Lighting Observation 3.1

Posted on February 16, 2012 by previousstudent

1) 2/15/12 – 11:23 AM – Sitting in the house of Adams Playhouse.

2) OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: I was sitting in the house waiting for the symposium to begin and was finishing mu math homework as I waited. There were only the scoop lights on in the house and the work-lights over the stage. The shadows were really intense and made it hard to work.

3) SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: I was sitting in the house of the Adams Playhouse waiting for the symposium to begin as I rushed through my last few questions of my math homework. I was leaning over in the uncomfortable seats as I used my legs as a table. I was about halfway through my first problem and I realized that I couldn’t see my work in front of me. Without realizing my struggles I automatically found myself straining back and forth in my seat to just a small bit of light to hit my paper. The Playhouse was plenty bright but all the light was coming from one direction, behind me.

I strained for a good minute before I realized I was simply blocking all of the light that was being cast down behind me. I looked up at the lights that were on and the house was solely illuminated by the few scoop lights hanging on the ceiling of the house. I looked back down at my paper and realized how defined my shadow was on my paper. the top and edges of the paper had plenty of light but the outlined shadow of my head was extremely dark and impossible to work under. I was slightly confused as to why there was no other light hitting my paper from any other angles. I looked over the stage and saw that the work-lights were on but after studying them I realized that they were not illuminating anything other than what was on stage because the fixtures were hung so hight and bleeding was prevented by the borders in the flys. I noticed that around my main shadow there were two other very faint shadows that were hardly noticeable until I really studied the light. These shadows were cast off from the reflections of the lights above the house. I sat there and played with my shadows until the symposium started, looking up at the lights while I did so. I was able to realize the characteristics of this form of lighting and saw that with just this one light being projected on me as opposed to the full house lights, my visibility had been severely decreased.

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Photo Observation #3

Posted on February 16, 2012 by previousstudent

Photo taken by Nic Christopher on August 31st at around 3:00 PM

THEME: Shadows

DESCRIPTION: This photo was taken on a relatively clear day in the city right across the street from St Patrick’s cathedral. It was taken as the sun was going down yet still high enough in the sky to cast light down onto the buildings, unobstructed from the buildings surrounding the cathedral. I love this picture because not including the sepia tone, it is entirely untouched in post production. The way the sun cast its light onto the buildings and the fact that statue was completely covered by the shadows provided an illusion of a photo montage even though the composition was untouched.

The intricate patterns and cut outs etched into the side of the cathedral offered a playground for the sun’s rays to cast shadows all over the wall. The intensity of the sunlight emphasized every raised surface on the cathedral. The shadows behind these highlighted portions offer an amazing contrast on the building making it appear 3-D in the flattened image. In the foreground of the image ties the piece all together as the building to the right had cast a shadow over the entirety of the statue. The dark figure placed against the bright background offers a wonderful contrast that makes the viewer seem as if they are right there. When I study the  picture, I can sense the angle of the sun and the approximate placement of all the structures that surrounded me as I snapped this picture. The sun was at a perfect angle that day and at a perfect intensity to capture a moment with a melody of intense lighting accented with soft and harsh shadows to make the image come to life and bring the viewer to 50th and 5th on this august afternoon.

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Photo Observation #3

Posted on February 16, 2012 by previousstudent

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/swiiffer/6750892379/in/photostream

3. Shadows

4. In many photos, the shadows are very powerful. The contrast between the light and dark is harsh, creating an intensity and invoking responses of heat, sadness, passion, mystery, etc. This picture, however, is very different from that. The shadows are light and subdued. It creates a softness and warmth that usually isn’t found in shadows. It’s peaceful, like Sunday mornings, sleeping in, and easy laziness. This could easily translate to the stage to create a similar effect.

