I am sure you have seen shows that looked “flat” and uninteresting. It is the lighting designer's job to guide the audience's focus to important moments on stage.ģ-Modeling - This aspect of lighting allows the designer to help emphasize the three-dimensionality of an object or person. Sometimes it is more interesting to have an actor in the shadows, than in the light. But again, what is important to see and what is not? That is very subjective, especially when multiple actors and objects are on stage. It is the lighting designer's job to guide the audience's focus to important moments on stage.
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Unlike film and television where the audience is shown only what the lens sees, the audience in a live performance is free to look all around the stage, and at the theatre itself. Good visibility is comfortable on the eyes, and is enhanced by all the qualities of light.Ģ-Selective Focus - Selective focus means that objects and people are highlighted or darkened to control the audience's attention (or focus). So visibility is really how “clearly” we can see something. We can throw thousands of foot-candles on the stage and it will be hard to see people clearly if there is no modeling or contrast. Visibility has a lot to do with modeling and intensity contrast. However, just because something reflects light does not make it clearly visible. However, the key word here is “subjectively”.ġ-Visibility - What does that mean? Well, in physical terms an object is visible when light reflects off of it and we perceive that light in our eyes. If the lighting does not accomplish all these functions, then you could subjectively say that the design is not “good”. The Functions of Lighting Design include: visibility, selective focus, create modeling, create the mood, reveal the space, and finally (and most important) support the story. Although somewhat general in description, and sometimes difficult to measure, these functions are there to serve as the basic requirements for any good lighting design.Īlthough somewhat general in description, and sometimes difficult to measure, these functions are there to serve as the basic requirements for any good lighting design. As you may know, there are six basic “Functions of Lighting Design” that the designer must fulfill. The question is, how do we fairly judge the aesthetics of a production? I believe that the best place to start is with the Functions of Light. However, we all have opinions about what is good or bad. The lighting artist should be free to express their points of view through their art form of light. Art is meant as a creative expression of the artist (or artists, in the case of theatre and the performing arts). Judging aesthetics in lighting can be as difficult as trying to decide if the latest modern sculpture is “good or bad”. Defining what is good or bad art has always been a controversial subject.