Week #10 - Lens

I actually stole this picture from someone on Instagram, but I couldn't help it because the lights look so cool! These are christmas lights hanging on a house that have a sheet of ice over them that is acting as a sort of lens for the lights. This is expanding the light and causing them to cast light further than they would be without the ice. I also noticed that all of these colors combined are making a very purple light that is almost read as no-color. It's crazy that you can find examples of lighting like this in every day life. Before this class I would have scrolled past this picture thinking it was pretty, but nothing else. Now I see all the elements of light and am able to explain in short what really makes this scene so special in terms of lighting.

Week 10: Realization and appreciation

This evening as I was driving, I became distracted by the sky reflected in my rear view mirror. The bright light from the sun reflected off my mirror and into my eyes. As I squinted from the light of the setting sun, I thought about the complexities of light and color in the natural world. Ahead of me was the eastern sky, which was blue with painted strokes of purple. As I looked back, the amber from the sun was concentrated at the center and spread across the horizon, diffusing upwards into lavendar as it hit the clouds and mixed in the sky. It was hard to believe that these two sides of the sky were both a part of the same world. I paused on a side street to snap this photo, which captured the dark silhouettes of the whispering trees. After this encounter, I wondered whether it was noteworthy to capture yet another sunset that so many of us have used for this blog. I decided that this reflection and realization was noteworthy because although I have thought about the setting sun before, the overall experience of this class has transformed my awareness of the light that exists around me. I have come to realize that even though a sunset occurs every evening, the colors and emotions it creates are different each time. I observe and notice light so much more, and I have learned to appreciate the different emotions and stories that light can evoke, even in something as simple as a familiar sunset.

Week 10: Show Week

My friend, who is also into photography took this photo between shows during New Slate. This hall has florescent lighting, which I initially thought would make my skin tone look harsh, and not provide any sort of definition or shadowing to my body. Though my friend's camera may have helped, this photo was beautifully taken. I feel that the shadowing (perhaps due to the fact that this hall gets no sunlight at all, and the florescent bulbs seem warmer) perfectly captures my figure. I feel that the background really adds texture to my figure and the position that I am posed in. The contrast between the cool and textured background against the warmth of the light absorbed (?) by skin captures my eye. We have discussed this many times in class- the idea of not being afraid to play with opposites: contrasting colors and a variety of brushstrokes. I feel that this concept is interesting and can provide a lot of dynamic to the piece, depending on the context and what one is attempting to evoke.

On another note, thank you very much Lonnie for the opportunity to take this class- I feel that I have developed a new and more insightful perspective in design, which I also feel I can apply to my choreographic aspirations. I am excited to move forward in my lighting aspirations with many of the concepts that we have discussed in class!

Week 10: Thank You Lonnie!

This picture was taken at Veggie Grill on Saturday evening, in between the matinee and evening performances of New Slate. All week I had been analyzing the lighting of my work in the show, seeking perfection in the intensities, colors, and timing of the cues (which was achieved!). As I sat down waiting for the food to be brought to my table, I was incredibly irked at the fact that the row of lights hanging above me were not perfect! Two of the bulbs had gone out and it was driving me crazy. I laughed to myself because had this been ten weeks ago, I probably would not have noticed or cared that the lighting at Veggie Grill was not perfect. Strangely enough, I'm glad that these lights bothered me so much. This tells me that this course has made a big impact on me and the way I see things. During this course I've added a level to my artistry, and I hope to continue to develop my eye for lighting dance, and stay observant to the lighting of the world around me.

Week 10 Inner Pull

The last post is a shot from my work that Sarah Resch lit. This particular moment filled me with soooooo many emotions. I had no idea how this piece was going to be lit. This piece is the biggest piece I've choreographed to date. I had no idea if any of it was going to work, but it did. i loved the way the work turned out and the way the lighting turned out. however this moment was the pinnacle for me. the past, present and future all in front, a stranded dancer in the midst of struggle in a sea of dancers in the back and the long stream of heavenly light coming at him from the up left diagonal was .....everything! it encapsulated my personal feeling about the work and was totally unexpected.
This particular pic doesn't show the stream of light that hit me, but it was there in the performances.

