Week 4: Here Comes the Sun

I took this photo on Thursday morning as the sun began to rise. I happened to step out my front door early enough to catch it and it just hit me with its beauty. A couple of emotions and thoughts came to mind when I saw this sunrise: warmth, joy, simplicity and refreshing. In addition, a sense of happiness and calm filled me as I looked at it. What a wonderful way to start the morning : ).

Week 4: Moonlight

When I need some time to myself and for my thoughts, I like to do one of two things: either just drive around or go to the beach at night. One night this week, I decided to do the latter. I love the beach at night. Nobody is around, you can hear the splashing of the waves on the sand and the rocks, and the soft wind brings a chill to the humidity of the water. It feels as if my senses are heightened, and I am super alert to both what is around me and what is inside me. It is a magical combination of peace and grandeur/power. I go there not to empty my mind, but to allow myself to turn away from the lights and technology I otherwise am surrounded by, and give my thoughts a chance to be heard (by me) without distractions. I go there to organize my feelings and find a way to re-center myself. Like the division of characteristics of the night time beach, my emotional experience is split equally. It is an overwhelming task to bring forth the inner dialogue you push to the back… and so in doing do, I am overpowered by my thoughts (or the amount of them), but at the same time at peace with myself for allowing the time to contemplate about them. I don’t leave the beach peaceful and content in my heart—often quite the opposite… however, my mind is grateful for giving myself this time.

After all of that rambling, I can get to the picture. This moment of the bright and clear moon reflecting on the ocean and creating a rippled, not so clear reflection, I think depicts the sentiments that I had during my experience at the beach that night. I also love the amount of darkness, and how it almost swallowing everything but this seemingly small light source and a path of light reflected on the water that it creates. I also love that quality of the moon, and that it doesn’t reflect as a small circle on water, but rather, as a strip of light.

Clearly this image inspired me in more way then one, and I’d love to try to recreate it on stage, and it would be super interesting for me to choreograph movement based on this concept of split experience that I so long-windedly described.

Week 4: The Women's Restroom

 If I didn't already give it away in the title, I bet you may not have guessed that this picture was taken in the women's restroom. (Except for Boroka and Colleen who were there with me.) For future reference this is at the Ace Hotel theater in Los Angeles. Ladies, check it out.

This picture immediately has character to me. There are many small details with which to work. I love the two columns of lights lining the sides of the mirror on the wall. All of the lights in this theater were stunning, from the colors to the textures they created. (That is more than I can say about the dance performance that we saw there, but I digress.) This picture stood out to me the most because I can see a dance work created around a multi-dimensional character that can progress throughout the piece based on these lights. I also think lighting ideas can originate from this picture as well, such as the use of the lights behind a cyc that are visible with the cyc flown out. Let's say the work is starring...

        Boroka!

There are many different directions I could take a piece, and many different directions the lighting can go. Maybe the beautiful and seemingly put together character you see in the mirror illuminated by the lights is a facade for someone that has a dark quality starting to surface that will become more pronounced by the movement and lighting. I think that because this is in an old theater building, it automatically has a duality--such as beautiful and haunted--to it that can parallel a character. 

Disclaimer: The character described above is not based on Boroka.

Week 4 - "Backyard Adventure"

This past weekend, my husband and I put up these lights in our backyard. They were on clearance at Target and look great! I love how in this picture the lights seem to be leading you down a path. The light is beckoning you to follow it and makes me feel like going on a grand adventure. I feel a sense of excitement and anticipation, but also comfort. Even though it is dark outside, the light itself is warm and inviting, so I would have no problem following the light out into the unknown. I also love how the light radiates outward from the metal casings surrounding the bulbs. This adds to that sense of comfort. The lights are not trying to stay hidden, they are reaching out towards you and bringing you along with them as they illuminate the path upon which an adventure awaits.  

