Maxs Blog

Lights Please!!!

How many switches does it take to turn on 25,000 light bulbs?

This is the aggregate of colourful Xmas lights Ray and Elizabeth Wiltshire have accumulated over the past 16 years. That’s a lot of lights. In fact, each year 90 to 100 hours of ‘setup’, test and re-testing is necessary for a successful ‘Showtime’.

A three phase power supply is divided into 9 equal switch points. Then it uses a multitude of adapters scattered across the property. 45 multi-outlet power boards connect the complex electrical layout. All of this equates to a serious power surge at sunset. Xmas 2012 marked the end of their generous and personal tradition of celebrating the festive season. Almost $20,000 has been given to the Children’s Hospital as a result of donations being made by visitors to the display.

My family and I have especially enjoyed Ray and Elizabeth’s wonderful friendship and hospitality each year we visit. 
One memorable evening, Karen Knowles, seated on a piano stool, sang to an intimate audience in the Wiltshire lounge room…. Beautiful talent… Very special.

Three years ago my daughter Alexandra discovered her passion for drawing with artificial light using a still SLR camera. Experiments around long exposures and camera body movements delivered extraordinary images. Not just reflective sharp photographs of the illuminated snowman, loveable reindeers or Father Xmas himself. She has created light drawings, using light trails to create patterns with an unearthly glow on a pitch-black background. I have included some of her work alongside this post, but if you would like to see more, please visit http://www.behance.net/alexwalker … website coming soon!

My favourite of the figures were… the decade-old almost human rotating Mr Snow Man, the reindeers, Santa Claus himself plus the angels. What a contrast between what I saw/captured and what Alexandra imagined she could create! From the street the lights were magnetic. Compelling drivers to ‘pull over’, stop the car and walk a little to witness young faces fill with joy. A consistent chatter of discovery another ‘find’ identified in the darkness of a stranger’s front garden.

This is Xmas spirit…

Happy New Year to Ray, Elizabeth and extended family. May 2013 bring you much health and happiness. Maybe, at this years end you can visit my place. A much simpler set up in the Walker household… Only one switch to light up the lounge room and one to turn on the flashing lights on the decorated Christmas tree in the corner.

Look forward to reciprocating Ray and Elizabeth’s hospitality.

Trust that everyone embraced the spirit and are feeling refreshed for the new year ahead – whatever challenges we face…