Infrared Sauna Week #5

On Sunday, October 30th I attended my third infrared Sauna appointment this week at Perspire Sauna Studio in Newport Beach.  Bedridden for a week with the Streptococcal Virus, I turned to natural remedies (infrared sauna - pictured above) in addition to antibiotics to ensure that my healing efforts were comprehensive.  Infrared is defined by "dictionary.com" as having a wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum just greater than that of the red end of the visible light but less than that of microwaves.  Infrared saunas cause heat and radiation effects in the human body, and these produce positive biological changes on the cellular level once the infrared waves are detected by the body’s thermoreceptors located in the skin.  Infrared light waves are capable of altering cells, cell membranes, DNA/proteins and cell fluids (especially water molecules). At the cellular level where altered cell membranes and mitochondrial activity take place, infrared can improve metabolism and create a positive structural change in proteins within bodily tissues, lowering inflammation and increasing the biological function of several systems within the body.  Fascinating science, but on to the aesthetic of the light in the sauna environment. . .

The "selfies" on the left hand side were taken inside the sauna.  No filters were added to those images, no flash was used.  The quadratic ensemble I created of the selfies pictured above on the left side represents the way my camera responded to the infrared light; to the right is a photo taken outside the sauna capturing the visible light inside the glass. Concerning the photo on the right hand side, a photo of the sauna itself, it is clear Perspire Sauna Studio makes an impressive effort in creating an environment of relaxation, yet the saturation level of the visible red light still creates the energy and thrill of a science fiction movie, where infrared-like images are sometimes used fictitiously to represent "6th" senses or to detect mysterious forces or non-empirical objects.  It is difficult to separate my observation of the infrared sauna's visible light from the equally distinct physical observation of the sauna's 140 degree Fahrenheit heat (in which I remained for 40 minutes), however, the ideas that invoked out by aiming to isolate the power of the visible light itself are: action, danger, thermally energetic, warning, power, suspense, and futuristic.  Week five's observation of light and it's affected environment caused the most dramatic effect on thoughts and musings out of all observations thus far, transporting me into the world of science fiction where, quite honestly, I don't camp in my thoughts very often.  

Week 5 - Silhouettes

This is the view outside my apartment door. I try to soak this in every time I leave my apartment to give me a little peace at the beginning of my day, especially when the sun is just coming up. I took this picture one morning this week when I noticed that the mountains were in silhouette. I was intrigued by the colors in this landscape because when I think of silhouette I normally think of the dancer on stage being completely black with a bright, bold color behind them. This idea of silhouette always led me to feel that the use of it was more theatrical or jazzy or mysterious, so I was under the impression that it would not be useful in setting a calming scene. This picture changes my perspective on the uses of silhouette, because I realized that it's just a matter of playing with color as well as including lights besides just a cyc. This realization made me think that there are probably many more possibilities that I haven't thought of and I can't wait to play around more to find them all.

Week 5: False Illusions

Over the weekend my boyfriend and I attended the 241st Marine Corps Birthday Ball, a highly significant annual celebration honoring the birth of the Marine Corps. This year, the ball was hosted at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. As we walked around the strip and the hotel, I couldn't help but assume that completing this assignment was going to be easy this weekend. Vegas is overfilled with flashing signs and lights. However, this assignment was difficult for the very fact that Vegas is jam packed with obnoxious, flashy lights that don't elicit much emotion. I chose this photo of an extravegant chandelier in Caesar's Palace because this was one of the few lights I encountered that gave me a slight emotional context. The ornate design of the fixture paired with the dangling crystals that reflected the light made me feel like I was in a fancy, elegant world. As I noticed this overhead lighting, I realized that the intoxicating smell of smoke, boisterous people, and obnoxious sounds coming from all directions depleted this false sense of elegance. The lighting attempted to create the illusion that we were in a classy, elegant location, however, this false sense of class was immediately recognizable by the overpowering environment that this lighting fixture attempted to hide.

