Nguyen Minh Anh, also known by his nickname “ACBaka”, is a unique and passionate fireworks photographer. Originally from the West of Vietnam, at the age of 30, Minh Anh has had an inspiring journey from the early days of taking photos for love to becoming one of the few photographers pursuing the art of shooting fireworks.
The art of fireworks – where light and color intersect in the sky
His passion began when he received his first camera from his family during his university days, but it wasn’t until 2023, after three years living in Japan, that his love for photography was truly ignited. Japan, with its captivating seasonal beauty and unique culture, became the catalyst that led photographer Minh Anh on a new creative journey. In particular, the art of fireworks – where light and color intersect in the sky – captivated him with its brilliance, complexity, and profound meaning.
“In the three years I lived in Japan, I was not really passionate about taking photos of fireworks, although I tried a few times. It was not until the end of 2023, when I accidentally took a small fireworks display in Osaka, that I changed my mind. At that time, I met a brother who was passionate about taking photos of fireworks - at first I thought he was Japanese, because very few Vietnamese people pursue this genre. But it turned out he was also Vietnamese. It was from this meeting that I began to cherish the plan to take as many photos of fireworks as possible in 2024 - my last year in Japan,” Minh Anh recounted.
In Japan, fireworks are considered a high art form, created by the talented hands of famous fireworks companies, or “hanabi-ya”. Names like Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks or Shibata Fireworks create breathtaking displays with exquisite designs and combinations of light and color.
Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks stands out with romantic designs such as heart-shaped fireworks, stars, combined with music to create a magnificent space. Kato Fireworks makes its mark with complex effects such as color-changing fireworks, animations and multi-layered performances, demonstrating absolute precision. Beniya Aoki Fireworks from Nagano brings bright and rare colors, while Yamamiya Fireworks combines fireworks with traditional festivals, famous for its long-lasting "fire waterfall" effect. Shibata Fireworks creates fireworks inspired by nature, with images of flowers, leaves or animals.
The special thing about Japanese fireworks is that they are held in large-scale competitions, such as the one in Omagari (Akita), where companies compete with creativity and professional pride. It is because of the brilliance of these “flowers of light” that photographer Minh Anh decided to explore and record the performances, from large festivals such as Nagaoka in Niigata – one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan – to small events in peaceful towns such as Gero Onsen on Christmas Eve.
In Japan, fireworks are considered a high art form.
Every fireworks photo that photographer Minh Anh takes is the result of patience, effort and careful preparation. To find the ideal shooting location, he often has to book tickets months in advance or travel dozens of kilometers to get to the best fireworks viewing spots. In addition, Minh Anh shared that weather is also one of the big challenges when taking fireworks photos. “Weather is the deciding factor in success or failure when taking fireworks photos,” he said. “If the wind changes direction or the humidity increases, the fireworks smoke can completely obscure the view, ruining the photo session. Sometimes the festival is even canceled at the last minute due to storms.”
Every fireworks photo that photographer Minh Anh takes is the result of patience, effort and careful preparation.
In remote locations, he had to travel several days in advance to secure a spot. Once in Fukushima, he encountered difficulties due to trees blocking his view. Fortunately, with the help of a local resident, he was able to capture beautiful fireworks moments, creating unforgettable memories in his creative journey.
One of photographer Minh Anh’s most memorable experiences was Christmas Eve 2022 at Gero Onsen. At that time, he and his girlfriend happened to know that there was a fireworks display near where they lived. Although the fireworks were covered by winter smoke and the weather was quite harsh, the moment when the two of them stood under the snow to watch the brilliant rays of light in the sky was still an unforgettable experience for him.
Talking about the most impressive fireworks display, Mr. Minh Anh mentioned the Nagaoka Festival - one of the three largest fireworks festivals in Japan. In particular, the 2km long “Phoenix Fireworks” display with the message of revival and hope left him with a strong emotional feeling, making him unable to forget its grandeur and meaning.
Photographer Minh Anh’s journey of capturing fireworks is a process of capturing unique moments and telling stories through light. For him, fireworks are not only beautiful performances, but also a way to express creativity and emotions. Thanks to his dedication and careful preparation on each trip, he has “captured” and preserved his works of fireworks art.
Enjoy the sparkling moments in the sky captured by photographer Minh Anh:
Japan, with its captivating beauty of seasons and unique culture, has become the catalyst that has brought photographer Minh Anh on a new creative journey.
For him, fireworks are not only beautiful displays, but also a way to express creativity and emotions.
Fireworks are not only a form of entertainment but also considered a cultural symbol, showing the harmonious connection between humans and nature.