Week 10 Strangers in the Night: Part 2

As I go to school everyday, I often forget that UCI is built around a canyon side that is filled with nature. This fashionable bird is giving me a side profile that is beautiful to watch. The background sky provides a blue wash with dark contrasts of shadows and light from the homes and trees. The lighting is able to vividly capture the soft lines of the bird. Being positioned lower than where the bird stands, this upward lighting gives me a haunting, shadowy feeling of anticipation. Will the bird go into the light or retreat into the darkness?

Week 10- My Jelly Friend

Every day this little guy appears on my wall for a couple hours.  The first time I saw him, I was very confused because I have never seen anything shaped in this small circular way with a every color of the rainbow in it, besides maybe a jelly fish.  After frantically searching for the source of this color, I realized that it was coming from the peephole in my apartment door.  The light hits the peephole and is reflected through the prism that is the small circular glass window in the door, and the result is my little jelly friend.  He left for the day, but he'll be back tomorrow.

Week 10: Anthropologie: Nailed It.

                              Anthropologie: Nailed It

Is there an Emmy for branding and marketing?  If so, it ought to go to Anthropologie, a retailer that killed it with their holiday lighting decor.  Here are the window displays:


To the left, petite drops of light mimic pearls on a necklace strand: intelligent, refined with delicate radiance, feminine and chic.  To the right, understated strands of holiday lights appear as one of several hand-crafted strands.  Somewhat camouflaged as one of several simple materials, the lights gently embellish detailed, handmade garland.  Clearly the lighting decor speaks to the store's appeal to the unique and aspirational consumer, one who values creativity and individual expression.

Notable to the lighting design seen from the window displays was the strategic placement of each fixture.  Lights that subtlety imply chic glamor were placed by the dresses and fur coats (top photo).  Dimmer lights imbedded within a hanged arrangement, uniquely crafted from ropes and assortments of beads adorn the front leading out to a different section of the store (bottom photo), where neutral tones, casual clothes and heavy knit sweaters are displayed.

Attention to detail, strategic use of subtly, and expression of the unique and individual person are notable in the light fixtures used in Anthropolgie's holiday window displays.  Allure through lighting and atmosphere draw consumers to enter the store to seek not only Anthropologie's goods, but the kind of lifestyle their visual aesthetic implies: one that emphasizes creativity and intelligence, homemade meals, books, travel and individuality, the home, the professional life AND play, valuing adventure and originality in all aspects of life.

A+ for Anthropologie for lighting the front end of their store in a way that appeals to their target market, interweaving nostalgia, lifestyle and values into the consumer experience.

Week 9 - Illuminating Water

                                   Illuminating Water

Anyone else want a fountain like this is their backyard someday?  #GOALS.  Another feature of Newport Beach's Fashion Island, on the opposite side of the plaza next to Cafe R & D is a hand-carved fountain with color- changing illuminated water.



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Inspired by Rome's Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona, this fountain is beautifully lit with pink and purple hues, as well as white light to enhance the hand-sculpted fountain structure.

Mental/emotional responses to standing in the presence of this fountain and its changing light were that of mystery, magical wonder, creativity.  Invocation of dreams could occur beside this muse-like structure.  Romantic, fantasy-like emotional responses were likely to have been invoked in me, the viewer, not only because of the fountain's color palate - pink and purple light - but also because of the changes that occur within the color and water's partnership.  The fountain appeared alive, dancing, evolving, and breathing like the human spirit.

Synergy between light and water is often beautiful, not lacking in part because of the diversity in design possibilities- especially with LED lights that change color beneath the water's surface.  Light can be seen ON water and reflected FROM water.  Water can change shape and [depending on budget] lights can change color.

Referring to the fountain above, light changes occurring beneath the water's surface serve as part of a creative, coherent theme in the fountain's design, and illuminate (no pun intended) the fact that light can help bring to life different artistic mediums, as though the the material world itself inhales and exhales alongside the viewer, making the artistic expression reflexive, participatory; and in this case, awe-inspiring.

