Week 10- Final Appreciation

So as I reflect on the time I have spent in this class, I take a moment to appreciate the idea of light in general.  As I was in the Little Theatre for rehearsals for Finals Week, I took notice at the simple lighting for the stage.  The simplicity of the lights made me ponder on the privilege we have as artists and creators to add more color and creativity in a final project of theatre.  I will never take light for granted anymore whether it is simply just for viewing or a spectacle to watch at Disneyland.

Week 10: Hiking before Sunset

This weekend I went on a hike with some friends to get a break from studying and all for finals. We went near sunset and when the sun was setting I came upon this picture. I really enjoyed the way this looked and the sun setting. We can see where the source of light is coming from obviously and the way the sun is shining with the glares onto the lens of the camera. It makes me feel like it's harsh on my eyes a bit just because of how bright the sun is and how white it looks but overall I really enjoyed this picture. The blue sky with the yellow layer before you see the landscape and the trees and bushes with it. The colors are very limited I feel as the tones were mainly yellow, green, and blue in the back with shadows of the trees and bushes on the floor. There are no colors that are popping out as they all blend well together (besides the sun).

WEEK 10: After Rainfall

This is another picture back from my winter break vacation in the Philippines, and this was taken at a tourist spot along the coast of Luzon (loo-zon). We were on the road back to our hotel and our travel guide was taking us to different locations to tour around. Around this time span, there was a typhoon storm, but the only thing that affected us was a lot of rain and nothing too severe. However, after the rain, we were able to enjoy the warm sunlight and see the beauties of this lagoon area. Since it was after the rain, the slight sign of the rainbow added more to this natural beauty of this beach. The sunlight touching the eroded white rocks on the right also made the scenery pop and the light of the sky and water made everything look pristine.

Week 10: Blaze

https://Recently, I was at Blaze waiting for my pizza when I looked up and noticed that the ceiling

seemed to be burning. There were these indents within the ceiling blocked off by spaced out wood

to look like a grate. Looking closer, you could see from behind the wooden panels, the ceiling was

painted red to support the burning effect from the red rope light framing the square outline of the

grate. While the red rope light was not very well hidden, I appreciated something so simple adding

to the overall aesthetic of the store. I remembered our conversation in class regarding taking a 

closer look at the stores we go to and how the lighting helps to sell it, and I believe Blaze utilized

lighting to work for them. 

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Week 10: Be Our Guest

Throwback to my Disney trip. So they have a Beauty and the Beast restaurant at Disney World and we just could not pass this up. When we got in it was the exact replica of the ballroom in the movie and it was soooo beautiful. There was basically only these chandeliers and the few lights on the wall lighting up this huge room. It was so elegant and warm. It made me feel like I was actually at their castle. There was just enough light so that we were able to see, but it was dim enough so that we could also have an intimate dinner. It was just amazing.

Week 10-Blackout Parking Structure

Yesterday, towards the end of Pinchas Zukerman's concert at the Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom and two blocks surrounding Segerstrom went through a complete blackout. The Concert Hall's blackout lasted for roughly 4 seconds until the backup generators came on, giving back light to the surprised audience and orchestra. The situation did not seem as bad until I walked outside the Hall where there were no backup generators. When I walked to the parking structure, I took the above image to show my friend how scary the little lighting looked in the parking structure. Thankfully there were some lights available but for the most part, it was a struggle finding my car in the pitch black. I felt that the little down-lighting cast on the floors of the parking structure heightened the scariness of the situation. The lighting cast shadows onto the floor from the cars making the floors appear even darker. The light, while only in a few areas of the parking structure, was high in intensity making the environment feel even colder.

Week 10 Fire and Ice

On the eve of finals, I retreat to the comfort of my home. Here we celebrate my Papa's birthday and St. Patricks Day. The weekend id fun of fun time with family but looming over my head it the impending threat of finals and papers. 

As I stare at the fireplace I feel warm and comfortable but the window lets in the chill of the unavoidable future. I am definitely projecting into this way too much but the lighting does definitely have a strong contrast!

Them both being natural sources of light make them feel as if they belong together but the firelight being so much more dominant with the bright light from outside makes it feel off. It is unusual to see this balance in a natural setting and this is what makes it strange to look at. 

And with me in my head about finals it only adds to feeling on edge.

