Getting Perspective

Before beginning my research on lighting, I wanted to look around the city and take photographs of lighting and it's effects that caught my eye. 

As my practical study will be in an entirely man made setting, I wanted to look at ways in which light is used in a relative environment. I used a basic set up on a DSLR and took some photographs at the local shopping mall as I figured this would be the perfect place to find various types of lighting and many effects that it causes. I want to really look out how light casts shadows and patterns depending on the type of lighting and the material it illuminates.

Here are some photographs I took showing examples of man made lighting and the different effects it has on some surfaces:

These two images differ from each other to convey alternative methods of lighting. The left image is that of a shop window with vibrant purple, UV style lighting. The shop recently had a structural change to enhance the 'modern' aspect of the business. The purple lights reflect nicely off of the large glass display windows and also project a nice reflection on the black marble. This makes the store more visually appealing to customers and stands out differently from other stores, for it's edgy approach to modern design and lighting methods.

The image on the right is very different as it is directional light used to highlight the entrance of a public toilet. This also adds a fairly modern input to the structural design of the mall, which I noticed utilized lighting in many innovative and attractive ways. The material used on the walls of this entrance is that of a tiled, marble effect which is subtly illuminated by the above spotlights. This highlights that recognition of tiling with bathrooms and makes it noticeable to the public. It also conveys the modern design of the mall and reflects a classy atmosphere, even in a toilet environment.

Here is another example of a man made lighting method that really stood out for me. This entire edge of the store front is illuminated by colour changing lights and sparkling effects that are incredibly bold. The sheer luminosity of the lights reflects on many of the surfaces around the store, making it incredibly attractive and eye catching to any member of the public. The marbled flooring and wooden bench here in either photos show how bright the lights actually are and how it's surroundings compliment the visual style. It makes the store more noticeable and recognizable simply by this clever method of lighting, using it's surrounding environment to it's advantage.

This lighting method is used to direct the public to their nearest exit route. The clever aspect here is how it highlights the displayed advertisements and sweet vendors at either side also. The concave structure of the ceiling also has hidden lighting which illuminates the domes, creating a more spacious environment.

I really adore this photo as it highlights many methods of lighting. The malls infrastructure generates lighting from both man made and natural sources, to illuminate the environment of the food court in the shopping mall. A large open space is more inviting if it actually 'feels' spacious. This area has utilized both natural and man made light cleverly using unique methods of building framework. The ceiling has large windows, paneled with wonderfully crafted 'blinds' that illuminate the area with natural light, creating a bright and open space. The man made lights are used to set the mood of the scene, using warming and attractive colours that are used to invite customers to the available food stalls. The materials used in this area compliment the lighting well to create a far more humble and relaxed atmosphere for the consumer. The creams and warm browns of the wood are presented here to create a far more comforting and yet modern environment for the public, so they can rest from the bustle of the shops. It has become more apparent in my research images, just how important lighting is, even in a commercially busy environment. Especially how cleverly it can encourage consumers to 'feel' based on colours, lighting effects on materials and structures. Giving them a sense of want, relaxation or fun.

Here is another example of how the 'man made' lighting is used to attract consumers in a retail environment. The lighting used here emphasizes on a fiery glow that illuminates the front of the food store. There are also hanging lamps which compliment the colours and also set a theme for the store which is recognizable to the customer. The colours of red, yellow and orange are ones that are warming and comforting, which in a food environment, encourages the customers to stay for longer periods of time within the area. Yet another clever use of lighting technique. 

Here is another view of the ceiling at the food court in the shopping mall. Just to get a closer look at the materials and how the two different types of light compliment their surroundings. The different shapes here help cast appealing shadows across the ceiling which further adds to the clever method of design.

This image was taken in the Media Lab at University. I have never really looked into how the different methods of lighting illuminate the beam structures in the ceiling. From both the natural light from the windows and the man made light for the bulbs, they cast really interesting shadows that add a really modern touch to quite an old area.

This image shows a typical spotlight highlighting three photographs in a coffee shop. It is quite interesting how the colour of the paint matches that of the photographs and also how the lighting is similar. It is obvious that the lighting in this area is used to make the photographs a focal point for the consumer.

Here are some more images showing how lighting is used to highlight different areas of a commercial environment. Each used specifically to convey areas of interest and importance to the public.

These two images caught my attention because of the modern use of lighting and colour. In both photos, each structure is lit in a stylish and modern way that fits in with the decor of a shopping mall. A consistent approach in structural design within a shopping mall is crucial for consumer recognition, even where lighting is involved. I noticed with one shopping mall that the colour 'blue' was used to highlight particular areas of interest, such as the bathrooms and photo booths.

 Here is another example conveying the colour theme and stylish appeal of the shopping mall.

Lighting is thought out well with the building framework of a large commercial area. I noticed in one shopping mall that all primary usage of lighting, was to not only highlight stores but also to show points of interest such as exits, guiding walkways, escalators, elevators and stands.

From this small analysis, it really made me realize just how much lighting is used to create different effects, feelings and themes depending on the environment. I must further proceed into lighting techniques and information so I can have a broad understand when it comes to lighting my own scene

The Idea

For my final year of study I have decided to thoroughly analyze the importance of lighting techniques within a range of different examples such as film, photography, and literature and study how they influence the composition of video games. Each relevant media has their own unique way of using light to represent atmosphere, emotion, genre or even subtly indicating the change of events within the narrative. The importance of lighting should never be underestimated and it is with that thought I have chosen this subject as a focal point in my studies. The composition of lighting can often go unnoticed consciously, but subconsciously it is one of the most crucial design factors that make us as the audience react accordingly based on how the theme, narrative or genre of the story being told to us. It is evident even in historical and cultural examples how the effect and power of lighting can portray such drastic moods and help develop the atmosphere of a scene or story. I believe for my studies that it is important to make identified connections between historical and cultural examples to show how it has influenced the effects of lighting in the present and also how itʼs creatively implemented in game design.

I have chosen to focus on the theme of an underground station because of how frequently theyʼre beginning to appear in current video games. I believe the usage of metro or subway stations in video games creates a familiar and relatable atmosphere for the player, therefore making the game world more coherent and realistic. This implementation of environment is making our game worlds and narratives far more believable than they have ever been before. Primarily because theyʼre situations in which we have been exposed to ourselves in reality in some way or another. Applying a fictional story, atmosphere or genre to this relatable element can then depict new experiences for the audience when they encounter that element again in reality. Whether positively or negatively, the way in which relatable environments are transferred make the game world believable as itʼs interacting with the player on a personal level. It is with that where I will focus on how we look at underground stations presently. There are many opinions on the London tube service itself, I believe both equally for and against. A positive example is the novelty of being in a famous city or the aspect of getting around efficiently. A negative example commonly is the fear in claustrophobia or stress with delays. With these different opinions and popular use in game design, I will focus on how effective use of lighting can portray different emotions in that scene.