Quick save it!“Penghu Sea Fireworks Festival” Photo Map: 27 Locations Revealed

▲ The Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival has begun. (Photo / fromthe Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival Facebook page)

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Reporting

The “2017 Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival” has kicked off, attracting a large number of photography enthusiasts eager to capture the most spectacular moments. The Facebook page“My Days Watching the Sea in Penghu”has even created a guide featuring common photography spots for the fireworks festival. So far, 27 locations have been collected, with detailed annotations on wind direction and framing angles. If you want to take stunning fireworks photos, this is a great reference to check out!

The Facebook page“My Days Watching the Sea in Penghu”also shares photography tips for shooting the fireworks festival. It recommends using a wide-angle or fisheye lens within the Guanyin Pavilion area to better capture the fireworks. Typically, an aperture of F9 to F11 is used. Some photographers may stop down the aperture and use a black card along with a longer shutter speed to achieve richer compositions of the fireworks. Of course, it’s still advisable to observe the wind direction from the Central Weather Bureau when taking photos that night, as factors such as north winds, south winds, or humidity can all affect the final results. Additionally, they also use a mirrorless camera for video recording so that both photos and videos are documented. ISO is usually set to 100 or 200, while shutter speed is adjusted based on the rhythm and quantity of fireworks being launched—there’s unlikely to be one setting that works throughout.

▲ Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival Photography Map. (Photo / Provided by the My Days Watching the Sea in Penghu Facebook page)

＞＞ Click here for the Google Map link of common Penghu Fireworks Festival photography spots

The Penghu Fireworks Festival photography map currently includes 27 locations. On the map, each concentric circle has a radius interval of 0.5 kilometers, serving as a distance reference for each photography spot. These 27 photography spots can generally be divided into three main categories:

I. Recommended Spots When the Wind Blows from the North

1. On the right side of the venue facing the Xiyang Rainbow Bridge
2. Glorious Pier Photography Spot (using the small pier as a foreground)
3. Long Dyke Tail Photography Spot (using the entire long dyke bay as a foreground)

II. Recommended Spots When the Wind Blows from the South

1. On the left side of the venue facing the Xiyang Rainbow Bridge
2. Photography Spot Near Golden Turtle Head Fort
3. Photography Spot Near Zhongzheng Hall

III. Other Recommended Spots and Features

1. Photography Spot Behind Guanyin Pavilion
2. High Point Photography Spot at the Youth Activity Center of the National Salvation Corps (requires payment)
3. Main Photography Spot Using Cannon Bases Within the Venue
4. Photography Spot Using the Dolphin Pavilion as a Foreground Within the Venue
5. Main Photography Spot Using the Seawall Figures as a Foreground Within the Venue
6. Port Authority Building (requires accommodation)
7. Magong First Fishing Port Oil Tank – The harbor and residential buildings serve as the foreground, but only mid-to-high-altitude fireworks can be captured.
8. Magong Anshan Photography Spot – The harbor and residential buildings serve as the foreground, but only mid-to-high-altitude fireworks can be captured.
9. Near Magong Third General Hospital
10. Penghu University of Science and Technology – Permission required.
11. Best Western Premier Hotel – Accommodation required.
12. Near Four Points by Sheraton Penghu – Foreground features the hotel itself.
13. Snake Head Mountain – Located at a distance from the fireworks launch site; recommended for long-lens photography on clear days.
14. Five-Hole Summit – Requires climbing and is somewhat distant; recommended for long-lens photography on clear days.
15. Yuanbei Pavilion – Also somewhat distant and only accessible if you're on the island that day; recommended for long-lens photography on clear days, with mid-to-high-altitude fireworks visible.
16. In front of the 30 People’s Temple – Due to obstruction by Dacang Island, long-lens photography on clear days is recommended, with only high-altitude fireworks visible.
17. Dacang Wharf – Must be on the island during the event, and long-lens photography on clear days is advised.
18. Near Shuncheng Gate – Primarily captures mid-to-high-altitude fireworks.
19. Penghu Living Museum – Features a large teapot as the foreground.
20. Near Zhongtun Elementary School – Long-lens photography on clear days is recommended.
21. Inside Yuantai Hotel – Accommodation required.