Week 9: Gratitude

So, I am home on the east coast for Thanksgiving, and since I am not able to come home for Christmas, we are celebrating it as well.  The flight home was an all-day affair, and there was a lot to do at home when I arrived.  But it was all worth it.  I love being home, and love getting to see my family.  As I get older, I realize the importance of not taking this time for granted.

For years, I have kept a gratitude journal, and every evening, I write at least five things I am grateful for from the day.  It has helped me through hard times, and I am able to more keenly appreciate and remember the amazing times.

When my family was together last night, I couldn't help but sit back and just listen to the chatter - the memories from past gatherings, the recaps of the each person's last short while, and the retelling of funny stories - not feeling the need to even add my voice to the mix, I was so enthralled with just being there, all of us, connected.  I got up and snapped this picture to capture the moment.

I love this picture because of the chandelier light.  It shines from above, reflecting light like sun rays all over the ceiling.  What a beautiful source of light.  It is so bright the individual candles blur together, and the rays reflected on the ceiling look like a sunburst.  The quality of the picture itself isn't that great and the people are slightly blurry, yet the emotional quality is heartfelt, light, and warm - and the blurring together in this picture just feels like family.  To me, it feels especially warm and bright.  This chandelier light (and this room) hold so many memories - it was perfect to capture this moment for this week's blog.  For me this picture, and this week, is all about gratitude.  I try to live life with a grateful heart, and what a great reminder this is this week.

Week 9: The view of the Dr’s Office

The day after my car accident I went into the walk in clinic because my family was being paranoid. I was waiting in one of the medical rooms and I was looking out the window. I noticed that there were layers of gobo leaf patterns outside this window. (To me the window framed this picture of gobos). I thought about the debt of this view. There were gobos, non-textured light, and then another layer of gobos. I thought this was kind of cool because usually (at least how I think of a textured wash) when one washes the stage in a texture it is the entire stage. If I were to transfer this picture to stage lighting, I wouldn’t wash all of the stage in texture.

I think of depth of as layers. Creating a three demential world in a natural organic environment.

Week 8: Perception

When I think about depth, I automatically think about depth perception.  After taking several, I chose this picture because I love the play on perception.  It was taken from the 3rd floor of the CAC, looking down onto the walkway.  There is a feeling of depth, like the people below are deep in the sea, or at the bottom of a fish tank.  I love that there is a reflection of people walking in the window as well.  The window is on my level, and though it is virtually two dimensional, you can see deep into it as if it was three dimensional.  The viewer's perception is altered due to the reflection of light into the clear window, almost making it appear like a mirror.  But the color in the window is a much darker reflection, which to me plays to its falseness.  I think that reflections, mirrors, and windows/glass are things that I would love to explore with lighting, and can be powerful tools to a lighting designer.

Week 8: The Depth of my Melting Emo Heart

Well HELLO lens flare! It looks like a flower! I cannot believe how amazing the skies have been in November. I am usually driving while the sun is setting, so I can never full appreciate the natural artistry. Yesterday, however, I was standing on my own two feet while the sun was saying goodbye. I was at my best friend's house getting ready for our "Friendsgiving Feast" and she called me out to her kitchen to tell me that there was going to be some beautiful magic happening in the sky. I waited. And waited. It amazes me how subtle and glorious the sky can turn at each given second. The clouds that roll in create different shadows and tints, my whole body feels like it is melting with excitement as I watch it all unfold. I love the layers of depth that are shown in this photo. At the bottom, you can slightly see that I was standing on a patio with a cement wall in front of me. Beyond that are the bushes and tree in front of the house, and even further are the mountains and the sky! I love the hole in the tree, the absence of leaves gives it a completely different feel. This picture made me start to shout random things when I took it, my ADHD kicked in...especially because I had no idea where the purple flare came from! Such a beautiful day!

Week 8: The Trees that Dance

So I looked over the other blogs really quickly and thought it was kind of funny that water and ducks are already posted. BUT I still really wanted to talk about this photo I took during the last day of filming Allison & Jeremy because when I took it, I thought.. hmm... this will work for lighting somehow. And here it is! 

We were filming at this really nice park filled with trees and ducks, but it was this pond that made me stop. The sun was in just the right position to hit the leaves in the trees, cast shadows, and bring light to the pond to cause reflections. And then the ducks disrupting those reflections. It's a photo with much to look at. But my favorite part is actually how well you can actually see the distance in this photo- the depth from the bottom of the picture to the top. Most of the reason I think this is possible is because of the angle of the light (and my camera). We see the trees and their reflections straight on because they are well lit, but then their shadows are at an angle because of the direction of the light. 

In this photo, the trees almost remind me of dancers, being lit from one side to show the form. The shadows have so much movement in them, which also adds to the effect of the trees "dancing."We touched on the fact that light can create another creature on stage by casting shadows in our last class, and I think this photo speaks to that. Reflection also serves as another form that's being lit in this photo, which is kind of fun even though I know this wouldn't work realistically on a stage. 