Week 8 - Christmas Contrast

                                ⥣ Christmas Contrast ⥣

I suppose the one benefit to royally mistaking the blog assignment stop date #EPIC #FAIL is that lights have emerged as a part of holiday decor in homes, shopping malls and outdoor plazas.

Christmas trees and their potential variance in lighting styles inspired this post.  I thought about why there seems to be a childish, fun, playful and exuberant feel to Christmas trees that use multicolor lights, such as the one in the Simi Valley dance studio (where I teach) pictured below.

 

And, conversely, why Christmas trees with only white lights seem to have an air of sophistication and elegance, such as the giant Christmas tree in the center of Fashion Island shopping center; or if you rather, the smaller Christmas trees placed in Fashion Island's shop windows:



Though I've been cognizant of the " 'white' (technically amber or blue) light = sophistication / multicolor light = playful" phenomenon, I've never been overly cognizant of WHY this may be the case until this year's lighting class, introducing color theory in relation to light and light's power with the possible uses of color, brush stroke, position, or intensity to create a "world": an overall aura, emotion, physical environment or mental state.

Monochromatic color seen in the latter Christmas tree photos with 'white' (amber/light blue) light helps the mind to relax and the eye to focus on the object it is illuminating primarily - namely, the Christmas tree.  It is more calm and focused, reflecting a beauty that is centered with a graceful kind of distinction and gentility.  Multicolored expressions seen in the former Christmas tree photo is more of a spectacle: eye-entertaining, fun, even distracting (in my view) from the object itself with its own draw of attention, as the eye attempts to "take-in" each hue.

While many of my friends would guess my own Christmas tree to be much like the former based on my [spunky] personality, I actually much prefer monochromatic color schemes.  ENOUGH wildness going on upstairs in my brain, I much prefer to dwell in environments that are opposite to my internal world.  Calm, very little color, even minimalist with decor.  Below are photos of my grad-school apartment and my own Christmas tree
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Cheers to balancing the brain with monochromatic light and color!

Week #10 Late nights in the theatre

This week, I spent all of my evenings in the Claire working on New Slate. Unfortunately, given that New Slate corresponds with 10th week this year, I was not able to devote all of my evenings to the show and spent a lot of time working on my computer, in the dark.

The pictures I have shared this week show the lighting provided by the glow of my computer screen. The digital lighting is cold and harsh, especially in contrast to the quality of light on stage. Even though the computer screen is overly intense in the setting, the screen draws me in; it is almost mesmerizing and makes me feel like a moth drawn to a light.

It gave my skin a cold and sickly glow. It doesn't light any dark shades whatsoever only casting light on my face.

Overall, the emotions I get from this lighting are intense, cold, and serious.

Week #10 Anteater Pride

I was walking through from the bookstore on campus to cross the new bridge they build going back to CTSA. It was in the afternoon and noticed how well the anteater was lit from the sun.  I thought it was interesting lighting from my perspective. I was walking from in the shade while the Anteater was displayed for all to see above and in the sun. 

It brought a sense of satisfaction and pride. It was a moment of reflection and nostalgia as we near the end of Fall quarter. The angle of the light is what I thought was the most eye catching. The display was not lit front on, but from the side bringing a sense of realization and softness in warm ambers from the sun, but then contrasting with lavenders and blues in the shade. 

Week # 9 Sunsets and Vistas

This Friday, I went for a hike at Will Rogers National Park in Los Angeles. I went with an old friend I went to school with in New York and we spent the day catching up. We talked about about memories, how far we've come and where we are going. I snapped this pick at inspiration point, the highest point on the hike, overlooking the park, LA and the ocean.

This is one of my favorite pictures I've included in this blog. I love the colours and the horizontal divisions in the composition. The warmth of the oranges and reds give me a sense of comfort, satisfaction and happiness and the blue add balance to the composition. The lens flare and back lit trees gives the image an epic quality. Overall, this image gives me a sense of triumph and accomplishment.

