Accenting With Light

Accenting Light

Of all our five basic senses, sight is arguably the most important to humans. We're visual creatures: we use sight to gather and transmit information, to warn us of dangers, to pick out the features we prefer in a mate, even to decide what to eat (why else would commercials always show us all those juicy burgers and steaks, oozing with a flavor that you can almost taste?). Sight even entertains us, in the forms of books, movies, television, and the Internet, certainly the most compelling forms of entertainment and knowledge-transmission yet invented. Most sports, art, and work can't be performed easily without functioning eyeballs.

Follow the bouncing ball

Besides good eye sight, the one thing we need in order to see is light. It's a bit hard to believe that vision is caused by little particles of light bouncing off objects and then banging into our retinas for processing by the brain, but there you are. We depend more than people realize on that big burning ball in the sky, but we're resourceful beasts, so we've created ways to make light even when the sun's down or behind the clouds. For thousands of years we were limited to fire, but it was unpredictable and dangerous. Eventually, a few bright individuals invented artificial light sources, culminating in the creation of practical and affordable light bulbs.

Lighting is more than just a way to read by night and watch flickering images. Light can also be used as an artistic medium, a way to accent one's public or private spaces. As an extreme example, consider the huge searchlights that sweep across the sky during gala events or grand openings. Of course, you can use accent lighting on a much smaller scale; it's perfect for drawing attention to something you're especially proud of. In a home or art gallery, small floodlights may be used to accent and light up a special painting or piece of art. Some artwork demands lighting: a hologram, for example, is just a murky bit of plastic until a bright light is shined onto or through it; then it appears in all its three-dimensional glory.

Outdoor lighting is no longer limited to those automatic security lights that are supposed to come on whenever someone comes nearby; no, exterior accent lighting has come of age. Most of us have seen, while out walking the dog, those dim pagoda-shaped lights used to outline beautiful flower beds and sidewalks, or the occasional solitary pin-lamp used to light up a shiny silver ball on a pedestal, or giant terra-cotta sun on a wall. The possibilities are countless for this sort of accenting, and any specialty light bulbs you need will be available at your local home improvement or on the Internet. How far you go with your outdoor accenting is up to you.

Published with permission (FCDMInc)

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