Capturing the Navy Gun Salute

One of my most exciting experiences was capturing the Navy gun salute on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day (February 4). I had the chance to photograph this powerful moment from the Navy ship Gajabahu. I started early in the morning, packing my Sony A9II camera with the Sony 70-200mm GM lens. To reach the ship, I took a small Navy boat. By noon, the gun salute began, and I was ready to capture it. The biggest challenge was the loud noise from the cannons, which was overwhelming. But as the guns fired and flames shot out, I focused on getting the perfect shot. I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and capture the flames clearly. Here are my camera settings: Aperture: f/9 ISO: 640 Shutter Speed: 1/6400s The fast shutter speed helped me freeze the moment when the cannon fired, creating a dramatic image of the flame and power. It was an unforgettable experience to photograph such an important event. The loud noise, the energy, and the excitement made it a moment I’ll always remember.