The Power of Lighting

Observing light and the effects it has on our surroundings is quite fascinating. Light has a lot of influence on a setting, an element of everyday life that I often overlook; this assignment on documenting the lighting of two different locations made me see the world in a different way. For the documentary portrait assignment, our group shot outside so I decided that I would inspect the lighting of two indoor locations for variation.

The first location I chose was classroom 205 in Morton Hall. There is a window in the back of the classroom, however at the time of my observation, the window was closed, shades were down, and the only light sources were coming from the lights above. There are 4 or 5 sets of 4 fluorescent light tubes down the center of the classroom ceiling. These lights are covered with diffusers, creating a dim and quite flat illumination. If a photograph were to be taken of this classroom, it would not bring out any depth or detail in the image. When you're in the classroom, the dim light and subtle shadows, combined with the off white walls make it seem very one dimensional. The lighting and appearance of this room reflect Morton Hall as a whole. This is one of the older buildings on campus, it's apparent as soon as you see the interior. When I walk in the door to go to class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I immediately sense one thing: the History and English departments mean business. The dense lighting, amongst other traits, makes you feel that when you take class in Morton, expect to get in, be educated, and get out; certainly not a homey, relaxed feel that you would get in say, Kenan Hall! The lighting definitely adds to the building's character, and gives it a rustic, aged look that is perfect for a History and English building.

The second location I observed was my home away from home- Port City Gymnastics. Training under gym lights has been something so second nature to me since the age of 5, but I've never stopped to notice its influence on the atmosphere of the gym. The gym is brightly lit with large industrial fluorescent light tubes, similar to the lights in Morton, yet much longer, brighter, and there are no diffuser panels over the lights. Since all the light is directly overhead, the shadows are cast directly under the equipment, mainly the balance beams, uneven bars, and stacks of mats. Most of the mats and padding in the gym are a matte blue, so there is not much light reflecting off the surfaces. The bases of the beams and bars are metal, resulting in a constant shine from the overhead lights. I feel a sense of both comfort and accomplishment when I'm under these lights, a feeling that I hope will never fade.