One last think I'd like to mention is how my eye keeps getting drawn to the tree with the squiggle trunk. That tree is lit so that half of it is in light and the other half in shadow. This tree resembles the movement of a dancer in quite freaky ways- and also shows how lighting from one angle can make something thats far away still eye catching. 

Ah... Nature. 

-Erika 

Week 8: Ice Rink

Dusty

What to do on a clown portrait shoot when it rains and also the sun sets at practically 4:30 in the afternoon?

Well, it turns out you get creative. I thought to myself... where can I find really really bright lights? This led us to the roller hockey court at the arc, where a freshly rained court turned into a magical icy wonderland. Seriously, I couldn't be happier with the way our negative shooting circumstances turned into a aperture and magical depth of field experience. 

Looking at this picture, I feel like I never would have known that it was a sports court and a parking garage. The way the bright beaming white lights hit the water seriously fools me into thinking the ground is somehow icy. The frame becomes so deep as we see all of the ground behind the subject. The soft focus little baby fresnel lights are in fact lights from the parking garage, but are so deep into the frame that they become super soft focus and also look like twinkling little stars. Had there only been front light on my subject, I would not be able to experience the depth of our surroundings. The light coming from behind him in many different forms, both source and reflection, allow us to experience the context of the scene. 

The deeper you pull something out of the field of focus, the more things it can become in a photograph. I'm trying to translate this to stage lighting, and I suppose it makes sense. When you throw really harsh light on something, there is no tricking the audience into believing it is anything else other than what you are exposing it to be. Soft smudged strokes could potentially give an scene room to make magic happen or allow the audience to make assumptions. 

Week 8: Depth Perception

This weekend while I was studiously working on my color plot for the final (which is how I spend all of my free time, naturally), the light coming through the blinds struck me. Well, not literally struck, as you can see, but I think there's a dimensionality to the light in this picture that's more than it might originally appear.

Although the source is obviously outside the picture, an open set of blinds, we can see on the other set the light that is not getting through (being reflecting up, a little, it appears. There is depth to the shadow in this picture, certainly, but the brightness of the sun as it makes itself know feels like a different kind of depth - light rather than dark. I'm not sure why I associate depth with darkness, but thinking a lot about the dynamics of light this quarter is making me consider those associations in a whole new light. No pun intended. Okay, well, now that it's out there, maybe I'll take credit anyway and say it was a little bit intended.

It's interesting to consider also how much light is getting through (if the blinds were gels, how would the transmission vary). Obviously there's a contrast there, but it all seems to tie in with the idea of different kinds of depth to me. It's just a question of where the depth is, and whether we notice it if it doesn't appear as the idea of depth we're used to.

Week 8: depth

Water really amazes me. The way that you can never really tell how deep it is, or what's beneath you. It can be violent or calm, harmful or helpful. (Or relaxing in this case, I was hot tubbing at my friend's house, we were amazed no one else was there) Lighting to convey water has unlimited possibilities, depending on how elaborate you want to get. When people see blue, they automatically think either sad, or water. Just like red is either fire or anger. It's so accessible and simple to show. Then you can move to gobos, projections, or 3d effects. In a production of Hamlet, the entire floor was a blue/ aqua color. When Ophelia drowns herself, the lights shown on the water area, with a projection of movement on top. Fog rolled in as she stepped in, and the light bouncing off of that was really interesting to watch because both were moving. As she drowned a trap lowered and I was totally suspended in the belief that she actually drowned. It was an amazing collaboration of the different design teams to create the moment. I think that the blue itself is effective, but the gobos or textures given add the extra level of belief and realism, so when you use a blue for night (hopefully a different tone is picked) there isn't confusion. I love all the different options that are available. To give further depth, I really have no idea what to do, I'd have to research and test out theories! Or maybe I'd just ask my mentor for ideas, and collaborate the best solution.

Week the Eighth: Depth

This photo was taken as I was driving south on Culver. I noticed how the trees caught the light and had a sort of mind blowing realization once again about the particles of light "sticking" to the matter (i.e. the tree). I realized that the light particles from the sun are sticking to the leaves and branches of the tree that are facing it (the sun is on the right) until no more particles can stick, then the rest go through and land on the other parts of the tree. Which is why in this photo you see that parts of the tree is lighter than the rest. It's not the light isn't going through that makes the other leaves dark, but that not as much light particles are received because it lands on the closest leaves first. BOOM.

Alright, now to the actual theme of depth. I suppose in this photo, what creates the depth is more the shape of the road itself... making it look like the cars on driving deeper into the photo. The fact that it is angled inward like that suggests how far it goes (this shape: / \ ) Then of course, the deepest darkest shadows suggest depth as well. The lighter areas make it look more open and accessible. The darker looks mysterious and far off.

Week 7: Vibrance

water on feathers

I'm in love with the colors in this photo- the fiery orange, the deep creamy teals in the slight ripples, the pink and purples of the duck's foot, and the sepia browns, yellows and grays in it's feathers. 

The colors are so vibrant it seems almost unbelievable that they are naturally occurring. No synthetic stains or digital color enhancement necessary, nature creates these colors all on it's own.  

