Ten>>>

I woke up a few days ago to a morning where there was nothing but an off white-ish grey sky. Even though it is approaching the holiday season, this has nothing to do with that theme of winter. It's really mornings like this that I just love to wake up to. It occurred to me that in theater and what not, I've never really encountered the use of a off white sky being used to convey a calm type of atmosphere (blue, pink, and yellow being the most common I've seen). What I also like about this is the green that's involved. With the off-white, black, and chunk of brown, the green really pops out and gives this shot a great sense of vibrancy. Add that with the black from the lamppost and it feels very grounded instead of too vast and expansive.

008 // The Horizon

I was driving in the mid-afternoon with a friend to a location using the I-5 when I came across this.  What struck me when I took this picture was just how open the landscape was. The lack of any buildings or any sort of manmade structures really made the sky feel so vast. This position alone made me feel as though it was a backdrop for a theater production . What I love about this is just the way the sky really transitions from a layer of gold to this nice blue sky. The wide stretch of dark green trees right over the layer of green grass also gives this a nice stretch and depth. There's a nice serene feeling that I get from this that makes me feel as though things are just starting to die down. Granted, I feel as though any sunset does that, but just because I was out in the open, the effect of that was on a larger scale. It was worth stopping for to soak in.

Week 10, Holiday Cheer

With the holiday season around, lighting displays dazzle neighborhoods, malls and various public locations. A while back I had worked on adding a unique Christmas display at my own home. The spiral staircase provides a unique opportunity to show holiday cheer and illuminate the room at the same time. With no other lights on except for the stair lighting, the entire room glows from all of the lights used on the stairs. With so many curves and objects to attach to, deciding how to wrap the lights on the stairs was a very fun activity. I enjoy the lights so much that I think I will leave them up all year long! They will just transform into the next holiday's lights. Also I figured out how many lights I could put on that circuit in my home and if I wanted to, the staircase could glow like the sun!

Week 10: Kiss of the Spider Woman

I saw this spider web as I was leaving my BioSci class. The reflected light caught my eye as I was walking by. At first, it appeared as if there were marbles or beads lying in the bushes, but upon closer inspection I saw that it was a series of dew drops preserved in a cobweb. My first instinct was to take a picture of it for the lighting blog. I loved how the water droplets looked so clear and filtered. The vivid green in the background further accented the drops, making it a very busy, interesting composition. Upon further reflection (no pun intended) I realized that I inadvertently chose to use mirrored light as a subject for my lighting focus once again. This case seems a bit different, however, because the light seems to be intensified by the droplets, which is why it caught my eye in the first place. Perhaps the curved surface of the dew drop focuses the sun rays similarly to how a lens does. Either way, it is very cool to see nature playing with light and I’m pleasantly surprised with my new-found attention for how things are lit.

Week 10 - Candy Cane Lane

So I was made aware by my peers that I have been a bit overzealous when it came to these lighting blogs (writing them every week). I guess I could simply say that I have been overly aware of light and required to write more than necessary about it. I have also been made aware that I need to read instructions a little more closely. That being said, I will write my final post on what is most appropriate for this time of year. I went home this past weekend to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with my father. While there, I took a trip over to see which houses had begun to put up their Christmas lights. I live close to a very popular street known as Candy Cane Lane, where homes go all out for the holidays. I love that each house has its own style and the personality of the homeowner is shown through their decorations. I find some of the most beautiful and classic-looking yards have no color at all, but are rather lit up with a stunning amount of white lights. These homes seem inviting and lovely and the closest thing to a white Christmas the valley may ever experience. I've also found that the families with children usually have Disney characters or bursts of color in the front yard bringing a different kind of wow factor to that particular home. It's always a fun experience, but I really noticed just how much light can affect our mood. This street alone lifts so many spirits and brings so much joy to kids and adults alike through light. It's pretty awesome :) Happy Holidays, everyone! Thanks for a great quarter! P.S. This particular picture is from last year's festivities. I couldn't not post it. This family's home is just above and beyond. "It's a Small World" comes to Woodland Hills.

