Coloured lights and smoke/fog over the duckpond – click to embiggen
Its school holidays and someone decided to carry on the tradition of doing a mid winter light show in Christchurch (started a few years ago after the earthquakes). This year they used the Botanic Gardens which is a lovely idea, lots of flat space, nice wide paths to walk on and many great sights to utilise.
I was late getting there, had to park several blocks away and of course took AGES taking photos so I barely got quarter of the way around and then I saw the light show and smoke across the duckpond. Found the path to the edge on my side and set up my tripod so I would get the branches of a nearby tree in the foreground.
There were lots of different coloured light combinations, but the pink/purple was my favourite, and when I moved my lens around to the left I got this wonderful composition with the clump of trees on the edge of the pond all backlit by the pink smoke.
And of course, just as I was getting into it, they turned it off! Was nearly 9pm and it finished at 8.30 so can’t really complain but may have to go back tomorrow for more 🙂
My first version of this was edited in LR, made some global adjustments to bring out a bit more detail from the shadows and tone down the highlights a bit. Then I played with some of my new presets and added a couple to get the more grittier look above which I quite like.
Technially shooting was a challenge, being in full dark. Of course I took my tripod and my headlamp. Also got to field test my cold weather clothing and it worked a treat, my legs were just warm enough and my torso was quite warm while moving around tho I need to find a hat that can accomodate the headlamp too.
There was ice on the puddles as I walked back to my car, it was THAT cold 🙂
Original slightly softer version – click to embiggen
If you are in CHCH this weekend with your camera I recommend a visit on Sunday night, being the last night!
I prefer the top grittier more detailed image – it improves the details on the clump of trees at the edge of the water to the left a lot.
Next time I might shoot it with a clear foreground tho 🙂
Which one do you like? All comments and Feedback welcome!
Learning to See Light 
Rose I think I prefer the top one as well, but I also light the ethereal feel of the bottom one. Great colours and nice sharp image.
Thanks Dean for commenting and visiting my blog, I like both of them too for different reasons
Beautiful. I prefer the top image too. I like the sharpness you have added to it. But the second one is nice in a different way. We have been freezing too here in Hastings.
Thanks Raewyn, yes I was pleased I had collected proper cold weather layers over the last few years, the Under Armour base layer I got was a bit expensive but it is worth every cent, its super light and warm and dries really quickly, I want it in other colours so I can wear to work!
Probably going to go out again tonite and do the bits I missed and most likely revisit the pond at a different viewpoint too.