Week 10- Good Ol' Get Together

This picture of my friend Karen was taken during at a board game night at my friend Daniels house. I chose this image because I saw great examples of color temperature in  a natural setting in this specific picture. I love how the lighting from the lamp we were using created this very warm tone while also giving a very dynamic composition on her face. There's a nice shadow on one side of her face, and she isn't completely washed out by the light as well. Meanwhile, in the background, you actually have a very cold kelvin temperature coming out fro ma different light source, I think it might be the overhead florescent lighting, or maybe even lighting from the fish tank that is creating it. Overall I just love how the colors meshed in this photo, as well as the color from Karen's shirt really popping out from that cold background. It really got me thinking more about how great cold and warm can mix in a really organic way, rather than in an artificial forced way that I first presumed it would be.

Week 10: Lighting a Legacy

I took the above photo at Newport Beach (sorry it’s out of focus).In the picture is the Ben Carlson memorial, a memorial honoring a lifeguard who’s life was cut short when he went to rescue a beachgoer from the tide and was swept under a wave. When looking at the statue, my eyes turned to the lights illuminating the memorial from below. Obviously, when creating a memorial for a deceased individual and attempting to honor their legacy, how the memorial is lit should be meticulously planned. I believe this lighting was. The way that the lights shine on Ben’s figure create a sort of angelic and glowing aura from before. Lighting the memorial from above or lighting it entirely would likely provide a more flat, less effective look, not to mention it would be much less convenient in terms of physical construction. Also, when I first thought about the lighting choice, the idea of the water that Ben worked in and lived came to my mind. He actually attended my high school and played water polo and was on the swim team, so although I don’t know him, I know he must’ve loved the water and life guarding, so the lighting can also be a sort of homage to that. Overall, I appreciate the lighting on this statue and believe that it helps to reinforce a very important and emotionally heavy subject.

Week 10-simple but not simple lighting

This photo is of my dashboard in my car at night. At first I was looking for something really cool and innovative to take a picture of. However, I hadn’t been on the lookout as much for just the little things I had thought something big will come to me and I’ll take a picture of it. So then as I waited for that big thing and nothing came I started to look around me and I saw my dashboard of my car. When I took the picture I noticed how beautiful and vibrant the colors looked at night. The way the purple surrounded the lights and looked reminded me of lights we used in class. I noticed how the purple looks peaceful yet striking and it made me think of how this could be used in theatrical lighting. I think that it is representative of power, but a fair power. I can see this lighting be used for a ruler that is in charge but also fair. Over the course of this class and looking at lighting so closely I have realized how influential color can be to create a feeling. The tone of the color especially makes a difference in how the audience will perceive it even if it in not a conscience realization. This more blue tone of purple in my picture means something completely different than a more warm toned purple. It was also interesting to see how the other colors such as the green and red stood out because of the tone of the purple in my picture. The red especially because it is more warm it contrasted the blueish purple and made it more apparent. This would be a good way to have something stand out on stage as well to have it be a completely different color tone. Overall, this picture, although simple, helped me see a lot about color and how it influences lighting.

Week 10: At A Stand Still

It has been raining a lot in SoCal and I have been loving it! Earlier in the week, on my commute home, the traffic was at a stand still. With everything out of my control, the only I could think to do was look at the sky. It had been raining that morning and continued sporadically throughout the day. Gentle rain started to come down and the sky began to open up. The sun peaked through but the darkness of the evening still remained. I had never seen something turn so beautifully within a span of a couple seconds. When doing my lighting project, I thought about this instance and how it related to fade times. If I hadn't seen this picture with its exact timing, I may not have felt the same way about it. The beautiful colors of the picture strike me every time I look at it on my phone.

Week 6: California Streaming

There is nothing I find more therapeutic than a nice hike with friends. This was a couple months ago in Monrovia Canyon Park. It was a grey day but I remember it more livelier than this picture may appear. There was a soft sunlight that creeped through trees and the sound of kids and dogs playing could be heard. The cool air made for an awesome hike for someone like me that tends to be warm. The green foliage is rich and full of life, the narrow stream adds another dimension of movement and I feel connected to the earth when I stand in the middle of it all.

Week 10: East Coast Cozy

I took this picture on my trip to New York last summer. It does not fully capture the moment I had at Top of The Rock at Rockefeller Center but it takes me back to the lovely views and perfect weather. It was noon and the sun shined bright, theres was a cool breeze and I decided to take a seat in the empty lounge. My feet were tired from all the walking and exploring and sitting felt like heaven. I remember feeling so peaceful and cozy I could have taken a nap on that bench.

