Lighting Detectives Annual Forum in Madrid Review

Date of Issue: 04 April, 2024 -Activity 1 / Lighting Survey-Izumo（2023.11.22-11.24） -Activity 2 / Visiting Tanteidan in Ishigaki (2024.03.10) Lighting Detectives Newsletter Vol.128 Download PDF Lighting Survey-Izumo Lights in Izumo, Illuminating Cultural Values 2023.11.22-11.24　Masashi Kurobe+ Yuta Shibata The Izumo region has a long history and culture since the establishment of villages in the Yayoi period and the birth of Izumo Province. The Iwami region is a port town with hot springs that has existed since the Middle Ages including the town named Yunotsumachi which was developed as an outer port for the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, which is registered as a World Heritage site. What kind of light you can find in these two areas where rich history and culture of Shimane Prefecture remain? Can lighting enhance their cultural values? We investigated the light environment as well as the cultural background. ■IntroductionThe towns of Izumo and Iwami Yunotsumachi in Shimane Prefecture have a long history and a variety of cultures since the birth of Izumo Province. We investigated what kind of light can be seen in the spark of the culture, as well as its historical and cultural background. This survey also made us, who have lived in cities for a long time, think about the role of lighting as it should be. ■Kamimukae Shinji (Shinto ritual for welcoming the gods)October of the lunar calendar in the Izumo region is called “Kaminazuki” month. This is because during this month, all gods…

Competing with elaborately planned shop facades, intense Han River bridge illuminations, sign luminaries, and bare light bulbs, all flood the streets with chaotic lights. Multi-colored and thriving on pure energy, the different areas in Seoul are alive at night with their own individual style of light. Looking towards the Han River from the observation deck of KLI 63 Building. Myeongdong Commercial District. Light from sign luminaries flood the streets, a typical scene in many Asian cities. In the Dongdaemun Market, numerous bare light bulbs hang from the ceiling and reflect off the canopies overhead.

25 March 2005 With a full moon to guide us, 20 lighting detectives gathered at Kudashita Station on this early spring evening to walk around the Emperor’s Palace in search of any darkness left behind in the glaring commercialism of Tokyo. We all first trooped to Yasukuni Shrine to view the illumination of the big orange gate and from there broke off into 2 teams moving in opposite directions around the palace. The blue team worked their way towards Ohte-Machi, while the yellow team moved steadily towards the Kasumigaseki District, with the final destination the Wadakura Fountain in front of Tokyo Station. The first stop for the blue team, led by Chief of the Lighting Detectives, Kaoru Mende, was Chidorigafuchi, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo. But, unfortunately we were early in the season and only the portable light fixtures for night viewing were on display. As the team made their way towards Tokyo Station, the buildings along the perimeter seemed to have toned-down their lighting effects, as not to intrude on the privacy of their neighbors across the black moat. But on the homerun stretch towards Tokyo station, the recently redeveloped Marunouchi District stood in great contrast to the dark palace. One could stand in the same spot and view Marunouchi as one would think of Tokyo, with tall buildings and fantastic lights, and then turn on the same spot and face the dark moat, trees, and…

Interviewer: Kunzhi Jiang Jiang: Today I’d like to talk about “Cinema Lighting.”  I think cinema lighting is very important.  For example, I recently watched “The Godfather,”  and felt that light and shadow in cinema can really reveal various conditions of human psychology.  Especially senses with intense contrast, light and shadow help create a very tense situation. Mende: Yes, there are many dark scenes in this film.  It is an impressive example of using light to symbolize human emotion. Jiang: Yes.  I was really impressed with how light is focused on the left side of the screen and the right side gradually becomes dark.  I felt this represents the two-sided nature and internal turmoil of the characters.  What kind of movies do you like? Mende: I like films of various genres, but I was really moved by the French movie “Diva.”  The use of natural light is beautiful.  The softness and warmth of natural light really dictates the atmosphere of this film. Jiang: This sounds like a film with many great scenes. I am curious about the balance of light and shadow. By the way, films by the Taiwanese director, Edward Yang, are also very impressive.  Lighting melts into the quiet everyday scenes of his films in a way that is very easy. Mende: Taiwanese films certainly have a unique charm.  Particularly, natural light is skillfully used to create detailed scenes and atmospheres, unable to be reproduced with artificial lighting. Jiang: “A Brighter Summer…

Orange lights brighten the plains and continue on towards the horizon, creating the Chicago nightscape. Notorious for cold winds, the Chicago nightscape was unified early on with high-pressure sodium streetlights. For crime prevention, the amount of light slowly increased with each passing decade, but outdoor lighting technology in Chicago is considered very progressive. Orange axes of light extend toward the horizon. High pressure sodium streetlamps are used beautifully throughout the citystreets of Chicago. The highmast lighting pole at the base of the John Hancock building is functional and glareless. Highly efficient streetlights illuminate State Street, creating a unified environment.