Sydney June 2017 (12 photos)
This is part 3 of my Vivid Sydney 2017 series of posts.
After 23 nights, the 9th annual Vivid Sydney Festival which has now become a major travel and tourism event for Sydney ended this past weekend. As in previous years a water spectacular featured over at the Darling Harbour region of Sydney Harbour.
A collaboration between artists, composers, engineers, fountaineer, and pyrotechnicians, this year’s show was entitled “Magicians of the Mist”. The creators of the show were Oracle Liquid, The Electric Canvas, Peewee Ferris and Vivid Sydney.
Fountains up to 50 metres high swing and sway gently, sometimes furiously displaying more than three times the power of any fountain previously deployed in Darling Harbour. Special nozzles change their shape and that of the fountains, creating the tallest fountains in the world which display this range of movement.
A show commenced every half hour, running for about 10 minutes. There were 3 shows on rotation. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, some shows were additionally choreographed with fireworks.
This work blurs the line between art and technology that now defines the digital era: 12 massive pumps throw 28 tonnes of water into the air every minute; huge projections shine on walls of water 60 metres wide and 40 metres high. Lasers, fountains, jets of flame, music, fireworks, fireballs, LEDs and searchlights are all controlled through a computer interface in the hands of a master fountaineer and laser artist.
A little selective focus.
Water. Coloured lights. Lasers. Fireballs. Fireworks. Music. Crowds. What more do you need for a spectacular show?
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This is Part 3 of my VIVID Sydney 2017 series.
All of my photography from this series and previous years of VIVID Sydney going back to 2012 can be found here:
VIVID Sydney page
Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera 
I thought that these water spectacular shots would be difficult to capture, but you make them look easy and beautiful!
Thank you. I use manual focus and prefocus on a fixed item before the show starts. The actual lights in the show are quite bright so fast shutter speeds are not difficult to achieve, freezing the motion.
Very beautiful
Thank you very much.
Not at all
🙂
Thanks for this new word to add to possible creative endeavours – fountaineering! Great captures.
Thank you.
It was a new word to me too, taken from Vivid’s web site. However, according to Wikipedia: Fountaineer is a portmanteau of “Fountain” and “Engineer” – Hydraulic engineer. Fountaineer describes one who designs, explores, or is passionate about fountains and their design, operation, and use.
Could I press a “love” button? Just got back from France few days ago and getting back into reading blogs. What a joy to see your and enjoy another round of fabulous lights, water, and beauty.
janet
Thank you kindly. It’s a different take on the traditional “son et lumiere” show. 🙂
Marvelous…
Thank you.
Wonderful photographs. Good work. I shared some of them in Pinterest.
Cheers.
That face in the mist…Michael Jackson? An innovative use of fountains, for sure.
I don’t think so because it wasn’t a sports oriented theme. But who knows what influence they were using when they created a face. All good fun.
Crazy AY-MAY-ZING! My favorite image is the bridge! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Yes, the bridge always seems to get your attention. If I recall correctly from a cruise I took years ago, there’s a similar looking bridge over the East River in NYC.
I was introduced to you by that bridge. 🙂
Really? So long ago now, it seems.
I forgot to say there is a control booth near the Opera house where the public lines up to have a couple of minutes to control all the lights on the bridge and city buildings, as well as the various beacons. Watching the various light combinations, some people are definitely more creative and artistic than others. 🙂 You would probably enjoy that. 🙂
Like a kid in a candy store! I think I know of a certain dragon who is long overdue for a NY cruise.
I can easily imagine you at those controls. 🙂
That Circle Line cruise around Manhattan Island was a nice introduction to the sights. I get nostalgic thinking about it. 🙂
… jets of flame, music, fireworks, fireballs… are all there for people to enjoy, how spectacular. It must be very challenging to capture since the changing of flame, colors, and fireworks went so fast (am guessing). Was it as cold as the previous winter?
My trigger finger is always ready during these events. You have to be quick or it’s gone. The first week was warm then there was a sudden cold snap. Colder than last year.
Again, wonderful. It’s a lot of luck with these shots…and your timing was great, manual mode must have been on point. The flames must have warmed the atmosphere 😊
Thank you. The lights change rapidly and particularly with the fireworks, the scene is very different from one second to the next. Even from the safety and distance of the viewing areas, when those flames explode, you truly can feel the heat.
Spectacular, as in dream. Lights, fireworks and the fountains. Incredible shows!
This is so beautiful. I also love the idea that art evolves, that a show like this wouldn’t have been 10 years ago and that 10 years from now it will be completely different.
Thank you very much. You’re very right. Technology is advancing our ability to create and achieve.
Spectacular, as in dream. The lights, fireworks and the fountains. Incredible!
Thank you very much. I got both comments. Strangely comments sometimes disappear then reappear.
Thanks for your info Draco.
No problem.
You have captured the water like is a statue not moving. Wonderful photography.
Thank you very much. The images created by the water mist and lights are so transient but beautiful.
Magicians indeed. Beautiful Mr Dragon! Must be quite something to witness!
Thank you. It’s a very entertaining event. I’m wondering what new ideas they’ll come up with each year.
Thank you so much for the beauty of water, light, technology, and your eye for the beauty in this world. I said it before and I will again. You take me away from my little space here and transport me into the world that you see. It’s breathtaking.
This festival was a bit slow on the uptake but is now a major event here. I’m happy I can bring it to you.
super super aweseome Draco!
gotta put Sydney for Vivid next year …
did you say the public can have a chance at the controls?! wowee kazowee…
oh and fyi, over here in China, these kind of fountaineers are everywhere, been around for a long time, every city has a musical fountain… but i think sydney vivid takes the cake! look forward to more shots….
Thanks, Debbie. Yes, you can have a few minutes of fame controlling all the lights of the Harbour Bridge, city buildings and the other assorted lights. They’ve done that for the last few years.
I should think that if a Chinese city did something like this, it would be on a grand scale.
awesome colors !!!
It’s a very colourful spectacular.
Astounding!!! The immensity and mega-stimulation here is unprecedented. I was glad you kept the ferris wheel in to demonstrate the height perspective of the shooting water-works. Your photos do a great job of expressing this extravaganza, Draco.
Thank you very much, Jet. Yes, it’s difficult to appreciate the enormity of the display without a reference point. It’s a very entertaining set of shows.
Wow! This is truly a picturesque show! Thanks for the awesome pictures!
Thank you very much. It’s quite a spectacular.
I’m always impressed by Australia’s beauty.
Thanks. They’re eye catching visuals.
Outrageously spectacular!
Thanks. 🙂