Vivid Light Festival: Sydney (AUSTRALIA)

On a recent visit to Sydney for work, I was told about an ongoing light festival that was happening in the Sydney City area. Well, I've seen some pretty cool light festivals in Europe... so, I was definitely keen to go out and see what Australia had to offer... especially in such a flashy city like Sydney!

One of the first places that I visited was this pretty interesting tunnel with green lasers and sheets of lights cutting through a light smoke to create this starfield effect. I really quite enjoyed it, it created this illusion that the tunnel went on forever... and suddenly, you would find yourself at the end... and turning around again!

It is a bit of a pity that I will be visiting later in the month again... with my little family, and the light shows will be all a distant memory again. I'm pretty sure that this would be a great thing to do with our kids... but it will be on again next year, and now that I know about it... we will definitely try to make it down on a weekend to see it all!

... the tunnel is a touch rave-like at times...

... and I was more than a little bit wary of distance. As a freelance musician, I'm here on work. If I get sick, that means that I lose the work... and I'm stranded in the wrong city. So, that means that I have a huge interest in NOT getting sick... but I figured that this one time... it was worth it too see the lights! Actually, probably not my best idea as I was acting as a soloist in some of the program... which would make me a touch more difficult (but not impossible) to replace at short notice... BUT I REALLY wanted to see the lights!

... I mean, it is crazily pleasant to have a little walk in the early winter weather and just see all the interesting ways that the city can be lit up!

Plus, there are exhibits all over the place. Take for instance, this little miniature of a classic Australian garden setting... complete with a tiny little Hills Hoist for the washing!

There are some lighting designs that are quite tailored to the buildings that they are lighting up. Some are just geometric and aesthetically pleasing... whilst others attempt to tell a story. This particular one illuminated the old Railway works... and obviously shows the importance that this building used to have in the running of the former colony.

Meanwhile, you have this pretty awesome lighted chess set!

Coming out to the harbour area, you find that the entire iconic area is light up and ablaze with colour and brightness. I do know that some Sydneysiders take a holiday during this festival. I can imagine that if you just wanted to sleep in a dark room, well... that isn't going to happen for the next few weeks!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get quite around to see what the Opera House looked like... that would have been a pretty awesome sight, as the white curved sails of the building would have made for a stunning canvas for the light show!

The Old Customs House has a interesting display of constantly shifting images and stories displayed on it. I think I must have spend a good ten minutes (and a missed train...) looking and marveling at it!

... heh, even the very functional Central railway station had a beautiful design up along the flanks of the tall clock tower!