Black and White

I believe that black and white photography can be much more powerful than color images. That's not to say that color images aren't powerful, but to me there is more to take artistically from black and white photos. For example, the above image depicting a very natural setting show just how much texture there can be found on the surface of the trees and rocks, etc... There is also a very clear distinction between light and dark, such as shadows. There is even a distinguishable difference between the lichen and the bare surface of the rocks.

Angle

This piece of modern art from the Pomidou Centre was meant to be experienced in the round. Depending on where you stand the translucency of the glass changes. The tinting, along with overhead and natural light, changed how light penetrated the material.

Flow

The Musee du Orsay was constructed inside of an old train station. The above image is of one of the walkways that traveled the width of the building. The lights behind the frosted glass are embedded in the bridges that circulate the patrons to the museum. It seemed to me that the importance of those lights were to give a sense of how the building works, not necessarily to illuminate a pathway. They draw your eyes from one end to the other. It establishes flow, an architectural decision. Also, as people walk along the bridges their shadows can be seen from behind the glass.

Glowing

Photo courtesy of Loren Watson

This was probably one of my favorite lighting events in Caucasian Chalk Circle. I liked the glow that emanated from behind the screens. The chalk circle itself looks like it is glowing as well. It served as one last reminder to the audience as they exited the theatre.

Calatrava

One thing I like about Calatrava's MAM expansion is the starkness of it all. Most of the structure is white, and there is a repetitive nature to much of the design. Though the surfaces are all one color there is a clear noticeable difference in the quality of the light as it shines into the space. The beams in the above photo are a good example of this. There is a sharp shadow on the bottom of the supports.

Caucasian Chalk Circle Reaction

I have a love hate relationship with Brecht. However, I did enjoy how everything in this production came together. The footlights gave a great effect, especially when used for the chorus and storyteller. The depth of the shadows on the actors' faces was eerie.

But, in my opinion, the best production element was the bamboo. Especially when the templates were shone onto the surface. Lighting the panels from all angles was also very effective.

I didn't really see a problem with using the diamond pattern both indoors and out. The outdoor sequence was for such a short period of time that it didn't really seem confusing.

I had seen early photos of the shows rehearsal and my attention was immediately drawn to the costumes. I thought the fabric looked too washed out, and a little on the pastel side. However, a photo does not capture stage light properly. So, once I actually saw the show I started to agree with the choices a little more.

More Eiffel Tower

Here are some photos that I took while waiting in line to go to the top of the tower. In my opinion, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most breathtaking structures when it is lit like this. These pictures don't do it justice. Just about every square inch of the tower radiated with an amber glow. The shadows were very dramatic. It really spoke to the technological advances of the past century or so.

Flashing Lights Are My Weakness

When in Paris we went to the Eiffel Tower at night and witnessed the light show that happens every hour, on the hour. There had to be hundreds of strobes. The effect was spectacular.


Here is the same thing from a distance. I apologize for the orientation of the video, I wasn't thinking when I took it.

Clarity

I found this image in a flickr album and it immediately caught my attention. It was taken in the Wisconsin Dells, at Mt. Olympus. The brilliant clarity of the sky is balanced nicely by the rich green of the grass. The tree provides a nice focal point.

More Bamboo

I think this effect is going to turn out nicely when all is said and done.

The placement of the par cans were the cause of much frustration however. Because of the varying distances from the walls to the battens it was difficult to focus the instruments. The orientation of the bottles was the most difficult.

I Want This Job...

Last night I attended a concert in downtown Chicago. Because I was standing in the back of the theatre I could see everything the light board operator was doing. I can't name the board offhand, but what the operator was doing was amazing.

Each of the band's songs had an assigned number. Each number could be brought up by the computer. An entire list of cues was embedded in each of them. The cues were taken at certain moments in the songs. However, they were merely general templates for what happened on the stage, because most of the show was "orchestrated" by the operator. He would tap buttons and move sliders to the beat of the songs. He must have had to know the songs inside and out because he moved with ease and without much hesitation.

After the show I approached the man and asked him if I could have the setlist. He let me have it. It was a great experience.