I just had a client by Woodbridge lake and we got to relish in the last few minute of sunlight, as dusk fell over the water. It was perfect light for shooting portraiture but only for about 15 minutes or so. As she was changing outfits I was immediately drawn to photographing the houses along the lake with the sunset behind them, silhouettes of frames with their little lights turning on, comparing the artificial lamp light with the natural setting sun. 

And yet, these pictures seemed really predictable and expected to me once I looked back at them, and my favorite photos of the day came from a surprise subject, a little duck that came up to me at the edge of the lake (you can see my reflection leaning over the water at the edge of the frame.)

I realize while looking back at this photo that the colors we are witnessing are a simply product of the incredible light. The gentle warm dusk is not only lighting up the water on his back, his feathers, but actually penetrating the water so we can see the colors in his foot. At certain times of day the water surely looks brown, but from this low angle with this dreamy warm quality the water becomes transparent but filled with rich hue. Also, when the sun in higher, we would not have seen the foot, we would have seen glare and probably reflection from above the water. Angle, intensity, warmth and stroke coming together to sculpt this little creature and reveal naturally occurring vibrance. 

Week 7: Dr. Seuss in the Light

 

Light can do some pretty trippy things sometimes, like in this moment. This is another tree found at South Coast Plaza- I guess they really take pride in their lighting here. Which is wonderful for me.

As I walked across the bridge from SCR to to South Coast plaza, I noticed that these trees were purple. At first I was a little confused as to why, but I soon realized it was because of the bright blue (possibly neon?) decorative lights that were on the side of the bridge. What is more interesting is the fact that these bright blue lights made the trees look purple. This takes me back to our color theory class where we saw how different fabric, or colors, can look under different gels. I believe that this is why the tree looks purple. I absolutely loved the effect-it reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book, only it's real life! And it's all thanks to light. And color in that light. I'm pretty sure South Coast Plaza didn't expect or mean for this effect to happen, but regardless, I see this as an opportunity to learn. If I ever want that Dr. Seuss kind of feel in a piece I'm working on, perhaps I can test how blues interact with my set or costumes. This also reminds me of how careful I have to be when choosing gels, because if I don't want this Dr. Seuss look, I better make sure my gels don't clash with the set or costume colors. This goes for all colors of gels in general. It's nice that South Coast Plaza keeps giving me things to think about as far as light goes. Yay!

Week Seven: Cue "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" theme music!

If you look closely, you can make out a min-chi....that's a Minpin Chihuahua. His name is Marley, and he was my first dog to ever raise. I gave him to my mother because I can no longer stand him. If he was human, he would be a prissy D-I-V-A. Anyways, I was at my mother's place this weekend and I noticed how awesome he looked in this aisle of light. The photo was taken at 7:30 am...at this time the light from the morning sun spills into my mother's backyard, over her fence. Marley likes to bask in this warmth...I love how he looks as if he is literally in a spot light that is sweeping the "stage". It also gives the illusion of an alien ray that is sucking him into a space ship! I like the hint of blue on the edges of the beam that is added with the sunlight, it makes his fur look awesome. Poor Marley got really annoyed of me taking photos of him, he just wanted to bathe in peace. Well Marley, you are a dog, not a rock star (though this picture may suggest otherwise!).

Week 7: Light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel...

So I had quite the week.  Just when I thought week 6 was hard, here came week 7 rolling in.  And somehow it topped week 6 for me.  After a hard week of class and work, I had some hard-hitting emotional drama on my landscape on thursday/friday.  By Friday evening, I was in bed by 8pm with the chills, shivering one moment and sweating the next.  I stayed in bed all day Saturday, and am beginning to return to human today.  I had taken a couple pictures this week that didn't seem quite right - until this morning.  When I walked downstairs at 7:30am to go to A Christmas Carol light call, The sun gave me a blesssing. It said: "Hey, you!  Yeah, you - the mopey with his eyes cast down and his shoulders drooping forward - look at me!  I. Am. Light.  I always come back.  And so will you. Just because you are bodily worn out and suffering, you have light to give."

Ok, ok.  So that was a hippity dippity moment - but it really was that kind of moment this morning.  I normally am connected to light through color, but this easy sunlight peeking into my apartment was radiant and alive, and not too harsh or overbearing.  It was pure, not a crazy color, and just for me.  To me, the patterns of sharts of light on the wall at different intervals portrayed my broken and fractured week...moving toward a more solid square of light next week.  And it invigorated me - at 7:30am.  And I am still invigorated by it almost 12 hours later.  Yes, I may be bodily tired, with a sore throat, and in need of sleep.  But I really felt alive because of the simple, "naturall" sunlight shining through my window this morning.  Sometimes it serves us to keep it "simple stupid."

Week 7: A Real Life Down Pool of Green Light (this is for you Gilly)

All week I’ve been wondering what my blog topic should be about. I love taking pictures of clouds, so I thought of maybe doing another picture study of the way colors and light interact with clouds.

Then one night, much to the chagrin of my back, I was practice for a little tap performance in the Norte parking lot with my friend. I happened to look over and saw this down pool of green light and I was like WHAT.

