Fireworks

By admin | Published January 6, 2011

 

If there are fireworks to be witnessed in my family they are often best viewed while we shop. In the past I wasn’t opposed to shopping and maybe even enjoyed it. Then came kids and the whole process, for me, is now a massive vexation. The worry that comes with tracking two kids in a crowded shopping center coupled with the general pandemonium and high prices drives me to drink. My tension builds as my compulsive wife bargain shops and price-compares her way through every rack in the mall. At some point my head will inevitably explode.

On a recent trip to an outlet mall near our home I had a near detonation. My wife in a moment of clarity and charity allowed me to leave the center for a few minutes to move the car to the other end of the center to facilitate the pick-up of a purchase. When I left, these natural fireworks greeted me. I took a few minutes to find some decent angles free of distracting elements and began shooting; I also began unwinding. After this brief interlude filled with a new peace, I girded my loins and reentered the fray.

My son then promptly ran face-first into a large planter. [Sigh]

 

This entry was posted in Places and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

61 Comments

  1. Posted January 6, 2011 at 10:03 am by Laurens Kuipers | Permalink

    Great capture! Good tones!

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 10:17 am by admin | Permalink

      Thanks so much Laurens–really appreciate the comment and visit!

      Reply
  2. Posted January 6, 2011 at 11:06 am by d. k. sutton | Permalink

    Good story arc that ties in nicely with this image…and ends with a bit of humor (if I may). :) It’s always great to have your camera with you! Those cloud formations are amazing. Nice capture!

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 3:35 pm by admin | Permalink

      Thanks so much d. k.! I go everywhere with it and I’m happy most of the time but my back is killing me! :)

      Reply
      • Posted January 6, 2011 at 5:56 pm by D. K. Sutton | Permalink

        I know the feeling! The entire reason I carry a bag to work every day is to have my camera with me. And it seems the bag keeps getting heavier even though the contents haven’t changed. :)

        Reply
        • Posted January 6, 2011 at 7:28 pm by admin | Permalink

          Yup–it defies some law of physics I’m sure! :-)

          Reply
  3. Posted January 6, 2011 at 11:15 am by yz | Permalink

    wow, amazing!

    Reply
  4. Posted January 6, 2011 at 11:16 am by Corinna | Permalink

    I love it when something stunning unfolds in front of you in a completely pedestrian place like a parking lot. I’m with D.K… this is the reason to carry the camera at all times, even if it makes us look like dorks. As for the rest, deep breaths…

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 3:36 pm by admin | Permalink

      I look like such a tourist all the time! :-) Thanks Corinna–I’ll try to remember to breathe and apply some of the principles from your post!

      Reply
  5. Posted January 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm by Kala | Permalink

    Nature’s fireworks are the best. Great timing, great shot, and great story.

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 3:36 pm by admin | Permalink

      Thanks so much Kala–really appreciate that! :-)

      Reply
  6. Posted January 6, 2011 at 2:27 pm by fabrizio | Permalink

    looks like a impressionist painting, perfect result, i would have to see a sky so this, compliments, it’s wonderful Chris

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 3:37 pm by admin | Permalink

      Thank you so much for the kind comment Fabrizio! :-)

      Reply
  7. Posted January 6, 2011 at 3:32 pm by PixeLuz | Permalink

    These clouds are incredible. Their shapes, the colours. That’s something so beautiful to be alive when we can see it. And so painful to know it will end some day…

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 3:38 pm by admin | Permalink

      So true. Thank you PixeLuz–much appreciated!

      Reply
  8. Posted January 6, 2011 at 6:46 pm by Mike Blanchard | Permalink

    It’s a great capture and certainly a great reminder that our momentary troubles are…….momentary. Those clouds are so cool!

    Reply
  9. Posted January 6, 2011 at 8:10 pm by sherri | Permalink

    Enjoyed reading your thoughts and the superb image. (hope your son is okay)

    Reply
    • Posted January 6, 2011 at 8:17 pm by admin | Permalink

      Thanks Sherri–few scrapes and bruises but otherwise okay. :-)

      Reply
  10. Posted January 7, 2011 at 12:38 am by Dave | Permalink

    I love the motion in this photo, I can feel the chase, the hunt and it is exciting!

    Reply
  11. Posted January 7, 2011 at 1:18 am by k@ | Permalink

    Like the dream of a flying sheep – wonderful feel ! The blue, the lightness, the cotton-esque sensation – very dreamy !

    Reply
  12. Posted January 7, 2011 at 4:54 am by Anny | Permalink

    This is a most beautiful sight :) and it did give me peace too.

    Urmm.. leave the shopping to the women.. you take the kids to the park :) that would be a better option and everyone would end up in better moods. Hope you son is ok.

