Week 5: Peering In

A couple of weeks ago, I was on a walk with my roommates along the beach, and on our way back home, I was very interested in this porch light. I love the way that it feels contained in the space, yet the photo is able to create a sense of peering into it, creating a sort of haunting feeling. With the wrought iron in the foreground, the light appears small in the background, yet still has a strong presence in the photo. The feeling that I get from this photo is haunting, yet still warm and safe, like home.

This photo was taken in this fabulous sculpture garden at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It was a perfect, sunny day and we walked through this installation tunnel into a secret courtyard... so cool. I loved how this tunnel felt like the entrance to a military bunker, with the concrete walls and rocks held up by chicken wire, but it led to an oasis. It reflects the journey my husband and I have been on, where we've had to trust one another as we've walked rather blindly through some major life changes. Sometimes the people you think you know well will surprise you under new conditions with a whole other side of themselves. I've been lucky - the surprises I've gotten from Ryan have been good ones overall, but I am also reminded that we both need space to redefine, reconsider, and grow.

Week 5 Sunset

This week I tried to capture a sunset. This proved to be more difficult than I had expected. Each picture I took failed to capture the moment properly. The colors were intense one evening and I was able to get this picture. The purples, pinks and blues were beautiful. It evoked a feeling of peace and serenity. There was a breeze and and a bit of heat left from the sun in the air. The clouds looked as if they had been placed in each spot on purpose.

Week #5 - Dappling of Leaves

This week I've been thinking about the kind of light I wanted to design for McCree's choreography. Since I want to create the feeling of a predator in the wild, I've been looking for ways to convey the impression of leaves on the ground. To this end, I'm thinking of using gobos to project the image of leaves onto the ground. Ironically, right before my meeting with McCree this week I was so struck by the lovely dappled pattern of sunlight filtering through leaves outside the dance loft that I felt compelled to climb out onto a ledge out over the staircase to snap a picture of it. Even though the shapes of the shadows don't really seem to resemble leaves, the overall look is clearly that of foliage. It inspires me to play with subtlety in my work, rather than just focusing on the most obviously prominent characteristics of my design.

WEEK 5: Sunset, Sunrise

On a late Wednesday afternoon on Balboa Island’s ferry, the sun began to set. I took out my camera and began to snap some pictures. What is powerful about this particular picture are the casts of shadows and light. The fire colored sky blends together in sequences of reds, oranges and yellows. The brightness of the light creates a sharp outline around the boat and trees. The position of the sun makes it difficult for the viewer to know whether or not it is sunrise or sunset. Colors of the sunset divide the picture into three distinct parts: the glowing sky, the deep shadows and the reflective waters. The warmth of the picture captivates the viewers eye and creates a wonderful fall memory for me.

week 4. colors of the sky

I used this opportunity to look for the colors in the sky other than blue. I was surprised to see how much violet I was able to notice in the sky. There were layers of color in the sky that I had never really noticed before. There were pinks and blue and lavenders. There was a feeling of calm and peace in the air. It was truly a beautiful backdrop.

Week #4 - Brilliant Beams

This week I've been thinking about the way in which the shape and structure of light can affect the feeling it engenders. I had previously thought mostly about intensity and color to create emotion, but in our improv lighting experiments I noticed the way that the impact of the design was highly dependent upon the shape of the light. We don't have to use gobos to play with shape in lighting. The difference between using of a wide wash or a confined spot of light can make all the difference in a design. My personal favorite technique that I've seen thus far in the class is using a single shin far downstage or upstage to create a sharp, angled beam of light. When I saw the way in which the sunlight was creating streaks in the sky as it passed through the clouds, it reminded me strongly of the effect I had so appreciated with the shin. I was so excited to snap a picture of it which actually captured the beauty of the moment! I think that I am drawn to the idea of having a clear source of light, and then playing with the gradations of light and shadow which result.

WeeK 4: Silhouette

On late Friday afternoon, I headed out to Huntington Beach. Sitting on the sand near the water, I instantly became hypnotized with the the sound of the waves and the sunlight hitting the water. While I sat there shooting pictures to capture the saturation of light on the water, a man with a skim board came into frame. As the waves rolled in, he stood there waiting for the perfect wave to skim. With the sun in front of me, it allowed me to capture his silhouette against the warmth of the sun reflected into the ocean. His silhouette gives mystery to his identity. The position of the skim boarder, that stood far from any distinguishable landmarks, leaves the viewer to be drawn into a wide open space. This picture shows a good example of dark and light in balance. The oceans power and the sunlight hitting the waves creates a sense of calmness to the atmosphere in the picture.