Week 5 Bathroom Not By Candle Light

I wanted to display the idea that Professor Alcaraz gave to us in class which is how light can "paint" a room. You can take an ordinary room that you see everyday, and create an atmosphere that is abstracted from reality. The light in the photo captures the surface texture of the wall, reflecting the light source and projecting artificial light sources. Also, the left corner displays almost a green color which is intriguing since the light source is a flashlight with no color.

Week #5 Super Mario Clouds

Looking at this image takes me to the Mushroom Kingdom. The fluffy clouds and colors immediately remind me Super Mario. The straight-on 2D perspective reinforces this impression. 

In terms of lighting, I like that the sky is so bright while the ground is shadowy and dark.There is a lot of texture in the sky and the landscape. The blues, whites and purples make feel calm and protected; like the way you might feel listening to the rain on your window in the morning. The green is lush and deep; it reminds me of being a carefree kid and playing in the grass.

Overall, this image gives me a sense of play and imagination. 

Week 5- Where am I?

If you had to guess, you would probably say that this photo was taken at some type of rock concert most likely late at night.  In reality, this photo was taken during a church service I attended with my boyfriend's family at 9am on a Sunday morning.  I found myself a little confused and overwhelmed when the house went black, and these big green revolving light fixtures lit the stage and circled out to where we were sitting.  I have never been to a church service like this before, and I thought it was a very unique, bold choice for that environment.  To me, this was a perfect example of the power that lighting can have; it can transport you from the setting you are in to a completely different place.  The lights were bright, strong, and energizing, and although I may not have understood this choice completely, I appreciated the surprise of it.

Week 5: The Function of Lighting

As I sat on the plane to Chicago, I felt I needed to take a picture of the overhead lighting in the aircraft. While it's primary function is to provide illumination for the safety of passengers on board, the lighting also has a dual purpose of providing a gentle and calming ambiance to the aircraft cabin. If the lighting was too bright it would cause stress on the eyes of passengers who are most likely trying to sleep during their flight. On the other hand, if the lighting was too dim, other passengers and the flight staff would be unable to safely move about the cabin space. The airlines decision to install this kind of lighting was able to satisfy the needs of the airline crew as well as the comfortably of the passengers. Applying this same principal to stage lighting would be to consider the purpose of the design as well as to consider it's functionality.
 

Week #5: X

This is a photo of the sky on a rainy evening, with two spotlights intersecting to form an X through the air. I went to the hollywood bowl amphitheater to see a concert by my favorite band, Bon Iver. On this particular night, the air was cool and the rain came and went as the band played on. I looked up for a moment and saw that the sky and the clouds looked ferocious, yet beautiful. This image that I photographed mirrored the mood of that evening, as the electronic music blasted in simultaneously harsh and beautiful ways. Another similarity between the image and the music was the ambiguous, enigmatic nature that they both exuded. While I find this image striking and powerful, it is indefinable and abstract. It is almost like a painted canvas, with many different textures and colors, creating a dense and muddy scene. This scene is interrupted by the sharp, clean rays of light from the spotlights. I can imagine this image serving as a backdrop for a dynamic dance piece set to a dramatic score.    

Week #5 - Sound in Lights

Last Friday I went to a concert at the Hollywood Palladium. The artist, James Blake, and his band had a amazing lighting and screen with projections to add to his music. This created a close atmosphere. The lights and the screen projections were what my friends and I commented on the most besides how good the artist sounded live. This definitely created an awe throughout the audience.

This photo was shot during the concert, as you can see other phones in the audience. I especially enjoyed the texture from the haze that was used along with the down lights and the side lights. I was interested in how the down lights were sectioned off so when they were on, they projected down on top of the artist/band member in a square. The side lights complimented with color. It was interesting to see the intensity of the lights in how they matched the music.

The green in this photo gives a dark mystical feeling. The combination of the down lights and the haze highlighted the strokes from the lights. In this photo, I feel as though this lighting gives an engulfed feeling. The green reminds me of the Wizard in Wizard of Oz representing power.

