I'm usually not a morning person, and I typically never pay attention to sunrises or sunsets, but this guy was full blast in my face at the bus stop this morning. This picture is a bit dark, but the area was really bright and illuminated when I took it and it was quite beautiful to look at and be in. Yesterday, I had a Lyft driver pick me up from my apartment, told me was from the LA area and never been to Irvine before and kept saying that this was such a nice neighborhood. It wasn't until I saw this sunrise this morning that I really saw the beauty he was talking about.

Today my roommates and I decided to put up Christmas decorations. I know I know its too early. Anyway, these lights provided a very warm and home-y glow to our entire house. It really set the mood for the holidays. It made me think of how if we lived in a different country, the lights we would use would have a different hue.

Week 7/8

This photo was take this past Thursday before my formal for my sorority.  There are many things I love about this photo (other than being surrounded by my best friends) in regards to lighting and color.  The first thing I noticed was the light in the upper left corner of the photo.  This is coming from a ceiling light and is shining so bright that it reminded me of an indoor version of the sun or even a par that could contribute the same kind of effect.  The second light I noticed was the light coming through the door from the florescent outside.  I thought this light made the outside look very eerie and creepy in regards to the warmth of the indoor lights.  As far as color pallet, I loved that we all happened to wear either blue, black or red!  I think this gave an overall cohesiveness to the photo and really tied in all of us as if we were ensemble members in a show.  This showed me that these color tones work very well with the warm color coming from the indoor lights.  Overall, this photo gives me a feeling of extreme joy and happiness.  This was one of the most fun nights I have had in a while with my best friends.  Pure love and joy.    

Over the weekend I went on a party bus with a few friends for a birthday party. After taking this picture and attempting to take many other ones, it became apparent that the green lasers and dark atmosphere was not the place to take a picture.

It made me think about the fact that party busses and limos always have a dark/club atmosphere. Of course it being a "party" bus makes that not surprising but it's interesting that the lights incorporated in different clubs or bar scenes can also be put into a big vehicle that drives all over the place. 

Just something I pondered on. 

This is a picture I took last week when I was visiting San Francisco. It is was about 5pm and the sun was setting. I was almost to the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge when I noticed the clouds in my sight ahead. I love the contrast between the light in the sky and the darkness of the cars and bridge. We get a strong source of light in this picture, as the light is prominently coming from the right. It is really interesting in this picture how we can see the many hues that the sun is reflecting into/onto the clouds.

Lighting Blog Week 3/4

Today's post involves 4 different pictures and situations with a common theme: window/other reflections all taken at the Irvine Spectrum center. The first one was created when the mesh walkway cover semi-shadow was reflected in a storefront window, I just thought it was interesting how the details showed but it was distorted by the glass. The second one was from A window with the word "restroom" written on it, and I found it interesting how the sun reflected in that particular window. The third is from some glossy store lettering that said "Cotton On" in big block letters, and it's interesting how the blockiness of the letters doesn't show but it rather looks like it was sloppily hand written. The final one I found the most interesting. It required me to stand in the sunlight in order to see the window reflection, which wasn't as bright as the direct sunlight, and I found it unique how when you and your shadow moved, the pattern also changed.

Week 7/8 - Photogenic Puppy

       I went home this past weekend to have an early Thanksgiving with my family when I captured this photo. It had been raining all morning so the lighting outside was overcast. I put my puppy in my room and was just watching TV when I looked over and saw this photo opportunity. I really enjoy how the subtle light from outside of my window reflects off of my blanket and my puppies coat. It  is really stunning to see how not having direct sunlight makes the photo and object appear regal or even angelic in some ways. I also really enjoy how the light does not enter every crevice of the blanket so there are some strong shadows that lead to and from my puppy. The photo overall provides a nice transition from dark shadowy lighting to a nice bright reflective lighting.

Streaks and Trees

These three pictures reminded me of the usage of Gobo patterns that can be used in a Leko. I really like the diagonal streaks that show through a window particularly through blinds, its a great visual of sunlight creeping in. The one that is of my closed blinds but show the shape and shadow of the tree outside is also very cool because its showing an exterior world without having the blinds open. The third one I took is when I was driving  out of my complex and the shadow on the garage from the tree was so awesome and large it made the tree so much more striking. Sunlight, nature and settings would be fun to light with Gobo patterns, lights and angles. I believe it creates a mystical lively world that still can be realistic.

