Drama 16 Stage Lighting

Date:  3/30/23 @ 7:30pm

Location: Netherlands Bridge

I was walking towards the bridge to go back to my dorm when I noticed the sunset in the background.

The sunset was a beautiful paisley blue gradient into white and lastly a slight yellow sun at the horizon line. In the foreground, floor lights barely lit the entrance to the bridge while the rest of the bridge remained a dark silhouette outlined by the sunset. This moment felt as though a beautiful sunset was trying to calm my mood, but the harsh and dark bridge kept the stressors and difficulties of the work day constantly present looming over what could be a wonderful moment.

March 15th, 2023 @7:00pm

I was walking to my dorm after class and I noticed two lampposts on campus were lit with different colored bulbs.

Although just 20ft apart, these two different lampposts each had their own characteristics to them. The further one, a warm bulb, appeared to radiate warmth, in turn making the dormitory closer to that source seem friendlier. On the other hand, the closer one, outside my window, was a bright white light. Yes, it was more efficient in lighting the area below, but it gave a harsh and stern tone when entering my dorm.

Single Source

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When I think about a single light on in a room, I think back to when I would stay up late with a desk light on while I read. Because the lamp is the only source in the room, the dark ominous background contrasts with the bright white light on the subject. The angle of the light also creates shadows across the subject, so as to barely light her, and have the full intensity of light on the pages of the book.

March 10, 2023; 8:00pm; Connecticut Highway

The lampposts and headlights were shining on the highway.

The night sky was completely black and yet, on this small section of highway there were individual lampposts staggering alongside the road, lighting our way home. The car headlights shined similar to a kid holding a flashlight in the woods. Though the lamppost dissapeared into the distance, the headlights continued to keep our immediate surroundings lit and safe.

Travel Tips and Inspiration

Bizarre

The blue bioluminescent water reaching onto the shore is a mystifying and unusual sight. The majestic blue neon sharply outlines the waterline as the waves crash on to the beach. Additionally, the warm yellow sunset sharpens the blue tones even further, establishing a beautiful contrast. This moment is bizarre in that the water, through science, is dramatic in its blue tones, and the sunset is absurdly yellow.

Date: 3/3/23

Time: 7:00 pm

The desk lamp I have attached to my bed in my dorm room fell and blinded me as it went to the ground.

As the bright white light fell, it reminded me of the sequence often used in movies when characters are sent to heaven or another realm and the camera is surrounded by white light. This purity of light is painful to view, but at the same time is somehow pleasing. Contrary to the sad, dark, and cloudy emotions that are associated with black, this white light felt tranquil and serene.

Penn State: February 19th, 2023

Night Life

The street lights convey the vibe of a quaint town and work to establish almost a fairy tail setting while strolling down the street. Although its night, the street lights combined with the headlights on the cars create an even wash of light across the entire street. The sky is also a breathtaking view as the dark navy blue clouds roam in the the majestic blue sky. This moment exhibits the ultimate cute night out on the town.

February 19th, 2023 @9:00pm

While my sister was driving me around town, we stopped at a red light and noticed a purple street light.

The street was completely bare and covered in darkness. At a first glance the street seemed completely normal, but the more I looked out into the distance, the more something felt slightly off. Once noticing the purple light, I observed its affect on the street. The purple tint effectively lit the road but left an icy look on the black pavement. This coldness lent itself to an ominous feeling. A haunted aura that surrounded the intersection. Upon leaving the intersection there was a continued eeriness as we drove further into darkness.

Date: February 18th, 2023

Theme: Cold

I visited my sister at Penn State over the holiday weekend and experience the colder climate she endures on a daily bases. To me the tones in the sky demonstrate a crisp winter morning. In the foreground the sky is a richer, deeper blue. Whereas in the back it fades to a softer, lighter shade of blue. The fade from blue to white gives the sense that it gets colder as the sky continues, getting closer and closer to the color of snow. Additionally, there is an evenly distributed bright light with cool tones, making the moment feel even crisper. In contrast, the lines creating the shadows are sharp and harsh, again giving a cooler feeling.

February 17, 2023 at 4:00pm

While working production for Woyzeck I was I was sitting on a ladder attempting to attach legs to a platform that was suspended in the air. While struggling to drill the screw into the wood, the majority of the lights suddenly went out, and only a handful were left at a low brightness.

In this moment I became very aware of necessary good lighting is to do not only construction, but anything. As they began to adjust the lights I notice that cooler tones of light allowed me to see what I was doing more clearly. For the rest of the session as I worked on the platforms I could not help but notice how easily a change in colors and positions of light can affect the work someone is doing. This constant changing in light made me feel flustered and confused as I did had to adjust how I was working in order to better see.