of Fire display
Since this was the Finale event we were right to expect a huge crowd. And boy there were lots of people. We had to give up our spot at the breakwater since we were too cramped. We just decided to go down and maybe a change of foreground this time from the previous shots we did. And I think, with the good weather, people really flocked at the venue. It’s amusing to find that people, families and barkadas would stay there for hours to wait out these 10 minute presentations. I mean for us Photographers, we are there to capture these light paintings in the sky but these people are just contented using their cellphone cams to either record and take a picture of the fireworks. I mean if I won’t be taking pictures I wouldn’t watch or would be contented to stay at the back.
La Mancha Productions Opening Salvo
Funny, before the start of the first fireworks display from the Fellowship of Fire, a photographer guy beside me asked on my focus settings. I told him that I set it to Manual Focus and at Infinity. He also asked on the duration of the shutter opening. I told him it depends and best to go bulb mode so you can control how long the shutter is open. But when it suddenly started, I made boboo. I was using my remote to open the shutter but it wasn’t working. Turns out I wasn’t on full manual and I was not set to BULB! What a blunder. Hahaha. I only got it half way through.
Pillars and Sky Burst
That disappointed me a bit since I didn’t get much shots on that first display, but hey, there’s still the second one. During the wait we also had a chat with one of the spectators there who call himself Babes. He’s a musician and likes to take videos. Pretty interesting guy who loves moving pictures.
Streaks and showers
There were some brief talks on the Pyro Olympics 15 minutes before the last Musical Pyro Syncronization Finale from Philippine’s La Mancha Pyro Productions. But the audio system wasn’t loud enough to hear. The winner was supposed to be announced but we didn’t hear who won.
Red Rain Sky
And then it started. The Philippine’s La Mancha Pyro Production was one beautiful presentation. It ran for 12 minutes and one visual stunner was the few minutes before the ending where a spew of fireworks slowly descending filled the sky with colors. It was amazing and the first time I’ve seen one. Pretty impressive show to cap of the world’s greatest show.
Lollipop burst
After the event, it was a race to find a good restaurant to eat at. We were supposed to meet up with other people at the venue but I guess with this big crowd at a big place. It’s hard to find each other. So that ends the World Pyro Olympics 2008. Hopefully next year, they stage it earlier and more countries would participate.
Multi fireworks display
Tags: Fireworks, Manila, World Pyro Olympics 2008
Posted on
Sunday, June 1st, 2008 at 1:58 pm 
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June 1st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
sayang, di ako nakapunta nung saturday… nakita ko sa isang post mo nandun din kayo nung italy ang venezuela, sayang nandun din kme, sayang di tayo nagkita… di bale, in His perfect timing mangyayari rin yun, hehehe. nice set ferdz…
June 1st, 2008 at 8:53 pm
grabe, ang bilis mo bai!
nice captures! ganda ng kulay ng oly.
now, i’m wondering who won? wala pa sa official site eh
June 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
ei bai, my 2nd time to post a comment. dunno why my comments can seem to get through.
anyway, ang bilis ng posts mo! grabe!
and i must admit, bilib talaga ako sa kulay ng oly.
kungdi ako naka-nikon, malamang oly user ako.
btw, wala pa rin sa official site ang winner. i’m also betting on italy
June 1st, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I saw this last night kaso napagod ako hahaha. Nabinat ako sa sakit kaya kumain na lang kami ng family ko. Nice shots!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 am
you’ve perfected this Ferdz! these are awesome shots! minsan din talaga nakaka-spoil ng fun ang pagkuha ng pictures. while some people see it in full view, enjoying its beauty in the sky, you get to see them first through your lens, so medyo minimize ang appreciation. but i guess, it’s a selfless act, kase kung inenjoy mo lang ito without the camera, wala kami ngayong pinagmamasdan. keep it up. natawa ako dun sa bulb mode boboo, hehe.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
How pretty! I wish I dropped in to see the pyrolympics.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
ang gaganda ng kuha mo…PANALO!
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I fell in love w/the second photo; it’s beautifully composed and it gives me a very friendly and warm feeling. As usual, the photos rock Kuya!
[:
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
beautiful takes bai! will post mine soon but yours are way better hehe.
btw I just told the guards I was meeting ferdz and oggie and surprisingly they let me in without me parting with my 150 bucks hahaha
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
WAaahhhh!!!!! ang gaganda ng mga shots mo… i missed the fireworks
tooooo bad talaga. kafrustrate! good thing u captured them. kaya hanggang dito na lang ang panonood ko ng fireworks uhuhuh. looking forward pa naman ako makajoin sa inyo ni oggie, sayang talaga. Thanks for sharing ferdz.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Lino, hehe, one of these magkaka banga rin tayo. Maraming salamat sa pag dalaw.
Oggie, there may be something wrong with one of my spam blockers. Salamta. Am enjoying the new sensor this new camera.
Salamat Ambo, get well soon.
Thank you Rayts! Dito ko medyo na appreciate and Liveview sa camera. I was using it during these shoots so madali ko syang ma angle without looking at the view finder. So I’m only pressing on the remote button while enjoying the full spectacle as well.
Thanks Peter! Hopefully next year meron ulit so you’ll get your chance again.
Thanks Pink Panther!
Thanks Kyels! Did you mean the 3rd (sunset) or the 2nd (crowd)? Anyways Many thanks for always dropping by.
Ei Allan, cgurado ka di mo sila na hypnotize! haha! Salamat sa pagdalaw. I’m sure you got some keepers as well.
Hey Millie, di pala kayo natuloy. Me next year pa naman. Hehe. Thanks for dropping here to view the still fireworks
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
what are those pillars? parang tornado!
very colorful fireworks. i have but one word - amazing.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Love the photos. Was there a photo contest in connection with the pyro? There should. You’ll win! Great job, as always.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 am
Too bad I wasnt able to go to the event. =) Mukang maganda. Kasali ba Pilipinas? Last year, I think, special participation lang tayo eh. =)
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 am
it was supposed to be last May 24 but i was sad because i was in cebu then i realized that they postponed it to may 31… sadly im in batangas. thank God you and Oggie featured the finale. amazing shots.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
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June 6th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
thanks for sharing! 2006 pa ang last kong panuod ng pyro..