Week 9: Missing longer nights

The changing of seasons always make me miss the days when the sunsets can be clearly seen through a cloudless sky. As I thought about how gloomy and grey it's been getting, I thought back to a calm, warmer night by the beach a couple weeks ago. I captured this photo when my family and I were surrounding a fire by the water. In comparison to a day like today, there is so much more vibrance and color in the sky and reflected on the water. The blues, ambers, and purples remind me of this relaxed feeling of ease. The ambers in the sky are concentrated at the horizon, while the softness in the sky grows darker, creating a feeling of winding down. The streaks of amber reflected across the water make me think of gentle brushstrokes creating a smooth pathway to serenity.

Week 9: MORE Disney Fun!

This Thanksgiving Weekend my family and I went to California Adventure to celebrate my mom's birthday. It was an interesting experience, because the park was so crowded that it was virtually impossible to do anything but walk around the park to look at the Christmas decorations. I found myself most interested in the lighting design, and felt that the most cohesive area of the park in terms of lighting and decor was Car's Land. As soon as I entered this land, I was taken back to the 1950s, because of the use of neon lights/pastel colors. Along with neon signs, I noticed that the canyon (in the background of the picture) is lit to communicate a sense of source, and to me the sun (or source) colors the canyon in a way that makes it seem as if the sun is setting. I very much appreciated the cohesive look of the entire land because (besides the awesome neon signs) the lighting is very simplistic with not much flash or effect. The simplicity of this design truly allowed for me to feel the sort of buzz and excitement that I feel this land, or world, represents. This allowed for me to reflect on my project designs this past quarter, where I feel that I often attempted to create very sophisticated looks using many sources and many colors within one cue. Though this is very thematic lighting, I appreciated the reminder that I received from visiting Car's Land-- to keep it simple and to evoke emotions, which seems to be a constant lesson for me in all of my artistic work this quarter.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!- Week 9

 

Christmas decorations are my favorite.  I love driving around neighborhoods this time of year, and seeing houses and lawns decked out in glowing red, green, blue, and yellow lights.  Because it is so dark and cold outside, I find that these Christmas tree lights warm up a room- they provide comfort and joy in comparison to the gloomy weather outside.  For some of us these lights are tradition and remind us of family.  They also remind me that the year is coming to an end, which brings the end of a chapter and a start of a new.  When I have these Christmas tree lights on, I like to turn off all the other lights in the room and let this light radiate and fill the space, as it brings me joy and excitement for the holidays to come.

Week 9 Strangers in the Night

     This photo appeals to my eye in various ways. The lighting source in the middle of the space casts stark, industrial lighting texture to the display that grabs my center of focus. Choosing to use side lighting that reaches the mannequins in both directions makes the monochromatic clothing and the lack of facial features on the mannequins mysterious and exclusive.  Overall, this dark and powerful lighting statement symbolizes how fashion and lighting can work together.

Week #9 - Brushstrokes in the Sky

These are pictures that I took of the sky as I was driving home from Idaho this weekend. The designs of the clouds caught my eye, but the sun shining through made it almost majestic. As I continued to look at the light in the sky, I thought about the different brushstrokes that we learned about at the beginning of the semester. The sun in these pictures makes me think about a PAR can brushstroke with the harsh edges. This raw edge allowed the light to spread through the sky and reflect off of the clouds that filled the space. This is a good example of how to use a brushstroke that I may not always think of or want to use.

Week 9: Statue

This is a photo taken on a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas, in the atrium of the Palazzo hotel. I found the lighting to be interesting, because of the way the light primarily hit the statue. This made the statue the focal point of the large space, and gave it a feeling of reverence and awe. There was natural light coming from the windows in the background, which added another dimension, but did not detract from the focus on the statue. On the ceiling, there were small, concentrated lights which added subtle detail, contributing to the opulent aesthetic of the space. The sign on the side wall was lit as well, perhaps taking us out of the old fashioned, royal world, and reminded us that we were in a Las Vegas hotel. The overall lighting scheme was fancy and regal, but still warm and inviting because of the yellow and gold tones. While Las Vegas is normally associated with loud, neon lights and flashy, bombastic people and performers, this scene was classy and refreshing. This space provided the calm and serene feeling that a vacation should have.  