It literally took me 5 times to get this picture. By the time I would get my phone ready or my tap shoes off (I got new tap shoes and won’t walk on the asphalt with them) it would disappear. But finally after we were done rehearsing I was able to capture this.

For Gilly’s one act last spring, The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year, the final moment on stage was a pool of down green light. It’s actually pretty similar to this color, if not the same exact color. Then for the poetry project Gilly and I were partners. I used a down green pool, too. Both times just an isolated down pool in the center. Gilly joked that it was my signature light statement. I also used a down green pool with Kelli in our Halloween project.

Then the other day during our gel sorting party I made a comment about some disgusting yellow gel (it was probably one of the more saturate straw colors). Gilly responding by brining up my liking of the gross greens.

So when I saw this light come on I was like, “IT EXISTS IN THE REAL WORLD”. Granted, I probably couldn’t use this color as a street light in a play without confusing the audience, but it was still nice to see that somewhere other than the theatre my green down pools exist.

Week 7: Projection thoughts

I was laying in bed this morning, and I was thinking about what homework I had to do for today. The rest was cake (I mean by that easy, not the dessert. I wish my homework was to eat cake), but I was stumped on the blog entry. I hadn't been inspired too much this week, I was busy and had lots of work to take care of the entire time. It was sort of windy this morning, so my blinds were rattling and letting more light in, creating a picture on the floor and on my bed of the fluctuating rays. At first I was bothered by it because it was getting in my eyes, but then I started watching it on my bed spread and it was a really interesting sight. Then I got to thinking about gobos and how I could recreate that on a  theatre stage. I know we have ways of making gobos spin with smart lights, but what about making them actually move? We'd have to use projectors aimed at the ground to get that quality. Which wouldn't be too pricey if you already had one!  But if you wanted them to move different places during the show you'd have to either hang more or create a moving projector. I should invent ones that are small enough to easily be hung next to or above the light fixtures! Any one who reads this blog had better not steal my idea, it could be worth millions someday. Or maybe it's already an invention, I'll have to research further! Anywho, that's a journey into the brain of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer.

Until next week!

 

P.S. Excuse the messy room ;P

Week 6: The Duality of Obsession

It’s funny, possibly in an ironic sort of way, that this is my first late blog post because I took this picture several weeks ago. When going over the blogging assignment in our first class I think most of us were very intrigued by the idea of finding obsession in light. I became obsessed with finding this obsession (yes, I went there).

To me, there are two very different ways to look at obsession. It really depends on who’s view point one is trying to light. Through the view of the obsessed, obsession can be very dark, dangerous, jagged, (possibly a time when I would willing use gobos), and all around unnerving. However, for the obsessor, obsession can be a very beauty and wonderful thing. If one obsesses over something, they see that obsessed person, object, or place in such wonderful, warm, welcoming, and soft light.

This is the reason I became obsessed with obsession, and was looking for it since the beginning of the quarter. How does one capture such two contrasting ideas of light in one image?

Then the Great Cat Plague of 2013 hit my house. Because our cats caught the virus at different times we had to quarantine them in separate rooms. Two ended up in my room (that blue thing on stage left is a litter box) so I had to close my door when I slept. I’m afraid of the dark, so I brought my night light from my bathroom to my room. It’s an LED, so it’s a sort of unpleasant light to sleep with in a close, small, room.

To have the light, but not be bothered by it, I put a pillow against the wall. When I was laying on my side I saw the image above and thought immediately that this was obsession.

The source is a bright amber, that almost has an angelic glow. The angle of the pillow does not allow the light to travel very far, or blocks it all together. On top of that, the texture of my wall not only creates a jagged image, but isn’t as noticeable near the source.

Not too long ago my friend told me about this video he saw in a high school math class. There was a prize of a million dollars to whoever can prove that the pythagorean theorem reversed was possible. A man in Japan spent 20 years trying to prove it was possible. After he did, he killed himself from the stress.

Even for the obsessor beauty and joy can turn jagged and dangerous.

Week the Seventh: Switchfoot

I went to the Switchfoot Concert recently and took these two photos, not sure of which one to pick because they both show different things, but are literally seconds from each other. This first one is less bright, a lot of LEDs, lekos, and moving lights are used to choreograph the live music the band is playing.


This second photo is brighter because of the PARs that shining brightly onto the audience. Concert lighting is much different from dance or theatre lighting and I never noticed it before. The lighting does illuminate the band on stage, but a lot of the strong changes and music shifts are cued with lights that are acting shining out to the audience. Oftentimes in a very blinding manner. I was very surprised that so many PARs were used to achieve this effect.


 The colored lights that dance in conjunction with the music are nicely choreographed to move in rhythm to the music. Their colors change to represent the emotion of the lyrics. This particular song mentioned the ocean and water a lot. So the cool lights were very appropriate. It's very interesting how each means of art has a particular set of rules for lighting. And as for concert lighting? Who came up with this particular idea to shine raw light onto the audience to evoke the height of the emotions and changes?  I'm not completely convinced that the designer for this particular concert was successful in that because of how blinding it was. Which actually took me out of the song more since the lights were very over powering. And on that vein, I also wonder what could have been done to still keep the intensity but not blind the audience. Perhaps come from an angle that points upward and not down into everyone's eyes.

