Week 10- Light is Hope

One day, I noticed a beautiful landscape in the sky as the sun was setting.  With the shadowing that the sun's light was creating, the clouds looked very three-dimensional and almost looked like mountains.  The sky made me feel hopeful and showed me that even on dark and cloudy days, there is always a chance that the sun will come.   Again, I also managed to capture the streetlights in the image, which shows natural light versus artificial light.  The natural light is something that is not so easy to recreate, but we can always find ways to resemble it. 

P.S.  I am sorry this post is late.  I have been having trouble with my internet off and on.  I fully enjoyed doing these blogs and I have a newfound appreciation for lighting design and light in general.  Thank you for a wonderful class!

Week 10: Work

So this is a picture of my workplace, Irvine Lanes. The lighting in this picture is not quite unique, but it is interesting. As you can see, the whole lanes are blasted with lights while the sitting place is less lighted. I understand that the lanes are needed to be lighted, but this choice makes the actual customers less important. I see this all the time at work but whenever it's closing time and the lights turn off, the whole bowling place totally completely changes. The bowling place becomes sort of a creepy dark place. The pins are still visible, but everything else is pitch black. Also, the reflection of the light off of the wax further lights up the ceiling. It seems to efficiently uses all the light as much as possible. The lights that light up the place where the pins are also important. Sometimes, the pin lights turn off and when they do, we call the mechanic to fix it. In the meantime, the pins seems so lonely without lights. It's little things like this that we don't really appreciate.

Week 10: Blinded by the Light

Natural light is something very visually different then artificial, the cool gradient created from the blocking of the sunlight coming from the window, and even the intense shadows created visually reminded of theatrical lighting. I've always liked the way that the dark interacts with only the smallest amounts of light, visually for me it is really cool and even calming in a way. When I saw this I also thought to myself how this would be a very cool light to recreate in a theatrical setting because it is definitely possible and an awesome idea to utilize an object to absorb 90% of the light to create this awesome object glow effect! It reminds me how diverse lighting can be and the potentially awesome effects that can be made with lights alone, and that lighting is not necessarily just used to light the stage!

Week 10: Las Vegas

It can be hard to remember just how important architectural lighting can be until you see the Las Vegas Strip during the day, and then at night. During an overnight day trip to Las Vegas, we walked down the strip during the day, and I was surprised at how little actually jumped out at me. Sure, the mini Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty were a bit odd, but my eye wasn't drawn to them. Everything was cast under the same harsh sunlight. But once the sun went down, then my eye wasn't sure what it was drawn to more. Lighting via architecture so often goes unnoticed because my definition, most architectural light designs don't change that much. Most buildings are lit in the same fashion the whole time, so the eye does not pick up on it repeatedly. In Vegas, however, everything is flashing and changing and your eyes are forced to look at the large extravagant buildings calling for your attention and your money. It interesting how much a difference lighting in architecture can make and how appealing lights can make a place, even when you're aware that they just want your money.

Week 10: Golden Road

I took this picture in New York from a window and I just love how at night in the city there is still so much light. It is not as ideal for trying to sleep, but it definitely looks pretty. I just like how in the picture the most lit up part is the street from all the cars and taxis on the street even late at night. There is a play on perspective here because the further away you look, the brighter the light and the smaller the street even though the street does not get any narrower. The picture reminds me of how beautiful and amazing New York can be and how active the city is at all hours.

Week 10: Creepy Walk Home

Whenever I walk home I have to pass this hallway and I have always thought it looked creepy. The light closest to me does not work so most of the light is coming from the side or from the lights furthest from me. The hallway looks much longer than it actually is because most of the light is coming from the end of the hallway. The lights in the back and the color change of the walls make the furthest part of the hallway look almost magical. This light makes me feel like i am looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. It is kind of calming, but also scary because I still have through go through the dark part of the hallway.

Week 10: Matterhorn

I took this picture after I got off my shift at Disneyland. This man made attraction just looks so natural and beautiful and I forget that this place is man-made and filled with thousands of people who paid lots of money to be here. I love the lighting in this photo. The orange, wispy clouds mix with the blue sky for a wonderful balance of warm and cool. This makes me think of working in class and often talking about needing cool/warm light to balance out the other. This makes me think of the cyc and perfecting a sunset that is not just oranges and reds but also has some blue in it to satisfy the eye.

Week #10: Perspective

This past week's lesson was about perspective. In the picture above are myself and my two best friends earlier today as we celebrated a birthday. The lighting isn't particularly interesting, nor is it flattering. Our faces are washed out by the flash of the camera and we look sickly, but it makes me feel so many emotions. I don't get to see my best friends very often; if I'm lucky we'll meet once a month. I now have this picture to remind me of the wonderful day I had with the two of them and I have two words that jump out at me to describe it: perspective and gratitude. They have been with me from my rock bottom moments all the way through my soaring successes. My perspective on our friendship changed today. What defines our friendship is not the amount of times we get together, but the gratitude we show each other when we do. We say, "I am grateful for you, and your friendship," every time we meet. I couldn't ask for anything better.

Week #10 Electra Project

Working on The Electra Project was a great experience as it helped me a lot, with Lighting Design I was able to understand the terminology and the type of lightning tools they used in a theater production. I stumbled across the light plot of the productions I was shocked at the many lekos and S-4 used in the play. Martha did an amazing job on creating the world of Electra. I enjoyed the use of green and blue to make it feel like a mystic and supernatural feel the world. I loved how when the pendulum swings the light slightly changes the environment. The use of side lights gave the actors more depth in the scene and the use of farm doors to shape the "V" light for Cait's death was epic. The yellow in Kevin's death gave the setting an afraid and shocking twist to the light than using the green. Overall mixed with the sound the play came to life and showed how a old story can be re-told in a new modern twist. 

Week #10: Throwback & Thank You

I decided to choose a different picture this time. Most of my past photos involved the sun, so why not choose something different? I took this picture five years ago at my old house. I think I took this picture with my old Panasonic Lumix, I can't remember. What I do remember when I took this photo, was that the day was so bright and warm, I had to go outside and take pictures of the roses out in my front yard. I was not and am still not a professional photographer, but I tried my best capturing the light and the different hues of the rose. The light gave the rose this golden glow that I really got lucky to capture. Also, I don't how to explain it, but it looks like the light is bringing the rose to life and the rose looks like its in the process of opening. I don't know, it's just a thought. It's pretty amazing what the right amount of lighting can do and how underrated its beauty is. I used to take it for granted, but taking this class definitely opened my eyes to infinite possibilities of lighting. Thanks Lonnie for being an awesome professor! I don't think I'll be a lighting designer, but I'm glad I learned from the best and understand the hard work and dedication to make impossible possible. :)

Week 10: Memory

I took this photo at Newport Beach last Saturday.  It was near sunset and the sky was very clear.  It was my friend's birthday and we rent a boat to sail around Newport Beach.  I like how peaceful the river was.  Also, the natural water reflection made me feel pleasant and carefree.  I added a vintage filter to this photo to bring a sense of a beautiful and old memory, because  I wanted to remember what happened behind this photo when I looked at this picture.  In addition, I found out that yellow color and brown color were very useful to represent a memory scene through lighting.

Week 10: Signal Hill :)

This is one of my favorite spots in LA County: Signal Hill. At night when you go to the Hilltop Park in Signal Hill, you can see all the lights from the buildings and it's breathtaking. I love this shot and how the sky fades into different shades of purple. The amber lights from the street lights create a breathtaking contrast to the natural sky lines. The sky also paints the buildings in shades of pinks and purples. ALSO YAY LAST BLOGPOST THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAPPENS TO READ THIS FOR PAINTING MY LIFE WITH HAPPINESS THROUGHOUT THIS QUARTER. GO LIGHTING! ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LIGHT WITHIN YOURSELF AND LET IT SHINE 5EVER! XOXO

Week 10: Firelight

Fire pits are great. They warm up people, are the perfect appliance for s'mores, and most importantly, they cut through the night with its glowing light. People gather around camp fires to tell stories. The positioning of a fire pit casts a shadow on faces to where urban legends can be told in the most effective way. This is very much like how lighting works in the real world. We move lights in a distinct way in order to create a variety of moods and tones. We highlight or take away with light. Now that the technological age has taken over, traditional methods of lighting are no longer being practiced. Even so, I still appreciate what fire can offer us. How its dim lighting inspires us to tell stories all through the night. How it can go from scary to romantic if we replace a group of boy scouts with a couple on a camp ground. How it can be riveting and exciting at a late night University ritual where stacks of lumber burn sky high. Fire is basic, yet malleable, like all light. Yes, the possibilities are endless with electrical lighting but if we get creative enough with fire, we find ourselves stretching our imaginations, finding ways to push the limits of a more tricky lighting source.

Week 10: Approaching Summer

I took this picture last Spring Quarter, as I was sitting in Aldrich Park studying for one of my last finals of the year. It was a beautiful June day, and I had the wonderful feeling of knowing that summer and freedom were almost within my reach. I think that this picture encapsulates the lazy summer day - the sky is dazzlingly blue and clear, and the sunlight looks hot and bright. Contrastingly, the shadows on the ground look cool and relaxing. I love the pattern of sun and shade that the tree creates on the ground. However, I also think that the shadows in this picture could be interpreted as representing my looming final: it's stretching far out ahead of me, and I'm not quite into the sunshine yet. When I look at this picture now, however, all I feel is a longing for the relaxation of summer.

Week 10: Bathroom lighting fixtures

When I moved into my apartment during the summer the lighting fixture in my bathroom was dim, had visible ugly light bulbs and two of them were burnt out.

Three months later I went into my bathroom to find that ugly fixture was finally replaced. It was replaced with a not as harsh kinda nice looking fixture. It served it's purpose and lit my bathroom pleasantly as it should.

Then for no reason a month later it was replaced with this:

This one is like an alien tractor beam. It lights up the entire apartment and glows a lovely hospital waiting room white. Thanks park west apartments. The only purpose it serves is when I'm tired from waking up, as soon as I turn on the bathroom light, I'm awake.

Week#10 The Wonders of KA

 Its been 2 years since I have seen the show KA. It was amazing to see how much effort was put into this production. It is my dream to be able to work on a Vegas show and it is my goal to reach there someday. The lights never fail to impress me and draw me into this amazing world of KA. The movable platform was the main focus of the stage and seeing the projections effect with changing the scenes makes it really simple to tell the different places without the need of sets. Now that we have learned the use of color to express emotions in dance or in a scene. I realized how much KA has also used this technique to not only express the emotions of the scene but also create the ambiance of the story such as peace, love, chaos, etc. Before I started to learn more about lighting I haven't stopped to realize the difference in lighting for theatrical plays and dance performances. As for KA I'm not exactly sure what the lighting would be characterized but I assume it is mainly focused as a dance performance. I'm sure if I get to see this show one more time I would get blown away by all the work that is put into this production.

Week 10: The Traveler

The Traveler 

Throughout this class, one of the greatest lessons involving lighting design I learned that is in order to successfully light anything, you can draw inspiration from a personal place. Even when it came to Our Town, I was able to light two scenes by pulling inspiration from two images that did not necessarily relate to the play directly but gave off the mood and emotions that I wanted to portray within the scenes. For future lighting design projects, I will definitely utilize this method to help communicate effectively with lighting designers to produce the lighting I want. This picture specifically, is a source of inspiration for the piece I am choreographing for the undergraduate choreography show next quarter, Physical Graffiti. Not only is it a source of inspiration for the choreography but for the lighting as well. The two words that I would chose to accompany this photo are "onward" and "possibility." For the lighting, I would incorporate very warm colors in the lights with a light blue on the CYC to portray a clear sky. I would want the lighting to really open the space and make the dancers very visible. 

Week 10: Source

This pole fixture in my home is placed on a box so I can't see the bulb. I hate a light source glaring in my eyes. Light fixtures often don't fully shade new energy-efficient light "bulbs". The source sticks out, irritating my eyes whenever I glance in that vicinity. Very short and very tall people, such as myself, are often exposed to lighting sources directly. We have different experiences with everyday light than others.

Actually, this relates to a complaint I often have with theatrical lighting plots. As an audience member I'm distracted by light sources and halation in my direct or peripheral views. I wonder how many lighting designers realize their lighting instruments can be much brighter than the stage and performers, and consequently draw the eye? Drawing attention to lighting instruments rather than light reflecting off the performers and playing space could be an artistic choice, but often doesn't seem deliberate to me. If you cue all the right box booms at once, but the general stage picture doesn't change too much, the box booms will probably be where my eyes go if I'm sitting house-left, at least half-way back. Subtle action onstage may go unnoticed, or seem muddled.

Back light with Pars is the worst. Yes, the person is "pushed forward", but I'm also quite aware of the very bright light glaring at me. Certain theatrical moments could or should engender feelings of discomfort, or draw attention to a heightened moment. I cheer at such concordance with on stage action, and have seen back light used very effectively. Not always.

All that being said, one is more likely to look at lighting instruments when the show isn't very good. Even the best lighting designer can't save bad acting or directing. Also, I'm insatiably curious about my surroundings and easily distracted.

Regarding the sunset picture, taken off my back balcony: Southern California is a beautiful place to contemplate light. Thank you, Lonnie, for helping to open my eyes.

Week 8: Interior vs. Exterior

This photo taken by Steve McCurry is powerful because it utilizes light in a way that distinguishes the interior from the exterior. The sunlight that is peaking in through the gaps of the hospital's windows adds a filter that is similar to the gobo effect used in stage lighting. I think this technique can definitely be interesting when it is used to add symbolism to the story of a piece. In this photo, for instance, the shadows on the wall made from the light peaking through the windows make a cage-like effect. This depicts the couple's love to be so strong, but in need of protection due to one partner's damaged health. In turn, the light dramatically enhances their relationship.

Week 8: Light in Sacred Spaces

When I was in Europe this summer I had the opportunity to visit many churches. One of which, Notre Dame, is known for its particularly incredible Rose window, made of stone and colored glass. As I was searching through my photos the other day I was reminded what an important role light plays in these old churches. The colored class effected the way light streams into the church, both dimming and changing the quality of light. Additionally, these sacred spaces are dark, requiring the viewers eyes to adjust to the interior space. These early visual effects helped to transport a person from everyday life and into a space of worship. Many of these same techniques can also be seen in Byzantine churches, where candlelight was used in conjunction with gold mosaic tiles to create an otherworldly like space. When I was visiting these spaces, I was awed not only by the architecture, but by the quality of light within, and the way light shines through the colored glass. What was intended as a visual effect years ago continues to awe visitors today. 

Week Eight: Serenity

This past week was incredibly difficult for me, and I needed to escape to my favorite place to hike. This is a sunny little patch of grass I passed by along the creek. I thought would make a lovely picture. Being in this exact spot with the sun hitting the blades of grass at just the right angle gave me an overwhelming sense of calm. It was overcast that day, yet there was still enough diffused sunlight to light up the ground like a garden of dancing green flames. Even the shadows beneath the grass contributed to the beauty and added just a touch of mystery to the scene. I let the serenity of the moment wash over me, and my troubles disappeared for a little while.

Week 8: Bright Track

This picture is from my sisters track meet. In this picture the sun is the only source of light, but the angle is not very clear. The day was very cloudy and cold but the sun was still extreemly bright. The sun was not visible but the light from the sun was so bright that most of the spectators were wearing sunglasses.

Week 8: Lights of the North

I'm ready to be immensely basic in this post, but I don't mind so much because this has been a dream of mine since I first watched the movie Balto as a kid. Seeing Almost, Maine this past weekend reminded me of this aforementioned dream. Dan Gold, the lighting designer for the show, did such an incredible job with using moving cyc lights to imitate the movement of Northern Lights. To me, the Northern Lights are just the universe's version of magic and it just makes me feel like life has endless possibilities. It's just the sort of thing only in dreams, but it's even better because it's real. (I apologize for the incredible amounts of cheesiness for those lactose intolerant and who may be reading this, but I mean it!) The way the Northern Lights move in such an etherial fashion is so out of this world and reminds me that the universe is so vast and there is more to life than our daily difficulties. It's very humbling and I want to see them before I die.

Wk 8: Light in the Forest

I live in the redwood forests of Northern California, and this was taken in a state park right next to my family's property. What I love about this photo is the way that the illuminated sky acts as negative space shining showing in the gaps between the trees. The light is shining down and illuminating the the leaves of these majestic giants, but there are still heavy shadows where the foliage is too thick for the light to penetrate. This part of the forest is so calm and peaceful and lovely, and it makes me feel so small, yet inspired to do big and powerful things with my life. I am overwhelmed and in awe with the majesty of these glorious trees, and the way sunlight illuminates it and also doesn't illuminate it, is amazing.

Week 8: Almost, Maine

This past Thursday I had the privilege of taking a field trip to the little township of Almost, Main in the Nixon Theatre.  I've seen many DCP's, class scenes, and independent productions in that little theatre over the past four years, but I have never seen something so well lit. The pre-show lights, which featured stars that encroached into the audience, immediately set the tone for a cozy, enjoyable show. These stars were used throughout the show and provided a great sense of setting in a production with very minimal set. However, what was really impressive was the creation of the Northern lights. I spent a good portion of the performance trying to figure out how the designer managed the beautiful display. He mixed color and motion so beautifully, I was just as blown away by the lights as the character in the play was.

Week 8: Baby Load In / Focus

I am currently writing this blog post from the first day of tech for Baby which opens this weekend in the Little Theater. I am running the board for focus for lighting designer Naomie Winch. Today is the first day she has been able to begin work on this show even though we have been in rehearsals for weeks. It is so mind-blowingly different how a designer's line of work and process is compared to the director and the actors. The designers have these few short days to perfect there art that everyone else has been working on for weeks. I am excited to see how the addition of lights and the rest of the technical elements help to bring this musical to life. 

Week 8: Blinded by the CD's!

 I have a show on the university radio station, and late at night you get this very cool stillness, that isn't present during the day. This is in one of the studios, only one panel of the wall of CD's is backlit and it creates this very cool effect. This is definitely representative of that stillness and sereneness that you get at 2am. This makes me think of how in the light this wall looks rather normal and its not until the lights go out that you get this awesome view.

Week #8: Sunshine

 

I left my house later than usual last Monday, so the sky was not dark and cloudy as usual. I don't remember the last time I drove while watching the sun rise. It's a beautiful time of day that we normally don't pay attention to, but there was something magical about it that day. The focus on the sun and its radiating outlines reminded me of something from a sci-fi film like traveling at warp speed in Star Trek. Also, I hadn't noticed this before until I looked really closely at the photo, but you can see the colors of the spectrum on the edges of the sunshine. Whenever I see this photo, I can almost feel the warmth of the sun on my face when I took this photo. This just might be my favorite picture I've taken...for now.

Light Show

Last quarter I went to a Hoodie Allen concert and I took this photo with my phone so the quality isn't great. We were sitting in the balcony so we were above most of the lights, so the camera was able to capture the beams of light. During a theater production I feel like most of the time you don't want to see the actual beams of light, you just want the end product. During concerts I think that the beams are part of the show. They are defined through the fog coming from the fog machine. It creates an atmosphere of art and excitement that a concert requires.

Week 8: Video Games

Video games are a peculiar medium. They too require lighting for the player to see their surroundings, and also add to the aesthetic of the world. If the lighting does not fit the setting, then the emersion is lost and the game becomes less enjoyable. It was playing a video game that I thoroughly enjoy with a few of my friends did I begin to understand the importance of this. One of my friends complained that the level wasn't enjoyable and it was hurting her eyes to watch the screen. Another agreed that her eyes felt uncomfortable and just wanted to hurry through the level. I began to understand why, though it took me a little while to notice. The source of light in this particular level was fire light, a source hard to replicate in a video game medium. The whole level was washed in a very warm amber, and there was no cool source so human eyes began to get agitated. Though we think that the rules of lighting only apply to theater and film, it needs to be addressed in other mediums as well. It at least game me something to ponder, and everyone playing agreed that their eyes felt better when a cool blue light meaning to be sunlight appeared later on.

(Image above is the concept art of the level)

Week #8 Lost In The Wild

I took this photo last week at the Strawberry Farm Golf Club. When the model was walking to another direction, I took this photo accidentally. However, when I made this photo black and white, it made me feel like he was lost in the mountain. If he was a character, I would describe that he was lonely, and he was finding the way home. I also like that there were lots of clouds in the sky, because I felt there was about to rain and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I'd like to choose two words to describe this photo, "lonely" and "mysterious".

Week 8- What Colors Do We See?

This is a picture I took one evening at my new home.  It was great knowing I could get an amazing view of the moon from the house.  This was an interesting moment when I spotted the moon during sunset, while the clouds still glowed with the rays from the sun.  Looking back at this picture, I keep thinking about the popular controversy of "The Dress" and how we see things differently both due to the way our eyes perceive color and the trick of the lighting.  Clouds normally reflect a pinkish-orange color from the sunlight, but sometimes, they can reflect purple, red, and other colors.  They constantly change color as the lighting from the sun changes angles and all at once disappears.  It is an interesting concept to think about when lighting a stage: how colors change as the source of light constantly moves. 
The picture also reminded me of the importance of the moon.  When the street lamps are off and as darkness moves across the sky, the moon is almost always there to act as our light and guide in the dark sky.  It was a nice reminder as I was preparing to start my year at UCI. 

Week 8: New Love

New Love

This weekend, UCI put on the production of Almost, Maine. This inspired me to go back and look at all my pictures from when I was in this production. It caused me to remember all the good times I had in that production and it made me miss all the friends I had made while working on this show and during my time at Citrus College. This picture in particular stuck out to me because I felt that the lighting designer did an excellent job of capturing our emotions in this scene. It is a moment in the play where the two characters really start to connect and there is an essence of new love blossoming. The warm hues show the warmth and potential. Plus the amount of light on our faces show our vulnerability in a positive way.