Week 4: visit from a friend : )

A few weeks ago, my friend Kellie came to visit for the weekend before she moved to Chicago. Me, Kellie, and my roommate Becca decided to go to the Balboa Pier and walk around, get some cotton candy, and just hang out. We walked down to a grassy area and came upon a tree perfect for climbing. So of course, Kellie and Becca jumped right on it and quickly found that it was easier to climb up than it was to get down. I snapped this photo just as Kellie had climbed up, and noticed right away that the lighting was beautiful in it. While it was an overcast day, no spectacular sunlight or anything, the way that the light filtered through the leaves was beautiful. In this photo, I love the sense of foreground and background that is created. I feel like Kellie really pops out from the background, creating a sort of three-dimensional feel.

week 3. path

On Sunday evening I set out to be inspired by light. I was walking around campus looking at light in a different way. I was drawn to this path of light in the park. I am not sure the picture captures the moment as I experienced it but it does represent the sense of mystery I saw. The lamps offered a soft glow leading in different in different directions. The sunset created a beautiful sky backdrop of lavender and blue.

Week #3 - Misty Mornings

When looking through my swatch book this week to light our last blog project, I was fascinated by the idea that there is no such thing as gray light. I studied clouds in the sky every time I was outside, and (although I saw endless white clouds) I couldn't seem to spot a gray one. They always ended up being lavender as Lonnie had suggested, or some variation of another color. Then, on my daily morning commute, my car was suddenly enveloped in fog. I had always thought of fog as being gray, but when I took at good look at the fog bank from a distance it resembled nothing more that a cloud on the ground. When driving through it I realized why I had envisioned the light inside fog as being gray. The water vapor in the air is so thick that it blocks out a great deal of the light passing through it, bringing down the overall intensity of the light dramatically. Even though the sun was bright outside the fog, all the colors were very muted when looking through the mist. It occurred to me that maybe that works in a similar way to the materials in the very back of the swatch book, since they are also made of thicker materials that won't let as much light through.

Week 3: A Distant Memory

This is a photo that I took last spring quarter when I was on a walk with a few of my close friends. One of my friends was dog sitting for somebody, so we all decided to come over and take the dog for a walk. We came upon this tunnel, and I was immediately drawn to the lighting. In fact, at that time my roommate Rachel was taking lighting with Lonnie, and I immediately sent her some photos for her to potentially use in her lighting blog! Now, months later, I still thought of this photo as one that I appreciate the lighting in. There is something I love about the warm quality of the light as it spills out of the tunnel, and the contrast of it against the dark blanket of the night. This photo not only reminds me of fond memories with my friends; I feel that it also has the potential to inspire a piece of choreography or lighting. When I look at it, I can hear music that could be a part of the moment, and can see movement that belongs within the mood of the photo.

Week 3: The Nature Show

One balmy night, my husband and I were hanging out with family in Indianapolis, Indiana. We had a long, lingering dinner, laughing, sharing stories and playing with my sister's two hilarious little kids, Chloe and Owen. We were walking out to leave, and were stopped in our tracks by this amazing view. A gigantic cumulus cloud filled the sky directly above my sister's house. For at least 10 minutes, we watched the cloud light up from the inside out in a spectacular display of heat lightning. It was so strange and beautiful, one of those moments that makes me feel like such a small speck in the vast universe. I couldn't tear myself away, and neither could anyone else. Eventually, everyone in the house was outside watching. We all stood, gasping in amazement at every new pulse of light, each one completely different than the one before it. I love it when nature reminds us that we are not in control. It reminds me to focus my thoughts and energy on the things that really matter.

WEEK 3:DOWNTOWN POMONA

On Friday night I headed to downtown Pomona to see a concert. Before the concert I decided to head down Main Street. The street was quiet as the lights began to turn on creating a calm and romantic atmosphere. As the sun set, I noticed the unique Spanish architecture of the train station that began to fade into the night sky. This picture clearly shows the angle where light hits the atmosphere. When the scattered light loses blue light, the sunset is filled with orange and red wavelengths. Within the picture, two sources of light are seen: the sunset and the street lights. The streetlights add yellow glowing ambers of light into the darker shadows. The streetlights add enough light to keep the architecture from getting lost into the darkness. Even though there are few available light sources, it still creates a striking image and adds a feeling of mystery.

week 2. NYC

It was one of those perfect NYC days. Spring was in the air and there was not a cloud in the sky. I love the contrast of the bridge against the blue of the sky. I am a big fan of the color blue and I think this blue is beautiful. I believe the color of this sky has the ability to but a smile on your face.

