Another Chance

This photo was taken outside my house while the sun is setting. There still a little golden light but night is slowly coming. This view reminds me that today was a great day and made me feel thankful for it. It also tells me that tomorrow is just around the corner and that's an opportunity to be a better person than who I was today. I feel there's always room for improvement in all aspects of life.

Week 9 - Neighbor's House

This picture was taken outside my friends house. There is somewhat of a gritty atmosphere to this picture. Even though there is blue sky a cloud looms over the house while the sun is shaded out. It's as if there is evil lurking within the house. It's a foreshadow that makes us guess what happens in the daily routine of this house. Daytime can also give a sense of dread if the intensity is shifted.

Week 4 Propoganda

This scene in Allen Ginsberg's / Philip Glass' Hydrogen Jukebox is one of the most powerful moments of this American chamber opera.  The silhouetted characters plastered on both stage left and right promote a self-awakening, a realization to the invisible hand that has been keeping them down for far too long. The actors bathed in this uplight is reminiscent of the Obama posters for change in the 2008 presidential election. The image is strikingly profound. It can be seen as silhouetted propoganda for an uprising of the masses to take back what was lost and to gain in the madness much more than was intended by the revolutionaries. I was honestly hoping that the director, Dylan Thomas, would ask the set designer if it were okay for the actors to knock down one side of the wall of boxes to increase the weight of this piece. But then there would not be room left for the final BIG BANG!

Week 8- Jenisse Castillo

I took this photo one morning before getting ready for school. We have curtains that block out the sun completely, so when I wake up in the morning I open them up to let the sun in. We got these flowers for my mom on Mother's Day and I remember her saying that she hoped that they didn't die since she doesn't have much of a green thumb.  When I opened the window I laughed because I noticed the flowers sitting on the ledge fully blossomed. My mom was so worried about them dying, but with enough care a tending they become something beautiful. The sunlight is the main source of light in those photo. It illuminates the flowers while also providing it what it needs to stay alive. The flowers are are naturally lit by the sun and there is a beauty knowing that without the sun, these flowers would not look like this. It is a reminder that as long as we tend to our needs and strive to succeed, we can blossom into something just as beautiful as these flowers.

Week 8 Karen Arana

I took this picture as soon as I had gotten off the bus from school. It was around 8:30pm and all I had to do was cross the street to get to my house. At this hour of the night when the source of light is no longer the sun, I decided to take this picture to emphasize the darkness in the background because the lamps and street lights become the sources of light. Because of all the unnatural sources of light all around the city, the sky is not actually completely black in the background. There seems to be a different shade in the sky which isn't even remotely black or really dark and I believe that it has to do with street lights. I wonder how the sky would look like if I were in a place where no lamps or street lights affected the way I see the sky because I've heard that the sky looks darker and the stars actually stand out in the open.
If I were to replicate this picture I would definitely not have a super dark background representing the sky background because it clearly isn't super dark. I would use bright and shiny sources of light that will replicate the lamps and street lights. I would also have a soft brushstroke for the background to mix two different dark colors of the sky that are influenced mainly by the street lights.

Architecture and Sunlight by Carla Moreno

This is a wonderful picture of the how the sunlight can harshly impact a piece of stone and make it look beautiful. I was walking past the Los Angeles Public Library and I went inside their patio and there was this hidden building inside. The sunlight is an amazing light that sets mood and creates wonderful settings. By just looking at the picture of the building looks big but it was small. I like the sunlight because it is bright but has a variation of different light shades. I would have so much fun figuring out how I would recreate this variation of sunlight hitting the building. I would use the par-can to light the big harsh light. I would use an Amber color tint. I would also use a sky light and also place a light blue shade. Both of the Fresnel would be used to light a very light green tint. I would also play with time if I was recreating in for the theater. I would use lights and then play with time. I would create a variation of time and light, dimness while also exploring different amounts of time the light would stay on and then go off. Playing with time and also the ability to recreate tonal pastel colors would be great. Overall the mood and feeling with this would be CAREFREE and LIVELY. I love this picture because I would want to challenge myself to play with time, energy, I would be working with a variation of pastel colors to recreate the mood for the building.

