Shanghai : 100 Year Light-show

Lasers & Drones on The Bund and Lujiazui, Shanghai, China

The laser show would frequently switch colours : red, blue, green and yellow — The Pearl Oriental Tower in all its glory.

Sony A7rii and Tamron 70-180/2.8. Shot at f2.8 / 70mm / ISO 1000 / 1/20s Handheld

China just loves it's light shows ! It used to be fireworks, spectacular, ridiculously over the top, firework shows. However the avant-garde nature of modern China, and the futuristic city of Shanghai in particular, means they have been replaced by lasers and drones. Unfortunately on this occasion rain poured on the parade (or at least the threat of it did, it didn't make an appearance on the two occasions I went down to the Bund and Lujiazui (the financial district on the opposite bank of the river to the historic Bund).

Having lived over 24 years in Shanghai I've seen more than my fair share of dazzling firework spectacles but the lasers (and in good weather, drones) takes it to a whole new level, covering vast areas and being visible from many kms (miles) away.

Waibaidu Bridge, The Bund, Shanghai with views across the river to Lujiazui

Sony A7rii and Tamron 70-180/2.8. Shot at f4 / 70mm / ISO 1000 / 1/15s on a Tripod

This show was a rare one, not only the 100 year anniversary of the formation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but in duration, for maybe 7-8 mins, staged every 30 mins, for 4 hours each night over 4 days.

Meaning not only did it dramatically reduce crowds (there has been up to a million crushed into the Bund and Lujiazui areas for previous shows) as there were many performances spread over the show sessions so people could choose a time to suit them or their families and friends, but also most people could get good views in safety.

Sony A7rii and Tamron 70-180/2.8. Shot at f2.8 / 70mm / ISO 1000 / 1/20s on a Tripod

Monument to the People's Heroes 上海市人民英雄纪念塔 — The Bund : the riverfront showing 'waterfalls' and the Monument to the People's Heroes

Sony A7rii and Tamron 70-180/2.8. Shot at f4 / 106mm / ISO 1000 / 1/15s Handheld

The Bund, Shanghai during the 100 Year Laser Show

Sony A7rii and Tamron 70-180/2.8. Shot at f2.8 / 70mm / ISO 1000 / 1/20s Handheld

Sony A7rii and Laowa 12mm f2.8. Shot at f8 / 12mm / ISO 100 / 2.5s

Lujiazui - Park View from a Pedestrian Overpass

Sony A7rii and Laowa 12mm at maximum Shift. Shot at f8 / 17mm (shifted) / ISO 100 / 20s

Sony A7rii and Laowa 12mm at maximum Shift. Shot at f8 / 17mm (FL shifted) / ISO 100 / 4s

Sony A7rii and Laowa 12mm. Shot at f4 / 12mm / ISO 100 / 4s

I hope you enjoyed viewing my photographs above, taken over the duration of my visits, about 10 hours in total. A few of these shots will likely be available as prints and one or two may also appear in my upcoming book (currently I'm at the shot selection and design stage) titled :

"Sleeping With A Million Ghosts' (which refers to sleeping in a bivy bag, on top of the Great Wall, for 8 nights) and which covers my photography and travels throughout China, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Bhutan, Myanmar & Malaysia, over the past 5 years. Why not sign up for progress reports, and notification of the special introductory offer, plus details of its launch on Kickstarter? Sign up here (you'll not be hassled or spammed with any other notifications and your particulars will remain strictly private) :

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