Side note: when we first put the lights up, only half of the strands actually lit up. I guess that's what you get for buying lights on clearance! However, my darling husband went through the strands that were out, found the bulbs that weren't working and replaced them. Isn't he a doll? ;-) 

Cozy Corners

Quite honestly, this was the only interesting source of light around me when I had a little panic this evening after realizing that I had quite forgotten about the assignment this week. But the more I looked at the cozy corner that this light makes in my room, the more I enjoyed it. Since I don't like over-head lights, I tend to gravitate towards the lamp-lit corners in my room. Besides creating a pool of cozy warmth, they are the center of activity, the place where I can see what needs to be done. In the evening, this lamp in particular illumines, above it, my bulletin board on one side with its collection of photos and thoughts and a favorite ballet photo on the other side. Below, it sheds light on the job of the evening, always in an encouraging sort of way. It is nice to have a chance to appreciate the little things that make up one's every-day life!

Week 3: This Sterile Light

I'll be the first to admit that this photo is far from interesting. This light, however, did bring several words to mind when I looked at it or any light like this in any setting. To me, it is sterile, sad, void of emotion and warmth. This type of light reminds me of the light found in hospitals and elicits feelings of separation and isolation. It is not a light that soothes or comforts you, it is a light that reveals.

Week 3: Blurred Lines

This photo is of the light that is made from a lamp in the living room of my apartment.  I really enjoy the geometric lines that the light creates on the wall.   I am constantly drawn to symmetry in my choreography and I could easily imagine that if this pattern could be recreated for the stage that I would use it as inspiration for a piece.   I also enjoy how the lines of light start very clearly near the lampshade then gradually become blurred.  This lamp is actually not very bright so the dim light gives me a sense of calm and quietness when I turn it on.   It is the perfect lamp to do some leisurely reading under…if you have time for that sort of thing!

Week 3: sunset silhouette changed by man made lights

Walking home from another long day, It was the type of long day when you try and block out all emotions from the past 12 hours, because not many positive ones can be stirred up. Somehow, after "one of those days," the sight of my silly Irvine "living community" was able to give me comfort. Surely it wasn't the actual buildings, but rather the lighting. (look, lighting changed my mood.. power of lighting!) I have a weakness for sunsets in general, and the evening silhouettes that happen before it gets completely dark. But, in this instance, it was the artificial lighting (street lights) that really made the moment soothing. The contrast from the cool sky, blended with the red and yellow of the sun setting, which matched the street lights almost exactly, brought me back to another century, one in which I did not live. It felt like candle lights were illuminating the buildings, as if to emphasize to me the warmth of having a home. Further, the lights were literally illuminating the path to my apartment, which brought calmness to my tense fatigue because I knew I was almost home, the day was over, and the rest of the night will be mine and mine alone. 

The more I look at this picture the more I realize how much I love what the lights are doing. As opposed to a complete silhouette, where the background and foreground would be split in two... the street lamps split the image into three layers: background light, middle silhouette, and foreground soft light. This would be super interesting to try and recreate on stage or in an installation. It definitely captures the feeling of comfort and warmth for me, with the sense of calmness as people are returning home after a long day at work/school/etc.

As a side not, I realized yesterday as I was looking through the pictures on my phone that I have been taking many photos that are inspirational in lighting. It is as if my brain is starting to look at light differently. Its quite enjoyable and fascinating to experience this shift.. 

Week 3 All That Glitters

I have often heard all that glitters ain't gold and how true it is however I like to see bling. My mother has always had things in our home that have a hint of gold and that sparkle. She even has gold hair and always seems to shine. This is a chandelier in my parents home. Its light creates a dim sparkle in the crystals that makes me feel warmth joy and happiness. This somewhat opulent somewhat garish look gives me a sense of home and positivity. The crystals catch the light and make beauty that translates into joy for me.
When things in life may not be the greatest it is important to look at the beauty around you. The light bouncing off the metal and dancing inside and through the crystals reminds me to look to the light. The blinding beam of lights contrast the duller areas of the chandelier. Just light the positive things in life can overshadow the darker parts. That is how I like to look at it. The aging chandelier still has a sparkle that brings me joy and keeps me looking to the light and bling in life

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Week THREE ... Catch it if you can