Week 10: Look Again

This photo does not do the sunset justice but I promise it was breathtaking. So breathtaking that I spent a good forty-five minutes in a parking lot looking at it completely hypnotized. I just couldn’t stop staring at it. Look at those colors! I love how drawn I was to the pink and red, which I suppose are the warmest and smallest parts of the image but they was so vibrant that I couldn’t help it. I guess I do see warm colors first! Then when I stepped back, I was really amazed by the contrast between that bright center on the peeking horizon and the deep dark blues and purples that framed it. They seemed like two very opposing forces that shouldn’t be in the same image and yet here they were sucking me into another dimension (at least that’s how it felt). Then there is the soft yellow behind the clouds that links them beautifully. My absolute favorite part about this sunset — which is unfortunately not as obvious in the picture — is the small line of pink that outlines some of the clouds. On a first glance they are just purple and seem purely cold to me but when I look closer, there is this very warm, very thin frame that changes my perception of them. There is warmth beneath the cold, nothing is just one thing, everything has layers. My thoughts then wandered to reminding me to always give everything (situations, people etc.) more than one look because they are not always what they seem at a first glance.

Week 10: Reflection?

The only light entering my room was coming from behind me and yet the shadow on the ground seems to be coming from the door. We tend to think of only metallic items as reflective and sometimes we forget that lighter objects (especially white) reflect light. It makes me wonder how many times I've mistaken a light source for what is actually just a reflection. Like the ghost of a light source...

Week 10: A Night Sky

The other night I took this photo before the opening of King Lear. We were getting ready for places and I took a second to go outside. I saw the sky and was completely in awe of the beauty. I was so interested because I remember working on my final project and trying to recreate a night sky. I was surprised to see this bright yellow and orange showing up so vividly. It makes sense because the sun is going down but it was eye opening to really think about how the time of day can change a person's perspective of a night sky. I thought the view was breathtaking and I am glad I caught it!

week 10 we take turn!

I take this photo when I was practicing dance with my friends for our final, while we took turn to use the speaker to dancing, I looked up to the sky and took this photo. This view really made me feel free from this angle, due to the trees are in the front, which make the sunshine comes out throught cross them. It is sunsetting, and the clouds was drive the sun away to telling that "It's my turn now". I like the shape of the leaves which almost fall down but still hang on the tree. This photo makes me think about that people should believe dreams. Because no matter how tiny you are, it must have some reason to put you to live in this world.

Week 8: Luzia by Cirque Du Soleil

    So for the last few weeks I have been working a second job ushering for Cirque du Soleil while it is in Costa Mesa with their Luzia show. It's been an incredible experience despite the exhaustion that has come with it. While heading to my car to grab my lunch, I realized how amazing the sky looked in between the rain fall that was hitting randomly through out this week. I managed to snap this picture just as the rain started falling, so it was perfect timing. While I was taking this, I remember when we were talking in class a few weeks back  about how there can't actually be grey lighting and that clouds will sometimes actually contain bits of lavender. It's really amazing to sit and realize that all the color changes that we are perceiving in nature like in this photo, are the result of a combination of light waves that are hitting and not hitting the receptors in our eyes. I also really love the color contrast that we got in this image with that dark sky being juxtaposed with the oranges of the sign, and whites and yellows of the Cirque Big Top.

Week 8: Wicked or Rock Musical?

So this picture was taken during rehearsal of the Week 10 Independent project Rock of Ages.  This show has been so much fun to work on and the lighting has finally come together!  The show is on the Claire Trevor stage and it almost basically a Black Box as the show is in thrust and takes three time as much of light which means any angle in which you sit you will get a great view of the stage.  This light cue was discussing the antagonist of the show who is in love with money which is perfect with this green light.  Come see our show!

Week 8: Where am I supposed to Look?

I can't seem to get this picture oriented the way it is meant to be. However in a way that answers some of my questions. This is from the lobby/bar/pre-show location at Pirate's Dinner Adventure in Buena Park. In person, I couldn't tell what the lighting was doing but, now that I'm looking at the picture I see it more. The lighting is welcoming in person. I was confused about what the lighting was drawing our attention to but I think the lighting is doing a great job of drawing attention away from the theatrical lighting equipment. I know it is not uncommon for little drapes in curtains (like the onesat the top of the photo) to be lit, but in person I couldn't figure out why they wanted us, the patreons, to look at them. I understand now that they are trying to keep our focus toward the upper and outter edge of the room, rather than the center of the ceiling where all the theatrical lighting equimpent and such is hanging. They are making the curtian at the back of the room important which makdes secne because that is where the preshow takes place but it is -also- drawing a lot of attention to the bar which could help with drink sales.
I wish I could do my lighting critique on this show because it raised a lot of questions about lighting for dinner theater and action focused shows.