Week 7/8 silken light

I was walking by campus and I saw the varying light falling upon this bush and liked the transition from light to dark. The position of the sun in relation to the photo created this line of light which I was intrigued by. I feel like if I wanted to recreate this effect I would need to use a silk which is something we haven't dealt with before and that could be a lot of fun to experiment with. This photo evokes the idea of light from the sun piercing into our lives and bringing joy with it which I think isn’t a very powerful. With our ever changing world I find so many people lacking joy and I like the idea of being able to bring joy to others and brighten up their lives.

Week 7/8?

I love the ocean. I think it is the most refreshing thing to sit in the sand and listen to the waves crash for hours on end. I used to visit San Clemente State Beach back in high school. Last week, I cracked from all the pressure to make more money, to get good grades, to submit the perfect project, everything. So, I decided to take a trip to my favorite location. Being Tuesday, the beach was pretty vacant - a few people walking here and there, but not really getting in my way. For the longest time, I just sat, staring at the ocean and letting the sound of the crashing waves engulf me. It was truly revitalizing and wonderful; almost as good as an hour long massage, but I'm broke. 

I wanted to share this picture because I feel it captures how peaceful the ocean can be. With the sun hitting the ocean just right, I feel a sense of calm settle in me and I instantly feel better. The warmness of the picture also brings this calm. I also love how the sand is completely scattered with footprints, indicating that so many people have come and gone on this beach and that I am not alone. 

Week 7/8: Mason Park

I took this in Mason Park, just as the sun was setting. I love the contrast between the trees and the sky. It reminded me of a show I saw last year (I forget which). The set had cutouts of a landscape that were set against a colorful cyc, and it produced an effect just like this one. I also love the colors of the sky in this photo. My camera couldn't quite capture them properly- in reality, there was much more of a gradual fade between colors instead of a stripe of bright light close to the horizon.

Blog Post 4 (Week 7/8)-- When the Sun Works in Your Favor

As a photographer, I thought it would be interesting to go back and analyze some of my paid gigs for the lighting composition of successful photos and to extract elements that are working in favor of the project that I may not have even consciously thought about at the time.

Being a photographer who both shoots and edits/retouches their own work, I of course have the power to not only shoot what I perceive as the optimal lighting, but I also then get to take the time to go back and manipulate it to achieve the ultimate composition.

The top photo is an example of my headshot work. At the time of shooting, this was one of those locations that seemed to have everything going for it right at the moment we were there--indirect sunlight and shade but also sunlight bouncing off warm toned walls. So I shot it, hoping that my assumptions would translate. And in going back through the days photos on the computer later that evening, this one jumped out at me immediately and I knew we had a winner. One of those fantastically satisfying and somewhat rare photos that does all the work for you--minimal editing required (sans retouching, of course haha). I think this photo epitomizes some key qualities that you want to look for in most headshots (it, of course, also depends on your brand as an actor). It is bright enough that it opens up the face and bring light to all the important features, namely the eyes, allowing the viewer to literally see and also initially connect to the subject. But it also has that element of warm lighting that can really highlight the inner warmth of an individual that invites the viewer in and allows them to potentially connect on a deeper level, bringing them to feel comfortable about the person they're viewing and curious to know more. It's the perfect balance of warm and cool tones to even out the facial tone, and it is neither washed out/over exposed nor too shadowy so that you get a clear image of the person on the page.

The bottom photo was, clearly, a joint graduation shoot for two friends. The sun was burning super bright in a clear sky that day which made it incredibly hard to shoot. I had to play a lot with finding shaded areas that also provided a lot of surrounding bounce to light their faces. Ultimately, despite the frustrations of finding just the right lighting, I think the sun ended up giving me an awesome gift this day. If you compare the two photos, you notice that the bottom is a lot more bright, clear, crisp, and clean. I think that this actually works really well for an outdoor graduation shoot. I think it speaks to the future that lies ahead of these individuals and is represented in such photos. Bright individuals with bright futures. The subjects are still well lit and inviting to the viewer, but they have a certain rejuvenating vigor and energy that is telling of the journey they are about to embark on.