Week 9 Outdoor Hallways

I got this shot on Halloween and have wanted to use it but kept forgetting. I love the shadows on the floor and the height and shadows on the wall, i love the colors in the distance, and the colors leading down this outdoor hallway. It was a festive day and with everybody in the spirit this moment seemed to encapsulate how i feel about celebrating halloween on the west coast. It is warm and bright compared to the colder, grayer halloween days i remember while in NYC. This moment is alive with greenery and activity and light and made me want to remember this fun day!

Week #9 - It's Red

This is something I see often. Red break lights in traffic. Since daylight saving, the sun is going down earlier and break lights can be seen with more intensity since it is darker out. Often times, if I see a sea of red lights, it is a sign that I should avoid it and turn away, but on this day, I wanted to just get home.

For me, the red blurry break lights represent a barricade and road rage. The feelings evoke a frustration, but knowing what the red lights mean, I must accept my fate. I will be in traffic for a while. This means, I must calm myself and submit to the fact that nothing can be done except to have patience. The dusk light in the sky with the blues, lavenders, yellows, and oranges juxtapose what is directly in front of me. It makes me feel as if there is hope and it will bypass.

Week #8 Calm after the storm

I snapped this pic early one morning after a night of rain. I was on my way to an early meeting; the campus was desolate and quiet. Although there is a lot darkness in this picture, I get an overall impression of calmness and serenity. The darkness starts at the bottom of the screen and moves toward a bright sky, this trajectory gives me the impression that a journey has taken place. Even though there are dark, heavy storm clouds in the sky, the way the light is breaking through gives a sense of hope and resolution.

There is also nice contrast between the darkness in the foreground and light in the background. In the extreme front of the frame, on the bridge, there is some soft lighting. The interplay of soft blue light and shadows in this segment of the frame adds to the overall calmness I get from the picture.

I see a lot of blue in this picture with a little bit of yellow and lavender.

There is something magical about campus at times like this when it is so quiet and still.

Week 8 Shopping, Shopping, Shopping

Here is a wonderful display of different types of lights and how to arrange them. The well lit canopy opens up the space making the shopping corridor less confining. The use of lighting with the center piece displaying a horizontal casing of bright white light grabs the attention of the shopper passing and lights up their products as much as the big name brand stores.

Week 8: Lamp light

As deadlines and assignments begin to creep up, I noticed a daily stress-relief routine of mine that depends highly on lighting. Every night as I begin to settle in, I turn on this lamp in the corner of my room. It's the only light I have on, and with all the holes in the ceramic cylinder, the lamp creates shadows across my walls. With the placement in the corner and the single bulb in the center of the lamp, the light that pokes through the openings cast different sized shadows. The ones that are furthest stretch along the walls and lose clarity. The dim, darker atmosphere this lamp creates gives me a sense of calmness. It serves as a transition from the bright sunlight, to indoor light, to dim lamp light, to darkness that I experience throughout the day. I appreciate the calm, comfort that the design of the lamp creates which eases me into thoughtful reflection.

Week #8 - Projections

These are some pictures from the new Frozen musical at Disneyland that I took a few weeks ago. When we talked about projections in class this week, I thought of this production and remembered that they had used a lot of projection technology, so I went back to look through the photos and was very impressed with the success they had with the projections, especially after realizing how hard it is to balance light and projection. They must have had some very powerful projectors, because the picture was always very clear and bright while they were also using quite a bit of the stage lighting. The projections allowed them to transition between scenes and worlds within seconds, like the Summer scene that happens as a daydream from a world of snow and ice. Overall it was really impressive, though I'm sure it was quite expensive to be able to have all of the technology needed for this level of production. I never really thought about using projection in any of my pieces, but after the lesson this week and looking back at these pictures, I can definitely see the additional production and artistic value that it can bring to a work. 