Week 5: Eerie and Inviting Play of Light on Water

I was walking my dog down a wet and deserted street. There was a broken sprinkler under a street lamp which gave the spray this beautiful amber. The light also captured the mist coming off the spray which made it look like fog. It was eerie and inviting. The photo is a little fuzzy but I didn't want to ruin the look with a flash. I was alone with my dog beside me and she slowed her pace too, most likely because she didn't want to get wet, but we both paused here for a second and took in what was happening ahead. After such an intense school schedule, my only time I am not reading or writing or dancing or choreographing, I like to spend with my pup, our walks are a quiet time for me to regroup, reflect and give my brain and body a rest, and when I came across this accidental geyser under a street lamp I couldn't help but notice this eerie and inviting play of light on water. It was nice to hear the noise of the water pervade that air while all else was silent, and feel the glow of the lamp was a perfect way to end the night.

Week 4 Ghostly Reflection

I took this shot because sometimes our reflections don't resemble ourselves. I love the shadowy feel of this image because it transports the image of a person into something that resembles a ghost or a soul. Lighting can have that affect on stage.

Week #4 - Glowing with Solace and Simplicity

Location: My living room in Irvine, Ca.
After a few weeks of saving on the infamous grad school budget, I was able to purchase a lamp that added a perfect glow to my living room (clad with an Edison bulb, a replacement of the rather dull stock bulb :)).  My favorite mode of lighting in my little condo is photographed above: all lights in my living room shut down with the exception of one floor lamp (tucked in the corner) which shines bright enough to make visible the entire living room.  Saturating my side table contents with interactive reflexivity, this quaint lighting arrangement brings nostalgia to mind when I gaze over at my side table contents: the orchid and the photo of my friends.  Sentimentalism and the notion that the best moments of life are simplistic: reading a book at home, smelling the flowers, enjoying the laughter of friends and resting form the day's labor are brought forth as I admire my most recent living room purchase.  Purple and yellow tones well compliment and balance one another in this scene (admittedly the yellow tones are not prominent in the photo), a reminder that the aforementioned pleasures - inspired by living room lighting - come from a life that is well balanced and prioritized.  I am reminded by this scene that simple pleasures deserve deliberate counting and treasuring alongside the great adventures and risks undertaken in the artistic life.

Week 4: Lighting the way

As I approached the bridge between a shopping center, I noticed that the walls were lined with a row of bushes covered in lights. The net of lights were unlike traditional Christmas tree lights in that they were round, ball shapes. The glow from these lights created shadows within the leaves and highlighted the pathway of the bridge. These lights contrasted with the bright, obnoxious signage on the buildings surrounding me and brought about a sense of ease when crossing the bridge. The softness of the white lights made me feel comfort and happiness as it served to guide my pathway.

Week #4 Study lighting

Saturday evening, as I was winding down from a long day of studying I noticed how beautifully the light from my lamp was filling my otherwise dark apartment. The light was warm and yellow, it stretched out in two directions like the reflection of something sitting on top of a body of water. The light contrasted the beautiful blue in the sky outside my window. The whole scene gave me a feeling of twilight.

The emotions I get from this photo are tranquility, calmness and repose.

Week #4 - Creating Movement from Stillness

This weekend I decided it was necessary to take a break from school and go to Disneyland, even if it was only for an hour. When I first walked into the park, one of the first things that caught my eye was a window at one of the shops. I stood in line for popcorn right next to it and realized that the window changed scenes every 30 seconds or so. While I watched this happen, I realized that the only reason it was a successful change was because of the lights. There were LED lights all around the perimeter of the window's ceiling that lit different parts of the window. The contrast between the deep, saturated blue in one scene and the bright, open pink and ambers in the other created the image of an almost animated scene rather than a still picture inside a box. While I was in the park I just took the pictures thinking it was a cool effect and that Disney is so clever and then moved on with my night. But, as I was looking back at these pictures to make this post I realized that observing this window helped me see that lighting can make movement. Maybe not literally, but light can make something look alive when it is actually still. When you apply this to choreography, it makes lighting so important to a dance piece because not only does light highlight the movement, it adds to it.