Shameless plug time: Yes I will happily take photos for you (I also do show shots). Yes I am cheaper than any other amateur photographer around UCI (comparatively speaking to the quality that you will get and the time I put in). Please contact me if you want to  speak with me further or set up a time to shoot--I'd love to work with you!! (And winter break would be a great time to do it ;D )

Week 7/8

The sun was setting outside my apartment the other day and I loved what the light was doing for the view. I love the amber/orange color of the sun reflecting onto the silhouette of the leaves of the trees. It is setting a warm glow for the atmosphere and I like how this picture captures a harmony and kind of relationship between the sun and the trees. The nature and the sun are enhancing each other. I love how the sun and its glare are peaking through the trees. I love the bright and kind of harsh presence of the setting sun and the glare against the organic feel of the trees and all the branches and leaves. I think the light and the physical atmosphere establish the peace and pleasantness of the time around sunset.

Week 7/8 Second Home

This picture was taken from my home in the morning. Usually, I wake up in the morning when it is dark and the weekend is the only days where I get to wake up with the sun fading in through the blinds. Sun is a huge source of light that brightened my dark apartment. I love the long shadows that created on my floor. Despite the time being 10am, the sun was pretty low then it usually is.  By looking at the picture the words I thought of was force and power because the sun is using its power to force itself through the blinds.

Week 7/8 blog

 

I took this photo at my birthday dinner with my family on vacation over the weekend; my aunt and uncle are two of my favorite people and they have a gorgeous backyard, with an herb garden, avocado trees, fire pit,and barbecue- I have many happy memories here. I was sitting outside talking with my uncle when I saw the opportunity for this photograph and snagged it; the  sun setting and the garden lights provided a sense of comfort, warmth, and family. I love how there are multiple sources of light in the photograph: it is full of life and depth.

Week 7/8

So obviously this isn't the best quality picture ever, but I felt like the subject matter was interesting. It seems like every year the holiday season starts earlier and earlier. It is crazy to me that in the beginning of November shopping centers are already geared up and already decorated for the holidays. The decorations they use also seem to be getting more extravagant with every passing year. I couldn't help but stop and take a picture of one of the decorations the Albertsons' shopping center on California and Campus was using. Giant LED bows seem really ridiculous to me considering it's a tiny shopping center with literally no retail stores and therefore no real reason to need to draw people in specifically for the holidays. Don't get me wrong, I love the holiday season, I just don't understand the need to make it into a spectacle.

Week 7/8

I find the running theme with my blogs has become finding interesting ways for sunlight to interact with trees. Something about having such a powerful source of light filtering through and reflecting off of the complex shapes created by trees is absolutely fascinating. I looked at this tree from many different angles, but this was my favorite because of the way the light seemed to turn the leaves into little lights themselves. This back-lighting was really beautiful, and brought out the vibrant green coloring of the leaves. I also liked that the leaves against the building really seemed illuminated. This really reminded me of the effects that the back PAR would have. The sun almost seems like a portal to the heavens. I also loved that this picture had the light blue of the sky in the corner to balance out the complex textures happening in the rest of the picture. 

Week 7/8

I get to look through this little alley right outside my house almost every single day in Newport. But, usually due to scheduling, I'm always in Irvine in the evenings. However, this week I was fortunate enough to just be hanging around my house and cooking dinner when I looked out the window and saw this moment. A dark cold shadowy black on the left and then this simultaneously warm and cool pink/orange sky. What I love most about this photo is the reflection of the sky on the window towards the right/center of the photo. We may not have the craziest sunsets in the world, but when you're cooking dinner after a long week of work and school, looking out the window and seeing something as small as this, just gets you thinking a little.

Week 7/8

Last week, I came to campus on Veterans' Day for a rehearsal.  The campus was pretty empty since it was a holiday, but it meant I was better able to enjoy the serene beauty that I rarely take the time to notice.  As I walked through Aldrich Park, I noticed how the sun was shining so beautifully through the trees.  It was a perfectly clear, sunny day and the trees created a filter to the sunlight.  The blueish-warm light was given a light green tint as it reflected off of the leaves.  The shadows spread across my path and created patterns that mingled and blended together.  It is so beautiful to be able to go to school in an arboretum.  The visual displays are calming and enchanting.