Week #2 - Library Lighting

While doing some work in the library, I was struck by the stark contrast between the artificial lighting in the building and the beautiful day outside. We were all sitting under the sterile, flat light to study when we could just as easily have taken our books out to read on the grass in the sunshine. I noticed how the "feel" of the light was so vastly different even just a few feet away. The magnetic draw of the daylight through the glass windows was palpable. It made me think of the difference we talked about in class (on the Kelvin scale) between the fluorescent lights at 4200K and the sun at 6500K. Even though both environments were equally functional for the task at hand, I certainly found myself gravitating towards the perceived warmth of the sun. If I were to design a space for people to linger and enjoy their reading, I would probably use lighting which was more welcoming and less clinical in our subconscious impression of it.

Week 2: long days in the arts department.

This photo was taken on Friday evening of Week 0. As I was sitting outside of studio 1100, assisting with the Jazz Ensemble auditions, I noticed how beautiful the reflections were on the glass windows of the new Contemporary Arts Center building. I decided to take a photo, but was thinking that the details of the sky and clouds would be lost in the photo. While the clarity might be slightly less, I do love this photo because at first glance you don't quite notice the reflections, but as you continue to look at it the pattern of the clouds and light from the sky become much more apparent. I feel like this photo conveys a feeling, and has an atmosphere within itself. It feels oddly eery and mysterious, but warm and comforting at the same time.

WEEK 2: Playful Bird

On Wednesday, between the storm of showers I walked over the bridge into the UCI Marketplace. Before teaching I sat down near the fountain in the middle of the center. At first I was drawn into the peacefulness of the water sounds. Soon after my attention shifted and I became fascinated with how transparent the sunlight was through the water. I observed how it dripped and poured off the edges that flowed into the basin below. As I sat there, a sparrow came and took a rather playful bath in the fountain. It seems that certain birds get into the process a little more than others! The sun’s white light hitting at a perfect angle between the clouds, allowed me to focus the light on the sparrow. It created a shadow and a three-dimensional image to capture the action. What surprised me was how clear I was able to maintain the focus on the sparrow and capture the motion of water shaking off the bird in mid-air. While drops of water dripped from the fountains upper tier, the sun hit the water as if they were clear marbles floating through space. As light penetrated the water, it becomes attenuated and altered in its spectral composition. Looking through the marbles of water drops, the colors of yellow and blue-green light are visible. The position of the sun, the relation to the camera and the subject helped to define the smallest increments of detail to create a dramatic and exciting photograph.

Week 1. A day at the Beach

I have always loved the beach. The smell of salt in the air, the breeze on my face, the sound of the ocean all have a calming effect on my soul. I remember the day well, I was with my good friend Jenny. I had come to Irvine to audition for the MFA program. The day after the audition Jenny and headed to Newport Beach. It was a beautiful day. The sky was so bright and blue. The sun reflecting off the ocean was almost blinding. There was a crispness to day that is burned into my mind.

Week 1 - Fading Light

On our last day together before my closest friend and long-time dance partner moved to Hong Kong for a performance contract, we witnessed the most beautiful sunset at the beach that I have ever experienced. Thinking back on it, I am reminded of Lonnie's comment that we tend to mentally light important memories according to the emotional landscape of the moment. I think this is very true in this case, because I remembered the sunlight as being very cold, with a soft wash of several different colors that were stunning, although not overly saturate. I was surprised that the splendor of horizon was not sharply demarcated from the chill of the windswept coastline. I was profoundly struck by the presence of such beauty painted across the sky--a canvass so vast it was impossible to ignore--floating just out of reach. I was also very aware of the inescapable temporal quality accompanying this vision; even the most glorious sunset will soon begin to fade away before your eyes. Like any perfect moment, there is no way for them to linger except in photographs, imperfect representations to help you hold the images in your memory.

Week 1: The Badlands

It appears that the cross country road trip to California is a very inspiring time for many of us, because I felt compelled to write about my experience as well! One of the best parts about driving West is that we were able to drive into the sunset every night for two weeks, so there were many breathtaking moments to choose from. This picture is of the sky when we stopped in the Badlands of South Dakota at around 7pm. With the sun low in the sky, we were able to see this side lighting against the cotton candy clouds, creating the ethereal image you see here. Immediately, I just had to quote The Lion King, "Simba, You must take your place in the circle of life..." If only I could have James Earl Jones giving me life advice in the form of a cloud. "Jessie, go to UC Irvine, take a lighting class..." Anyway, the dream-like quality of the image is inspiring in many ways, from the highlighted contours of the clouds to the memory it created for me. And oddly enough, only 15 minutes later, we saw a lightning storm in the distance, exactly in the place of our next camping destination. I think somebody pissed off Mufasa.

