Dragon’s Breath — Tezutsu Hanabi (Handheld Bamboo Fireworks)

• Photographer
  Gonagai
• Technical Info
  1/400, F6.3, Iso 6400
• Photo Date
  07 October 2024

At a shrine festival in Japan, artisans ignite tezutsu hanabi—handheld bamboo fireworks packed with black powder. The jet erupts with a blinding white core and a halo of incandescent embers, swallowing the night and dwarfing the performer. I placed the carrier at the left edge and let the plume devour the negative space to speak of discipline confronting chaos. Buckets, ash and rope‑bound tubes hint at the craft, risk and communal trust behind the ritual. This image is a study of heat, courage and continuity: a tradition that still breathes like a dragon.