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Light Observation #3

Posted on February 16, 2012 by previousstudent

1. February 12, 6:15 pm, Design Studio in Emily Lowe

2. The light outside the window of the design studio illuminated the falling snow.

3. While sitting int he design studio on Sunday, I was staring out a window when I realized that it was snowing. One of the lights right outside the window lit a very small area in the night sky, making it just bright enough to make out the lightly falling snow. Although both the snow and the dark sky bring images of cold to mind, the light had a warm tone to it. It made the snow seem almost romantic, rather than wintry and blustery. It created a very tranquil moment, serene and peaceful. I generally hate the snow, so it was very different for the light to change my opinion that much.

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Photo Observation!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by previousstudent

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THEME: Shadows

I love the contrast in this photo – not the visual contrast as in light and dark, but the inferred contrast. You see an adorable little puppy, trotting along, and then its shadow comes along and completely alters your opinion. It’s menacing, it’s vicious, like a werewolf or something out of a George R. R. Martin novel. The angle in which the light catches the animal is awkward and unsettling, elongating the legs to much more than their actual length. It also catches the wisps and tendrils of dog hair that stray from the body – that coupled with the extended teeth and jaw of the pup makes it look almost manic. You are distracted enough to easily forget that the animal is tethered, but are happily assured of its restraint by the shadow of the leash as well.

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Light Observation!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by previousstudent

Tuesday 14 February, 2012 (any night, really)
My dorm room
Around 1:30 am

The blinds are down over our 9′-0″ x 4′-0″ window, slats pointed up. The orangeish-red of the lampposts outside and down seven stories gently furnishes our room. Faint stripes of orange are visible across the far upper wall and ceiling and the room is cast in a subtle orange glow mixed in with the dark of nighttime.

I’m reminded of just how awake I am this late at night. The room is never in the full black of night, the way the campus is never unlit. Artificial light seeps into every corner making it quite easy to move about when my roommate’s asleep, regardless of the vain attempt of sleep-worthy dark. The campus is never fully asleep, even when it’s inhabitants are. It can’t be to ensure a respectable amount of safety. In a way it’s comforting – nothing is ever unseen, hardly anything is missed. But for now all I can think is how my eyes are still open, fully adjusted to the dark, and I can still make out all the details of my shoe rack, vaguely tucked away into a corner. I wish I were asleep.

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Light Observation #2

Posted on February 10, 2012 by previousstudent

1) DATE-TIME-LOCATION: Around 3:45am, Friday morning, walking across Memorial Quad

2) OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: It is as black as it can be on the quad. Looking at the ground as I walk along the sidewalk, I suddenly notice that it has lightly frosted and the light from the lamps is hitting the sidewalk at the perfect angle to make it seem to sparkle.

3) SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: As soon as I noticed the sparkle, I had to smile.  I was getting the best of both worlds in that moment.  I don’t mind the cold very much, but I am not a fan of winter and all of its implications.  Still, one of my favorite sights to see at home is the moonlight or the soft light coming from the barn lighting up a still pristine snowfall on the lawn. Even better is seeing that same sparkle across acres of unadulterated snow. It may have been the hour, but seeing the ground sparkle made me a little giddy. Although the light may reflect off of water, there is nothing that I have seen that compares to the glittering of ice crystals on the ground, and I love that something so lively and almost mysterious can occur in nature. Part of me can’t help but feel like it has a little bit of magic; it makes me think of The Nutcracker, Fantasia, and faeries sprinkling lovely, magical dust. Best of all, that lively glitter and the brisk air that goes along with it has the ability to calm and center me.

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Photo Observation #2: Cold

Posted on February 10, 2012 by previousstudent

Chuck Kennedy / White House/Sipa Press/NEWSCOM

THEME: Cold

DESCRIPTION: Although it isn’t true for everyone, there are few things that make me think of cold more than Christmas/the holiday season.  I chose a picture of a lit tree from outside of a house because it employs the imagination and it uses a warm, inviting lighting to portray the opposite.  The elaborately decorated tree and the fireplace in the background make it easy to imagine being curled up inside on Christmas Eve with a fire blazing and some hot cocoa. The subtle presence of the light reflecting from the windowpane and the detailing of the window tells a different story. Maybe family members are returning home to celebrate the holidays together and are unpacking their cars in the freezing cold, all the while seeing this inviting room. Maybe someone that has no choice but to work the holidays sees a sight like this as they sadly leave their family behind. Or maybe someone with no family, no home, no cozy, cheerful room waiting for them views the lit tree through the window with sadness and jealousy. In any case, the cold that the viewer is feeling is strongly emphasized by the knowledge that there is nothing but a pane of glass between them and warmth.

