It's the fourth consecutive year that the company has been involved in this high profile event, and the first year that the projection canvas has been increased from 60m to 90m wide. This extended area stretches the full width of Edinburgh Castle's walls at the far end of the Esplanade/arena where the performance takes place.
Four of E/T/C's PIGI 6K projectors fitted with double rotating scrollers are being used for the task. Three are covering the width of the Castle wall area, with the fourth focussed on providing 'drop-ins' in the area around the Castle gates, through which all the performers make their entrances.
E/T/C's Ross Ashton designed and produced the artwork for all the key strategic points in the show, which are being punctuated with the high impact projections. Ashton worked on the creative content in conjunction with the show's producer, Major General Euan Loudon.
For the Indian Army Chief's Military Band, Ashton's artwork has picked out the architecture of the castle in thousands of tiny dots of projected light - fairy light style. This design unites the shapes of Edinburgh Castle with some traditional Indian iconography in a unique contemporary look. This is also overlaid with a red lighting wash across the Castle.
Ashton created a dramatic visual backdrop of Viking ships and warriors for His Majesty the King's Guard of Norway. The start of their dazzling entrance amidst smoke and flares is signalled by the appearance of two giant Viking style projected sentries, flanking either side of the Castle gates.
For the Evening Hymn, which precedes the Lone Piper who closes the show, Ashton wanted to do something completely different from the traditional poppies, so he undertook a special photo shoot of the intricate bronze friezes surrounding the shrine in the Scottish War Memorial, located at the very top of the Castle. Designed by Morris and Alice Meredith Williams, the frieze contains approximately sixty representations of men and women of all ranks and services who served in World War 1. PIGI artwork was created from the photos and is projected right across the Castle walls, helping to make a poignant closing statement.
The projection is being run on an E/T/C OnlyCue system, programmed and operated by Karen Monid. Monid was joined for the get in by Adam Masters, and the project's logistics have been co-ordinated for E/T/C by Paul Highfield from the London office.
Ross Ashton comments: "The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the highlights of E/T/C's year and of mine as a designer. It is a world class event that deserves its reputation as one of the best of military shows which brings out the best in all participants."
(Jim Evans)