Tic-Tac-Toe

While I don't know what the final product will look like, I think this is a very cool effect. It will be even cooler because they are scrollers. It was a very intricate focus, but it should produce a great result.

Bamboo

I took this image during the focus for CCC. Much like the image in the previous entry the shadows in this photo immediately draw your attention. The bamboo has a really dramatic presence.

Richness

There are many things I like about this image. The first thing that sticks out to me is the sunlight on the edges of the clouds. Second is the shadow created by the fence. Thirdly, I liked the rich blue of the sky against the clouds.

Light Lab

For the 418 Light Lab project I chose the song "Hashish" from Hair. I intentionally used bright colors to describe the overall theme of the song and musical. Just about every hallucinogen known to man is referenced in this song. Therefore, I wanted it to appear very "pyschedelic." The pacing of the cues were also a conscious decision. I felt that if they needed to fade slowly, and at even intervals.

Oklahoma

This musical has never been my cup of tea. But that's not what this journal is about, so I'll keep that out of the journal. I find it to be extremely difficult to judge the technical aspects of a performance when it is in a chamber setting. With the Helen Bader Theatre there is very little that can be manipulated to make the space feel like a theatre instead of a concert hall. I believe Iain Court used the space just about the best way it could be used.

I liked the idea of silhouetting the performers against the sound shells. Especially when the mood shifted, or a character had a featured number. However, the instruments used to created the washes didn't look like they spread the light enough. Maybe that's just me. Also, it seemed like the gobos weren't in a sharp enough focus. All of that aside, I thought the space was utilized quite well, even though I'm not a fan of the show.

Antigone

Photo from the Portage Daily Register

Last night I attended my sister's drama club production of Antigone. It was the adapted version by Jean Anouilh. I was very afraid of what I might see when I went. Firstly, I don't think this is a very good piece to produce when you are resurrecting a drama program at a high school. It's a touchy subject.

My primary criticisms of this piece were technical. They were just easier for me to spot. And this is a show that is being directed AND designed by a professional designer. Without being too negative, all I have to say is that he should have concentrated his efforts on the design and left the directing to someone more capable.

Overall, the design was cohesive, but the lighting wasn't entirely cohesive with the costuming, or the scenery. There was one occasion where(see above photo)the lighting seemed to work against the costuming. If either the dress or the gel color were something other than red it would have made the scene easier on the eyes. There were some creative lighting elements that I thought worked quite well, like the colored glass Apollo patterns. They provided some nice, subtle texture on the cyc, and made for some interesting curtain warmers.

Stadium Sunset

Every time I goo to a baseball it seems as though the sun is always in my face, until finally it sets over the top of the stadium. This photo was taken early evening at a game in St. Louis. The sun was just wetting over the western wall side of Busch Stadium. I liked how the supports for the roof framed the orange glow of the sunset.

Washington Park Lagoon

While researching for another class I stumbled across this image from the UWM Digital Archives. I chose this image because I believe it contains many of the same qualities as the image from an earlier entry. There is a faint glow that can be seen on trees in the background, except this time there is also a nice reflection that has been cast on the water.

Opera Bastille

The stage at the Opera Bastille in Paris is a massive feat of engineering. These cyc lights are mounted below the actual stage level. This is because the entire stage is capable of being raised and lowered in one piece. I didn't ask, but I do believe that the lowering of these instruments gives the designer more room the experiment.

Dusk

Orphee by Francois-Louis Francais

This painting, displayed in the Musee du Orsay interested me because of how the moonlight is cast upon the trees, as well as through them. There is a very gentle glow that washes over the foliage, giving a very serene look.

Figures

The above photo was taken in the Notre Dame Cathedral. Most of the large cathedrals in Paris are filled with statues that line the stained glass windows. One night, while walking by Saint Sulphice I noticed the silhouettes of statues from the street. The flickering lights made it look like the figures were moving.

Chartres, France

The river that runs through Chartres, France is lined by tightly packed buildings and foliage. Because of this there are many areas along the river that lie in shadows. This photo was taken before noon, when the sun was still rising in the sky. Another shot that I took, in a more open area of the river, proves just how early it was in the day.