Sunday Afternoon by Carla Moreno

A beautiful lovely afternoon at the cemetery, I really like the sunlight that created the shadows between the graves because it sets the location setting. If I would light this I would use two fesnels on the side and a gobo on the sky of the lights I would re-create the shadows. And I would light it with a variation of different sun lights and tint shade colors. Amber color would be used for the par can. And I would use a bright green on the left side of the lights to light the floor of green. For the sky, a blue tint would be used to give it the glow. Obviously the floor in the room would be the gravestones. I like the variations of color that is going on right now with the green grass and the blue sky. The grey with the gravestones and most important the atmosphere would be peaceful. The cemetery is a place where people go and mediate over their past loved ones, I would do my best to recreate a setting where the day is not harsh but it’s a lovely afternoon to visit and mediate on memories. The whole point of cemeteries existing is for people to reunite, pay tributes, and to be at a peaceful place. I would image people would gather on a Saturday afternoon be with friends while they reminisce about their past loved one that passed away. Overall the mood would be REMBERANCE AND PEACEFUL. 

Spring Sunset Anticipating Summer

I was heading to my hometown for the weekend when I saw this view.  My goodness, this view is sexy.  Something about how the clouds emit that pinkish hue from the sun setting.  These are the views that make people just want to take a deep breath and just live in the moment.  It definitely took my breath away, and brings me back to those summer sunsets of my youth and gives me a feeling of freedom.  I'd definitely recreate this using some blue hanging sidelights and some pink shin lights so that the pink just floats in the air.

week 6 --The Sunflower

Ok So I took this picture two weeks ago and I should have posted it but did not because so many things just ran by and distracted me...." look squirl".....just like that.... anyhoo... I love sunflowers so any man would have me a melted icecream if I got these as gifts but I give them to myself from time to time..If I could grow them I totally would, that and jasmines they smell amazing at night.... but the lighting I used was natural light to take this shot....If I used an artificial light it would be a shin or leko with a blue tint to give it a celestial clear touch. It would be a side angle shot too.... maybe the feeling for this shot means love, beauty, life that is created naturally right before our eyes... I am not the creater but I'm thankful for such a beauty such as this sunflower that he makes. Alright, please look out I have two other pictures I want to post actually 4 but I can't decide on which.

E. Rosales - Week 8 Blog

A couple of nights ago, I was driving around downtown Alhambra and entered a parking structure only to find the only available spot being on the roof. I do not go out at night much, at least not to Alhambra. As I walked towards the stairs however, I noticed how eclectic the view was. It was truly a perfect contrast not only in lighting, but in the emotion it gave off as well. In the background we see the Edwards theater with its colorful and bright lights illuminating, the Applebees, as well as other stores in that vicinity. While on the forefront we see mainly a street light as the source for light providing bleakness to the vibrant background. We often talk so much about the complimenting of colors that we use, yet this picture speaks real life to me, and it uses the exact opposite. It shows what we all know to be true and does not glaze over the underbelly of our society. Lighting this would be a challenge aesthetically, as well as technically. I am not knowledgeable enough to know what can contrast at a complimenting tone (if that even makes sense). I do know that there would be a lot of LEKO's and vibrant, lively colors, along with more grounded, serious colors as well.

Week 8: festive and happy

I took this picture during Long Beach Gay Pride festival . These palm trees really caught my eye , so I just had to take it . It made me feel festive, happy, and bright . I was getting really tired by the time I saw the palm trees , I was exhausted . But when I walked this direction I felt light and in a better mood . I absolutely loved how the sky was so dark in the background , you can't even see stars so it was a bery solid black in the background , then the lights of the palm trees to me , overpowered the lighting of the buildings in the background. If I were to light this on stage , I would use shin lights in color r360 just cause it's very natural to the eye , for some reason I can really picture the shins doing a good part to this lighting just cause the focus isn't specifically on center & I wouldn't want a even wash on the floor with any of the fresnels. Then in the perfect world, I would light multiple down light lekos in colors such as r56, r39,r23, and r89. I'm not sure how to represent the gradient affect , I was thinking if these lights were lit , I'd have different lights fade in and out at full in a time of 15, just to emphasize the color and intensity getting stronger or faint as they go on and off .