Week 4: Cotton Candy at the Fair

Walking around campus last week I noticed the sky and its beautiful pink and blue color.  I loved the fluffy texture of the pastel pink clouds and how they contrasted to the light baby blue beneath them where the sun was still shining before it set.  It reminded me so much of cotton candy, which I would always buy at the town fair as a child.  I felt nostalgic with a sense of hope for the future thinking about how far I have come since those days and how much more I can still accomplish.   

Week 4: Forever on the Marley

Week 4: Always on the Marley

This morning I was in a rehearsal for New Slate when I snapped this picture of my choreographer working through timing as she perfectly placed herself within the frame of the window reflection. I was initially very excited by the reflection on the floor because of the various colors streaming through the studio window as a result of the sun reflecting hues of purples, blues, greens and yellows from the dorm building windows across the way. The colors reminded me of the quiet morning that I shared with my choreographer, as we worked quickly and adamantly to continue on with choreography. The coolness of the colors made me feel at peace and not binded to the small space of the studio, and I felt a sense of reflection because I was reminded of the source of the colors on the marley (sun, nature) . As I look back at this picture now, I am more interested in how the window reflection closed off/confined the space by creating a grid-like shape on the floor. I  feel that this confinement makes a large statement because it is forcing the eye (or the audience) to center its (their) focus on what is inside of the space. I am reminded that perhaps some of the biggest statements in lighting design can be created within a very small space, in which using less  (perhaps less space, brushstrokes, or less color) can communicate a bigger statement than lighting the entirety of a space and using many colors and brushstrokes (though I also realize that it depends on what is being communicated). This photo reminded me that as a designer, I am not only enhancing and further supporting the concept of a piece, but I am also  encouraging the audiences’ eyes to focus on specific areas of the space, details in the movement, or emotions within the context of the colors, the brushstrokes and the textures. I believe that I typically attempt to light the entirety of my space, which I am realizing can be difficult for the audience to know where to look or why to look in specific places. I want to think about this in my design processes, because I feel that doing less can suggest more, whether this means confining a space, focusing on using less color, or less brushstrokes in general, and how I might do so to aid the audience in engaging in the conversation between light and movement onstage. More to come on that...

Week #4 Majestic Tree

This weekend, I went back home to visit my parents in the San Fernando Valley. I arrived to find the house the same way I had left it last, with the same green grass and the same large tree in the front yard. While this setting is all too familiar to me, I noticed something new about the old tree. It was illuminated in such a way that I could see details I had not seen before. The pine needles and leaves were so defined, that I could see each one separately. The different textures were so prominent, that what I once thought of as a clump of greenery was now an interesting array of foliage, arranged meticulously by nature. The way this old tree was lit gave it new life and a majestic feel, as it cast its shadow on the grass below.

Week #4 - Rainbow Bright

I took a quick "break from life" nap this past weekend and woke up to find a rainbow on my wall. As I woke up from my nap, I examined the lines and the distinct colors as well as the transition from one color to the next. From the red to yellow, I noticed the orange and the green between the yellow and blue. 

After staring at the rainbow trying to wake up, I took a photo of it, and then tried to find the source of where the it was coming from. I found that the white light from the sun was coming from my bedroom window and reflected from my mirror onto my wall. 

This rainbow reminded me of when my niece (5 years old now) liked to chase rainbows from the prism that we hung on the sliding glass door. This prism also rotated so the rainbows moved when the sun casted light on it. This rainbow brought me a feeling of refreshment (cause I woke up from a nap, and it also reminded of freshness after a rainstorm), playfulness (memory with my niece), positivity and energy. 