Shafts of Light

This photo is of the benches in the seating area of the Washington Park bandshell. It was late afternoon, and because of sun's location in the sky the benches cast these shadows on the pavement. Row after row had these narrow shadows with even narrower shafts of light from the spaces in between the boards.

Contrast

On a walk around the Washington Park neighborhood I took this photo to capture the brilliant blue of the sky against the sharp angles of the architecture. The shadows of the building contrast against the vibrant blue of the sky, as well as the abstract shapes of the clouds.

Afternoon Sun

This is the view we were presented with as we walked through the gardens at Versailles. It was early afternoon, and it had just rained earlier that morning. There were quite a few large puddles on the dirt paths(center) that were visible from a distance due to the sun's reflection. It was still fairly cloudy, but what clouds that were left had dissipated. The dark clouds that remained looked very dramatic as the sun pierced through them.

Spring

Well, it really wasn't springtime in Paris, it was winter. However, the colors all around us were quite like what one would expect to find in the spring. The weather is actually very comparable. The amount of sunlight that we experienced over there was just about what the Milwaukee area has experienced in the past few weeks. There have been sunny days, but a vast majority have been cloudy and rainy. The above images from Paris reminded me of what the weather was like a few days ago. There was a vibrant blue sky with a few clouds.

Passage of Time

Shortly before I traveled to Europe I found this photo online. It made me think of just how much time change there is between Wisconsin and France. Moreover, it shows a unique view of the passage of time as it relates to Earth's rotation. The sharp difference between light and dark is striking.

Sunset

Both of these photos were taken at the same time yet they are distinctly different. I took them only a few minutes apart ,but with different camera settings. The colors of the sunset make me think of the natural progression of time which can be duplicated on the stage.

Physical Features

I stumbled across this image some time ago and was struck by the shadows on the surface of the hand. The features of the hand seem to be amplified by the way the light is hitting the skin. The tendons and muscles, as well as wrinkles on the fingers stand out the most.

Cluny Museum

This photo was taken in the courtyard entrance to the Cluny Museum of the Middle Age in Paris. If it weren't for the stone in the background of the image the steel in the foreground would be almost entirely silhouetted. When I took this photo I wasn't paying attention to where the light source was. I was more interested in the detail of the metalwork. While the result wasn't what I was hoping for, I believe this makes for a more striking image because of the light.

Staging

One of my architecture projects freshman year was to design a chair, stool, or other sort of seat. I chose to create a barstool, and this was the result. Another requirement of the project was to create an advertisement for the product. This photo was the result of my efforts to stage the model. I used my desk lamp as a light source, shining it from the left side of the image. The sheet was intentionally left wrinkled to create depth.

Texture and Shadow

This photo of the Chicago River is filled with examples of shadow and texture. From the surface of the river, to the structures that frame it, there is plenty of texture in this image. I was especially drawn to the shadows on the buildings in the back center of the image. Because of the angle of the sun it is very easy to see the outlines of other buildings that are creating the shadows.

Material

I chose to include this photo due to the range of materials and surfaces in the composition. From the rusted metal to the painted brick the light hits both differently and creates shadows differently. The shadows on the brick a quite a bit lighter due to the white paint while the metal creates shadows that are much darker and sharper.

Penetration of Light

This glass bridge is part of the Apple Store in downtown Chicago. What interested me about the material wasn't how the store lighting filtered through it, but rather how the natural light penetrated the glass. Much of the light in the store actually comes from a multitude of skylights and windows. More interesting than the bridge however, is the set of stairs, also constructed of glass. From eye level the edges of each tread filter the light through the sides, creating an aesthetically pleasing design.

Shimmering Tile

Last week I went to the Shedd Aquarium and took this photo in one of the dimly lit exhibit halls. There were small spotlights mounted on the ceiling that projected light onto the metallic mosaic tile on the floor. The shapes roughly resemble rocks that would lay on the ocean floor. To me, the glistening of the tiles looked like a reflection of the light as it is seen through the water.