Week 8: A Forgotten Warmth

This last Saturday I took this as I was leaving a rehearsal around 10:30pm. There were only a couple of people on campus and I had a moment where I felt really at peace. This lighting caught my eye because I could clearly see the sources but also it felt like the light and dark were slowly merging together. There was this creepiness but also a really beautiful effect. It made me stop after a long day and take a look at what was around me.

Week 8: The Sky Glows at Night

Alright so I took this picture at 11:30pm last Wednesday, but it barely looks like night time. There is so much sky glow that it barely looks like it's time to go to bed. There are so many lights on in the world that it's brightening up the sky and making it hard to see the stars, and I love watching the stars. This is why I have always hated living in the city. I love watching the stars and it's very hard to do here. It makes me sad. I'd rather see the naturalness of the sky; the stars, the glow of the moon and everything else the sky has to offer me. A year ago I was on my balcony and I was able to see a shooting star and it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, but now I don't see any more and I would definitely love to.

WEEK 8: Baguio Sunrise

This is a picture from my winter break vacation in the Philippines. One of our many stops was Baguio (bah-gee-oh) City, which was famous for its "cold" weather; the lowest temperature would be 68 degrees as compared to the Philippines high 80s in winter. My family and I were staying at a house and just came back from a 5:30 AM worship service that was a walk away. My parents and relatives were cooking breakfast in the kitchen while I was watching my brother and younger cousin explore the small backyard. This picture was pretty much the background of the backyard, and it was quite a spectacular view! Since it was around 6-7 AM, the sun started to break out and shine over the cityscape. I took the time to see the sun rising in the new landscape in a city I have not been in before, especially in a country my family was from. While admiring this view at that moment, I was in awe of this one-of-a-kind view in a beautiful city. Although my picture couldn't quite capture the natural light slowly easing in, it was quite an amazing moment to take the time and witness it myself!

Week 8 - Inspiration

This isn't the best picture, but I took it when I noticed the sunlight coming in through the window into my kitchen. I love the texture the trees, the window shutters and whatever else is in the way create onto the light. It looks like a gobo, and I wonder what gobo could help create such a natural feel like this. I am one of the choreographers attempting to have my piece selected for Physical Graffiti and I have been looking all over for inspiration and ideas for my piece. Especially for the lighting design, since I'm learning more each class how important it is in driving the mood/story of a piece.

Week 8- Store Lighting

This picture is from the window at my work. At first I just saw the lighting and how the temperature of the lighting affected how the clothes looked. The warmer temperature made the clothes look appealing and the colors more soft. The lighting doesn’t really have very many shadows on the clothes themselves. Because of the lack of shadows it also appears as if the company has nothing to hide in terms fit and quality. And if there are shadows they appear light and natural. Then, when taking a second glance at the photo, I saw all of the reflections and lights in the background. It’s so interesting how both the lighting inside the store and outside the store affected this picture. The reflection in the window almost looks like a completely different light altogether. It’s much cooler than the lighting inside and it looks blue. I think this is really interesting to see how lighting can translate through a surface such as a window. Overall, I loved seeing how the clothing was set up based on the lighting of the store. The lighting in a store makes such a difference. My workplace as seen in the picture has soft and warm lighting which makes it very inviting to customers but also makes the clothes look good. It was really cool to see how much lighting plays a part in marketing and businesses.

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Week 8 - Tech prt.2

Back in tech! and this time working on Bare Bones which is much less stressful that Dance Visions. Part of this is probably having things to do during this wonderful 14 hour rehearsal :)

I sit in a small closet running audio watch as the lights play on the white painted wall. With the unique shadows color soon fills my space making my job much more entertaining. the theatrical lighting can be a little overwhelming but if I chose to focus the light coming from a computer screen or the audio equipment I feel grounded as the little is contained to a smaller amount of space.

I feel as if this exercise with lights is applicable to most of life. dealing with you can manage and not be stunned by the amazing amount of "stuff" going on around you.

Also though out this tech process I have been paying a large amount of attention to shadow. There are beautiful and mysterious and a skill that I know great lighting designers must master. But my appreciation has grown so much since this class. The dimension they add is really underappreciated in the everyday and in theatrical lighting. I love the unintentional color on this back wall that was a product of weird shadow in the booth and the design choices made for the dance studio.

