the picture was taken in RAW mode at f8, 15 sec exposure, with foreground processed with +1 exposure in PS. f8 was used to expose for the building at 15 sec.
timing is crucial, fireworks show in Japan have a typical setting. usually a fireworks show comprise of 40 to 50 sets of fireworks (each set sponsored by particular companies) each set of fireworks typically starts with low fireworks and progressively build up to big and high ones. after each set there's a pause of about 5 to 10 secs. this picture is taken at about the ending of a set, just enough to capture the last few high bursts of the set, with the break time for the camera to expose for the environment. but the contrast between the building's lighting and the people in the foreground is too large, so had to compensate in PS for the foreground people.
shobey: that's great, Kamakura's event this year is not very big, 2900 fireworks with biggest at no.10 (diameter thing, not sure how to convert
) the biggest in Tokyo are Sumida River (last saturday, 20,000 fireworks with biggest at no.20) and Tokyo Bay (12th August, 12,000 fireworks with biggest at no.15) be sure to be early to grab your place, and watch out for restrictions around the areas, had a bad experience at the Sumida one ;(