Working closely with lighting designer Nigel Catmur, ELP took delivery of 26 of the Alpha Spot HPE 1500s which Catmur specified first on S4C's Rhydian shows and the Only Men Allowed TV special. He subsequently featured them on the lighting rig for the Royal Variety Performance.
"Having first seen the impact of the Alpha Spot HPE 1500 on Eurovision last year, I knew it was a light I wanted to work with," says Catmur. "Simultaneously ELP had the same idea and so we collaborated and made it happen on the projects we were working on together at the time."
"We recognised that we needed a large powerful moving light to complement our existing inventory," adds Darren Fletcher, ELP. "Having seen the Alpha Spot HPE 1500 in action, it was the obvious choice and has filled a gap in our hire stock perfectly."
Catmur has not been disappointed. "It's one serious light," he says. "I saw it and I knew it was one of the most exciting lights I had seen in a long time. The Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 1500 is a complete product - the speed of movement for a light that size is exceptional, and the standard gobo range is excellent. I'm in the planning stages for some more projects needing large scale state-of-the-art lights, and there is no doubt they will feature again in my spec."
Fletcher is equally enthusiastic. "Since taking delivery of the Alpha Spot HPE 1500's they have barely been in the warehouse. I can't fault them, they are versatile, the features are excellent, the zoom and the focus are quick and accurate. We are delighted with the latest additions to our Clay Paky stock."
So much so that in the last month ELP has increased its investment in Clay Paky fixtures with the addition of the popular Sharpy, the full complement of which have gone straight out on the Britain's Got Talent auditions.
Fletcher concludes: "Our recent purchases of Alpha Spot HPE 1500s and Sharpys from Clay Paky's exclusive UK distributor Ambersphere allows us to continue to serve lighting designers and the broadcast market with a full range of efficient, effective and powerful lights from the Clay Paky fold. The Clay Paky lights, complemented by the high standard of service and after sales care we receive from the team at Ambersphere is a winning combination."
(Jim Evans)
