Hi everyone,

It is sad that there was not that many people on the bridge (or anywhere else) for the Canadian display, because it was quite nice. Pouring rain or not, I will always attend firework displays! I just can't understand why people bring their umbrella to see a firework display, specially on a windy evening. About 75% of the people on the bridge had umbrellas yesterday, instead of wearing a waterproof jacket with a hood. With an umbrella, you are not covered 100%, specially when it's windy, you have to hold it in one hand (and sometimes with both hands) and on top of that, you block other people's view! OK....I'll stop complaining now....LOL

Even though it rained throughout the whole time of the display, the experience was fun, as it rained lightly and because of the wind coming from behind, I didn't get any raindrops in my face, nor on my lens while I was filming the finale! From the bridge, the smoke did not build up in front at all, giving us a clear view at all times.....and the smoke being pushed sideways, we always had the dark sky as background, making the firework as bright as on a clear night.

As for the display itself, I thought it was quite nice, intense at times, keeping my attention throughout the 30 minutes. The finale was good with some nice intensity, but not long enough (once again....I am being impatient about those short finales)

All in all a good display, which places it in third place so far:

1. Portugal (best finale)
2. Australia (best display)
3. Canada
4. South Korea (almost a tie with Canada)
5. Italy
6. France

I am eager to see Austria on Saturday......hoping for a LOOOONG and INTENSE finale!!! LOL

Have a nice weekend guys!

Pierre

Sorry....my message was posted twice...

wow i'm so surprise with your ranking. I didnt feel this firework at all. Maybe just because i had a bad day, or because i was not in the center like usual, but the theme... not what i expected to be.

My review is up.

Next one saturday !!!

I am in agreement with Mylène after reading the review on her blog - I will be writing my review tonight.

My report is up as well as some great photos from Bob and Rachel - the ethereal nature of the Aurora theme really comes out strongly in the photos. Bob also managed to capture an amazing photo of the double-ascension girandolas.

Paul.

I didnt feel this firework at all

Me neither....


I'm also surprised with the rankings. The show was good, but just good. I didn't feel what they where trying to explain. The theme was difficult and I think they didn't know how to transmit it.

Sometimes the shells were exploding without sense, withowt feeling.... There were some nice segments, but at the end of the display I was diappointed.

My ranking:

1- Portugal
2- Australia
3- South Korea
4- Canada
5- France
6- Italy

Well I saw the video. I still think it wasn't worth going..I saw them do their show over Niagra, very poor compared to our displays I will always put last years Canada's display. it was the best I saw Canada do. I saw the large shells clearly from my house. Lots of flashes seemed to look like lightning.

I still cant argue..My rankings are up..

1-Portugal
2-Australia
3-Canada
4-South Korea
5-France
6-Italy

Je crois que l'une des principales qualités du feu de Garden City Display était l'utilisation maximale des potentialités du site: plusieurs tableaux étaient très larges, les fusées éclairantes qui sont apparues en arrière-plan sur la musique d'Insomnia créaient une tension dramatique, les bombes nautiques étaient abondantes, et un intéressant effet a été produit vers la fin du spectacle par le lancement de comètes depuis la rampe 5 et qui convergeaient vers le centre du lac.

Considérant tout cela et la connaissance que le concepteur a pu développer du site de La Ronde au cours de ses visites antérieures, il est étonnant que la chute argentée (waterfall) ait été segmentée en trois fragments accrochés à la clôture de la rampe 3 et à la bordure de la rampe 4. Je ne me souviens pas avoir vu une chute être accrochée si près du sol... Elles le sont généralement à des poteaux (comme dans le feu de la Corée du Sud) ou, mieux encore, suspendues à l'aide d'une grue (comme dans le feu du Canada en 2007). En positionnant ces pièces aussi bas, l'effet créé était beaucoup moins impressionnant qu'il aurait pu l'être autrement.

Concernant le matériel pyrotechnique, nous avons eu droit à une belle variété, plusieurs pièces multibris et des changements de couleurs. Je soupçonne que la pluie a rendu la coloration de certaines pièces encore plus vive, notamment avec le rose, le vert et le violet. J'ai beaucoup apprécié les soucoupes à double ascension qui sifflaient, une variété de soucoupes que je ne me souviens pas avoir vue à Montréal.