As I walked down the hallway of my studio Saturday morning, I noticed this long beam of light that originated in one studio, shot across the hallway, and continued into the adjacent studio. The beam was wide and thick as it crossed the hallway, but only a tiny bit of it made it past the wall into the other studio. I was quite intrigued by it, as well as surprised and excited, so I ran to fetch my camera. When I returned it was gone ... argggggg ... I felt frustration, as if someone was flipping a switch to control both the light source and my feelings. After a few moments (of begging the sun to cooperate), it returned and I squealed with delight (thank goodness no one was around as I'm pretty sure I looked like a two year old child as I pointed at the light and giggled with joy). I began shooting some pictures and noticed that the angle of the light was creating a interesting design aesthetic with the angles of the walls, doorway, and floor. In looking at the photo after, if I squinted my eyes to blur the shot, I saw an almost three dimensional "U".  It was as if the light was creating a portal to another time and place.

My emotions of the TASK of capturing the light aside,  I felt a sense of connection when I looked at the light and the way it was drawing my surroundings together. It was communal and inviting. It asked me to explore and wander in its path. At one end, I felt the bounty of the wide beam of light. It warmed and comforted me and assured me that I was safe. At the other end, the narrow beam made me feel that I was being pushed off to explore more, yet still supported by this tiny umbilical cord; much like an astronaut in space, tethered to his pod.

Week 3 - "Apparition"

This image is of a reflection of light off of my car in the parking garage. It took me a minute to figure out where the light was coming from at first! It was slightly startling as I looked around me trying to discover the light source. During that minute I felt a sense of wonder and mystery. What if I can't figure out where the light is coming from? What is it? An apparition? I didn't actually think it was an apparition, but it made me think about when people see or experience things they can't explain. When I hear ghost stories or about strange occurrences I get this eerie feeling that is kind of exciting. It's a mystery that may never be solved and it leaves a lot to the imagination. I think utilizing light like this on stage could be used to create a similar feeling. It could create an actual apparition or a sense of mystique. It would draw the audience in as they took a minute to try and figure out what the light is or what it represents.

Week 3: Holey Pumpkin, Batman!

This pumpkin is the perfect dichotomy to me. On the one hand it is playful and makes me happy, and on the other hand it's Batman, who is tough, serious and a badass. ...It's two-faced, if you will ;) That is why this is the only design I ever carve out of pumpkins, of the three times I have carved pumpkins in my life. 
I feel like Batman and the other superhero stories are untapped potential in dance. I think I am both kidding and serious about that statement. If it's well-executed and done in the right environment for the right crowd, it would be amazing. Otherwise I am sure it would be difficult to watch. Not taking this in the fully literal sense, I could see this being the inspiration for a piece that represented the dichotomy I mention earlier--something that is both playful and serious, with lighting to help set the environment and mood.

"Batman has no limits." 

Week 2: Spotlight

When I walked into my apartment after the Welcome BBQ at Verano Place yesterday, I was astonished by this mysterious spot light effect that welcomed ME home ;) I love the fact that the lighting seemed to be hiding something from my while bringing something else to my attention at the same time. Coming from a lively event right outside of my door, entering into my apartment to this lighting completely changed my mood, I suddenly became focused and interested in what was in the line of the light: it seemed to highlight the tiny fall decorations I bought (little pumpkin and little statue sitting at the edge of the counter). I appreciated the fact that there was a sense of mystery in the room. With this lighting, I also realized that I am drawn to shades and shadows in opposition to other things being revealed.
(PS: This lighting came about by the evening sun entering the room through a small opaque window I have in the living room. )

Week 2: Pink and Purple Sunset

This picture was taken Tuesday night in Irvine as I was walking home with my boyfriend after a date night.  The photo is not the best quality but the whole sky was filled with blues, pinks and purples.  The light from the sun could still slightly be seen as it was setting. The colors were stunning and made the walk feel very romantic.   The pink and purple colors had a warm and comfortable feeling that made me feel very calm.  Even though sunsets happen everyday this one felt very unique and I was glad I was able to capture it in a photo.

Week 2: The Day Must Begin

This image is of the light sneaking through my closed blinds this morning. What struck me most was that the light was coming from the side. It was something I hadn't seen yet during my week's lighting observations. 

