Shaping Light

For my final project I would like to explore the use of bounced color.  These images show a lot of potential when working with a higher intensity light (75W) and white surfaces.  The first image is a control image, followed by the pack of colors I tested in model.  There is a diagram below to explain how the model is set up.

My fourth project will investigate caustic images.  I am considering using clear acetate and applying color to one side.  I think it would be interesting to make it as a sort of hanging mobile with a light in the center and these planes of acetate surrounding it.  As a breeze would move it, the caustic images would change.

The Image below are sketches of my initial study for my final project.  Related to the Changing light exploration, i was interested in a wall installation which bounced light off water and displayed the colors on the wall behind.  After exploring related options during class, we came to find that the clear film being used was more interesting if it was twisted and warped to create the caustic images.

With this final iteration of the project, Alex and I were more selective in the colors we used to demonstrate the changing light.  We chose cool colors for the morning and warm colors for the evening.  As the light source moves from ‘sunrise’ to ‘sunset’ the colors mimic the colors of each phenomenon.  What I found most interesting about this experiment was the way the 3 different shades we chose for each time of day seemed to combine into one uniform color.

I worked with Alex on our 3rd project.  This project focused on changing light, and was a combination of both my project and Alex’s.  Using the patterned screens Alex had been developing, we overlaid my transparent plastic film from my bounced color project.  We then selected different colors for the film and simulated the sun movement through the day.  As we moved the light across the box, the colors morphed.   For our final iteration of this video, I think we will be more selective on the colors we use.

• Vision in Motion pp. 199-210 – Moholy Nagy
  • The most relevant and interesting part of this reading was the description of the eight varieties of photographic vision. It helped me analyze how light is seen and how it can be modified to alter experience.
• Dimensional Color pp. 115-123 – Lois Swirnoff
  • Reading the selection of this work helped me to learn about bounced color and different approaches to experimentation. It inspired my experimentation with bounced color which may or may not be used for my final project.
• Continua: Architectural Screens and Walls – Erwin Hauer
  • This publication displays and celebrates the work of Austrian-born sculptor Erwin Hauer. Hauer is known for his patterned concrete wall screens and modular structures. This reading relates to my final project in that I would like to take patterned screens and essentially wrap them around a light source.
• Geometry of Environment CH 3. – March, Lionel & Philip Steadman
  • This chapter described and analyzed the various types of symmetry and their historical uses. This is relevant to my thinking about my project because patterns tend to have some sort of symmetry to them.
• Light Revealing Architecture CH 1 – Millet, Marietta
  • The most relevant part of this reading was the description of the three types of light: (focal glow, ambient luminescence, and play of brilliance). I would like to use all of these in my lamp fixture and apply them when appropriate.

Through the class I have been interested in how light can bounce and wash over a surface.  As I want my luminaire to depict this property I hope through exploration to discover what materials, shapes, and color will best produce this in a simplistic way.

As I have been working with pattered panels thus far, I first began the prototyping process by looking at my previous work and analyzing it.  Through this process I discovered that the tapered panel with a flat surface allowed a brighter wash over the surface versus a curved surface which gives a softer wash over  the surface.  Taking this information I created a luminaire that angles rectangular pieces so light can wash over the surface and bounce light to its surroundings.

The prototype helped me discover that what I envisioned for the luminaire best happens when it is sitting on a surface versus being suspended in the air. In my next steps I am going to try a material that is somewhat transparent to let soft light come through the luminaire versus the chipboard which did not let any light through.  In addition I  want to try using color on the back of the panels to see how the luminaire can bounce colored light. Also I was not happy with the shape so I might try something more related to how my originals panels are composed.

For our final version of Project 3, Adria and I decided on two different versions of our space. The first experiment had three different color groups, one for each time of day (morning, noon, evening). Colors were arranged into groups that reflected the different qualities of light at different times of day. These color groups were then arranged from east to west.

The second had these same colors arranged in a gradient across the ceiling.

In studio I am currently looking at the structure of the lobby and how light changes the space throughout the day.  The short clip allowed me to really see how the light moves through the space during the day.

This GIF animation was made in Photoshop (a first for me).  The model is also set up to test bounced color at the entry (far end).

I’ve had some trouble casting hard shadows with organic shapes (landscaping).  I think I figured out the problem.  The light source can’t be so big and close that it is able to cast light behind the object (see diagram below).

The first three pictures show a progression of shrinking an aperture on my desk lamp.  The images get darker, but the shadows of the tree get sharper.  Another method would be to have a high lumens source farther away (e.g. the sun).

This is a solar study of a test model in Revit.

Some highlights from my explorations last week.

The daylighting solar study gave me the opportunity to refresh on Revit’s tools and settings and also to wrestle with Mac/PC exporting the video in a readable format.  The upside to the digital model is speed and flexibility, but something is lost in the exploration and learning when the computer entered between material, light, hand, and eye.

I think I decided to move toward physical modeling/craft for the final project.  I want to explore the use of a vestibule wall for casting color.  Specifically a wall panel which could have drapery or other color hung and changed as desired.