Canada Day Celebration Fireworks In Saskatoon

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Canada Day Celebration Fireworks In Saskatoon

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We walked to our previously scouted location, dodging angry selfish drivers trying to get as close to the show as possible.  With giggles we wondered together how many of them knew the road was blocked this year and they weren't going to find a spot.  

The city settled down along the riverbanks, up to a mile downriver of the site, and I presume, a half mile upriver as well, where the river then takes a turn away from the view.  As we sat in the stillness of evening, automobile noise died down as citizens parked to walk down to the river.  Occasionally there were privately bought sparkles explosively sent into the twilight.  Children giggled, teens ran back and forth, and adults called across the wide river to comment, call for the start of festivities, or just hoot and holler on a good party day.  One remarkable drunk let loose a stream of profanity directly across the water from us.  After the giggling died down I called out "and folks say the West Side has no class!"  This referenced our city's river rivalry where the west side of the river is considered to be less desirable than the east.  It's a blue collar trade vs. white collar education rivalry that will likely exist forever, even though the actual demographics are no longer so clearly delineated. More laughter tittered down the river. Our little beach on the west bank was sparsely populated, being somewhat hidden from the road.  There were a few groups with lawn chairs and others on rocks.  Everyone was quite courteous about staying out of the way of my tripod.  The park where the show was to be launched was visible as a bright light next to a vague shadow of a hill.  Flashbulbs occasionally marked the various locations of erstwhile photographers capturing the jollity of friends or vainly trying to capture the twilight beauty of this perfect evening.  

Finally, after patience had run it's course and we'd all settled into grumpy silence, the bright light was turned off and the first volley flew into the air, higher than any personal fireworks had gone.  Time to test my camera settings!  I'd taken a few test shots of the empty night and the half moon above but this was my first fireworks session and I had no idea how long a shutter setting should be.  Short and frequent or long and capture a lot on one?    I just kept depressing the remote switch, not checking results, praying I was getting it right, becuase the show is short!  

Near to the end of the display, with pounding shots echoing down the river valley and cheers bouncing off the river, my batteries died.  Fresh batteries, dead already!  Fumbling ensued as I grabbed out the spares and changed them, then had to aim the camera again.  All in all, while I did not catch every second of the show, I've something to show for it.  Come the end of the fireworks we walked back amidst angry racing traffic using any side street possible to try and beat the rush homeward.  It was a lovely night.