For me the light, though a bit intrusive at first, stirred the feelings of calm, quiet contemplation. It was a gentle reminder the day was beginning and so I quietly begin to think on what I needed to do today. Though I wanted to stay in bed longer, it reminded me that the sun would come up on its own, whether I was ready for it. Its message was not blinding or startling; it was just simply a warm, gentle nudge to get started.

Dynamic Skies

This is the early-morning sky as I walk to campus. My first eight years were spent in a land of dynamic skies, invigorating winds, and general wetness, and although I love the sun in a clear-blue sky, a view like this one reaches down deeper, past the sun of my later childhood, to an earlier joy. I feel deep contentment and childish excitement. I want to close my eyes and feel a crisp breeze bringing with it the promise of rain. But this sky comes laced with frustration as I realize yet again that the breeze is fleeting, or at least in its cooler form, and that the clouds are only a brief respite from the eternal blue.

Week #2 Stairway to...?

While proceeding to walk out of a parking garage I was confronted by a stairwell with an interesting design shadowed upon it. Normally I am intrigued by warm colors, softer lines and nature however the cleanliness and angularity of the stairs being danced upon by the shadows made me pause. The grey color of the stairs gave me a feeling of coldness and an indication of a void or absence of compassion. The yellow paint popped off the concrete resounding a cautionary warning. Where did the stairs lead? I knew where I was going however the image made me feel as if I was going somewhere official, sterile and not very welcoming. Was I going to be persecuted, judged or worse?
The horizontal lines of the stairs were intersected by snaking shadows that seemed to slither upward to my destination. The thinner shadows indicated the possibility of imprisonment or confinement in the distance. The grey shadows were leading me onward to a destination that I felt I would be not welcoming however once there I would not be able to descend back down the staircase to my origin.
This picture makes me visualize a figure or a number of figures in a vast sterile cool space lit in such a manner that they cast long ominous still shadows.  Another figure less imposing would have to confront and past these imposing shadows in hopes of reaching a destination full of the unknown.

Week TWO ... The Guiding Light

I was walking near the CAC last Thursday afternoon and was feeling a bit anxious.  My school work load had increased exponentially in the few days prior and I was trying to organize in my brain just how I was going to tackle it.  As I came to the top of the stairs near the red logs, I peered over the railing, and on the grass below, I noticed the sun’s reflection of the vertical steel louvers that decorate the side of the CAC building.  The reflection was represented by long rectangular bars of light that were relatively evenly spaced, but had variation in light brightness and density.  I immediately felt a sense of relief and a moment of pause and breath. This reaction could possibly have stemmed from the comfort of finally finding something interesting to photograph and write about, or the thought that the long organized bars of light were a type of visual metaphor to help me realize that everything I was stressed over would eventually fall into place.  Though not as soft and comforting as the shadow of foliage, the angular shapes inspired me and filled me with creative thoughts.  I stood staring at them for a minute and then got closer to take them in from different angles.  They felt guiding, as if they longed to point me in a positive direction.  I would tend to think that for some, these bars of light may have triggered feelings of restriction and indifference, and might feel cold.  Yet because I am drawn to things geometric, the image felt welcoming and intentional, especially with the surrounding trees and other greenery to add brilliant color and depth.  I’m not exactly sure why I chose to walk that way, at that moment, on that day but there is a small part of me that feels I was being guided … that alone allows me to find peace in our sometimes frenetic world.  I think this look would be extremely effective as a final look to a piece; sending the dancer off into the world of what lies ahead … bringing a piece to closure with optimism and forward direction. 

Week 2: Panama (Water) Reflections

Confession: this is not a picture from the previous week. I took this on one of my favorite nights in Panama City last month. The lights are so amazing in the skyline and on the water that I had to post this. 
This was a Friday evening. Blair and I took a post-dinner stroll along the water on our last night before all of the UCI undergrads arrived the following day. It was undoubtedly a calm before a storm, both weather-wise and emotionally. It was the most peaceful evening I had on the two week trip. The air was crisp yet still warm. Two blocks away, the and foreign travelers were out beginning their weekend, but near the water it was quiet and secluded. The pace was easy, slow and relaxed. The lights are colorful and bright, just like the city, country and its people. The vibrant nature of the country's personality came together for me in that spot. I can feel this ease and quietude having the potential to be at the middle or resolution of a piece, depending on the overarching concept. During this moment, I would want the dancers and audience to be transported into a space where there is vibrant peacefulness, fostering a sense of reflection on what has happened up to that point. 