Blog Post 3 (Week 5/6)-- Just a lotta sky

             

Excessive amounts of sky. These were taken at different times-- the top 3 in San Diego (the top two were within an hour or so of each other), and the bottom one in Julian.

First off, I love the various textures of the clouds in each of these, from the wispy wind-blown of the top two, the strange and excessive cover of the middle, to the thick looming storm clouds on the bottom. I also enjoy the brooding quality that each of these has, some enticing, some menacing, some a bit of both. For me, this is created both by the depth of colors and the shadows. Each is rich in its own way.  Speaking of shadows I really like how defined the source of light is on the bottom two. The sunset has it's source from below which creates an awesome color gradient near the bottom of the photo and gives such a drastic color difference between the highlight (pink) and shadow (purple) in the clouds. The storm however has it's source from above since it was midday when I took the picture. Emotionally speaking, it gives a really ethereal or 'holy' kind of vibe. But I also love how the light streaming through really catches on the two little clouds at the bottom of the photo and really carves out and defines their features, really making them a central focal point for me.

video project

I'm late!! But its about time I post something so here it is. This is a screenshot from a project I did for my dance & video class. My partner and I chose this location, which is on the 3rd floor of the CAC, because of all the light and shadows the rails create. The sun hits this area directly around 3pm and it creates a really beautifully lit and zen-like place. There's something about gritty, metallic, and industrial looking architecture that I like, and combined with the right lighting it brings life to a lifeless environment. Enjoy!

Week 5/6

Twinkly lights mean christmas time! Fashion Island put these guys up the other week. I personally enjoy the red bow-shaped lights. Twinkly lights are just so distinctive and everyone sees them and thinks "Christmas!" Also, enjoy that headlight bouncing off the white Toyota ruining my picture because Spectre just let out and the parking lot is a nightmare. I just heard some very violent honking from upstairs...

The Scenic Route 5/6

So, if you live in Newport Beach, you know that Superior Avenue offers possibly the best view when driving. It is the "Scenic Route. On Sunday, I was able to capture this wonderful picture alongside my roommates after purchasing our new grill for the house. The Sun is behind a thing blanket of clouds and I was able to take this picture right between the towering palm trees Far off in the distance the ocean and sky meet in harmony. On tough days coming home from studying countless hours on midterms and working on projects, one feels rejuvenated when cruising back home.

Week 5/6 Erupting Sky

Last week I walked out of my movement class and saw this. I rarely feel like I am out and about during a sunset, particularly one this beautiful and so I felt the need to take a picture of it to save the memory. Sights like this always remind me of how much natural beauty our world has to offer and that we need to find time to stop and appreciate it. I really like the way that the light erupts from its center and has a such a variance in color. It has an inviting quality to it which I enjoy. When I look at this photo I feel calm and alive. It seems like I could use a back par to replicate the source of this light. It gives a glow to the clouds similar to the halo feel we have been getting in class.

Week 5/6 - Apologies in advance for a picture of my cat

Many of you don't know me, but I adore my cat. His name is Hercules and I think he is the bee's knees. He is super rad and fun and more like a little puppy than a kitty. He is super loving and AHH I love him. Anyways, I was sitting at home after work, feeling really upset because Starbucks is pretty stressful some days. As I was trying to relax and eat something, I looked over at my sweet kitty cat and I thought he looked so playful and youthful - I mean, he is a kitten still. I also noticed his shadow and I was reminded of Peter Pan and HIS silly shadow. It instantly made me think of the "never grow up" message Peter tries to instill in kids; which in turn made me think how I wish my sweet kitty would never grow up and would stay this small and playful forever. I had to capture the moment because it was the lighting that completely inspired that thought to take place and which made me feel so happy. 

I really like the shadows in this picture because it brings up warm, fuzzy feelings and places the ideas of youthful playfulness in my mind. I also appreciate that the colors in this picture are very warm and are generally enjoyable to look at. There aren't any clashing colors or bizarre angle; there's only my sweet baby and his weird antics. 

I also just realized that as I wrote this post, I'm gonna be that weird cat lady with 18 kitty cats who reeks of gross cat-nip at least 99% of the time. At least my cats will be really cool. And they'll all have really awesome names too. 

