The International Fleet Review is currently on in Sydney this October as a way to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet into Sydney in 1913 and is one of the largest public events to be held on Sydney Harbour since the Sydney Olympics of 2000. One of the main events was the Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular on October 5 with a 30 minute show of choreographed fireworks, projections, lighting and live action around Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House.
For the first time ever fireworks were launched from the decks of RAN (Royal Australian Navy) ships as well as off city rooftops, barges in Sydney Harbour and joined by a lightshow from land and a full story projection on the Harbour Bridge pylons with a soundtrack.
It was my first time capturing fireworks with a DSLR and I am happy with the results and it was a valuable learning experience with my classmate who joined me for the event. The only difficultly with these kinds of events is it can be very tough securing a good vantage spot and working around the thousands of people trying to watch the same event can become competitive with a DSLR and a tripod set up.
To capture the event I spent the afternoon with my classmate and family in Kirribilli in North Sydney to give me a vantage point over Sydney Harbour and the Opera House and captured the ‘Salute to Navy’ Air Displays and the Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular. The day ended with a beautiful sunset across the harbour and one of the best firework and projection shows I have ever seen on Sydney Harbour and I hope you enjoy my photographs I captured of the event.
Emergency Services Helicopter demonstration with the Sydney Opera House in the background
An Emergency Services Helicopter demonstration
The RAAF’s aerobatics team ‘Roulettes’ flying in formation
The RAAF’s aerobatics team ‘Roulettes’ fly in close formation
Sydney Harbour sunset from Kirribilli in North Sydney
The Sydney Harbour Bridge as the sun sets
Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular on Sydney Harbour and for the first time fireworks were set off from the decks of RAN ships
Fireworks in Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour lit up during the Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular
The climax of the Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular
Vanessa Zhang Photography 