Week Two - "Guarded Curiosity"

I am going to write about this image before letting you all know what it is, because that is part of the emotion this photo exhibits to me. . . a sense of guarded curiosity. It draws you in with an appealing, attractive, bright orb. Yet, there is also a sense of danger of the unknown as the orb is surrounded in darkness. I am reminded of a scene from Disney's Sleeping Beauty where a bright green light is leading the main character, Aurora, through a castle. She is under a spell and the mysterious light is leading her ultimately to her own demise. This light creates for me that sense of allure and suspicion. It also brings to mind quintessential horror movie scenes. For example, an all too familiar scene of a woman meeting a handsome stranger who offers to drive her home when her car breaks down. There is an internal struggle where, as the one watching this scene, you see that the man is kind and attractive so you initially think it may be okay to trust him, but there is also something in your gut telling you that something is not right.

I imagine using a light like this to open a piece. It would draw the audience in as it created that sense of guarded curiosity. It would be the only thing visible to the audience and linger for longer than was comfortable, making the audience question what is going to happen as they wait in anticipation.

So. . .  what is this a picture of? A walkway wall covered in foliage with a light hidden behind the leaves to light the walkway at night!

A Sunlit Glow

I find it stunningly beautiful the way these grasses seem to glow as the sunlight passes through them. The flowers float weightlessly on almost invisible stems, and they seem to melt into and become part of the surrounding light. They blur into the brightness, but then on closer inspection, the tiniest details are sharply highlighted as the sunlight catches and bounces off every textured surface.

But how to translate this to the stage with a human body as the ethereal floating object? How to make the stage glow and have the lights penetrate and radiate out from the dancer? Quite honestly, I don't know, but here are some elementary thoughts on the matter: I think the stage would need to be completely washed in strong, warm light using the down lights and pipe ends. The dancer would need to be back-lit to give the impression of light passing through her, but with some balancing light coming from somewhere else in order to avoid harsh shadows in the front and to keep the feel of all-encompassing light. I think costuming would actually play strongly into creating this effect; the right fabric, in weight and texture, could mimic the outer edges of these feathery grasses, letting the light pass through and radiate out, with the dancer's body being the inner core or willowy stem. 

Week 1: Pretty Hidden Spot on Campus

This photograph was taken Friday outside of the Irvine Barclay Theatre.   I love discovering beautiful hidden spots on campus whether they are small gardens, quiet places surrounded by trees or  a tiny pond that feeds into a waterfall fountain.  What really struck me about this spot was how lush and green it looked compared to the cement waterfall it feeds into.  The sunlight that sneaks through the leaves of the trees makes the tiny pond seem more alive.  The shadows that the light creates with the plants creates a rainforest feel to the photograph.  Recreating the rainforest feel for the stage would involve lots of lighting to create a lush and shadowy environment.  To do this I would use a revealing setting for the pipe end lights to emulate the sunlight.  I would also use the shins with gobos in them to create a leafy and shadowy effect in green.  Below is a photo of the waterfall fountain it feeds into.

WEEK ONE - Morning Light

I left my apartment one morning, only to find the beautiful light of the morning sun, casting long shadows with its low angle. What caught my eye was not the vibrant color of the trees and the grass illuminated by the yellow light the sun, but rather the depth that the play of the light and shadows caused. The small field in front of my apartment looked huge (unfortunately not able to be captured by a picture as much). I loved that another apartment building cast a shadow that left a pool of darkness on the left side of the image. This field of darkness emphasized distance and detachment between the light pool on right, and the small spot of light on the stairs on the bottom left hand corner of the picture. The long shadows of the trees, in my mind, weren't necessarily present as static shadows (which could be created with the use of gobos), but I would be interested in dancers having long shadows. The warm yellow color of the sun created a light (opposite of heavy) feel, and the silence of the neighborhood before the preschool opened was as fresh as the morning air. Alongside this, the long shadows produced a very calming effect, fitting for the start of a new day (or metaphorically a new journey, or piece).