Week 5/6 Morning Air

So these are outside morning photos I took. The first one is at my moms place in Rancho Cucamonga and the other is on my street in Irvine. They are both taken at the same time around 7:30 am. It made me think of how in class we talk about how lighting a scene to be daytime and sunny, you would not use yellow even though that color can be associated with the sun. The first one is hard to tell because of the screen from the slider but the lighting against the wall kind of had a amber tint to it and then above the roof its a bright blue almost white. I noticed a similar thing in the second photo where the street is reflecting a warm amber or gold tint and above is where it has the bright multi colored blues. I'm thinking it may have to do with where the sun is at that time of day and maybe the combination of blues and gold tones can create a morning day look, I'm not sure but its cool to think about.  

Week 5/6

Yeah. It's a selfie. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Deal with it.  So we've been touting on what shadows are being cast on our models's faces during class so I figured it was appropriate. Makeup aside, there are some nifty shadows that are helping to carve out my face. Most the shadows are over my eyes and it's highlighting my, rather obvious and bulbous, nose. Just looking our using lights as a way to point attention to things, I think this is a good example of this. Also how the shadow on my left eye makes almost a half mask ala Phantom of the Opera on my face. There is also a strong sense of source coming from over my left shoulder as that corner of the frame has the most intense light and the shadows being cast are following that direction with their casting. I think the angle also is helping the garment do its job. We have talked about how the further back an angle is the more concealing it is and the light coming from the back up and out angle helps with the concealed feeling that the hood is meant to give. If it we're directly behind me though I feel like it would send the wrong message as it would be too much of a hug from the light. The back diagonal angle gives it more of a sharp and dramatic slant to the feeling and less of that hugging feeling.

Week 5/6

I took this picture at a Halloween party I attended a couple weeks ago. My friends and I dressed up as vampires and ironically the lamp in this room had a red light bulb which added a really cool effect. It set an eerie tone especially since it resembled blood...which is what vampires feast on. I think that it also enhances the creepiness of our characters...this light sends a different message and vibe than a normal florescent light bulb. Safe to say we spent a lot of time in this room taking creepy pictures of each other haha. 

Week 5/6

As we enter the late fall, my favorite time of year, I figured I should try to take a picture that captured the feelings the holiday season gives me. A time of coziness, relaxation, and warmth, the gentle sunlight and calm shade I could see from my apartment's deck really made me feel all of the holiday feelings! The orange on the tree added to the feeling, and I always think of fall as the sunset of the year, so I having the time of day match up probably helped out too. Looking at this really just made me want to snuggle up in a blanket and drink hot cocoa with the fireplace raging beside me! 

Though this picture could be seen as very ordinary site, I find it very interesting the way the light is reflected onto the wood surface. There is texture that is created by the position of the tree and where the sun was shining through the tree. I found the reflection to be almost tranquil against such a rough surface. The light creates a nice golden hue on the wooden fence, leaving a feeling of serenity. I would love to see this refection from the tree as a gobo on a large stage, because I feel that it would add a very nice texture, especially to a scene or dance piece that is moving a lot.

Week 5/6

I took this picture in my kitchen. What I really liked was the patterning, how it was very unique and was actually always shifting. It was created with the tree outside our window combined with the blinds in the kitchen. I like how the design is slightly out of focus, with the varying distances from the varying distances between the source of light and the point of the light hitting the cabinets. My favorite part was definitely how the pattern shifted with the wind in the tree outside, slightly changing it constantly.

Week 5/6

The view outside my friend's car window driving back to campus the other day was absolutely stunning. I was initially inspired by the incredible colors of the sunset that night. This sunset around 5:15pm presented such a beautiful transition of day to night. Not only do we get a kind of mysterious and dark shade of blue, but we get a gorgeous, contrasting, and warm shade of orange blending into it. I knew I had to take of a picture of this sky. However, after taking the picture and looking at it, it's not just the sunset that I feel makes the lighting in this image beautiful. I feel that this picture also unintentionally captures a really cool movement of light. I love pictures that show action. Because of this, I noticed the movement that the light creates and I now feel that the lighting in this picture shows really cool action. The fast moving cars on the freeway below the skyline is now my favorite part of the picture, especially with the sunset as its backdrop. The headlights of the cars blend together and are a little out of focus, showing the fast action and the directional movement of the cars. The light feels as if it is moving, conveying a really unique energy flow. I would love to see movement and energy like this is a lighting composition, perhaps even with rich colors like the ones in this photo.

