The Epic Fireworks Blog

Archive for the ‘Professional Fireworks’ Category

Or is it the most amazing rocket rack you have ever seen?

This is hardcore stuff. Found in an old book dating from 1668, this was the way to make fireworks at the time. What you see here are digitized images taken straight from the book, which was entitled: Lettres a une princesse d’Allemagne sur divers sujets de physique et de philosophie. Roughly (very roughly) translated as: Letters to a German Princess on various topics in physics and philosophy.

This book was written by a man named Leonhard Euler who, presumably knew a German Princess and wrote her letters. In this book, besides talking about fireworks. He talks about such diverse things as,

• How to make dainty sport with a cat
• A speedy way to make a horse fat, plump and lusty
• To put ones finger in, or to wash it in lead
• and the classic: how (for a wager) to cleave a thin groate in sunder like two groates

Yes, all the important things a 17th century princess would want to know (PS this is all totally genuine, we are not making it up, we wish we were, but we’re not.)

The most amazing for us of course are the pages upon pages of brilliant and incredibly complicated instructions for making and using fireworks.

Heres some of the text and images from this amazing book.

Aerial shells have certainly come a long way.

Lancework (also called setpieces) were insanely dramatic it seems, with all manner of creatures being portrayed. It looks as if as much work went into the machine (the wooden device used to conceal the actual firework) as went into the fireworks themselves.

Please please please, do not try this at home, seriously. However delectable to the spectators it may seem. Pyrotechnic compositions should only be attempted by trained and qualified professionals (or 17th  century german princesses)

So that should all be clear enough, if you can have your finished results in by Monday.

There are far too many pages of these to put them all here, but here is a link to the google books source that we guarantee will keep you entertained for hours. We stress again that nothing you have read here should be attempted. Leave it to the professionals.

This is another level up for fireworks philosophy. We thought we were pretty out there when it came to our obsession with fireworks but this guy takes it even further. This is a very cool interview with frenchman Pierre-Alain Hubert and his take on small fireworks, his use of them and the artistic and philosphical implications. Very cool.

Pierre is an art professor and also a pyrotechnics artist (his words). He has taught in Marseille, France and also at the CAVS dept. of MIT in Cambridge Massaschusetts. Some serious credentials.

Check the video above and see what you think.

It is very refreshing to hear someone talking about fireworks and not merely saying “I like em big and loud”

Of course, everyone has their own preferences for fireworks and we see it here everyday, some people prefer quiet fireworks, some like pretty colours, some go for the size of the effect or how long it hangs in the sky. Many people like gold coloured fireworks and many prefer silver. Some like the classic, red peony – green peony combination that plagues so many consumer fireworks.

The important thing is that we all like different styles; it would be a boring world if we were all the same.

What I like about Pierre-Alain is that he sees the effect at close quarters, rather than looking for a massive cloud of crackles that fills the entire sky, he wants one good crackle that fills his field of vision. He is able to focus on that single effect and make it larger than any massive barrage could produce. By singling out one effect, even one so small, he has brought the firework closer to us and of course, us closer to the firework.

This is evident when we discuss with many of our customers the benefits and drawbacks of Cat 4 or “professional” fireworks. Cat 4 fireworks are, of course, much larger and can create incredible effects that fill the sky and cast brilliant light all around. This is great. However, when you have to stand so far away from the firework (in order to observe safety distances) does it then just become a far away version of the same firework that you could fire with Cat 3 (consumer/display fireworks). We hear time and time again from our customers that use Cat 4 (and use many of our fireworks with them) that our fireworks create just as impressive an effect, and the ability to use them closer to the audience brings the crowd into the display further. Pierre has taken this to the next level, using tiny Cat 2 (garden) fireworks and viewing them much closer has only changed the scale. Not the quality of the effect. In fact he has emphasised the effect by eliminating the background distraction and the need to stare at the distance, taking in the bigger picture. In other words “Zooming in” creates a clarity and undistorted vision and allows the appreciation of the effect in its purest form.

It is always interesting to find other ways of looking at fireworks – literally. We salute Pierre for his unusual way of thinking and encouraging others to take a second look.

It is important to note here that we love big fireworks. Happy philosophising!

New Year’s Eve celebration known as America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2010 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Las Vegas Strip.

The firing locations include the MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Venetian and the Stratosphere.
Fireworks by Grucci of New York will again coordinate the pyrotechnic display.

“Las Vegas continues to be the best venue in the world to ring in the New Year,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the LVCVA. “The fireworks will culminate an evening of celebrity-hosted events at nightclubs, special dining experiences at restaurants, live music at the Fremont Street Experience downtown and much more. There is no other destination that offers the excitement on New Year’s Eve.”

Thematic elements and the musical portion of the fireworks show will be announced at a later date, however even without knowing all the exact details, this already sounds like one HUGE new year bash.

Enjoy the best views of the fireworks in Las Vegas this New Years Eve, the best spots to view and watch the fireworks.

This is genius, funny, informative, wittily made and brief. Everything you want from a video!

top marks to the maker.

Very cool fireworks and laser show from Romania. Brilliant Silver Palms near the start. well worth a watch!

This is Huge!!

What happens when you stick some fireworks inside a watermelon and light the fuse? Firstly you get a real mess. Secondly you learn an important lesson about being safe with fireworks. We all like to see cool photos of fireworks blowing up random daily objects, of course we do, we are only male. However it is vital that we all enjoy our fireworks safely and responsibly. Fireworks are there to be enjoyed and to entertain and amaze us. Not to do dangerous stunts with, so leave the dangerous stunts to the professionals and focus on entertaining your family and friends safely.

And in the meantime, enjoy this.

fireworks inside a water melon

Fireworks from the Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan.

The last year of using the tower to launch the fireworks.

Here’s the stuff you never get to see when you go to a fireworks show. Fire marshalls and the pyro crew keep the public at a safe distance. We got a camera behind the lines, now you can see what really happens up close and personal when those big mortars are fired, IN SLOW MOTION! Here you go!