Atlantis Opening

Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 by Stained in Labels: ,
8

I was busy editing pictures for a client (who seems to be happy with my work) so couldn't post these pictures earlier. Anyway, everyone knows about the Atlantis Opening. Here's my version of it...

I was planning a trip to watch the fireworks for ages. Initially a guy living on the Palm invited me and some others to join him to take pictures but than Nakheel decided to the lock the Palm up for outsiders. Then I thought of every possible spot to take pictures from. I even thought about breaking into a Media/Internet City or Knowlege Village building roof. But in the end decided to make my way to Sufouh beach (or Dead Beach as I like calling it). On my way there, Fud calls me up and tells me her uncle works in Nakheel and is taking her into the Palm. Lucky her!!!

Anyway I reached Sufouh Beach at about 10:45pm and found it surprisingly emptier that I had expected. Having a 4WD, we parked on the edge of the beach and I set up my tripod to be ready for those fireworks. We were in a place where we could just see a part of Atlantis and my siblings kept asking me if I wanted to shift to another spot from where the Atlantis was more visible. I said no because the rush there was kinda more than where I was and I didn't care about Atlantis, I was there for the fireworks. At 11:30pm I get another call from Fud who tells me she in on top of a 40 floor tower in Media City and I can join her if I want. Now, not knowing when the fireworks were actually scheduled to start, we lingered around for about 10 more minutes on the beach and then made our way to Media City. As we entered the main road, we saw that the police were not letting more people into the beach because by now it was full.

So we reached Media City, we found the tower and slowly made our way in. The security guard just glanced at us and didn't say a word. Now I'll just clarify that I'm scared of heights and lifts and being in this building earlier, I didn't like the fact that the lift in this building shakes a bit. Btw this is the Shattar Tower (or something like that) with the DU office in it. So we reached the 40th floor, took the stairs to the roof. I found Fud there standing next to a wall as tall as her. This was nice because I felt less scared. About 30-40 people were already there and crowded around the spot where Atlantis was easily visible as there was a tower next to it that partially covered the Palm. I set up my tripod at maximum height which did not allow me to use my viewfinder. I tried to find some space in between the crowd but most seemed quite annoyed. In the end I set up my tripod in a place where I annoyed no one and also would get decent shots.

So here we were waiting for the fireworks, me taking random shots now and then. And then at 12:30am it started. We were all awestruck by the magnitude of fireworks being launched. I over exposed a lot of shots before I realised I was doing it all wrong. I then changed my settings and got a few good shots. I think I prefer the Atlantis shots over the fireworks shots and there I was saying I didn't want any Atlantis shots...Silly me!!!

Anyway here are a few of my shots. Hope I didn't bore you with my long story...
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:17:54 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 30
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 200.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:30:13 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 10
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 200.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:30:46 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 10
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 200.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:33:09 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1.6
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 35.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:33:23 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1.6
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 51.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:33:34 AM
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1.6
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 63.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:33:40 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 1.6
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 42.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:35:48 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 10
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 200.0 mm
Shooting Date/Time : 11/21/2008 12:51:35 AM
Tv(Shutter Speed) : 30
Av(Aperture Value) : 6.3
Metering Mode : Center-Weighted Average Metering
ISO Speed : 100
Lens : 18.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length : 134.0 mm

8 comments:

  1. Abid says:

    The last shot is amazing.

    The crane in the foreground makes the image.

  1. * says:

    As much as I love your photographs and fireworks, and there are some truly delightful shots.
    I question such a vulgar display and waste of money.

  1. Stained says:

    Abid...thanks...some people didn't like the fact that there was a crane in the picture...but I like it the way it is...

    Kaya....I agree about the waste of money...it was a fantastic display, the best I've seen but quite unnecessary though I'm more curious about how much they paid the film stars to attend the opening...surely more than they paid for the fireworks....

  1. rosh says:

    WOW! brilliant shots Stained! I'd never guess such grandeur, if it werenn't your pictures. Thanks!

  1. Anonymous says:

    my favorites are 3 ,5 and 8....Gosh the trouble u went thru 2 secure those pics...ur 1 dedicated photographer!.....but i guess tht was a photo oppurtunity tht cums once in a lifetime!

  1. Stained says:

    Thanks Rosh...

    Thanks Zanzibar....surely a once in a lifetime opportunity...and I'm sometimes to dedicated....it annoys some people!!

  1. simdog says:

    Hi Faisal fantastic shots of the Atlantis. I work in Shatta Towers and was thinking the 40th floor would make a good vantage point to capture the moment, (It was too late for me ;-)

  1. Stained says:

    thanks steve.... :D

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