Week #10 Christmas Context

It's that time of year again, Christmas lights!! Sorry these photos aren't better, my phone is a few years old, and photos at night are a little blurry. I took two photos of the Christmas lights on my street. And one of the biggest lessons I took away from our lighting class is how impacting context can be, and i thought about context when i took these photos. If we think about it, Christmas lights are just different colored lights, sometimes forms to make different shapes, but because we all know that it's the Christmas time of year, we see these lights and are filled with joy and excitement when we see these lights.

Just like in our picturation or Our Town project, some cues could be almost identical, but because the context was different, they would have different effect on us. I find the idea behind context fascinating in regards to lighting, and that id probably the biggest lesson I will take away. :)

-Alyssa 

Week #8 Real Life Gels

I had taken this photo a few weeks ago, after we had some major rain. I was in the CAC to see a teacher and literally stopped when I saw how beautiful the sky was. I had recently presented my "Our Town" project and the sky immediately reminded me of gels. I know it's kind of silly, but i just love all different colors that our presented in the picture of the sky. This picture would have been a good inspiration photo for my project, it has many of the colors I was going for, from orange-y ambers, to grey blue purples. I thought of our gel book that we used, all the different gels colors. I also really like how different each side of the sky is, one is dark and stormy, the other bright and hopeful. Again, similar to the scene I did for "Our Town" from dark scary graveyard, to bright childhood flashback. I really love this photo!

-Alyssa 

Week 10- The light at the end of the tunnel

I saw this picture yet again from a quick drive home. It was so appropriate that it was the week right before finals and where I had a show coming to an end and a few scenes to present. This week was so extremely stressful and I'm still recovering from being sick, but this image made me think of a few things. First, I thought of such natural beauty this Earth can produce and how the light can really enhance that. It made me think that there is an artist somewhere out there giving us these images to communicate to us. What I got from this image and light was to hold on and there is hope. There is something more to what is going on right now and there is a bigger picture ahead. The light shines through the dark and grey areas. We don't have to understand it all, but if we remember the moments that mean a lot and create impact, we'll be okay, I'll be ok. The light here really spoke that to me. It gave me a "heavenly" feel. The source is so great and majestic. I'm just reminded here how powerful light is. I'm glad the last of my blog ended on this image, it's rather appropriate.

Week 10: A Carousel of Color

This past Tuesday, I celebrated my friend's 21st birthday at California Adventure! A group of us sat overlooking the lake on the patio of the Ariel's Grotto Restaurant, and in front of us was Mickey's Fun Wheel all aglow with magnificent neon colors.  My eye is always drawn to this ferris wheel because the lights exude so much positive energy.  The intensity and brightness of the colors stir immediate joy and the energy they contain is contagious.  The rainbow of colors the wheel goes through is so childlike and  fun, it's hard to restrain those hyper jitters and almost impossible to not be reminiscent of the days of innocence when magic was real.

Now, I know this is show and we're technically supposed to stay away from staged lighting, but I also want to briefly touch on the wonder of the "World Of Color."  Light alone already affects our emotions in powerful ways, so I find it extraordinary how much more deeply it can affect us by being just slightly manipulated by something as simple as water.  The lights in the show dance, sway, float, and shoot in ways that would never be possible by just straight lights with the simple addition of power jets. Watching it, you sort of forget that the water is there after a while, and when that happens the resulting image is emotionally overwhelming.  The rays of lights seem to be bending and dancing on their own, which is physically impossible and as such produces a sense of magic in the air.  It makes me as awestruck as a 5-year-old meeting Mickey Mouse.  

Week 10- Crystal Chandelier

This is the chandelier in our dinning room. I can't tell how many times I have seen this thing on and  not paid any attention to how truly beautiful the lighting is. I like how the lighting comes creates a purple/lavender glow while still maintaining the warmth of amber. The lighting also creates such vivid shadows on the ceiling. The shapes that are reflected are so intricate and exciting to look at. The shadows create a dramatic effect that draws your attention up and outwards. The chandelier itself is gorgeous, but its not till the lights are on that it comes to life. The crystals catch the light and reflect it back out making the entire area around the  chandelier much more interesting to look at.