To create this morning sun, long shadows effect on the stage, I would use the Leko Pipe Ends on stage right in zone 3 with an amber color, with an amber or yellow color to create the stronger, sweeping effect the sun has. If this light is on full, hopefully it will be enough to create long shadows for the dancers. To supplement this, I would use Fresnels to give a warm yellow wash to create the sunlight feel in the areas that were out of the shadow in my picture. I would use the upstage (5 and 6) Down lights on stage left, and the Down (4) most stage right and downstage. This would hopefully create a bit of separation I was inspired by in real life. I can imagine a group of dancers upstage left, and one dancer downstage right. This to me would not be an isolation of a single person, but rather showing two events happening simultaneously in different locations. The use of the same color pallet in the lighting can perhaps even connect dancers that are separated on stage. I would use the

Like Cara, the use of a visual interpretation for the stage helped me speak about how the natural lighting inspired an idea for the stage (except I am not such an artist).

Week One "Love Where You Live"

I feel with this post that I want to take just a minute to brag a little about where I live. . . I live in Lake Elsinore with my husband and two dogs and every night we get to walk out by the lake and see miraculous views! We have neighbors only on one side of us and what you see below is what is on the other side (well, we have to walk just a short ways through a field to get to the lake, but it is very close). Every night the sunset is slightly different and the evening I took these pictures was particularly awe inspiring! 

The orange and yellow hues radiating from the sun were energizing as I could feel their last rays of warmth on my skin. As the sun set a little more, the colors got warmer in color with deeper oranges and reds entering into the scene. The light reflecting off the water was more rich than the actual light coming from the sun and it makes me think about how this could be done on stage. Down lights would fill the space with a yellow/orange hue while a pipe end would send beams of brighter yellow to emulate the sun.  I would then want to have the floor slightly warmer than the light filling the stage, so I would use the shins to put a bit of red along with orange onto the floor. 

In the third photo as the sun dipped behind the hills, there was a softening and cooling of the light which seems to be created by the blue filling the sky. If this were on stage, I imagine the down lights would be changed to blue and then the pipe ends and/or shins would be a yellow/orange hue at 50%. Well, this is my best guess. I'd be interested to try it out and see what really needs to happen in order to recreate the colors and light from these photos. 

I am so grateful to be able to see images like this every day. I love where I live! 

Week One- Moving Forward

I returned to this location at the beginning of the quarter and was reminded of a dark unpleasant memory and then the sun rose. The darkness was overcome by the light. The chill in the air and pain of the memory were replaced by warmth and the reminder of newness, hope and optimism. The past is in the past and the future is a blessing full of abundance and possibility. The rising of the sun has always been one of the most beautiful moments of the day to me.  In my mind this moment represents  that there is something bigger than us in the universe always working for our greater good and moving toward the greatest outcome.

This photo is a great depiction of chiaroscuro and is observed by the darkness of the foliage beautifully outlined by the light of sun. I could imagine a lone figure standing downstage center being backlit by the most upstage down lights to create the same chiaroscuro effect. As the figure would move downstage center the intensity of the down lights would increase. A lighting cue would be set to add  PAR lights 2 and 3 on both sides of the stage that would increase incrementally. The PARs would be set with a warm amber tone.  By the time the figure reached the most downstage point both PAR one lights would be added as well as all the shin lights to make the figure appear to be surrounded by warmth. Her form is illuminated as she stands before the audience after moving forward and now thinking forward to the many great things ahead.

Week ONE ... The Moon at Play

I walked out of a rehearsal last Monday night and happened to glance up at the sky ... boy was I glad I did. I was fortunate to witness this amazing play of the moon and clouds. It was mesmerizing. The clouds created asymmetrical pockets that the moon's light could peer through and formed a canvas for the intense colorful and visual display to bounce off of. I was intrigued by how many colors I could identify and how the color saturation was so rich from so far away. Deep yellows and oranges surrounded the moon's white ring, with hints of pink and red. In the top photo, the dense black pocket below/to the left of the moon was reflecting no light at all next to such a brilliant light source and this intrigued me; its outline not entirely razor sharp, but its shape extremely definable. In the bottom photo, I embraced both the symmetry of the colorful ring and the way it washed through the dark areas with just a hint of color.