Week 8: Gloomy Days are Uplifting

There was finally some rain in California. I was back in LA to visit my friends and family this weekend and it was pouring a lot Friday. My favorite weather is rain or a cold overcast kind of day and it definitely makes my mood happier. It may look like a gloomy day but to me, it's a beautiful and enlightening day. I love the grey clouds, although after color theory in class it is definitely not grey to me anymore! My mind is blown. Overcast/Rain is just fantastic for me. I enjoy cooler weathers. Nice for wrapping yourself in a blanket into a giant burrito. The sky is just so "clear" to me and for some reason. This lighting is not too harsh as sunny days could be and it's not too dark like night time where we couldn't see much outside. This is the perfect in between for me. I guess there would be blues or lavenders around although it looks grey. This weather could make people's mood lower but this really just brings it up for me. I guess I just enjoy the cozy feeling at home with your blankets or partner if you have one on this cold and gloomy day but I do enjoy being out in this weather as well. I may consider moving to Washington in the future just to be around with more days like this.

Week 8: Friday Night Skies

Before rehearsals started consuming my school year, I loved to go watch my brother perform with his marching band in district and state competitions. I would look out into the swarm of kids and pick out the smile on my brother's face. I could tell he was doing something he loved and having the time of his life. He still competes but it is very rare if I am able to go cheer him on. That night, looking out towards the palm trees, I could clearly see the depth of the clouds and the mixing within the colors. Even though the sun was not fully out, it was such a bright evening. Whenever I look at this picture, it makes me feel very nostalgic. I can feel the early September weather, smell the hot dogs being cooked, and hear the cheering of the crowds. Now, whenever he goes to another competition, I send him the same positive energy from this day.

Week 8: Leaving Already?

This is the look I get when I’m about to leave in the morning. This furry friend of mine has been with me for about eight years. Normally, she has a very sweet and inviting expression on her face, which, for a cat sounds bizarre since they have very few facial muscles so they’re built to perpetually look stoic. However, the way the light is hitting her through the blinds in this photo gives her a rather stern and judgemental look. The contrasts between the very lit areas and harsh shadows gives her an “evil cartoon” feel. I love that the white fur below her nose is the brightest part of her face, it draws our eyes straight to it and becomes the first thing that we notice. The shadows of the blinds on the wall behind her and on her face round the corner of the wall. The colour of her fur absorbs the light in such a way that they stick out from the wall giving her dimension so the image doesn’t feel flat and the subject doesn’t blend in with the background. 

As I was admiring the pose, I realized that I’m leaving her earlier than usual for yet another very long day away from home. She’s not thrilled and the more I look at this image, the guiltier I feel. 

Week 8: The Effect of Color

This image was captured at a shopping center in Fontana, California. 

     Last Week, I was out on a shopping trip and found this beautiful sky while sitting in the car. While looking at this sky, I began to think about the sky that might appear at the end of Angel of the Desert, where Francisco is described as a Phoenix, rising from ashes. The colors in this sky provide great inspiration for what I am trying to accomplish in that project. To me, the orange aura present just above the mountains in this picture conveys light and hope in a time that was otherwise dark, represented by the gloomy grayness just above the orange. This picture also reminded me in the moment the things that light brings with it that we so often take for granted. Without light, photos like the above one would not be possible to capture, because light is responsible for all of the beauty in the sky. I am glad that I got to both see this beautiful sky, while at the same time gaining an inspiration for my Angel of the Desert project.

Week #8: Overcoming Darkness

The light coming from the extreme brightness of the sun seems to be reaching across the sky to the dark blue. It gives me this feeling of endless darkness that the light is always trying to overcome. With that light brings the life of the palm tree growing closer and closer to the light every day.

Week 8: Window Seat View

I took a trip to New York last year in early September. The trip almost didn't happen because at the time there was a series of Hurricanes and Storms that threatened the East Atlantic Coast and could potentially make its way North. After reading about the possible danger, I decided to take the risk and continue with my vacation plans. I made sure to watch the news and stay informed about the storm's course but still have fun and tried not worry too much about it. This picture was taken as the plane departed at around 7 in the morning I was exhausted and ready to go home. I decided to take this picture because I wanted to remember the feeling of accomplishment. I came and survived through the scare and had an unforgettable trip. The sunlight softly came in and there was a sense of calm and relief. I will always treasure this moment.

Week 8: sunset in long beach

      Here is the photo I took when I hanged out with my friends in Seal Beach last weekend, where is 5 min away Long Beach University. It was a really good timming since its sunsetting, I love the color tier up from the sky till the ocean. This view causes me have a really romance scene: a guy which reprensent by the ocean who is dancing like the waves, in front of the girl, which represent by the sky, and the girl smile with blush for shyness. It makes me feel so relaxing and enjoy this moment, I stayed unil the sunset completed, I smiled, and made a deep breath, I think this is what "picturesque" about.