Week 7: Blatant Cheating

Is it cheating if this is from about a week and a half (wait, was it that long?) ago? I had some cool pictured from this week, but I figured it'd be good to vary my theme a little.

Now, I'm not going to use this post to address the fact that here we eat our potato (and potato-bar ingredients) out of martini glasses, because
a) that is a subject for a person far better with words than I to undertake
and
b) it was completely delicious.
But anyway, with our potatinis in hand at the school's open house we sat over by the CAC, where lights were on and had been strung to illustrate what a well-lit and magical campus this really is.

Logically I know that these things (at the center of the benches, the glowing squares) have been there, and I've walked past them so many times I can't actually remember if they're always on at night or not - which is frightening to realize, because they're pretty cool (well, warm, but you get the idea). I'm going to have to keep my eyes open.

The frosting of the cover is interesting too, because that's what controls the extent of the glow, I suppose, but it does feel very much like it has a definitive source. I know where the light is, but it is still diffused by the very thick layer on top of it.  It reminds me of light coming through a fog (perhaps in those cheesy sci-fi movies), and gives the impression of something just beyond. Who light designed our compus? Mystery and art and potatoes. A delicious combination.

Week the Sixth: All of the Lights!

Obsession with lights is not only appropriate to describe this photo, but also myself and how I've been lately having to stop to take pictures of lighting wherever I go.

I saw this set up on one of the walls at the Fonda Theatre in LA and was immediately captivated by the use of wall lighting to set the mood and decorate the interior of the theatre. There are a lot of lights (39 to be exact, I think) and the assymetrical shape that they are placed in immediately captures your attention as you walk in. It has an interesting cloud shape and the way it illuminates the wallpaper gives a sense of mystery. It reveals just enough to barely make out the pattern of the wallpaper. The candlestick lights remind me of an old mansion with long hallways that are lit by those specific lights. Similar to the Beast's castle in Beauty and the Beast. I also find it interesting that the other type of lamp is an outdoor patio kind. Those ones are coming off a lot cooler than the candlestick ones which I find interesting. Especially how in this photo we can find the cool lights that are contrasting the warm ones nicely.

Week 6: Obsession, MANnequin

So this week’s theme is Obsession.  Common definitions (because yes, I looked it up) include: “compulsive preoccupation with an unwanted feeling or emotion” and “compulsive, unreasonable idea or emotion.”  So with this word, there is a connotation of lack of control in a situation – a duality of opposites – thinking one thing and thinking you don’t want to be thinking it; feeling an emotion and acknowledging that you feel it and aren’t supposed to be feeling it.

What I love about this picture is the subtle shadows on both the mannequin and Sarah’s faces.  Somehow, the light hits their bodies but misses their face, and I love the metaphor in that – that obsession is dark, and takes root in the mind.  I love that you can’t see the mannequin’s eyes – or Sarah’s eyes.  To me, it leaves me wondering what Sarah is really thinking. 

Of course this picture is a joke.  Sarah was being silly and sexual with a funny mannequin with two right hands.   But, I like the idea of playing with when that joke or silliness goes to far, and becomes real – for at least one party – whether it is the person doing the action, or the observers.  I like the duality of considering, “Wait, is this serious.  Is she serious?” 

Lastly, the connotative color in this picture speaks to me.  The predominant color palate in this picture is white and grays – a lack of color and vibrancy.  But Sarah’s red shirt pops, drawing the viewer to her first, then taking in the rest of the picture.  In this way, the mannequin is almost a surprise.  

Week Six: Obsessed with Black Ops

 This is my nephew-brother. When he is not on the field scoring goals, he is in his sanctuary, completely immersed in the other world known as Video Games. He is a very competitive boy, I think he tries to keep the same energy he gains from soccer through these games. The only thing, however, is the amount of time he spends in his bedroom on his day off. I asked him if he would be bothered if I took pictures of him, and he was excited to have me enter the little realm he has created. I kept his very bright incandescent on and put a thin scarf over it because the lighting was too harsh. This created a low high back light and pressed the shadows on the walls in front of him.

As I crouched down to get a lower angle I realized it was important to show this pizza box in my next shot because it only added to the concept of obsession. That pizza box not only contains half eaten pizza, but it also holds a bacon and potato burrito and a plate of teriyaki chicken and rice. The kid eats meals in his room. I just served him a plate of breakfast and delivered it with, "you HAVE to take this out when you're done". He's a good kid, I do like watching him. I also like the image caught of the gun on the screen, and how it lights the profile of his face. But he is also pretty talented...Here he is playing the game with a controller in one had and a chicken skewer in the other!! Now that takes some skill :)

Week 6: A Very SoCal Obsession

Palm trees. SoCals biggest obsession. From Hollywood to our very own Irvine Spectrum and South Coast Plaza strip malls, they are everywhere. Palm trees are the emblem of Southern California, which is funny because most of the palm trees we see are imported because they are not native to this area. Also, another fun fact, they only live to be about 100-150 years old. Which means the beloved trees of Hollywood blvd. will probably have to be replaced soon. 