Week 10 - Never Ending Break Lights!

I took this picture during rush hour traffic (don't worry I was just a passenger...not the driver). I know it's really blurry, but I think the blurriness adds to the unpleasant feelings this picture is capturing. The brake lights went on for as far as I could see. It was a horrible sight! It is so amazing at how lighting can affect your mood so intensely. The moment I saw these horrible, bright, red lights my mood instantly switched from an at ease passenger to a stressed out passenger writhing with angst. I think it is important to remember that lighting is a great way to express mood, just as we did in class with our Our Town Lighting Projects. We were able to express all kinds of emotions with just lighting. We didn't need extravagant sets or costumes or great actors to get across the mood we wanted. All we had were a few lights, and yet we still had success at getting the audience to feel a certain way. Lighting can speak volumes.

Week 10: Sacred Lanterns

This is a club called La Vida in Los Angeles. I came here to see one of my favorite DJ s.  As soon as I entered this place, I recognized these lanterns on the ceiling. It reminds me one of the rituals at the Ganges rive in India which is about floating a little flower with a lit candle with a wish. They made me holy even though it was the club and I am not a Buddhist. I think the color of the lanterns also gave me that feeling. It looks very warm, friendly, gentle, and oriental. Also, the strongest lighting at the left corner of the picture looks like the sun which lights the lanterns.

Week 10: CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET!

This is Main Street, Disneyland, CA.

Going here a week ago today, seriously brought me into the holiday spirit. And brought me into it right!

How you ask? Well... ALL OF THE LIGHTS!

I snapped this picture right when I saw main street for the first time that night because I was just so awestruck by how gorgeously Disney had decorated this icon of a tourist attraction.

From the lit up wreath-like things going from one side to the other, to the giant Christmas tree that was probably more ornaments and lights than actual tree, to the revolving laser light thingy in the back.

It was all so amazing. Such a spectacle. It's so interesting though how lights are so connected to human emotion. The whole reason why people want to go to Disneyland during the holidays is BECAUSE of the decorations, the lights.

From the start I've been so fascinated with how subconscious that connection to light is that we have. We all have reactions to light and feel something when we see certain colors, certain lights, certain designs. But I wonder, do these feelings change from culture to culture? Or is there something universal about light that every human being can perceive the same way?

Whatever the answer may be, one thing is for sure. Everyone loves Christmas lights. And Disneyland.

Week 10: Christmassy Light

These Christmassy decorated displays are derived from the new Musical production 'Tinseltown Christmas' supported by UCI Drama Department. I took photos right after watching the musical show last Thursday night. The most famous and general colors for the Christmas season are justly green (Christmas tree), red (Rudolf deer's nose), and white (snow). These colors seem to be different and distinct, but the harmony of these three colors are incredibly splendid. In my memory I have experienced the previous Christmas days, my father always decorated the Christmas tree with twinkling Christmassy lights, bells, and stars; in addition, my mother and elder sister used to prepare for the most delicious food and deserts for our family. The mood has been warm, peaceful, joyful, genial, and happy all the time. Judging by my personal memory, I truly believe that the Christmassy lights are the best tool of conveying the feeling of happiness, impression, delight, and love to everyone. Besides, these Christmassy lights play a meaningful role of reminding the childlike innocence in adults' mundane lives. While staring at these Christmassy decorated lights, I could realize the significance of the light itself by passages: 'there is nothing without light' and 'we can't imagine the life without light.' Although we do not recognize how important the light is for our life due to the fact that light is everywhere nowadays, light is indispensable for our daily life. Just like the Christmassy lights naturally lead us to invaluable things, I hope we ruminate of the value of light's existence and appreciate for it in our everyday moment. Lastly, I wish and pretty sure that the Christmassy lights will enrich our life, embrace and heal people with a hurt.

