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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
