BUCHAREST (AP) — Andreea Alexandru is a Bucharest, Romania-based photographer who has worked exclusively for The Associated Press over the past 15 years. Highlights of her assignments include coverage of the Ukrainian refugee crisis, the coronation of King Charles III, the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Francis, the Cannes Film Festival and the 2024 Euros soccer tournament.

Here’s what she had to say about this extraordinary photo.

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Why this photo?

It might be difficult to understand, but I’ve been chasing this same shot for over a decade. Every year, if I make it to the airshow, I take it again. Why? Think of it like creating a sand sculpture – chasing perfection of every detail in an unpredictable, unstable medium, knowing you’ll have to start over the next time.

The elements are always the same: the small stunt planes, the massive fireballs. But the action changes. The pyrotechnics are repositioned every year- sometimes by tens of meters – I never know exactly where the explosions will happen. That makes it impossible to claim the “perfect spot” ahead of time.

How I made this photo

I arrive hours early, pick a position, and then I’m mostly stuck there, limited to a few meters of movement – depending on the mood of the crowd around me and how well I’ve managed to socialize (not exactly my strong suit).

The light is never consistent. The timing shifts each year and so do the conditions. Before the show, I always go back and study the photos from past years – comparing camera settings, time of day, even angles – trying to inch closer to the perfect shot.

This time, I used a Sony A1 at its highest frame rate and a 50mm lens. Manual exposure, locked shutter speed and aperture to get consistent action freeze and enough depth of field. I set the ISO to auto to handle the dramatic brightness variations from the explosions, underexposed by two stops, and … hope for the best.

This one frame came out reasonably well. I had to lift the background shadows and contrast quite a bit to bring out the planes, and I still wish the sky had a bit more color – not perfect but it’s the best result so far.

I’ll probably be right there again next year. Starting over.

Why this photo works

The scene is spectacular, the airplanes flying as near as safely possible to the explosions, all to the deafening sounds of Rammstein’s Du Hast. It’s the climax of an action-packed day, with thousands pushing against the fences to get a better look.

For more extraordinary AP photography, click here.