Week #8 A Little Light

Due to recent events, there had been a lot of tension on campus. As a response to this, one of the second year graduate students organized an "improv jam" for everyone in the dance department. This was a time for all to put aside their judgements, negativity, and feelings of hopelessness, and engage in the art of dance; something fruitful and positive. The student leading the improv jam turned off all the lights in the dance studio, and hung strings of Christmas lights in the space. The music being played was a variety ranging from soft and subdued instrumental, to songs with lyrics carrying hopeful messages. The group that gathered to take part in the jam were undergraduate students, graduate students, and even a mother and her child. The sentiment of the evening was beautiful, and the minimal lighting of the space enhanced that beauty. The silhouettes of the dancers in the room were clear enough to see their shape, but left left each individual with a sense of anonymity, and therefore a sense of freedom to express themselves while dancing. Each dancer had the option to dance in the shadows, barely able to be seen, or assert themselves closer to the light, bravely revealing their faces. Everyone in the room was moved, some to tears. The message of the evening was that hope and light will inevitably shine through, even in the darkest of times. This inspiring message was reflected in the lighting of the room. 

Week 8: Water and Reflection

After an evening of rain and rehearsal, I stepped out of the studio doors and saw the reflection of these hallway lights on the wet cement. Each time that I see the reflection of lights on pavement, I think about the ways that I might communicate this image/setting to an audience. It would obviously be very difficult to re-create this picture in the theatre setting, however, as we have discussed in class, it is important to think less about the image literally, and more about what it evokes. For me, this picture summons feelings of 'simplicity,' 'acceptance' 'peace' and 'hopeful reflection' within the realm of the unknown due to the darkness. These words make this picture much easier to design because they do not limit (as attempting to recreate this image might), but allow for freedom and interpretation to make more out of something as three-dimensional as what is seen in this photo.
This reflection of design got me thinking about the awareness of word usage from both the choreographer and the lighting designer viewpoints. I am realizing that words carry an incredible amount of weight in creative processes because they summon up personal memories and thought. This is why I am realizing that even within words such as 'acceptance' and 'peace,' these words can be incredibly broad, and it might be difficult for a designer or a choreographer to contextualize these words. I want to think about being specific in regards to my language in design, to contextualize emotive words (without limiting)  to aid in the creation of a cohesive piece.

Week 8- Fabric and Color

This weekend I attended an event in LA hosted by Airbnb that consisted of food trucks, boutique vendors, and (to my pleasant surprise) Lady Gaga!  As soon as I saw this installation, I made sure to take a photo for class, since it was the perfect example of what we talked about with lighting fabrics last week.    This was one of the main attractions at the event, people were walking through, having photo shoots, and batting at the fabrics while they turned every spectrum of color in the rainbow.  The sheets themselves were almost opaque white and a cotton-like fabric, which reflected the colors of the lights beautifully.  Because the sheets were all the same, you could really see the contrast in the different colors.  I found myself wondering what it would look like with satin sheets instead, and if that would have given even more richness to the colors.  Regardless, the variety of colors and the shadows they created in the fabric were exciting enough to attract people and make them want to play around in it. Therefore, this installation was successful in bringing joy to the guests, which added to their overall experience of the night.

Week #8 Carefully Carefree

This is another shot from Downtown Disney that I loved but didn't get to use.
This was the outside of a restaurant that had poor lighting on the inside but fabulous lighting on the outside. It reminded me of DIY weddings that has that county feel, outside a barn, with a cheap string of lights, a relaxed feel, cozy and inviting.
I also remember seeing these at the nicer restaurants in NYC, if you had an outdoor space big enough for this kind of lighting, it was going to be expensive, but went after that same cozy inviting feel, of playful relaxed, but curated to be specific in its presentation and mood. it feel like it was carefully designed to feel carefree.

Week # 8 - Glory in Colorful Light

Over the past weekend, I was out for dinner and walked by a church with stained glass windows. My eye caught the circular shape and the bright colors coming from the window.

I am not quite sure if there is supposed to be a meaning or picture to be made through this specific glass, but I enjoyed the joining of the colors used. In the colors, I noticed up at the top of the circle, there are warmer colors of amber, red, and orange. It then progresses into blues and purples down at the bottom. It reminded me of water and the sun. The amber colors might represent God as it shows holiness, halos, and heaven. The purple and blue might represent love, justice, or purity.

It brought feelings of pleasure, calmness, and stillness. The colors and the light of the glass window popped out in the evening and was different from the houses surrounding it.

