THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #10: SCENES FROM A BROADWAY MUSICAL
Spiderman
Hairspray
Hair
Beauty and the Beast
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #9: LIGHT FROM PRACTICALS
The lighting provided from practicals is minimal, but the effect can be irreplaceable. It seems that having practicals on stage allows for the stage to feel more like a real room. However, it is important to note that not much light will be drawn from them, so they can be used as props or “helped” by a light hung in the right position, as demonstrated by the last image.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #8: SUNLIGHT FILTERED THROUGH TREES AND LEAVES
When looking at sunlight filtered through the trees, I tried to get the three main perspectives. First, you have to notice what it does through the leaves (or whatever it is shining through). It brings out the vibrancy of the color and blurs some lines while creating contrast for others. The next thing to notice is how the sunlight, when filtered, creates shafts of light. The final thing is when looking directly into the sun, it is just a bright light that is dispersed throughout the sky.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #7: PASSION
When I think of passion in a theater setting, I think of bold colors. This could mean one color (specifically red) or a mixture of many bright colors. Passion is bright and bold, so I think that idea needs to be reflected in the colors that are chosen.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #6: SADNESS
I struggled when trying to think of how to create lighting effects to instill a sad mood. My original though was winter. Dead trees. Grays and browns. That sort of thing. The following photo creates that mood…
However, I think there is more than just that to create a sad feeling. So, I decided to google “sad movie scenes.” This was what I came up with…
Interestingly enough, all of these pictures have a few characteristics in common. First, the background is dark. At first, I thought this was because sadness seems to almost have a bit of evil behind it because something had to happen to evoke that emotion. However, after further study, it seems like the bigger reason for that is show that part of the emotion of sadness is not noticing anything else happening around you. You are completely consumed in that moment. The world stops around you. I think that is a key feature to create a sad feeling on stage, especially if it is the climax of that emotion. A broader sense of sadness could be created through reflecting on a winter season.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #5: JOY
When I think of joy, I think of a lot of things…I think of sunlight, weddings, laughter, family, children, etc. However, when thinking of joy as a mood for a lighting designer, natural spring colors come to mind. The faces are completely lit with joy. There is texture. There is color. The lighting is soft, not harsh. Joy is an emotion that comes upon you slowly, like sunlight, not something that strikes you abruptly like lightning and thunder.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #4: EVIL
When I think of evil lighting, it is all about shadows for me. There is something that is so scary and dark (literally and figuratively) about something lurking in the shadows. Shadows created by lighting can turn a pleasant face into a menacing one just through the angle of the light. Macbeth also uses many shadows throughout to display a certain evil mood.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #3: MOONLIGHT/SUNLIGHT THROUGH WINDOW
Both of these images were chosen for the harshness of the light entering the room. Currently, we are reviewing the script for Macbeth, so I though it was only right that the images reflected that type of mood. It is also interesting to notice that the moon picture’s depth makes the viewer unable to see the meeting of the wall to the floor. This layer adds an extra element of mystery to this picture (which upon further inspection appears to be a stage perhaps).
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #2: SUNSET
Sunsets are obviously very similar to sunrises. The first image displays that similar hues can be found. However, my second image shows that at different times during the night as well as on different nights in different seasons, the sky can look completely different. The lighting effect would need to change depending on what time the scene was taking place during the sunset or sunrise. It would be cool if the colors could change and evolve like a real sunset/sunrise.
THEATER LIGHTING IMAGE #1: SUNRISE
These images were taken in one week’s time. Although some sunrises can be fairly boring, both of these were breath-takingly beautiful. It gave my a little bit of hope for being awake! I think that the color of the light is obviously what makes sunrises and sunsets so alluring. The mixtures of reds, pinks, and purples with the highlights of whites against a black scenery creates a sense of peace, but also a hint of something beginning.
Miss. W 