    Happy New Year Chris :)

    Reply
    • Posted January 7, 2011 at 6:04 am by admin | Permalink

      Sage advice Anny–I’ll see if I can convince my wife. ;-)

      Thanks and Happy New Year!

      Reply
  13. Posted January 7, 2011 at 6:04 am by Klaus | Permalink

    Amazing Christopher. I like this kind of images .. dramatic skys never bored!

    Reply
    • Posted January 7, 2011 at 6:08 am by admin | Permalink

      Thank you Klaus–I really appreciate that! :-)

      Reply
  14. Posted January 7, 2011 at 12:36 pm by faisal | Permalink

    WOW! What a shot! Amazing clouds… !

    Reply
  15. Posted January 7, 2011 at 1:13 pm by Andy | Permalink

    Amazing clouds! Its a good thing you went outside to move the car!

    Reply
  16. Posted January 8, 2011 at 4:46 am by Krunal | Permalink

    Magnificent shot

    Reply
    • Posted January 8, 2011 at 6:16 am by admin | Permalink

      Thanks Krunal–appreciate that!

      Reply
  17. Posted January 8, 2011 at 6:39 am by Michael | Permalink

    the sky, clouds, the light and the wind as a sort of a moving designer are always great, as your photo is. love it, makes me dream..

    Reply
  18. Posted January 8, 2011 at 6:59 am by theysroland | Permalink

    Excellent photo!

    Reply
    • Posted January 10, 2011 at 5:24 am by admin | Permalink

      Many thanks! I really appreciate the comment and the visit! Sorry about the delay–your comment found its way into my spam folder. :-)

      Reply
  19. Posted January 8, 2011 at 8:38 am by Olivier | Permalink

    Fabulous this sky!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Posted January 8, 2011 at 11:45 am by admin | Permalink

      Thank you so much Olivier–really appreciate the comment and visit!

      Reply
  20. Posted January 8, 2011 at 11:34 am by Ben | Permalink

    Brilliant sky!

    Reply
  21. Posted January 8, 2011 at 11:43 am by Michael | Permalink

    That shot is just gorgeous. It looks like the clouds were just painted on. I don’t know how you do it. (i loathe shopping as well but haven’t been lucky enough to be sent away alone – she knows i’d disappear for too long…)

    Reply
    • Posted January 8, 2011 at 11:47 am by admin | Permalink

      Really appreciate that Michael! Thanks!!

      As I type I’m preparing myself emotionally for another foray into this dark world. :(

      Reply
  22. Posted January 9, 2011 at 7:27 am by Marcie | Permalink

    Such a stunning capture of this gorgeous skyscape! And – I’m with you about the shopping. Much too stressful for my liking. Hope your son is okay after his encounter with the planter… :-)

    Reply
    • Posted January 10, 2011 at 5:23 am by admin | Permalink

      Thanks Marcie! :-) He’s okay though he got some nasty scrapes on his chin.

      Reply
  23. Posted January 10, 2011 at 12:25 am by Visioplanet | Permalink

    Beautiful clouds..

    Reply
  24. Posted January 10, 2011 at 2:00 am by Olivier Jules | Permalink

    amazing shot

    Reply
  25. Posted January 10, 2011 at 4:53 am by Rue Du Lavoir | Permalink

    Superbe ciel…
    It suits you … to shop in supermarkets
    Good week to you …

    Reply
    • Posted January 10, 2011 at 5:26 am by admin | Permalink

      Merci beaucoup RDL! Same to you!

      Reply
  26. Posted January 10, 2011 at 6:13 am by theysroland | Permalink

    Superbe photo! belle couleur chaude!

    Reply
  27. Posted January 10, 2011 at 7:41 am by george | Permalink

    Lovely sky!

    I can emphasise with your shopping experience Chris. My chosen way out was to shop somewhere that wifey liked, drop her off, and take the kids off to the park. It’s a win-win situation – you don’t get frustrated – and you might get some good pix of them (and brownie points) and the good lady can browse in peace. But don’t forget your cell phones…!

    Reply
    • Posted January 11, 2011 at 5:31 pm by admin | Permalink

      Thanks George! I’ve suggested that and it’s starting to work. My wife has a hard time pulling the trigger with purchases so she often wants my opinion necessitating my stay at the mall. I’m also pushing for her to go with her friend more! :-)

      Reply
  28. Posted January 21, 2011 at 12:00 am by Andrey Samolinov | Permalink

    Excellent light and perfect postprocessing
    Great work

    Reply
  29. Posted February 1, 2011 at 10:43 pm by Ayush | Permalink

    lovely scene, i like those wispy clouds

    Reply
  30. Posted April 12, 2011 at 6:30 am by Andy | Permalink

    Fantastic sky! :)
    —
    Thank you so much Andy–I really appreciate that. Thanks too for visiting my site!

    Reply

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

CAPTCHA Image
*