2018/05/08 Simeng Huang + Noriko Higashi
Since we felt there weren’t enough chances to hear from our members directly, we decided to hold the first “General Meeting” in Lighting Detectives’ history. It was a lively event where the conversation flowed freely, and everyone had a great time enjoying delicious food and drinks.
An easy-to-understand explanation of photography tips you should know for a Night Walk Survey We also presented on tools such as illuminance meters and luminance meters 
They shared the stories behind why they joined the organization 
We also exchanged ideas about which cities the Lighting Detectives should visit next
We held a Lighting Detectives General Meeting & Night Walk Survey Introductory Workshop at the LPA office in Shibuya. This was the first-ever general meeting and the first introductory workshop in four years since the last one in 2014. A total of 24 people, including chief Mende, participated. For the first time, we live-streamed the entire event on Facebook and Instagram simultaneously, which allowed those who couldn’t attend in person to participate. By the end, over 160 people had watched the stream.
First, chief Mende gave a presentation on the history and activities of the Lighting Detectives, from its founding to its current publications. He reported that the group, which was formed with just six members in 1995, has grown into a large organization with 980 members this year. After that, there were detailed explanations of the group’s “seven tools” (optical instruments, surveying equipment, notebooks & memos), as well as how to take measurements, choose a location, and other tips.
Next, we were given a detailed explanation of photography methods, which are crucial for a Night Walk Survey record. Since lighting photos are taken in a dark, nighttime environment, photography techniques are important. Various shooting techniques and recommended settings were explained for different situations, such as taking a beautiful nightscape photo with a tripod or taking a handheld snapshot.
Finally, there was a presentation on how to summarize the Night Walk Survey. They introduced ways to utilize the data collected from the surveys, such as creating panels, holding online votes on the website, and creating a database, in addition to social gatherings and salons. Following the introductory workshop, we held a general meeting (social gathering). After the Lighting Detectives’ activity plan for 2018 was explained, all the participants introduced themselves. They shared why they joined the Lighting Detectives and their aspirations. The reasons for joining and the backgrounds of the members were diverse, ranging from a person from a completely different field who wanted to explore the effects of light on people, to a person with an architectural background who reflected on not having paid much attention to lighting after attending one of chief Mende’s lectures. This really made us realize the depth of the Lighting Detectives’ membership.
Since the destination for this year’s Night Watching Tour was undecided, we asked for opinions on places they would like to do a Night Walk Survey. We heard many opinions that people wanted to see fire or natural light, such as at traditional Japanese festivals or firework displays, rather than urban light environments. In Tokyo, locations such as Akabane, Yanaka-Sendagi, Sancha, and Ikebukuro were suggested. We will use these suggestions for our future planning. It was a very meaningful session for the secretariat as we were able to directly hear so many opinions and suggestions. Thank you to everyone who participated and watched! (Simeng Huang + Noriko Higashi)