Beauty in the Dark Week #4

I went to the Sia concert last weekend at the Hollywood Bowl and besides the fact that the concert was an incredible, almost out of body experience for me, what struck me throughout was how the stage was used for this concert. I had just seen Dolly Parton the week before and it was a very different look and feel, where as Dolly was all bright and glittering, Sia used a fraction of the space with just as much presence.
The stage was centered with, what appeared to be a white wall and a white floor. Each song took on a a life of their own. This particular song was filled with these sparkling lights, like fireflys or the reflection from a sparkling diamond. It was magical and constantly shifting while the dancers moved through the space. it was riveting and i was blown away by the simplicity and the powerful statement of allowing your beauty to shine even though you may be hidden in the dark.

Drops of Iridescence

The Retreat is a hair salon in Costa Mesa with a modern, minimalist style of decor that I've always been drawn to: sharp lines, the absence of knick-knacks/ superfluous decorating items, a monochromatic color scheme.  Because of the modernist design of the interior, droplets of white light illuminating iridescent fixtures prove alluring for my eyes as I frequent the space.  Some iridescent phenomena can reflect strong colors, but these fixtures reflect pastel colors; a relieving and soothing effect for those desiring a "retreat" (pun intended).  Hairstyling is also a creative space, and the pastel, iridescent reflections seem to lovingly assist the stylist on his/her creative journey - both by providing work light in tones that can represent a peaceful space, and by representing color with enough gentleness that a hairstylist need not oppose any emotional state elicited by bold colors.  Sheik minimalism and a monochromatic, gray and white color scheme kissed with gentle, iridescent gems brings to me an overall essence that the ancient Hebrews used to call Shalom: peace that comes from order - brining forth individual potential to well-steward creativity.

Week 3- Gradient

This picture is from a trip I took to San Francisco right before school started. We went to Natural Bridges State Beach right at sunset just to see the sights and enjoy the beach while the sun just started to go down. I loved this picture because of all of the gradient in color. The placement of the sun in the sky caused the horizon to be almost white which contrasted to the bright blue of the sky above. It was a contrast to the deep blue of the ocean as well, and the many different shades of blue just makes me want to take a deep breath of sea air. I was also intrigued by the shadows cast into the bridge and the gradient it gave to the rock, similar to the sky. Normally I might just look at this and think it is a nice picture of a beach, but when you look to find more detail you see that it is the light in the picture that really makes it special
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Week 3 The Window of Earthly Matter

Here is a picture I took to remind me of the importance of framing an image. This picture uses darkness to frame light. It draws in the viewer to look at the textures, and contours of a tree. The frame creates a bold contrast between light and dark and allows the audience to forget about the periphery and focus on the image at hand.

Week #3 Imposing clouds

This weekend, I was in Silver Lake with my boyfriend. He lives in a a house high up in the hills with a beautiful view. Being that it is LA, the vista is usually bright and sunny with blue skies and warm sunlight. However, on Sunday morning we looked out over a gloomy landscape overwhelmed with dark, rolling clouds. 

This picture makes me think of that expression, 'the calm before the storm.' The deep blues in the clouds are contrasted by light patches of faded yellow where the sunlight peeks through. The landscape below is a deep green with dark shadows that approach silhouettes. The composition of this image divides the frame in two which makes the scene appear stark and bold. 

Week 3 Glimmering Reflection

I was eating ice cream at the Spectrum on Saturday evening when I unexpectedly noticed the sunlight glimmering off the pavement. I smiled abruptly and chuckled a bit as I pulled my phone out to snap a photo. After explaining to my boyfriend why I was taking a photo, I realized that noticing light in our everyday surroundings is not a common past time. I laughed because I knew that without taking this class, I would not have thought twice about this panel of light that people walked through without hesitation. The sunlight was reflected onto the pavement, which in turn reflected off the tiny fragments of the walkway and projected a shimmering, sparkling glow. This glow brought a feeling of realization. With the evening breeze setting in after a day of sunshine, this glimmer of light captured the current shift of seasons. It made me feel hopeful and excited for fall to fully set in.