Week 5/6

I took this picture during tech load in on campus. It was late afternoon and I really like how the sunlight hit the top of the buildings. I feel as though the intensity of the sunlight is really relaxing, and there was a gentle breeze when I took this picture, which lent even better to the zen aura of the scene. I think the shadows of the building's architecture made it look really dynamic and real.

Week 5/6 Post - Corona Beach / Arts Campus

     
     Due to having been absent a couple times in the past 2 week I thought it would be good to show two photos again. This first photo was taken this weekend when I visited Corona beach with a couple of friends. We had to walk down a pathway that passed between two houses and I could not resist capturing the view. I really enjoy how the sun created multiple hues of green in the plants that stood in the foreground and the vibrancy of the flowers that sat amongst them. I also enjoy the different textures and qualities present from the plants to the sand, and the crashing waves to the rocky formation in the background. This photo doesn't give justice to the view that we experienced, but I feel its a good representation of what was admirable.

     This second photo was taken this past week when I had a break between classes and was walking around the arts campus. It was around 10am and the sun had only barely begun to light the Claire Trevor terrace in front of the Contemporary Arts Center. I enjoy how the photo captures the sunlight at a center divide and the way objects in the photo gradually darken as they enter the shadows and come more toward the foreground. I also really enjoy the model in the photo because she is standing at the center divide of the shadows and sunlight and is being backlit by the sun itself. I also like the symmetrical lines that run along the ground and along the building as I feel it creates a sense of space and depth for the viewer.

it was dusk

This photo was taken last night from the balcony of my house in Newport Beach.   A much cooler night in comparison to the blazing heat wave Southern California has been having for what seems like an eternity.  The sun was setting, the wind was whistling, and the faint laughter in the distance was dwindling away with the sun as the last beach explores packed up their cars and headed home.   Dusk was upon us.  The transition between day life and night life was reflected before me.  The sun, our main light source was completely swallowed by the waves only leaving behind its beautiful yellow and orange shadow.  The twinkle lights provided a rich and meditative aesthetic.  All was calm at dusk before the moon took over the sky and the lovers of the dark took over the streets and danced away into the night.        

Week 5/6 Post

I have always been  absolutely obsessed with sunsets!! A really beautiful sunset has the power to take my breath away and leave me in absolute awe. I was on my dinner break at work at the Spectrum when I caught a glimpse of this view. Not only was the light glow of the sunset striking, the carousel in the foreground made for a perfect picture opportunity. This photo makes me very happy and gives me a sort of silly fun feeling. I really enjoy the small details of this photo as well, from the glimmer of sunset that is visible, the way the palm trees are silhouetted, and how the carousel being in motion made it slightly blurred. All in all this photo really captures the sort of refined spectacle the Spectrum attempts to achieve.

Week 5/6

I took this at the Costa Mesa Mall to stop by at Barnes and Noble. It's not Christmas yet...We haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet... But there is a Christmas tree built up already. This Christmas lighting was so bright in intensity that, this whole section of the mall was full of joy and happiness. I couldn't take the whole picture of the mall but you can really see the separation of the light from one side of the mall to the other side of the mall. The light reflecting on the Christmas ornaments makes the Christmas tree glow and shine more. The tree could have blend in to the dark background of the sky but the light made the trees in the background more visible due to the Christmas lights.

Week 5/6

These past couple of weeks have finally begun to feel like autumn!  Along with the weather changes, I have been watching the sky.  With the end of Daylight Savings time, it gets dark so much earlier.  This means that I get to watch the sun set while still on campus for rehearsals.  I took this shot of an amazing sunset this past week from the bridge between Humanities and Claire Trevor.  The sun had already sunk behind the clouds, but its power left a beautiful painting behind.  The clouds were outlined with a rich mixture of orange, peach, and pink while the body of each cloud began to fade to a dark grey-blue.  The colors were so powerful and beautiful and bright,  This picture doesn't do the sight full justice, but the aura was breath-taking.