Monday, September 24, 2012

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design

The best part about our new mid-century modern landscape design was the lighting. The landscaper used high end low voltage lights from Corona lighting. I went out with a tripod a few nights ago to capture the full effect.

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design
Dusk in a mid-century modern garden

There is a real art to landscape lighting. In this article from Lighting Cast, they call out Depth as an important goal in lighting design:
Depth refers to the selective illumination of items and areas both near and far from the viewer. This brings a three-dimensional quality to the visual experience. In addition, it adds a participatory dynamism to the viewers world ...Such a design invites the viewer to participate in the illuminated world, to navigate among the illuminated objects, to see shifts in perspective, changes in shadows, and so on. Integrating depth into the landscape lighting design creates a rich and rewarding experience.
I think our landscaper handled depth quite well. And economically, as we cut the lighting budget in half.

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design
Pathway lights add depth.

But according to this article in gardenlightingproducts.com, you should avoid too many lights

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design
Up lights on a tree.

I like this discussion of path lighting at lbartlett.com. Looks like we did it right!
Path lighting is probably the most popular and over used of all lighting techniques. Too much Path lighting creates a runway effect, a connect-the-dots game of lighting pathway areas ... The fixtures that are mushroom shaped work best as a directional ground light.

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design
Annie is still enjoying the quiet garden.

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design
Bubbling pot is lit from inside and up lit as well.

lighting a mid-century modern landscape design
Lighting really adds interest and the final touch to this mid-century
modern landscape design.

lighting a mid-century modern garden design
The moon comes up over the garden. The smaller light is a jet as
we are in the flight path of the Orange County airport.

Eventually my photography assistant became totally dissatisfied with his behind the scenes job. First he tried his hand over the boiling cauldron.

lighting a mid-century modern garden design


Then he experimented by running down our path with the camera setting on low exposure.

lighting a mid-century modern garden design

Next he added a flashlight into the mix.

lighting a mid-century modern garden design


lighting a mid-century modern garden design

And finally he went back and changed into a black shirt for the full effect.

lighting a mid-century modern garden design


lighting a mid-century modern garden design


What do you think of the mid-century modern performance art?


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4 comments:

  1. DonnaSeptember 24, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    I think your house is haunted by some mid-century modern being--Eichler, Wright--some spirit is very restless.

    ReplyDelete
  2. StaceyOctober 1, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    Like the retro performance art - ha! LOVE the lighting in your yard! Very tranquil.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 1, 2012 at 6:17 PM

      Funny huh? 14-year-old boys have interesting ideas.

      Delete

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