Week #3 Aliens

This is a photo of a house which I found to be eerily lit late at night. The house was situated in a very quiet neighborhood. The streets were empty and dark, as the grey clouds seemed to cover the moonlight. Because the surroundings of the house seemed empty and desolate, the lights coming from inside shone brightly, emitting sharp rays of yellow light that seemed foreign to their setting. This scene allowed my imagination to run wild, as I pictured an alien life form to be inhabiting the home. This house could very well have lifted off the ground and floated away like a UFO.

Week 3: Up With the Sun

Most days, I find myself up with the sun, driving my course to start my day while the sun finds its way up into our sky. While each day brings its own perfect sunrise, I find that I am often distracted or amused by my own thoughts to really notice my emotional and physical response besides the typical “oohs” and “ahs” of the colors that I see in the sky. I decided to wake up early to see the sun rise without man-made distractions, so I headed to the Huntington Pier and arrived around 6:30am. I took this picture to remember my experience, with the pier in the foreground,and the sun rising in the background. Naturally, the pier was silhouetted by the sun, and so my initial thought process was that any scene or setting where a sunrise or sunset exists should obtain some form of silhouette (in theatrical lighting). However, I also thought back to the first in-class project, and came to the realization that it is imperative in design to think less about capturing a picture and more about the emotions, the memories and the physical responses that emerge— a response to experience. I decided to spend more time thinking about the thoughts that arose as a result of experiencing this sunrise, and came up with words like ‘quiet’ ‘peaceful’ ‘pure’ ‘luminous’ ‘powerful’ ‘brilliant’, and thought of memories that I associate with sunrise, often involving loved ones, coming to terms with something, or feeling gratitude for my journey. I find that this is much more insightful, more full of depth and more communicative than choosing a source of light and creating a silhouetted foreground. This goes along with my first blog post, where experience and the association of colors and images with ideas, memories, and emotions is more honest to our experience as beings than a photo copy image that might seem sterile and dishonest in result (perhaps a repetitive blog post but a revelation nonetheless). I am going to challenge myself to think in terms of experience in my choreographic and lighting design processes, because I feel that these experiences must communicate most clearly to viewers, and allow for viewers to pull from the stage and respond according to their own experiences. 

Week 3 Psychedelic Vibes

  My boyfriend's latest purchase included this psychedelic hippy light which he informed me is supposed to reflect the Aurora Borealis in the Northern Hemisphere.  It reminded me of something you would see in a 70's movie with everyone taking psychedelic drugs and dancing around together.  Looking up, I noticed that the red laser shot across the ceiling with intensity, while the remaining blue, purple, and green lights filled the space with less intensity creating a softness and giving the whole picture dimension with the red light appearing closer than the other colors behind it.  It was also going at a faster speed than the blue, purple, and green lights.  I soon found myself mesmerized by the light, focusing on the red laser, and becoming more and more relaxed and calm.  The way the lights make you focus and forget about what is going on around you and what your worries are in this hypnotizing way brings peace.  I decided that from now on when I am having trouble sleeping, I will put these lights on to quiet my mind and make me more present and worry free.

Week #3 :: Afternoon Stroll

I ended up taking my dog for a walk in the afternoon the other day, and noticed the sunlight hitting our backs casted shadows in front of us. 

This made me think of Peter Pan and his shadow he tries to catch. The light and the shadow give a sense of playfulness. When I look only at the shadows in this photo, I right away focus on the figures the light creates. The shadows are simple and pure with defined lines. The sunlight is bright to feel warmth, but not jarring, reminding me of positivity and happiness. Maybe it was because I was taking a break from being indoors, but this also gives a sense of relief. It is a moment of bringing energy and spirit to the day. 