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Light Observation 2.1

Posted on February 10, 2012 by previousstudent

1) 2/8/12 – 9:40 PM – Fields at the corner of campus just past the fitness center

2) OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: It was a relatively clear sky with a few clouds scattered in sky. It was a full moon and it was casting shadows and lighting up the entire field and short but clear shadows.

3) SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: Tuesday was a long day; after working against the clock all morning on the Much Ado set I sat through a pair of hour and a half long classes on pure lecture and was assigned double homework due for thursday. Spanish then followed and by the time 6:00 rolled around I was exhausted and  decided a quick walk would do me some good so that I could clear my head and enjoy some fresh oxygen to the brain (free of sawdust and steel shavings). I grabbed my IPod and left the grounds of the netherlands and headed north east to the fields just beyond the fitness center where I like to walk and enjoy the little grassy sanctuary in the middle of the modernized Long Island I was surrounded by. This spot was a little place that reminded me of home, untouched by buildings and simply serves to house the bunnies and offer a clear place for me to breathe and de-stress.

As I got closer to the fitness center I began to relax and let myself wander in my thoughts. I strolled on to the grass and began walking to the far field. At this point I was in a secluded from the bustle around me and was overtaken by my music and the calmness of the cool air. I began to notice the clarity of the air and the full moon shining above me very high in the sky.

I started looking down the ground and noticed how each blade of grass seemed somewhat shiny in the cool light and each blade cast its own faint shadow just beneath it. Even though the darkness of the grass reflected very low intensities the dark shadows hashed into the deep green created a mess of crooked lines into the ground. As I wandered through the grass noticing the faint resemblance of the bunnies I sat down on the bleachers and looked up. The sky was glowing in a dark blue and only the brightest objects in the sky were visible, Venus, Mars and two other stars. There were three wispy clouds directly above me. The  light from the moon made the edges glow white contrasting with rich blue background. I sat there and took a deep breathe and soaked in the air and the world around me. I looked at the moon and realized how for me it was looking in to the sun. I realized that with a life in the theater, seeing the sun would be a privilege on most days and that for as long as I was going to be in this field of study I was going to have to get used to the shadows and feeling of only the suns reflection.

 

 

 

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Light Observation 2.2

Posted on February 10, 2012 by previousstudent

1) 2/8/12 – 8:54AM – Road between the NAB and Lowe, facing south.

2) OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: I was walking to class in the morning and it was chilly and slightly cloudy. The sun was up but was still reflecting some color on the horizon. The clouds had many colors displayed and silhouetted the trees.

3) SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION: It was just before 9:00 and I was sleepily walking through the cold on my way to class. I was walking south east toward Lowe right off the turnpike. As I walked along I was wondering if it was actually going to snow. There was snow in the forecast but there were only a few clouds in the sky and even though it was chilly I knew it was going to warm up. As I looked down the road, I noticed a line of trees, all of them stripped of their leaves, standing very close to each other. Their branches reached across and into the other trees branches and created a chaotic mess of twigs criss crossing and fighting their way into each other.

Beyond the trees, there were a few layers of white clouds on the horizon in front of me. Clearly the sun had been up for a while and it was not a moment where I was witnessing the most brilliant sunrise of all time. The sun was hidden behind the buildings that surrounded me however I was able to witness the relatively low sun reflect its rays onto these clouds hovering in the distance. The hues in the clouds seemed to have been touched with a shade of gray tone painted over every color. There were many purples and blues with touches of a more warming vision of pinks and oranges. The colors looked pastel and muted making the feeling much colder that a more vibrant sunrise. The twigs in the trees were perfectly silhouetted by this muted reflection of the suns rays. It gave me hope that there would soon be the snow that had been forecasted.

 

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