Anywho. I love trees. Very much. So it's no wonder that when I was walking back to South Coast Plaza from SCR I just had to stop and snap a photo of these trees. I guess you could say I was kind of obsessed- this is one of many pictures I took. I just couldn't help but gawk at the bright green and sparkly trunks. It's like nature on acid. Or some other trippy drug. And what is giving that effect? LIGHT. WOO! But really, without the christmas lights strung all the way up its trunk and the lights beaming up from below, this tree would just sit there, in the dark, looking like an average (yet still beautiful) tree. However, thanks to light, we can see all the details in the leaves as well as that beautiful, vibrant green color. This is a nice reminder that white light can really bring out rich colors and high light details in a show. The other aspect that adds to this bright white light is the black background. It really helps define the shape of the trees, just like a cyc would. Sometimes simple things can make big statements, as seen here. Also, we can't ignore how glamorous these trees look with those little specs of light running up their trunks. Light can bring festivity and movement into something as stationary as a tree. It's magic! Clearly, being obsessed with magic is normal. 

-Erika

Week 6: obsession, the sky!

I love the sky. Every time I look at it, I am blessed with an entirely new picture, and the change is so constant I can turn around and look back again and be awed at the sight. The colors are so vibrant that no matter what color my eyes are pleased with the vast array that it's capable of. The colors are all rich and lush, with the clouds as a break up so your eyes don't get to tired, and you can really realize how nice the bright saturate colors are. When I gaze off into the sunset I'm filled with a satisfied grateful feeling that I am lucky enough to see this each and every day. Then I start to think about how it's such a simple constant in our lives that we don't really think about it, and if you start to think about all the little things, you can really realize how amazing life itself is. As you can read the sky really gets me going. Not only is it amazing but skies are really nostalgic for me because my Grampa and I always watch them together when I go to his house, drinking lemonade or tea on the porch and waiting for the exact moment when the sun passes the horizon and you're supposed to see the green flash because you've been staring at the brightness to long. Even when I'm out of town we send pictures back and forth. You could say we're a little... obsessed. :) As a lighting designer it's important to know all of this because people get such an emotional response from the sky, so when we try to light it, we also are evoking all of the feelings. So in a sunset we can do it more orange or more pink to be a romantic sunset, or more blue and purple to be more somber, etc. There are so many options because every one is different!

Week 6: steam

steam

This picture is in my bathroom right after I got out of the shower the other day. I felt kind of ridiculous sprinting to my room to get my camera after I noticed the steam but I realized that I only had a couple minutes before it dissipated. This turned out to be true because I only got about 3 frames that had thick enough steam for my lens to focus on. It immediately reminded me of Yasmin's light blog in her kitchen, only that was smoke rather than water. It still seems so to evoke similar feelings of peacefulness and calm. The feeling is ethereal, magical and yet fleeting. 

Anyhow, It's fascinating to me that the beam of light is actually creating a shape. Based on where the light is falling, an abstract shape is developing. The steam would have existed without the light, but the beams completely determined where the vapor was lit and therefore the shape of the object. I feel this is especially pertinent as I move forward in our unit on dance lighting and I am thinking about form and how light can shape it. 

In this case, the lighting is coming from up above and behind, and is casting down upon it. The shape seems very three dimensional to me. I'm not sure what the steam would have looked like if the light was coming from the same angle that I was, but I think it would have flattened it out. 

Also, this photograph makes me think about on-stage smoke. We are going to have on-stage smoke in A Christmas Carol, and I get excited about the prospect about the shape and dimension it is going to give to the floor. It makes me wonder how exactly one goes about lighting on stage floor smoke. My guess is shins. Side light seems as though light coming from low side could give this same three dimensionality. 

Week 6: Obsession in Color

It's probably apparent, having looked at some of the pictures I've chosen already for this class (and in all likelihood for 50C also), that I'm a little obsessed with he color palette that sunrises and sunsets create. This was taken walking out of a grocery store (I can't even remember where or which one and it was only a few days ago), and I was struck by the intensity of the color. Ordinarily we associate the natural with ordinary, and I find it awe-inspiring to be reminded that it has such vibrancy.

Looking at the sheer variety and intensity of the warmth - oranges and pinks (among many other colors) - especially in contrast to the shadow and cool of the sky outside the clouds, it's also an illustration of source. Even though I can't see the sun, and this picture is almost entirely shadow and the reflections of the light in the clouds, I have no doubt where the source is. And this kind of picture is not necessarily something that would immediately be associated with reflection.

I also think that the little pin-pricks of light in the shadow, streetlight and building lights, provide a contrast in terms of the natural. Manmade (fluorescent? I remember us talking about the chemicals involved in 50C) vs. nature.

As tempting as it was to add a potatini glass picture from the open house this week, that one will wait. That's a different kind of obsession.