The Drama of Faith Week #3

I was staying at an Airbnb last weekend, and the house was decked out in this sort of stucco-type-
mexican-pueblo-gothic smattering of styles kind of place. As i rounded that spiral staircase to the 3rd floor of the house to where the master suite was, i came upon this dramatic lighting. I imagine it is meant to inspire a spiritual response, as it is a cross, with the crucified Jesus hanging from it.  Although you cannot tell from the picture, the statue itself is quite detailed with blood dripping from his ribs and visible bones from where the spikes are driven through the hands and feet. A reminder to be thankful for all he did for his followers and eventually Christianity. I always have trouble with these cast idols, i remember the bible forbidding these types of things, but churches and religious zealots always seem to have these around as a constant reminder. I do not know the rules anymore, so i am not judging their choice, but it usually makes me uncomfortable since I do not hang my personal spiritual beliefs for all the world to see in horrifying detail, however i can truly respect the choice of matching this particular idol under a spotlight in a recess, in a wall, at the top of a staircase, in front of a master bedroom. Every detail more exacting and dramatic than the next. A watchful eye on whatever you may do here.... The drama of their faith is a potent aspect of this place and it is obvious that above all else, the dedication to their beliefs is paramount.

Week 2 - Whimsical Enchantment

Across the street from The Anti Mall in Costa Mesa, there lies a little coffee shop called Milk and Honey.  The outdoor area is a small encapsulated space, shaded by overgrown branches and draping greenery.  The natural light that seeps into this outdoor alcove appears to glow with a beam of supernatural radiance, while the surrounding whimsical canopy brings to mind an enchanted garden.  For those reading or studying, Milk and Honey adds subtle, superficial light in the style of hanging lanterns.  The contrasting natural and superficial light in this space creates a gentle radiance that feels very much 'alive', creating a sensed movement throughout the 'house-of-shade' it inhabits, and warranting the uncanny anticipation of something magical to occur.  I expect that a space like this transforms the experience of the ordinary (i.e.: coffee with an old friend) into something extraordinary with an air of romanticism (i.e.: the old friends decide finally to share their most guarded secrets).  Outdoor light creating both the sky backdrop and the shadowed reflections of nature's overgrowth, accentuated with a few small, intentionally placed yellow beams [hanging lanterns] beacons my mind to think of something supernatural; not only something unreal or mythical like in The Secret Garden, but also something palpable and experiential to human beings.  This something might be described as "chemistry" or "spark" in a romantic connection, especially vulnerable to invocation in a setting like this one.  "Epiphany" for the entrepreneur or "revelation" for the faith seeker might also be nurtured here.  Whether it be "deep and meaningful" emerging in the categorical topics among friends or "forever treasured" in the moments spent by a mother with her child, I feel as though Milk and Honey's indoor/outdoor atmosphere has the potential to light aglow and/or further illuminate some undiscovered flames in the hearts of its dwellers, catalyzing something covertly miraculous, something peculiarly memorable, something undeniably "other" within its whimsical den ~ a den very much alive with a warm-hearted, enchanting luminosity.

Week 2 Cotton Candy

I walked outside to get a load of laundry at my aunts house, which is a few blocks away from the beach. As soon as I stepped outside, I knew I had to drive down the street to catch a glimpse of the cotton candy sunset. I captured this picture with the intention of grabbing a snippet of this soft, fluffy glow. The photo doesn't do justice to the actual colors of the clouds. The textures and colors could only exist through a living perception of the sunset. The sun had already drifted out of sight, yet the rays of light pierced the clouds to create a soft glow of pink and purple. The clouds looked like cotton pulled and stretched across the sky. The edge of the sky was cut in half by the blue water. As I looked at the sky, I inhaled deeply and wondered about how this image seemed so other worldly, as if no one would ever know the life of the clouds. It brought an overwhelming sense of wonder, joy, and comfort all at once.

