Monday, June 02, 2014

Photographs Of Light, Lights, And Lighting

If you're someone who enjoys taking pictures, I'm sure you've noticed how you'll go through periods of being inspired by a certain thing that catches your eye and then you'll start taking a series of photographs. It's like your photography goes through a theme period.

Lately, for me, it's been indoor and outdoor light fixtures, chandeliers, light bulbs, city lights; anything that has to do with lighting. 

Lighting is something that has always fascinated me because not only does it allow us to see in the dark, but it also has the ability to create and invoke a mood.

I remember when I was still an actor in the theater and the lighting technicians would slowly begin adding the onstage lighting to a production I was performing in, and how it would suddenly make a difference in my performance because stage lights greatly influence how an actor feels. And they also influence how an audience feels. Stage lighting is such a powerful part of the theater experience.

I also feel that lighting influences our life in general.

For instance, in my own home I don't like bright lights. I much prefer softer lighting because it feels calmer and more relaxing. I don't mine bright, natural light coming from outside, I just don't like a lot of bright, artificial lighting.

And it's funny because my mother was just the opposite, she would have every single light on in the house at night because she preferred a lot of bright light. She used so much electricity at night, I'm surprised she didn't cause a total blackout in the state of Pennsylvania.

I can still hear my father saying, "Ann, turn off some of these goddamn lights because we're not supplying light for the WHOLE world!"

Anyhoo, today I would like to share some photographs of different types of light, lights, and lighting.

Please enjoy...

The chandelier that hangs in the lobby of my apartment building. And notice how one of the light bulbs is out. Ooops!

A beautiful, Gothic-looking light fixture, hanging over the doorway of an office building.

Construction work lights.

A crystal chandelier in the lobby of The Bellevue in Philadelphia.

A light fixture hanging over the doorway of a gorgeous home on Delancey Street.

I took this shot one morning as the sun was rising. And that's rare for me because I'm NEVER up this early. 

A light I spotted while walking down an alleyway

A light fixture made of metal crates, filled with glass mason jars and old milk bottles. It hangs in a charming organic cafe that just recently opened in Philly, called,  P.S. & Co.

This final photograph is light that has nothing to do with electricity, but rather candlelight. I've never taken photographs of candlelight before, so I wanted to try my hand at it. This is actually a tealight, which I took with my camera in manual mode, so that I could fiddle around with the clarity and sharpness of the candle flame and the overall lighting. I also added an anonymous quote that I found online because I think it's very enlightening.

Have delightful Monday, y'all!
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