 Merry Christmas, Everyone.  

Week 10: Romantic Fairytale

Irvine Spectrum is a really romantic place at night. There is no harsh lighting. Dim lighting is used all around which gives everything a softer look. The colors are all artificial but give a feeling of a fairytale. Lighting is used to highlight all the beautiful shapes as shown in this picture with the ferris wheel . I always enjoy how in such dark nights beautiful soft lighting can be used to brighten up things.

Week 10: Summer in October

I took this photo using my best friends really fancy SLR camera in the beginning of the fall quarter. It was still incredible hot outside for it almost being October and we decided to take a trip to Will Rodgers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. We took a tour of the home that Will Rodgers had built during the 1920's and while outside I spotted these plants that were covering an outdoor fireplace that crept up and all over the outside of the house. It might be the quality of the camera that really makes this so vivid and clear, but either way it is the light hitting the planter that gives it that feeling of a hot summer day in California. The blue sky and dark hidden shadows make it very cool, but because the green and yellow leaves are so prominent, it creates a hot and very harsh image to look at for a long time. I remember while taking the photo I had to wince while looking up, because even though there was no direct sunlight there was a glare from it being so bright. One thing I really like about the lighting is how spread out and even it seems, while still having so much happen with the shadows. There is an obvious natural quality because of the colors, but a slight mysterious feeling from the shadows.

Week 10: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

When I was younger going to Disneyland was such a huge, rare, and amazing occasion. It was always built up into a big day of churros, dole whip and a dozen rides. When I moved to Irvine for college I got a Disneyland pass and now I go several times a quarter. Just recently I went to Disneyland and was pleasantly surprised to see that all the Christmas decorations were up. I watched the fireworks show and as the show came to a close the castle lit up with all these beautiful lights. The castle is lit with bright pink lights on each of the towers. These pink lights define the towers which prevents the castle from being completely engulfed in white lights. White icicles/twinkle lights cover the top of the whole castle. The bright white lights give the illusion of snow even though snow is something that we would never expect in southern California. If I were trying to create the illusion of snow on a house/castle on stage I don’t think I would use this many lights. I would probably use icicle shaped lights for the rims of the house but when creating actual snow I would use foam falling from the ‘sky’ while using light blue lights to create the background.

What’s great about this whole setting is that we know it’s not real, it’s not real snow, it’s not real icicles and yet we don’t care. It’s real to us, we know that they’re just pretty lights but with the whole atmosphere of Disneyland your imagination runs wild and you believe that everything is real instead of manufactured. It reminds me of a stage, whenever something is put on stage you believe it, you believe the story and the characters even though you know in the end that it’s only a play. It’s wonderful to let your imagination believe in these things because it allows you to accept the beauty in it.

Week 10: Reflection

For my final post of the quarter, I am using a picture I took in my first or second week after receiving the assignment. I was playing with the various affects light can accomplish against different materials.
This one, clearly, is trying out reflection. It's a little bit of a hokey image, but it got my ideas across. I actually think that the shadows outside are really cool as well, using the tree and the chair as a gobo.

I particularly enjoy this picture because I took it so long ago, and since then I have learned so much more about light. Seeing Tyler's use of reflection today in class, in a completely different way. I am feeling like there is so much more that light can do that I haven't thought of, which is exciting.

Week 10: There goes the sun...

This is another picture I took on the way back to Southern California, on that stretch of I-5 that seems to go on for days.

The thing I find most interesting about this is the effect of the cloud/haze - it obscures enough of the light to lend an air of mystery without diminishing too much of the brightness of the sun. The way that the strip of cloud reflects the light also serves the contrast with the dark of the Earth below, and I really love that.

There's a very idealized romantic view of sunsets, and some are beautiful in a romantic way, but I also think the inherent darkness can bring about another kind of beauty. I suppose the haze adds even more to that - the mysterious and dark quality that takes over as night falls. But one of the biggest things I've learned this quarter is the extent to which light  and the interpretation of it - varies from person to person.