Vavoom
07-30-2012, 05:15 PM
Also a shout-out from the Netherlands.
Like most of you, I've already been following Dave's Video Channel for some time. A few months ago he kindly asked me to subscribe to this forum. A request I just couldn't refuse. Although I don't have much spare time, I will try to make some nice contributions here from time to time.
To save myself some time I copied my "biography" below.
If you don't like to read all of that...be sure to check out my picture gallery. I think you'll like it. It mainly contains pics from festivals I visited in Spain, Italy, Malta and France (with a few non-pyro pics from my local environment): http://maurice76.hyves.nl/fotos
Regards,
Maurice
Biography
According to my parents, I was already interested in fire when being a little kid. Growing up this turned into an interest or better yet fascination for fireworks. Most kids get over this fascination by the years, but not me. In high school my favourite subject was chemistry (of course) and my dream was to start my own fireworks factory (which resulted in almost every adult thinking I was crazy). When I went to university internet became available, where I saw my theories confirmed and which made my quest for more knowledge easier.
I can't deny I've been doing some "pyro-experiments" during high school and university. The things I tried, I did after at least 2 years of reading, reading and reading. Have never been mixing any chemicals, although I knew how to and especially what NOT to. I didn't want to mess with that stuff, because of the danger involved. And knew that even IF I could make a star or a composition, I could still mess up all that work with a poorly constructed container of some sort. Therefore my main interest became and still is construction techniques (of shells).
Nowadays, after the voice of the mind conquered the voice of the heart, I have a degree in Environmental Biotechnology, but haven't lost my passion for pyro for one bit. On the contrary! I got to admire the craftsmenship and the historical backgrounds even more. Hence, my frequent visits to Italy, Spain, Malta, etc.. Although my DIY-days belong to the past, I've been working as a licensed pyro for a display company since 1999.
Like most of you, I've already been following Dave's Video Channel for some time. A few months ago he kindly asked me to subscribe to this forum. A request I just couldn't refuse. Although I don't have much spare time, I will try to make some nice contributions here from time to time.
To save myself some time I copied my "biography" below.
If you don't like to read all of that...be sure to check out my picture gallery. I think you'll like it. It mainly contains pics from festivals I visited in Spain, Italy, Malta and France (with a few non-pyro pics from my local environment): http://maurice76.hyves.nl/fotos
Regards,
Maurice
Biography
According to my parents, I was already interested in fire when being a little kid. Growing up this turned into an interest or better yet fascination for fireworks. Most kids get over this fascination by the years, but not me. In high school my favourite subject was chemistry (of course) and my dream was to start my own fireworks factory (which resulted in almost every adult thinking I was crazy). When I went to university internet became available, where I saw my theories confirmed and which made my quest for more knowledge easier.
I can't deny I've been doing some "pyro-experiments" during high school and university. The things I tried, I did after at least 2 years of reading, reading and reading. Have never been mixing any chemicals, although I knew how to and especially what NOT to. I didn't want to mess with that stuff, because of the danger involved. And knew that even IF I could make a star or a composition, I could still mess up all that work with a poorly constructed container of some sort. Therefore my main interest became and still is construction techniques (of shells).
Nowadays, after the voice of the mind conquered the voice of the heart, I have a degree in Environmental Biotechnology, but haven't lost my passion for pyro for one bit. On the contrary! I got to admire the craftsmenship and the historical backgrounds even more. Hence, my frequent visits to Italy, Spain, Malta, etc.. Although my DIY-days belong to the past, I've been working as a licensed pyro for a display company since 1999.