Lightseeing 2

Ceiling lights that are large recessed squares covering the whole ceiling area

We take light for granted: we assume it will be bright enough to see whenever we want it so, even in the middle of the night. We assume entrances will be lit, lobbies will be illuminated, restaurants will glow. Sometimes, despite being taken for granted, we notice something that catches our eye. I call this […]

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Red Light, Green Light

A creek filled with mossy rocks surrounded by ferns and other green leafy plants, shaded by trees with spots of sunlight poking through

A few years ago I heard a simple phrase from a leading lighting researcher: “Light is a drug.” Like most drugs, light causes chemical reactions in our brain and body.  Moods change, biorhythms change, migraines disappear. Wait, migraines? Dr. Mohab Ibrahim, director of the chronic pain clinic at a hospital in Tucson, Arizona, has an […]

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The Next DMX for Architecture

Some piece tech equipment with many wires coming out of it/plugged into it

WARNING: THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS SENSITIVE TO ACRONYMS. I like control.  A lot.  And it all started in theater many, many years ago when I moved to my first computer-controlled light board.  It was love at first “GO.” I have not lit a traditional show in years, but […]

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Stairway to Heaven

A view looking down on a stairway with three low wall lights lighting up the steps, the stairs turn to the left

If you have read other posts on this blog you might be thinking “this guy hates all normal lighting.” You would be mostly correct. Take stairways for example.  My previous home had a light at the bottom and a light at the top.  That made the landings well lit and the stairs themselves, well, dark. […]

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I went lightseeing

I enjoy sightseeing. My family and I have been privileged to see many wonderful natural and cultural sights in the United States from New York City’s Grand Central Station to Yosemite’s Half Dome. Today I am by myself on a rare international business trip to Spain, and the miracle of modern air travel granted me […]

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The Politics of Light 2

Ex-president Trump speaking into a microphone in front of a backdrop that says "congressional institute" with the C-Span logo in the lower right

I [dis]agree with President Trump. This is a lighting blog, not a political blog, correct?  Yes.  Unfortunately, light- like so many aspects of our lives- is being politicized for electoral advantage. Recently President Trump’s administration repealed rules that would continue to require energy-efficient replacements for yesterday’s incandescent lamps.  In live speeches, Trump spoke strongly against […]

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LIGHT from the Beginning

Photo of a flat, green space with a sunset glow on the horizon casting everything in silhouette. To the right is a big tree. A smaller tree is in the center.

I think light is pretty important, but it seems I don’t know the half of it. I am currently reading LIGHT: A Radiant History from Creation to the Quantum Age by Bruce Watson.  The book is of the micro-history genre, an in-depth look at an intensely focused topic.  This time, the topic happens to illuminate […]

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Another Houzz Listicle

A screenshot of a webpage from Houzz featuring the articles "Your Guide to a Modern-Style Kitchen" and "5 Common Lighting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them."

24 months ago I did not know the meaning of “listicle,” but now I write them.  A list + article becomes a listicle, or short story with distinct bullet points.  I added the requisite beautiful photos and reshaped my lighting larceny post to become the latest Houzz story.  Enjoy! 5 Common Lighting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them […]

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Light Can Help You