Fireworks – RDZ Photography

Buenos Aires – December 2019 – Graduation Day

Festival, Transportation, Water Features

One of the interesting items of being in South America is the reverse of the seasons – making December graduation time!

Nothing better than a beautiful sunny start to Graduation Day.

The cruise ship is arriving from Brazil.

In the middle of the city some young ladies are celebrating their high school graduation in true Buenos Aires fashion – blowing whistles and going into the middle of the street during the light changes!

Meanwhile later that afternoon in Olivos the Naval Training Facility is having their graduation as well – in a much more reserved manner.

The band plays the national anthem.

The flags are ready.

The cadets are ready.

Seemingly bored waiting on the dignitaries…

They receive their diplomas and congratulations…

Finally it is done and the new graduates can pose with the Secretary of Security.

Evening is approaching so the boats return to the harbor.

With another great sunset it is time for….

Fireworks!!!!

Pittsburgh – August 2018 – Ya Gotta Regatta

Art, Festival, History, Nature, Sports

For Decades now Pittsburgh has celebrated their position on the rivers with an annual Regatta. More than just boat races, the Regatta features all sort of events – on the water, on the land and in the air.

First up – The Red Bull Paratroopers.

They came down fast, dropping into the valley from above.

Before pulling up just before they….

Hit the water!

The XPogo crew were on hand for some amazing acrobatics.

They have amazing skills on a pogo stick.

Doing backflips while dismounting their stick.

Flipping the pogo stick between their legs in mid air.

These guys were crazy – but very skilled.

Next up – the Anything That Floats competition. When we would come to the regatta back in the 1990s there were 20 or more contestants.

While fewer this year, those that were here were enthusiastic.

A nice water touch.

The boat was misnamed.

The Isaly’s Ice Cream Shop boat wasnt fast, but it was steady.

Not sure if the beer cans were empty or not.

Sharks and Pirates together.

As they made their way down the river they met up with one of the Tiki Hut floating bars.

Which left them at the finish to sail into the sunset.

The water jet guy came out to wow the crowd.

Followed by the jet ski’s, who all were adapt at doing flips.

They seemed to be upside down as much as upright.

A perfect shot – an upside down jet ski with the Point Fountain, Ft Pitt Bridge and Mt Washington in the background.

But it was time for boat racing – the officials surveyed the river.

The crews were ready for the start.

Some less intense than others.

And it was time to race – first up were smaller boats that made a turn before the Ft Duquesne Bridge.

They were quick down the straights.

The larger boats finally took over the course.

The south turn was right at the point where the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers meet.

Another nice view of the Point Fountain.

It is amazing how fast the boats separate – just a few laps and they were all over the course with little grouping together.

Downtown Pittsburgh offers great backdrops for the racing.

After the races, we headed over to Point Park where they had other activities. One was an amazing sand sculpture dedicated to the historic (and defunct) Pennsylvania Railroad.

This entire sculpture is sand.

The detail was fantastic.

The train.

Detail of the train wheels.

After dinner we headed back to the North Side for…..

FIREWORKS!

A great ending to a great day.

Chicago – July 2018 – Weekend in the City

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Nature, Sciences, Transportation

With a chance to spend a couple of nights in Chicago, we went without any specific plans. Once we arrived in town late Saturday afternoon we headed out for a walk.

Our first stop was the beautiful marquee for the Chicago Theater on State Street.

While Chicago is known for the El trains there are a couple that are underground downtown, including the Red Line.

The entrance to the subway station has a great art deco look to it – backed up by a mural of Muddy Waters!

State Street had a number of public art features – this one backed by the former Marshall Field Department store clock.

As we made our way to Millennium Park we heard music.

And were pleasantly surprised to find a symphony playing music from Lerner and Loewe movies.

On our walk back we had the fortuitous timing to be crossing the Michigan Avenue bridge just as fireworks started from the Navy Pier.

The view down the river framed the fireworks with the buildings.

The next morning we took a 4 mile walk up through River North and Rush Street.

Stopping at North Avenue Beach.

Our walk continued through Lincoln Park, where they have made good use of dead trees.

As we approached the zoo we saw a very large group of people – playing Pokemon!

Eventually we made it out of the Pokemon crowd to a more serene part of the park, near Fullerton Street.

Chicago even has skyscraper bird houses.

We spent the rest of the afternoon back downtown at Grant Park for the Taste of Chicago.

They had cooking competitions. This one is a Puerto Rico – Chicago specialty – the Jibarito.

We finished the day walking along the river.

Often when I photograph Marina City I shoot up – totally forgetting that there is actually a marina in Marina City.

As always we had a great time in Chicago.

Cleveland – June 2009 – Baseball and Fireworks

Art, Festival, Sciences, Sports

The second half of a really good day took place 140 miles away in Cleveland, where I went to a baseball game at Progressive Field. The game in Cleveland was followed by fireworks.