![\"FB-190218_World](\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FB-190218_World-Lighting-Journy-Interview.jpg\")
At Caf\u00e9 R\u00c9FECTOIRE in Meiji Jingu-mae<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2019\/02\/18 Yuichi Anzai<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the Lighting Detectives Facebook page, we have been sharing the “World Lighting Journey” every weekend. As a summary of our activities in 2018, we conducted an interview with our chief, Kaoru Mende.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Caf\u00e9 R\u00c9FECTOIRE in Meiji Jingu-mae<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014In 2017, there were many posts featuring aerial nightscapes, but the 2018 posts were rich in variety. Among them, the most-viewed post was the toplight of the Pantheon in Rome. This was followed by the light-filled landscapes of Bologna, and then Stockholm during the “blue moment.” What are your thoughts on these results, Mende-san?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"FB_20180209_Stockholm_Sweden\"](\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FB_20180209_Stockholm_Sweden-1024x570.jpg\")
Aerial nightscape during the “blue moment,” Stockholm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Mende:<\/strong> I imagine most of the people viewing these posts are in Japan. We are always drawn to things that are startling, unfamiliar, or from a culture different from our own. That\u2019s probably why people see the Pantheon and think, “Wow, that\u2019s incredible!” I suppose many of the World Lighting Journey posts feature beautiful photos taken abroad?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014That is not necessarily the case, but since it is for the weekend, we do select beautiful photos for everyone to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Mende:<\/strong> I understand the desire to share many photos of “good” light, but there is also unpleasant lighting and scenery all around us. On the Detectives’ page, I think it would be good to post things that make us think, “This would be even better if it were done this way.” For instance, the Eiffel Tower starts sparkling and flashing around 8:00 PM. I\u2019m sure it’s for the tourists, but I don’t think the Eiffel Tower needs to imitate the nightscapes of Shanghai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014You mean the “Champagne Flash” of the Eiffel Tower. While beautiful nightscape photos are everywhere on social media, there are very few posts that show scenes leaving room for debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Mende:<\/strong> LPA has published several books, and people tell me\u2014not that they\u2019re teasing the photogenic completion photos featured in them\u2014”Wow, Mr. Mende, LPA’s work is truly beautiful!” When I hear that, I hesitate on whether to take it as a compliment. Our job is to ensure we don’t create anything unpleasant up to a certain level; that is an ironclad rule where we must not fail. So, while being “beautiful” is good, it isn’t enough. A “good job” is what comes after that. If people say it’s beautiful and the conversation ends there, lighting design becomes something quite boring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is good to be beautiful, but that alone is not enough.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u2014So you mean posts that don\u2019t just end with a “Like.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Mende:<\/strong> When you’re in the design business, some people feel the need to explain their concepts with long-winded prefaces even when it’s not necessary. In reality, the essence of design is something that should be recognized as wonderful even without words. However, the purpose of our social media posts is to provide a topic for discussion rather than just showing a final design result. It\u2019s better to have words that reveal a person\u2019s individual perspective\u2014how they felt at the moment they took the photo. That way, readers can enjoy the differences between the poster’s viewpoint and their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2015 We want people to enjoy it as a good read, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Mende:<\/strong> We shouldn’t only focus on aerial views or photos of entire buildings; micro-scale, humanscaled subjects are also great. In this photo of Italy, there are people, but the shot is still a bit far from the subjects. If you were to zoom in close on that dog or those people, the spilled light from the shop window in the background would be emphasized more effectively. Take Studio Ghibli, for example\u2014the light depicted in their backgrounds expresses the very air, sound, and smell of the scene. So, while beautiful nightscapes or ethereal light falling on architecture aren’t bad, it gets boring if that\u2019s all we show. Instead, if there\u2019s a discovery of light found just “rolling around” in our daily lives, it sparks more conversation\u2014people saying, “Whoa! I can’t believe you noticed that!” or “Exactly, these things are everywhere.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2015 It\u2019s true; I think we\u2019ve had many beautiful photos that look like they came straight out of a magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"FB_20180824_Pantheon_Roma\"](\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FB_20180824_Pantheon_Roma-1024x768.jpg\")
The toplight of the Pantheon, Rome<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"FB_20181214_Bologna_1\"](\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FB_20181214_Bologna_1-1024x683.jpg\")
Street view of Bologna<\/p>\n\n\n\n