Week 8

I took this picture while visiting my grandma, the same place as last week’s blog, but from a different view. Looking at these pictures I really get inspired. The source of light is the sun, sunset of course. There some dark blues, light blues, orange, red, light pink, and some gray. I like how it seems all the blues are on top and as the sky moves further down there is this line of orange and pinks and reds, but also at the top left corner there is also a bright spot of color. When I say that taking and writing these blogs inspire me, they inspire me especially taking them at this place where my grandma is living. About two years ago my grandma was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was getting hard to care for her here at home because she was becoming paralyzed, the family decided it would be best to put her in a home where she can be cared for the proper way and be under 24 hour care. This is a very terrible disease, but my grandma was always in high spirits and till this day, paralyzed from her whole body and on a breathing tube she still has the energy to make us laugh when we visit her. I took this picture as I sat by her side holding her hand. The gray in this picture I feel represent her disease but all the other bright colors represent her spirit, there is more to her than this disease. Who knew lighting can have so many different emotions and meaning when you take a second and think about colors and source of light.

2:45 am

I

This image was taken Saturday night in Long Beach at 2:45 am while walking to my car from my friends house. I loved how the street light illuminated the side walk. It had a creepy but peaceful vibe to me.

The lighting I would use would be a side light with an amber color at low intensity. I would use a Leko light as well. I can also use a down light to give it a more creepy vibe. 

Week 6- the freaks come out at night

This week's blog features a picture I took last week on my way down to San Diego. I was trying to capture the moon that night because it was so big and bright orange which only happens rarely. Although the camera doesnt show exactly how big and orange, it does show some clouds. When looking at the moon from the freeway, the clouds hid the majority of the moon, giving a light amber wash on the land. I don't really see this color in real life too often when it's from nature vs man made so I'm glad I was able to see it even though the camera didn't show it too well. The moon being an amber color creates a different mood to me that's almost forewarning and creepy. The full moon already tells us that werewolves are out with the clouds but the orange moon is so rare it says this night is more special. It reminds me of Halloween since those colors are orange and black. The angle of this is to the right but it's frontlight. If I was to recreate this mood for a stage, I'd do back light to add to the mystery. Timing I'm not sure if I'd go fast or slow... I suppose it matters on the context. Because if it's a suspenseful scene were the werewolves jumps at you, the time would be quick. But if it's setting the scene, it would be ridiculously slow.

Week 6 - Edward R.

I took this picture a week or so ago while waiting during class. It struck me as such a tranquil moment in time. I felt as though nothing really mattered, and a calming sensation washed over me. Most of my projects thus far have been intense in one way or another, so I think lighting this would be a nice variation for me. I would mainly use fresnels to create a calming wash over the stage with a nice soft with probably 51 or 52. To create the sunlight i would like to use an orange-ish amber color, something like 16 or 17. That would be brought up slowly on a leko, or frensel as well depending on how the angle and intensity looks like.

Week 6- Jenisse Castillo

Everyone has days where you just sit in your car and drive. These are most of my days. I spend most of my week in a car commuting to school. While many people hate driving, I love it. It's the place where I can sit and either think about what my day will be like, or reflect on it. This particular day I was in the car with a friend. We were listening to music and just driving around town. Prior to this, I had asked my friend to drive past my grandmothers house which I hadn't been to since she passed away. With Mother's Day on my mind, I really wanted to pass by and see her house. Though she passed away a years ago, she is still in my heart.
Soon after we passed her house, we ended up on this road that overlooked the hills. We sat in silence looking out at the sunset. I thought about my grandmother and how much time I spent in her neighborhood, and even though I hadn't been there for years, as soon as we went there I had all these memories flash back to me. I looked at the different colors that were in the sky. It created that inner peace for me. It was similar to the feelings I have when I drive to school, that reflection. If put on the stage, I would want to create that same gradient of light. With the blue and the blend of orange to create that peace, and try to grasp the memories. The intensities would have to be dim, to create that grey in the sky, but also not to dim where the lights would not show the colors. I would most lleikyl use Fresnel to create that blurred effect.

