Paul Cook commented: "The combination of the Whole Hog control system, pre-focusing work in Vari-Lite Europe’s WYSIWYG suite and the use of the VL5 Arcs enabled a stunning sequence of looks to be created with only limited on-site time. The shimmering golden effect was created with complex sequences of fast colour changes. The 10-day run of this event meant that we had to take tidal changes into account. The pontoon lighting position, which was used for all 80 lights, floats in the river and moves vertically 7m between high and low tide. To allow the lights to track these changes multiple focuses were triggered by the Whole Hog real time clock to gradually adjust the focus as the tides came in and out."
As with Vari-Lite, Paul has been involved with the Eye from the start - starting with the official switch-on by Tony Blair on Millennium Eve, through the 2000 Christmas season, when the Eye became a rainbow of revolving colours and when Elizabeth Hurley brought the ‘Millennium Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ to a dramatic close by switching on the lights that turned the Eye pink.
Since its opening, the Eye really has been put through its paces. Severe storms in October 2000 damaged the glass on six of the 32 capsules. December 2000 brought extreme icy conditions bringing the Eye to a stand still, literally freezing it! After a bit of de-icing it was back to normal in an hour. It was then closed when a dredger picked up what was believed to be a Second World War bomb from the River Thames. Fortunately the shell was not live!
(Ruth Rossington)