Week 7: Spectrum of Light

                                                            Spectrum of Light
Never before have I been so cognizant of light and its arrangement and affect in public venues.  Tonight, while visiting the Irvine Spectrum, the idea of lighting consultants once again entered my mind and I thought of how fascinating it was that a seemingly innocent overlook [lighting design] in the business development stages could for a new entrepreneur, truly have a hazardous effect on  profit outcomes.  Observing the lights on the ferris wheel at the Irvine Spectrum and their vibrant, color changing design, it is evident that thoughtful avoidance of the aforementioned mistake was at play. Forethought, thematic imagining and strategic planning is credited to the fact that the ferris wheel and its color changing lights an be seen from the freeway at dark, and such an attraction draws children and tourists, as well as seasonal and personal celebrations to the Spectrum.  In addition, the mini white lights that adorn the palm trees and foot paths of the Spectrum provide for me, an invitation to a pleasurable and peaceful shopping experience - providing the "feel" of classy night life/being out on the town (even in this incredibly suburban shopping center, well done, lights!)  and a simplistic, "clean" touch of elegance, enhanced by the monochromatic color scheme.  I think lights like these have a touch of sophistication and warmth all in the same breath.

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Maverick in the making: my positive AND negative critique of lighting design actually come from the same venue: Capital - Dim Sum, Seafood and Bar.  I believe I chose this restaurant in part because it offers Asian cuisine and decor, and I have spent much time in Asia: living in Japan for nearly nine months and Hong Kong, China for fifteen months.  Here is the first set of photos in the bar, patio, and front of the restaurant.  

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This first set of pictures reveal one thematic idea, a secluded night-life feel provided by the backlit bar with neon base lighting (which looks purple in the photo, but I believe it was blue in person) and enchanting red lanterns that dangle from the ceiling (red symbolizes good luck in China).  Lights that adorn Capital's front end, bar and patio bring me back to the nights I spent out in Central, Hong Kong - going out in the Midlevels where small bars and pubs are open into all hours of the night, where investors finish their trades at 2am before joining their friends for a beer on the streets, where Aussies and Brits and Germans and Chinese sit outside and enjoy their beers amiss charming, internationally abuzz streets, and where a perfect date spot with candles and a table for two can be found wedged in between two sports bars.  To provide reference, below are two of my personal photos below from Hong Kong - a night out in the Midlevels (left) and a group of friends at a wine bar in Macau, China (right).  Though Capital restaurant was clearly not attempting to make the inside of their space as vibrant as the streets of Central Hong Kong, one can observe a thematic similarity in enchanting night environments with red and yellow accents (frequently observed in China), as well as beauty in hanging lanterns as one enjoys food, drink and company.  

Capital has a jarring surprise in store, however, if you venture to the back part of the venue.  It is a sit-down dining area that, in my opinion, has a choppy change in ambiance as far as lighting is concerned.  Though the lighting fixture that hangs from the ceiling is of asian style and a unique conversation piece, my $.02 is that the restaurant lost its thematic integrity in this room: there was too much light: too much yellow and too much exposure in the dining area when compared to the rest of the space.  Geographically speaking, I am taken out of the Midlevels in Central, Hong Kong and into Hong Kong's Tsim Tsa Tsui, a vastly different area (though equally enjoyable, admittedly) where there is less western influence: street shopping, little spoken English, food carts with delicious seafood, and several smaller Dim Sum family businesses that may give little attention to ambiance, but offer food that is second to none.  Both Tsim Tsa Tsui and Central are treasures in their own right, and offer something unique and irreplaceable to Hong Kong, but they are NOT the same (not even close), as each has an entirely different appeal and experience.  My humble critique of Capital's lighting design is that they ought to have had more consistency throughout their restaurant - so that both bar and dining area keep the consumer in the "same world", not just the same country.  And, thanks to lighting class I now want to stay in the same world - even if there are changes within that world.

Geisha House in Hollywood, is a great example of doing just that: thematic consistency can be observed from bar area to dining area to restrooms, and while there are slight differences in each room, the restaurant keeps the consumer living in the mysterious romanticism of Geisha dolls (whether they ought to be romanticized is a different topic) in all rooms throughout the venue.