Week 5 Texture

This Victorian house in Angelino Heights can be found in a row of similarly dated houses from an era in which life's troubles were not as diverse nor complex as today. This image has textures of shadows across the front and side of the house. The neighboring tree creates an umbrage seen along the face of the house. The two dimensional texture thrown unto the white paint can be conveyed on a set with a patterned gobo. I can picture a porch swing rocking back and forth as a young couple hesitantly converse about a possible romance together as the sole of their shoes drag along the floor boards. Each gentle push of their foot building a kind of momentum inching them closer to the side light of sun beams hitting the lovers' eyes quite intently.

Week 6

I took this picture while leaving the hospital from visiting my Grandma. I liked the way the sunset was between these two buildings and the trees in between them. I like the colors that the sun is giving the sky, peach, with some orange and yellows, and some red. I took this picture because I liked the shades of color I seen, but after staring at it on the way home I felt I was on the dark side. On the other side of the building was the light, the better of a situation. The source of the light is of course the sun, but it's not coming from above as I would assume where the sunlight source would come from. The light seems as if coming from down under.

Week 6 Karen Arana

I took this picture last Sunday when I went hiking at Griffith Park.  There is a little garden in a section right next to the hiking trail and there is this “pila de agua” where dogs can drink. I took this picture because there was shade and the water looked very refreshing.

I also took this picture because I immediately thought about using a gobo to replicate this shot. The source of light is from the early morning sunlight and therefore I can use a leko brushstroke to get a strong sunlight. I would also use shin lights at a low intensity to illuminate this area. I would use the shin lights as compared to sidelights or front lights because a sidelight or front light would light the floor too much. Therefore, shin lights would be my choice of brushstrokes in order to keep the shadows while still illuminating the area. I would use an amber color gel to give it a soft touch. The shadows provided by the gobos would add to the softness and coolness of this shot.

Better days

I took this picture while I was outside yesterday, and I really liked how the colors of the sky is bright in the picture and stands out the most as the trees are very dark almost as if it's the shadow of the trees. The clear almost circular shape towards the bottom right of the picture made me feel optimistic, since it's the only clear spot in the sky and everything else is cloudy and dark, just as when people say there's always a bright side to the darker days.  It made me feel as if there's still hope. If I were to light this on stage id use shin lights in r61 since it's a very light and natural blue . But I'd have the left shin light with r80 since it's more saturated dark blue at about 65%, just to show different shades of blue . Then I'd have the par can in R02 at about 85% to symbolize the clear area of the sky while the two different blues on the shin lights are lit to show different intensities .

Quiet and Beautiful

I took this photo on Wednesday in old town Pasadena. I was exiting a coffee shop and I felt very inspired when I saw this scenery. It was taken at around 6:30 in the afternoon so the sun was just about to set. I enjoyed how the buildings on the left cast a shadow but there was a walkway that allowed sunlight through and it hit the tree. I felt very relaxed and relieved that the day is going to end. 

The light I would use to create this feel is an Amber color coming from a sidelight using a frensel brushstroke. I'd use a white the diagonal front light that's on the opposite side of the sidelight just to light up the other side while adding dimension. This light would be at 50% intensity while the sidelight is at full. 

Week 5 - Azusa Metro Station

I took this picture upstairs at a Target near the Azusa Metro link station. It is hard to tell because of the glare, but there are two rows of street lamps paving a path for the cars to move through. It feels as though people are moving away from a place of luxury to an area of desolation. The glare of the lights mixed with the small shadow of the shopping cart gives this picture two personalities. It's as if the people in the cars were being drawn to the glare, only to be misled into a darker and less happy place. Because of the arrow, there is no turning back.