Week 0 - Jacqueline Malenke - Shadow Play (Example Blog Post)

Since I moved to Irvine for school, I have started to take walks throughout my new neighborhood. I am forever grateful to be here for many, many reasons, and one of those reasons is the fact that I am guaranteed to live in such a beautiful area while I am here. I enjoy that Irvine has so many different plants, trees, and buildings. When the sun is shining, I get to see the shadows and textures nature creates while out and about. The photo below was one I took while on one of those walks. In the photo you see there is a tree up against a wall with stark sunlight peeking through a gazebo ceiling and many plants and foliage. Those shadows are creating a depth and a story to this photo. This is texture. This photo is incredibly useful for a lighting designer's research. For instance, say I am designing a realistic play that takes place in a backyard garden. I can exactly reference this look onstage to create the world of the play. 

Welcome to the Drama 157 Fall 2022 Lighting Journal

Now that you have decided to enhance your appreciation for light, I want to help you develop your eye for light not just in the theatre but in your life.

To more effectively understand how light can alter the perception of your audience; we need to first understand how it alters our perception on a daily basis.

As we move through the quarter, I hope that this blog will help you to discover light in ways that you have not seen before.

Perhaps you'll see colors you've never noticed before, you may recognize the angle of a certain light, and maybe you will find ways to articulate how light makes you feel.

To assist with this process, I've created this blog so that all of you may contribute a short piece every other week, starting week 2, on an aspect of light that you have noticed throughout your journeys.

This can include a particular moment in a play, a beautiful sunset, a great rock concert or a well-lit store, or just what happens to your emotions when the sun moves behind a cloud. Anything and everything can be included.

Pay special attention to Blog Topics listed on the Project assignment on Canvas.

Title each post with Week #, Your Name, Prompt (if assigned), and a subject.

Your postings count towards your final grade.

Include photos with your post to help us see what you are describing!

Whether or not you continue in lighting design after this class, I hope that this online journal will help you to discover inspiration for your art in daily life.

Thank you and Happy Blogging!!

Lonnie Alcaraz