Week the Fifth: First Snow

Went on a much needed and mini vacation this past weekend to Lake Tahoe. This photo was taken just above a lookout point by Emerald Bay. I truly love the cool colors that emerged. You can see the first sign of snow that is left on the rocky mountain side. Everything in this picture looks and feels cold. Even the gorgeous pine trees. The added effect of the clouds in the sky made it seem smoky and hides the blue sky making it feel gray.

It was such an amazing weekend filled with gorgeous scenery and the best, crisp air that my lungs desperately needed. The atmosphere is a great break away from Orange County and LA. It was a wonderful kick-off trip for the holiday season to come! I was literally in awe looking out towards Emerald Bay because of all the detail in the rocks, trees, water. Staring at the shadows all the different nooks and crannies of the mountain made, all the trees leaves. Every detail was soaked in as the high noon sun lit as much of the view possible. It was all just so fantastic and overwhelming.

Week 5: The Powerful Symbolism of Light

Disclaimer: This photo is a reenactment

On Tuesday of this past week I was up late doing homework. It was probably around 2 in the AM when suddenly the no color blue-ish LED in my backyard came on. It’s a sensor light, so it comes on when something outside moves.

The week before my parents left it kept coming on randomly. My dad went to go check it out and there was nothing outside. He kept adjusting the senor settings, but it would still come on randomly. Obviously there’s probably a glitch with it, or it was just the wind.

When this happened on Tuesday I, of course, naturally thought that there was a knife wielding murderer outside that would make me live my darkest nightmares before killing me. I contemplated waking my brother up, but it had settled down. On my way back to my homework it suddenly came on again. I hid on my stairs and watched the window apprehensively, clutching my architect ruler in my hand. (Why I didn’t grab the ridiculously sharp right triangle for protection is beyond me).

I stood waiting. Waiting for that one light to come on. And then it did. When I saw it come on this pulsating fear pulsed through my body (as pulsations usually do). Instantly I froze where I stood, as I became numb, and clenched my architect ruler harder.

This one single, solitary light that came on confirmed that a knife murderer was in southern Orange County and had specifically chosen to come after me. After all, Irvine is the safest city in the world. I live in Mission Viejo.

After another 20 minutes of freaking out, and hearing banging sounds (that my cats also heard!), I calmed down quickly once my cat Oz came in around 3am. It was after I had calmed that I realized how powerfully symbolic and light can be when put into context.

I took the picture the next night, as not to risk getting murdered.

It’s interesting to because even with the other lights on, this light has such a powerful affect on me. It didn’t have to be a light in the darkness to create fear. The light isn’t even a scary color. It was the meaning behind the light.

Week Five: These Things Are Cooool

You may be wondering, "What the heck are these things?". Well, so am I. I think they may be seashells of some sort, with a stick protruding into them. Clever, very clever. They are for your house décor. What truly drew me to them was the shadows they created. I like the fold in the corner, it seems as if they are on display, like trophies. The texture is accentuated through the highlights and shadows. I like this picture because one would never fully know how large (or small) these items are, because of the walls surrounding them, it creates an illusion. My favorite element of this photo is the ray of light that is coming from above, it is very angelic. The gradual fading shadow creates a violet hue, which makes me feel serene.

Week 5: Connection

This is from yesterday, just before the 2pm performance of this weekend's DCPs. Travis predicted its presence on this blog at the time, and so it seemed to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or maybe I just like this photo.

I wanted to make sure to get this photo while we still had the light, and in thinking back on this experience I think it captures a lot of the essence of the experience. The element of human connection (a phrase that we talked about a lot in rehearsal as a central theme of the show) is encapsulated here, and I love the simplicity of this image. The director and cast (missing greatly our fantastic crew and design team), having one last moment of connection before we go inside to tell a story.

This got me thinking a little about theater - I think that generally when people think theatrical lighting it's the extreme, things like spotlights on a darkened stage, that spring to mind. It's the especially dramatic that people remember. But, like the sunlight here, in many shows/circumstances that light isn't meant to be distracting. Because there is power in the natural, the realistic. And in many ways, that realism can be what gives unusual choices or moments their power. This is a wash of sunlight, not direct because we were in the shadow of a building. But I wanted to take advantage of it while we had it, because we were going to be entering another world soon, and that world - beautifully lit by our designer - didn't have cell phone cameras. And this was a moment to capture. Human connection. A moment before the stage journey begins (but an important part of the theatrical journey itself).

Week 5: Cloud Filter

I'm always amazed at how the clouds react to the sun, but there are some moments in particular where I just HAVE to take a picture. I was on the freeway headed towards a rehearsal and then one of those moments just had to happen. Lets take a second to acknowledge that I'm driving on a freeway taking a picture of the sky because it's THAT beautiful. Okay. Not safe. But look at how pretty the picture came out! (Nothing compared to the actual thing though...)