Un mot sur l'utilisation des puces MagicFire. Le feu s'est ouvert dramatiquement avec l'éclosion simultanée de plusieurs strobes et cet effet a été reproduit vers le milieu du spectacle. Personnellement, je demeure très sceptique concernant la contribution réelle de ces puces à la qualité d'un spectacle. Leur présence dans une performance semble exciter bien des artificiers mais, en bout de piste, je ne suis pas certain que l'effet qui en résulte soit si spectaculaire et remarquable pour le grand public. Je suis convaincu que les structures spéciales à la Pains, Weco et Luso, ou les agencements innovateurs d'effets pyrotechniques créent des images beaucoup plus saisissantes et susceptibles de mener une équipe vers le podium que ces dispositifs techniques.

La conception pyromusicale était le principal élément faible du spectacle. Premièrement, bien que plusieurs aient vu dans certaines bombes (falling leaves) une représentation des aurores boréales, il demeure que ce thème contribuait bien peu à structurer l'ensemble du spectacle. Pour ma part, il s'agissait d'une thématique aussi peu signifiante que les "Rideaux de lumières" de Morsani ou l'"Évolution" d'Howard & Sons. Deuxièmement, la complexité des tableaux était plutôt inégale. Si certains étaient bien réussis et applaudis par l'auditoire (en particulier certains barrages de gâteaux qui propulsaient rapidement des comètes et des étoiles), d'autres ressemblaient plutôt à des feux de démonstration où les mêmes effets étaient longuement répétés (ce fut notamment le cas dans le segment inaugural, sur la musique de Fire Dance). Enfin, la finale a été forte, mais un peu "facile", avec une multitude de bombes multicolores et des marrons d'air bruyants qui amplifiaient le tout.

La bande sonore était un aspect intéressant du feu à mon avis. Il s'agissait d'une musique instrumentale rythmée, différente de ce que nous entendons habituellement et qui se prêtait bien à un feu d'artifice. Le montage de l'ensemble de la bande était par ailleurs bien réalisé. La synchronisation était généralement bonne.

Malheureusement, on doit aussi noter un certain nombre de râtés au cours de ce feu: certains roues ont refusé de démarrer, d'autres pièces ont éclaté au mauvais moment, etc. Vers la 17e minute du spectacle, juste avant un barrage de bombes nautiques, des comètes lancées depuis la gauche des rampes semblaient bien isolées... Mais ces failles étaient relativement mineures.

Pour l'instant, mes deux premiers choix demeurent, respectivement, le Portugal et la Corée du Sud.

Fred

In following all of the reviews above - and those linked to external sites - I can say that I side with those of you who felt that there was something lacking from Garden City Display Fireworks' presentation the other night... the question I keep asking myself is 'what exactly was it lacking?'

As many of you may know, I was very excited about Canada's theme as it alone conveys a thematic approach much different than those which we have seen earlier this competition season. And it was different.

The soundtrack made for atmosphere/emotion-based synchronization as opposed to "beat-synchronization" which is commonly used - this aspect was very interesting as you almost didn't have to pay attention to the music and just let it subconsciously play with your senses.

The use of colour was another element that set this display apart from others. At certain points in the display there was a wonderful interplay between colour and synchronization propelled by the separation and/or mixing of colours (a few times from red to green and then a mix).

Despite strengths such as those mentioned above, the display just wasn't engaging for me. Granted, it could have been the rain and the umbrellas partially obstructing my view, but I just felt removed from the display. I have never truly seen the northern (or southern) lights first hand, but I can imagine that you feel a closeness with them because they are so vast and enveloping; Canada's display did not make me feel that way.

Despite my criticisms I did enjoy the display and would call it a successful debut for Garden City. I encourage them to continue thinking big and challenging themselves even if it may not win them a Jupiter this year.

Tyler

Considering the fact that I might be a little partial to the Canadian team as well as it being the only performance I actually attended, I loved the show. I had heard the music previously and I thought it was very appropriate for the theme. Several great effects produced by various shells looked great. Great use of the sky. The display was huge! I sat in the centre of the silver section almost directly underneath the red hut and the view from there was spectacular. Timing was ok as there were several times when the shells continued after the song ended but I'm not sure that it wasn't intentional. The waterfalls were neat with the use of the centre one added as the music built. All in all, I was very satisfied. If you're interested Paul, I can try get a copy of the video I shot. The camera I was using had some sort of shield around the lense and that minimized the amount of rain that got on it. I'll be waiting to see what kind of pictures got taken. I took them with my brothers camera and haven't seen them yet.

Great job guys!