Plaster

The walls in my room have many imperfections. When I painted the wall deep red they became more obvious. I also had to putty some holes, but didn't take the time to sand them. When the sunlight hits the wall the imperfections in the plaster show up the most. There is a lot of texture on the surface due to the many times the wall has been painted.

Smoke

I found this photo the be interesting. The smoke surrounding the musician creates a cool, foggy effect that would be well suited for an indoor arena, yet the performance venue appears to be outside. I judge this by the reflection in the sunglasses and the fact that he is wearing a jacket. There also appears to be natural light coming from the front. Because of the way the image looks, it initially led me to believe that the shot was posed, when in fact it was a live shot.

However, I could be totally wrong, and this could be indoors. The lighting just looks so natural to me.

Steel

The Cedar Point Amusement Park has an extraordinary collection of rollercoasters. As an effective way to advertise, the park dramatically lights the coasters at night. An example of this is Millennium Force, pictured above. At the base of the structure are giant spotlights that have the capability of changing color. When the light hits the steel framework the result is stunning.

NYC Sunset

During my senior year of high school I took a Band/Choir trip to New York City. One of the destinations was the top of the Empire State Building. I took this photo as the sun was setting over one of the bouroughs to the west. In my opinion, the sunset, coupled with the impressive skyline was one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen.

Curtin Hall

Though I don't like the building, Curtin Hall is a good example of texture. The concrete ridges on the building's exterior create some great shadows and depth when there is a good amount of sunlight.

Fixture

Having lived in an older home all of my life, I tend to be drawn to the historical elements of buildings. As it turns out, the house I live in now has a few original characteristics that remain. One of them is this fixture cover from my room. I have no idea if it is original, but the design reminds me of something in my parents home. I like how the light looks as it filters through the frosted glass and "beads" on the surface.

Neon

Walking past the Burger King in the Union made me remember how much I love neon lighting. The concentration and manipulation of the light fascinates me, as well as the colors. And, the spill from the tube will only fall on the nearest surface(i.e. the white wall next to Burger King). That wall, because of its glossy paint finish reflects the light well.

Gateway Arch

I took this photo a couple of years ago on a family vacation. Architecture and sculpture fascinate me, so I had to take a few photos of the Gateway Arch. The sun happened to be out that day, so the shadows were fairly visible. They are most noticeable on the underside of the arch right where the two sides come to a point. There wasn't much texture that could be seen, as the structure is made of large sheets of steel. However, from a distance the individual panels are becoming more visible because of how they are tarnishing. It looks like a giant patchwork.

Lafayette Galleries

The Lafayette Galleries were probably the most ornate collection of shops I have ever seen. At the center of this massive structure was a rotunda containing a glass dome. While we were in the space the sun had begun to set, and the lights were coming on. I loved the color of the sky behind the glass. The grayish-blue was framed nicely by the support structure holding up the dome.

Third Ward

While I was downtown last night I took the time to look at the buildings around me. My destination was the Third Ward, which is full of great structures. They look especially great at night, with all of their accent lighting. The creamy brick on many of the lofts was complimented by some great washes of light.

Of Mice and Men: Reflection

Working on this production has caused me to think more deeply about how and why a stage is lit the way it is. The lighting design doesn't exist within what one would think of as the typical realm of stage lighting. There was virtually nothing to light on the stage. Instead of lighting a set, Mr. Graham had to light what could be considered an empty space. The space was an empty canvas. Or, as someone cleverly posted on the stage door, the Existential Loneliness of Mankind.

Stark

In the recent Shepherd Express newspaper there was a theatre preview for Of Mice and Men that described the production as stark. This is very true. There is very little for scenery and the stage feels very open. The same can also be said for the lighting. Mr. Graham's lighting design is deliberately very stark, and dark. It complements his scenic design and the rest of the production very well.

Translucency

The photo above is of the RER station at the Charles DeGualle Airport in Paris. We arrived in France as the sun was still fairly low in the sky so the sunlight filtered through the canopy to create this nice view. The material must have had some sort of frosted glazing on it.