Drama 16 Stage Lighting

My roommate, the lovely Kayla Bickel, took this photo. She was excited after getting her new camera and was testing it out by photographing things in the room last week.

This photo was taken at night in my dorm room, and it is the lighting that best represents my own night life.

The little fireflies of color in the room guide me into sleep most nights. They shine with life in the dark right before I close my eyes. They are calming and soothing. The soft small lights are anything but imposing. They do not blind or clash with their surroundings. Instead, they mesmerize and encourage forgetfulness of worldly cares. These little spread of rainbow lights on the wall can open one’s eyes to other worlds. They give comfort like a warm little candle in the cold dark night, and, with their bright glow contrasting against the surrounding dark, they gently whisper that those who see them are safe. They could instantly be a child’s favorite night light for protection from the beasts of the darkness because of their pretty hues that are apt to bring smiles of delight. Thus, these orbs, these gems, that hang in the room at night are easily declared this college student’s night light, a vital part of my night life. In addition, the lights, themselves, only breathe and sing their soothing songs of color at night and could be considered to have a night life.

This is a photograph from Nicholas Jandrain’s photo series Shanghai.

The photo corresponds to the theme Night Life.

This street has gone to bed early. The stores are shuttered up and all their patrons and owners have left for the day. Nocturnal streetlights and insomniac store security lights dimly light the alleyway. In the background, apartments and office windows flood the sky with light like pixelated stars. The sky soaks up the light pollution like water soaking up a wash of pigment. One figure stands alone in the light coming from a shop, the only one left awake.

1. 

2. http://www.thepinnaclelist.com/blog/directory/sensory-overload-in-times-square-the-neon-heart-of-manhattan-new-york/

3. Night Life

4. Nothing depicts “Night Life” quite like Time Square. Imagine all of the bustling city-goers, walking on the sidewalk with the multi-colored neon billboards shining on their faces. The welcoming glow of Broadway marquees flash as theatrical spotlights beam towards the sky. Bright yellow taxi headlights zoom up and down the avenue as pedestrians wave them down. Glittering skyscrapers contrast with the black night sky. Ironically, Time Square at night is when this city shines it brightest.

2) John Huldrick Wilhelm

http://www.huldrick.com/pages/photo.html

3) Night Life

4) What comes to life at night more than something that is only truly visible at night? Fireworks are literally explosions of light, sound, and color. What’s more lively than something that lights up and redefines a landscape. Fireworks are fun. There is something in them for everyone to appreciate. Little kids love the colors and are amazed at their existence. Teens hear the boom and are intrigued by the delay between light and sound. Adults remember all the great times they spent watching fireworks as kids. Nostalgia and amazement are what really make fireworks into a great nightime spectacle.

2) This photo was taken by flickr user Cilest on November 27th, 2004. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cilest/1731192/

3) Theme: Night Life

4) At first, it seemed that a picture of night life should represent the partying that happens at night- bright lights, colors, and lots of motion. To me, this is a more everyday night life. The city is always alive at night, but not every day is the day you go out to party with friends. The lights in this picture show the feeling of being alive and awake late at night, on a typical day. The way the light disperses off the sign on the building makes the light feel more subdued. It is sleepy and not overly energetic, but it is still alive and shining. This feeling continues into the way the lights are reflected in the rainy street. Night life, every day night life, is tired, but still bright, and there is something so comforting but exciting about that.

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-rad_photos/5174364348/>

THEME: Night Life

I come from a town notorious for the copious amounts of rich, old white people – meaning that it’s a small town with very little to do. There is, however, the waterfront. Edmonds is right on the coast of Puget Sound, so the beach is often frequented by the local high schoolers and would-be hooligans. Downtown Edmonds has a ferry terminal where two ferries take turns docking to carry bored townspeople to the equally boring Kingston thirty minutes across the Sound. However, some things Edmonds and the neighboring suburbs do have going for them is visual appeal – trees galore. Couple that with the picturesque ocean view and you’ve got yourself one hell of a panorama.

Now, the ‘night life’ aspect comes from all of that context up there. When my friend Emma and I are hanging out and don’t have much to do, we’ll generally just go driving around in her car. Around the unlit streets of Woodway with towering evergreens (when we turn off her headlights and pretend to be in a spaceship [totally safe]), down the highway, and eventually along the waterline. We generally end up parked by the beach facing the Sound, watching the ferries go back and forth before they park it for the night. This of course leads to lots of deep, meaningful conversations – as well as the usual silly shenanigans we get up to. At any rate, this picture represents MY night life (or lack thereof), consisting of friends, conversation, and a panoramic view.

The ferry is bright and busy looking, like it’s gotten all gussied up for a night on the town. That in itself allows for contrast on a realistic level, as the town doesn’t get that much action. But on a personal level, I am usually more than happy to just sit back and watch the ferries while Emma and I bitch about life. The fairy lights ferry lights are reflected in the Sound, bringing the water into focus, which is something I really associate with my idea of home. That coupled with how much time I did and do spend at the waterfront fills me with familiarity, as well as a little homesickness. The golden reflection against the pitch black of the water puts me in mind of the depth of the water itself as well as the potential the town actually has, in beauty and entertainment – at least for me.

2.http://colordesktop.blogspot.com/2008/09/street-light-effect.html

3. Night Life

4. The first thing I thought of for night life is a city and fast paced. A light trail from a long exposure gives that fast paced look because all that can be seen is the lights. No cars are visible so it seems like the cars are moving too fast to be seen. Night life is fast paced because it is normally just in the city where everything is fast. In a town there isn’t much life after it gets dark. However in a city life is always going and thats what I think the light trail portrays. Life constantly moving and if you blink you may miss it.

2) I found this on tumblr. http://weheartit.com/entry/23333707

3) Night Life

4) This photo represents night life in more than one way. While it is a picture of alcoholic beverages, the lighting shows more than just that. The club lighting makes the drinks look colorful, like a rainbow. The rainbow effect makes the drinks feel more inviting to take part, in small amounts.