In this photo, you can see that the clouds were acting as a filter for the sun as it was setting. I loved the contrasting colors that ended up coming through. The bright oranges with the lavender tones reminded me of our lessons in pleasing the eye. My eyes are definitely pleased in this photo because the lavender is acting as the cool and the orange, obviously the warm. Another reason I like this photo so much is the angles. All the clouds have slightly different angles, some being harsh diagonal lines while others more horizontal. This keeps the image interesting to the eye, which is a nice reminder as far as design goes. I like the idea of using angles in future designs to attract the audiences eyes to specific spots on the stage. The sun never seems to stop giving me ideas on how to use lighting in my designs, but I guess that's not very surprising since the sun is the ULTIMATE LIGHT SOURCE. 

That's all folks!

-Erika 

Week 5: "There's nothing like being liked by your family"

the closing moment from my show, "The Happy Journey"

So today I am a proud papa.  I just closed my first show here at UCI as a grad Director.  I am so proud of the work that my team and I did.  And I feel so supported by all the faculty, fellow grad students, and students that came out this weekend.  I received what I think is the best compliment I could have gotten.  My friend Sammy came on IDR, and there weren't programs.  He asked my SM, Gabbie, if the second piece was mine, just to make sure.  She answered, "yes," and he said, "I knew it!  There was so much 'Travis' in it!" I think that I've succeeded if I have stayed true to myself and put "me" into my work.  As an actor, you approach the character, not with how you are different from him/her, but how you are similar.  As a director, you bring the story that you want to tell from the text, and strive to make it clear.  

For me, Wilder's "The Happy Journey" is about human connection, specifically told by a family's journey to reunite with a family member going through a hard time.  It is about the good times and the bad, the happy and sad - and everything in between.  My favorite line from the work comes from the last scene in the play (pictured above).  Ma says, "Well I hope you like me.  There's nothing like being liked by your family."  Wow.  I took this picture in tech when we found exactly how the last moment of the show worked.  The mother and daughter are finally reunited, after the daughter has lost her baby and almost died herself in child birth.  Having lost a son of her own, Ma sympathizes as a mother who herself has lost a child, grandmother to Beulah's baby, and mother to Beulah herself.  It is a powerful moment, when the world onstage shrinks as the lights focus down to just the little area where the two characters are.  Then there is a silent moment in the text, where Ma puts Beulah to bed and then sings her to sleep as the lights narrow in on the little cot where Beulah rests.  The last moment of the show is when Ma looks to the heavens as the lights fade to black.  

Collaborating with Darrin, first-year MFA Lighting Designer, was such a treat!  I feel like I have gotten to apply what we are learning in class, and putting it into practice has solidified the concepts for me.  From the first meting, we focused on the last scene of the play, and built the rest of the design around that.  All the designers and I knew from the beginning that this last moment in the show was important. We took a long time in tech to find what was most optimal to convey "there is nothing like being liked by your family" to the audience as the last thing that are left with. 

In the picture, I love the down light on Ma and Beulah.  The soft blue-green light feels like a moment in time that thankfully lingers for longer than it actually is...like time momentarily is put on pause and you feel the weight of a particular moment.  The shadows are dream-like and feel like memories.  The "source" feels like it is coming from Heaven itself and lends a spiritual "button" on the play, sending the message that there is something greater than ourselves - we are all connected.  

Week 5: Obsession #1

So, as it turns out, this week's prompt is not obsession. I guess since it can be anything, I'll go ahead and talk about obsession and light.

My entire room is white. Last year, I painted my room dove grey and painted my furniture navy blue and bright orange- some of you probably remember. When I signed my new lease, I was told I couldn't paint the walls, so I painted all my things to match the walls. I went as far as to reupholster my desk chair and make a new cover for my lamp, bleach certain textiles, etc. It became an obsession. Every spare moment I had I was painting a flower pot white, dipping coffee cans into white wash, sanding my furniture, you get the idea. Also, I've got an obsession with found objects, and if you don't count the antique hall tree I bought as a set piece, all of the furniture in my room probably cost 10 dollars combined- most of it was free. Community theatre teaches you how to design on a dime, I guess. Now that it's done, I take pictures of it.

I'm obsessed with the environment as a study of texture and light, as well as a social study of sorts, of whiteness as an imposition on pre-existing texture. White,as a social concept, covers things up and blends things in.  Clearly, I could talk about this all day, but let me get to the light in this photograph. The environment allows me to observe and obsess over the light. I notice what color it is at different times of day- how the hue of my room changes with the weather, time of day, and season.

I'm particularly obsessed with this one little piece of my room. Where my white lamp sits on a sideways white trunk beneath my white lace curtains beside my white pillow behind my white chair. Anyhow, I'm obsessed with watching the light come in through the curtains and hit these objects and bring out the textures. These photographs were all take at the same time [4:00 pm.] , at approximate exposures of +1, 0 and -1.

Whats amazing to me is the change in which information develops into the frame based on where I metered. In the first image, the whole left half of the image is clear. It's a picture about a pillow. The middle image [0] is a photo about a lamp. My eye is drawn to the sheen on the surface on which the lamp sits, and the curves of the lamp itself. The third image is the only image in which I can see the patterns in the curtains. In this one, we get no information from the left half of the photo. We can't see that the room is white, but when observed carefully you can see the leaves of my tree outside. Depending on how much light I allowed onto the scene, my subject and focus totally changed.