© 2026 Michiyo Kurosawa
It is a beautiful tradition to arrive early and prepare for a photoshoot at a Japanese firework festival, expressing appreciation for these rare celebrations. It also shows respect for the organisers’ work in preparing the fireworks display. In the UK, however, spending hours waiting specifically to photograph a firework show is less common. In some areas, arriving early to take professional photographs is perceived as deviance or antisocial behaviour.
Such attitudes and policies can reflect limited understanding of photography as a way to appreciate and document cultural events. When photographers and fireworks enthusiasts are excluded, opportunities to share the beauty of these displays with a wider audience are lost. The resulting album is titled “Fireworks of Others”. The location of the fireworks is also randomly obscured to anonymise the firework location in order to prevent disclosing the firework event. maintaining the personal photographic exclusivity of personal celebration of the firework shows without the need to credit or respect the organisers and the county.
It matters to seek communities and organisers who welcome photographers. Their support allows photographers to celebrate the distinctive beauty of fireworks and share it with the world.
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