New York State Chinese Lantern Festival entrance at the NYS Fairgrounds near Syracuse, New York on Friday, June 22, 2018. Nikon D750/16-35VR, 1/60s, f/4, ISO 900, EV 0, 16mm Focal Length.

The New York State Chinese Lantern Festival returned to the NYS Fairgrounds this year. The festival ran for five weeks from May thru June this year and was set up in the area New York State Parks occupy during the State Fair. Last year it was in a larger and more open area. Construction near that location this year forced the move.

It did not hamper the beauty of the lighted festival though it did prove more challenging to photograph it. The displays are large, colorful and best photographed after the Sun sets. I used a Nikon D750 and Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR lens and used a tripod for the long exposures needed.

Arches of the New York State Chinese Lantern Festival.

The festival had three distinctly different arches to walk through. The one on the bottom of the collage above featured the Chinese Zodiac. I found out I was born in the Year of the Pig. I know one relative who will get a bang out of that. In fact, I was born in the year of the Earth Pig which means I am communicative, popular among my friends and with a strong sense of timekeeping. Hmmm…well two out of three ain’t bad.

Dragon lantern at night of the New York State Chinese Lantern Festival at the NYS Fairgrounds near Syracuse, New York on Friday, June 22, 2018. Nikon D750/16-35VR, 1/60s, f/4, ISO 2500, EV 0, 21mm Focal Length.

I found the large and very long dragon lantern to be in a hard location to photograph with lampposts and such surrounding it. Still, it is impressive and the longest one of the show. Though not the biggest.

A Blue Whale of the New York State Chinese Lantern Festival at the NYS Fairgrounds near Syracuse, New York on Friday, June 22, 2018. Nikon D750/16-35VR, 3s, f/16, ISO 100, EV 0, 22mm Focal Length, Tripod.

The biggest goes to the huge Blue Whale lantern photographed appropriately enough during Blue Hour.

New York State Chinese Lantern Festival Palace Lantern at the NYS Fairgrounds near Syracuse, New York on Friday, June 22, 2018. Nikon D750/16-35VR, 1.6s, f/16, ISO 100, EV 0, 16mm Focal Length, Tripod, Skylum Intensify CK.

The evening was cloudy and created an excellent cover for the colorful displays like the Palace Lantern display in front of the Horticulture Building.

People in front of the Peacock display at the New York State Chinese Lantern Festival at the NYS Fairgrounds near Syracuse, New York on Friday, June 22, 2018. Nikon D750/16-35VR, 0.6s, f/16, ISO 100, EV 0, 22mm Focal Length, Tripod.

I had some fun waiting for people to stand still long enough in front of the Peacock lantern. This young couple was worth the wait.

Okay, I know I complained about the location of the dragon earlier. Ii did have one redeeming quality as I could line up the Sun with its mouth for a fitting way to end this post.

NYS Chinese Lantern Festival Dragon as the Sun sets at the Fairgrounds near Syracuse, New York on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Nikon D750/16-35VR, 1/80s, f/22, ISO 100, EV 0, 35mm Focal Length, Skylum Intensify CK.