The most obvious choice for representation of the fragmented clouds would be through the use of gobos in the pipe ends; bringing the texture of the sky down to the stage and illuminating the pockets. I would use an isolated special/down pool with a soft beamed Fresnel fixture on either the down backs or high sides, or maybe the pipe ends to create a more angular response and allow the light to spill further onto the stage. Adding the color to create warmth (without muddling the brilliant white representing the moonlight) might be a job for a Leko fixture coming also from the high sides, but dialed down to approximately 60%, though I feel this may still affect the look of the center of the white down pool and not be exclusively seen at the outer ring. Possibly a soft blue wash in the shins could represent the coldness of space against the warmth of the light.

"When you wish upon a star ...... " ;)

Week 1 Line 'em up.

 While sitting in my room the other afternoon, I decided to relax instead of reading through my research. (This, of course, does not happen often.) I have always noticed and enjoyed the way the afternoon light shines through the blinds and hits the wall and painting across from my bed. On this particular day, the window was also open, and the mild breeze brushed through, creating movement in the blinds and therefore a twinkling and visual change on the wall. The warmth of the air and the light created an easy and soothing energy in me, and I knew it was the right decision to not be researching. 

Though I am not sure of the technical needs to create something like this on stage, I might gander that the use of gobos, with lines and streaks, would help create the texture I am looking for on the stage floor surface. This texture could grow up to cyc so it can be seen there as well. I see this texture beginning from the downstage right corner and growing wider and wider as it makes a diagonal to the upstage left corner and rises up half of the cyc on stage left. To help create the energy I felt, I might add shins from stage right and pipe ends on both sides of the stage to help the audience feel the sunlight presence, adding ambers and lavenders to add to the warmth and the relaxing energy. In contrast, for a second separate idea, I can see the same gobo scheme in use, but wanting an edgier feel instead of warmth, I might use stage right shins and blue saturate colors to create something more stark and ominous. And some fog would be great too for this second look to help represent how the lines in the photo look like many tiny points (reminiscent of pointillism).

Sketch! -->

A LITTLE BIT OF SUN SHINE

This weekend I had the pleasure of taking some children to the park. The palpable warmth of the light cast beautiful dappled shadows of leaves on the ground. The color of the leaves grew in intensity as the sunlight pushed through the trees. It was a lovely day out. There were picturesque white fluffy clouds against a perfectly light blue canvass sky. The texture that was created by the shadows of the trees reminded me of atmospheres I could create on stage with gobos. I imagined how I could create this world I was living in and present it onstage to an audience. I would use the strong brush stroke of a par for the source of the sun and perhaps use some cloud gobos on a cyc. I thought about how the clouds would hide the sun, creating moments of relief from the heat of it's rays. This made me think that building one long cue that dipped the levels of my sun source would create the illusion of clouds passing over. Adding the laughter of children in the back ground is a must of course. :)

Welcome to Dance 287 Fall 2014 Lighting Journal

Now that you have decided to enhance your appreciation for light, I want to help you develop your eye for light not just in the theatre but in your life.

In order to more effectively understand how light can alter the perception of the audience; we need to first understand how it alters our perception on a daily basis.

As we move through the quarter, I hope that this blog will help you to discover light in ways that you have not seen before.

Perhaps you'll see colors you've never noticed before, you may recognize the angle of a certain light, and maybe you will find ways to articulate how a light makes you feel.

In order to assist with this process, I've created this blog so that all of you may contribute a short piece each week on an aspect of light that you have noticed throughout your journeys.

This can include a particular moment in a play, a beautiful sunset, a great rock concert, a well lit store, or just what happens to your emotions when the sun moves behind a cloud. Anything and everything can be included.

Please start your title for each posting with the Week of the quarter and a subject.

Your postings do count towards your final grade.

Please include photos with your post to help us see what you are describing!

Whether or not you continue in lighting design after this class, I hope that this online journal will help you to discover inspiration for you art in daily life.

Thanks and Happy Blogging!!

Lonnie Alcaraz