Week 2 Light & Dark Cooking

I picked this photo because the background is in darkness, while the foreground in bright. Also, because of where the light source is located, the grill stage right has light while the other grill's light is blocked. I thought this was an interesting shot for sunday dinner because I can see this lighting effect being possible in the studio. There is an emotional response of hope and despair between the two grills. It also challenges my reasoning about which grill I should use to cook tonights dinner.





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Week 2 - Surprising Sunset

I captured this picture from the parking structure by the dance department. I was going home after a rehearsal and wasn't looking for a good picture to post on the blog, but as I looked around to remember where I had parked that morning my eye caught this sunset. There was something special about this light--on any other day I might not have been quite as compelled to use a picture of a sunset for this blog. I stood for a minute to appreciate this view and thought about how light has the unique ability to make you look at something in a different way just by being there. During the day, when the sun is shining bright, I would have looked at this scene and thought it was an ugly industrial view with nothing special going on. With the sun quickly going down I felt an urgency to appreciate the silhouettes and contrasting colors in the sky before they were enveloped in black. It's hard to see in this picture but the sun was a bright orange that slightly illuminated the sky so that it was still blue. I don't think I've ever seen a sunset quite like this, and I thought that it brought a very calming sense to a scene that usually represents work and stress. I think that's why I've always thought lighting is so important to consider when doing choreography because it can completely change or enhance your intent depending on how you use it. Something I hope to gain from this class is the ability to know how to use lights to always reinforce what I want to say with my choreography.

Week #2 Silhouette

This week for my lighting blog, I specifically looked for silhouette for picture. I got thinking about silhouette after working on my lighting cue assignment (there is mention of silhouette in the choreographer's notes). I started wondering what kind of feelings can be attributed to silhouettes and how they are used.

I've always thought of the silhouette as being used to create a 'sexy' look. You see it all the time at dance recitals in the beginning of tap and jazz routines. To be honest, I've never really liked silhouettes, they've always felt a bit corny to me.

My preconceived notions of silhouette couldn't be more different than the feelings I get from this picture. The image was taken at a parking lot at UCI and the lighting turns an otherwise unexceptional view into a charged image. I love the way the darkness in the foreground contrasts the pastels in the sky it gives the impression of being calm and grounded. I also like the way the silhouette flattens out the image and makes it sort of 2D. This impression makes me feel like what I'm looking at is important, like it was stamped into the frame.

Week 2: Music and Color

A couple of weeks ago, I drove in LA traffic for two hours to watch one of my favorite hometown bands perform at the Troubador. I would never willingly sit in traffic, but when it involves artists from Claremont, I’m all in. While I truly enjoyed the music, I found myself spending a lot of time focused on the lights. Because the concert took place in a music venue, the intention of the lighting design was much different than what one would see in theatrical design. I noticed that most of the lighting instruments were utilized on the spot, with little planning and little rehearsal process in regards to the focus of the instruments (they weren’t completely focused on the musicians, but rather on various hot spots around the perimeter o f the stage). My guess is that they pre-focused lights to cover a majority of the stage. As I had mentioned previously, I felt that the intention of the design was to magnify the message, mood, or ideas that are summoned as a result of the music. This was especially apparent in regards to the color choices used, in which burnt orange, reds, soft pinks, and greens (as seen in the picture below) magnified the band’s concept of seasons (of fall specifically), and warmth. I really appreciate this picture because I would have never thought to use green to communicate warmth and fall, but feel that it very much compliments the reds, oranges, and soft pinks of the big LED lights. Upon reflection, I feel that it might be important in design to use “contrasting” colors, where using a balance of warm and cool colors allows for a designer to delicately communicate an idea without being too forward, too intense, etc.  I want to think about this in my future processes of choosing color, where at times it is acceptable to intensely and dramatically communicate an emotion or feeling, and at other times, it is important to play with opposing color ideas to communicate subtly.  Especially in this picture, I feel that there is a richness that is presented because of the use of the green, which allows for the stage to look bigger and “layered” (for lack of a better word), or textured. I hope to think about these concepts in regards to theatrical lighting design for my future projects.