Supermoon

Supermoon : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Tonight's sky featured what the press is calling a supermoon. According to Wikipedia, a supermoon "is a full or new moon that coincides with a close approach by the moon to the Earth." This results in a moon that looks a little larger and a lot brighter than normal. That was certainly the case tonight. Unfortunately, I only have an 18-200 lens, so this isn't the best picture. In fact, I had to modify it a bit in the post-photo production process. Still, it was a gorgeous moon! Hope everyone else has a chance to enjoy this infrequent event.

Shadow of the Supermoon : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/11

Fêtes de Genève, Part IX - Finale

The Finale featuring the Jet d'Eau : Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

The Fêtes de Genève's finale featured Geneva's iconic Jet d'Eau. It was quite a spectacular way to end the night. If you want to see video of this extraordinary event that makes Geneva worth visiting in August, see the videos shot by Maya of Maya Photography. (Note: The videos take a minute or two to download, but they're worth the wait, especially the finale in the first link. Maya also took some great shots of the fireworks and you can seen them on her blog in the third link.)

THE END!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10
Video copyright: Maya Lucchitta, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part VIII

Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

There were some good rounds in the second half of the show, but my pictures from this half aren't as good as the first. That's because I switched from using a tripod and a long shutter speed (1.5 seconds) to hand-held and a short speed (1/6). I thought the photos would turn out well, but they're only okay and rather wobbly. Lesson learned? Stick with the tripod.



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part VII

Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

In looking back through my photos, I have to say, the first half of the show was better than the second. That said, though, what I found interesting in the second half were the dark fireworks. Some of the pyrotechnics had a monochromatic effect and were quite dramatic, as compared to the brighter reds, greens, and oranges of the earlier show.



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part VI

The beginning of the second half of the Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

The Fêtes de Genève is a two-part performance featuring pyrotechnic displays by two companies who compete to put on the best show. Frankly, both of them were pretty darn good, if you ask those of us who were seeing them.



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part V

 Pretty purple pyrotechnics! : Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

But wait! There's more!! (If you must know, I took 447 photos during this pyrotechnic display. I've got to do something with all these photos...)



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part IV

Fêtes de Genève continued... : Geneva, CH

And again, more fireworks. (They never get old, do they?)



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part III

Act I of the Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

More from the Fêtes de Genève...



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Fêtes de Genève, Part II

Let the show begin! : Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

This is the 10th year of the Fêtes de Genève--Geneva's lakefront festival that includes the largest fireworks display in Switzerland and one of the largest in the world. The display has a theme--this year's was the circus--and is choreographed to music. The fireworks are set up on 14--count 'em: FOURTEEN--barges in the harbor! The results are nothing less than absolutely spectacular!

I've seen a lot of fireworks displays in Washington, D.C., which are pretty amazing, but this event beat the annual 4th of July events hands down. While Geneva isn't all that pleasant in August, this is a festival worth coming to Europe, and especially to Geneva, to see. The display went on for over an hour, so I'm going feature groupings of fireworks for the next couple of days.



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

From the Archives: Washington Dulles International Airport

Dulles International Airport : Fairfax/Loudon County, VA

I've posted this photo before, but as this was the departure point on Sunday evening, I thought I'd put it up again. It's one of my favorite pictures from my D.C. Confidential blog.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid