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.