Week 1: Oldest House in the USA

On our drive from New York City to Irvine, CA, we took a detour through Santa Fe, New Mexico. This little adobe is the oldest house in the United States, according to the plaque on the wall and signs posted nearby. Its exact building date is unknown, but is estimated at somewhere around 1200 AD. It was initially part of a village of Pueblo Indians, who abandoned the village around 1435. It was later was built over in 1610 by Spanish settlers, but retains some evidence of the original Pueblo walls. Directly across the street is the San Miguel Mission, built in the same style of architecture and around the same time.
That's about the extent of my historical knowledge of the place, but the reason I'm choosing to blog about it is because it was such a satisfying moment for us as travelers on a trek across the country, having discovered a little tie to ancient America, beyond Starbucks and strip malls, tucked away down an alley in historic Santa Fe. We were there at an ideal time, on a beautiful, clear day. I love the clean simplicity of this facade, and the way the light is hitting it. It's about 5pm, and the light has that late-in-the-day warmth. I love the way the sun absorbs into the rough, organic adobe, and casts shadows along the left sides of the doorways and windows. Notice the looming shadows of the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the US (and currently under renovation) falling across the right side of the house.

I have always rooted for the underdog. It seems a testament to the spirit and tenacity of centuries of laypeople that such a modest and un-stately bit of architecture has survived longer than any other house in US recorded history. If walls could talk, right?

Newport Livin'

At the beginning of September, I moved into a new house in Newport Beach. I have been loving the feeling of waking up right next to the ocean, and coming home to the smell of the salty air as the sun sets over the sand. This photo was taken on one of these such nights last week. My roommate Becca and I took some time to just sit on a bench at the beach and watch the sunset. While I took many photos of the beautiful progression of the sunset, and the variation in light as it grew darker, I was also drawn to the street lamps lining the blocks. Becca and I noticed as we sat there that the lamps did not all turn on at once. We looked left and right down the block and as the sun went down, the lights turned on one by one. While we were surrounded by the natural beauty of the sky over the ocean, we were just as taken by the bright, glowing lights of the lamps lining the streets. They created a pathway along the sidewalk, paving the way for people to walk and guiding them through the otherwise dark night.

WEEK 1: THE LIGHTS OF VEGAS!!!

During the summer my boyfriend and I travelled to Las Vegas, Nevada. I desperately needed to purchase a new pair of Capezio K360 Professional tap shoes. Unfortunately the Capezio store in Hollywood has closed and due to my foot shrinking I needed to try on their newer model in Vegas.

Later that evening my boyfriend and I walked down Las Vegas Boulevard to watch the famous Bellagio Fountains. Instantly I was struck with the beauty of the light and the reflection into the waters. Although this picture is not of the amazing Bellagio fountain show, I feel that this picture of the hotel lit at night is extremely striking. They are even more powerful as the 4,000 lights from the hotel are lit against the dark night sky. The lighting scheme of the hotel makes the atmosphere so majestic and dramatic. As I stood on a slight angle against the viewing wall of the lake, I noticed the lights seemed to go from lightest to brightest, to focus on the Tuscan architecture of the Bellagio. The lights reflecting on the still, calm lake added excitement and even romance to the atmosphere. The darkness behind me and the brilliant light display before me made me feel isolated among the hundreds of tourists, standing there in the middle of the bright lights of the Vegas strip.

Even in the city of lights, a human can’t always capture light. Light moves too fast to take it all in. It is the camera at times that can catch and remind us of such beauty and memories. The mechanics of a camera are able to expose all light fields. I am quite proud of this handheld shot my camera was able to capture.

~Noelle

Week 1 - What Lies Beyond

I was coming home from a long day of teaching and kept my eyes open for a great image to write about. I was looking for something abstract and unique. I spent the entire hour-long road trip searching for something exciting. I almost gave up for the day, and then I found it! As I was pulling into my parking spot I looked up and noticed the eerie glow of the twilight against the white crescent moon. The ivy-covered brick wall was aglow with the street lamp. My gaze instantly went upward, toward the leafy green horizon. I noticed the definition of the glowing leaves against the underlying ones cast in shadow. The adjacent street was uncharacteristically silent, which made me more aware of my surroundings by engaging my senses. I focused more and more on the quietness of the sky before me, as it slowly became darker. I wondered what could be out there, beyond this green Earth. What lay beyond our moon? Beyond our sky?