Week 2: A Glimpse of Heaven

I took this picture this past weekend upon visiting my sister in Encinitas, California. It is a small surf town about 45 minutes south of Newport Beach, where I live. There are some gorgeous look out points along the Pacific Coast highway, and anytime during the day one can see the surfers out on the water trying to catch the waves. I could not believe how brilliant the colors in the sky were. A storm off on the horizon threatened to ruin the perfect evening, but the rays of deep orange, gold, and fuchsia shown through and created a spectacular show. One of the most beautiful facets of this picture is how the clouds in the distance reflect off of the water and the smooth sand so the sea and land almost blend together, creating one massive surface. We cannot even be sure if the surfer is on land or water. This effect is so surreal and looks as though taken out of a dream, especially since the lighting is warmer and soft. The glow of the light is dreamy and comforting.

Week 2: Small Reflections

I was walking to my apartment when I noticed this little fountain. I've pasted this fountain everyday since I moved in September and never noticed how pretty it can be. I always thought it was such a pointless thing to have because it's such a small unattractive looking fountain and a waste of money. But around midday when the sun is high, the light is very soft on the water. The water makes a perfect reflection of light, but I think the casting of the shadows over the fountain makes best effect. I think a tree has a very specific shape and design that creates the best shadows like a gobo. With the movement of the water, the light and the other elements that contribute to this effect like the blue sky and the white buildings, this disguises the ugly brown color of the bottom of the fountain. This made me realize that light can hide and move attention to other places that you wouldn't expect.

Week 2: Expanse of Blue

  I took this picture at Corona Del Mar on Sunday at around noon. I was hoping to get a chance to take some photos of the ocean with the light reflecting off of the water for more of a dazzling, starry look and to see strong definition between the sky and the waves. Instead, I admired the textured, blue ripples created from the ocean's waves and how they mimic the soft, rounded streaks created from the clouds above. If there was a way that they horizon line could be smudged like pastels in a painting, the ocean and sky could be smudged together to create a canvas of blue. The pinks in the sky above add an extra layer of depth to the painting, as if the sun is awakening from a mid day nap, but unable to come to full consciousness yet. The picture reminds me of the vastness of nature, and how grateful I am to be a part of it.

Dana Lillie

Week 2: When there is light...

I took this picture as I was walking back to my apartment on Thursday from class. Initially I was captured by the shadowed outline of an airplane ascending from the John Wayne airport against the pale yellows of the sunset, but by the time I took my phone out, it had disappeared. At first disappointed, my thoughts turned as I became awed by the dark outlines of the trees against the bright sky. It made me think about light and that if there is any sight of light, then there is technically no darkness. If darkness is a complete absence of light, then any presence of light would make it light, not dark. It seems silly but it seemed like a good metaphor for life. That no matter how dark things can get, there's always a trace of light, which means there's hope.The trees seem to be haunting the sky, but the soft glow of the sun setting on yet another day seems to laugh silently in the background saying, "Today, I shined." And that brightened my day.

Week 2: Cold Day with Warmth

I took this picture on my walk home from school this past week, and looking at this sky reminds me of a trip I took to the San Francisco Zoo with my mom. The blue color reminds me of how cold it became on that winter day as the sun faded away. The hints of sunlight trying to peak through, gives me a feeling of some kind of desire for more because the weather had become so unbearably cold, and the surrounding building and dark shadows of the trees gives a sense of shelter from the cloudy sky above.

Sunday In The Park...

    On the Sunday afternoon before the beginning of classes, I took a drive along the PCH to find a beach to walk for some sun and relaxation.  I found a place that I haven't been to yet:  Salt Creek Beach Park.  As I walked down the street that ran along the park, I was struck by the sight of the sloping, open grass area looking down to the ocean.  I loved the bright green of the grass against the serene blue water.  Along with the soft clouds, this image was very reminiscent of Georges Seurat's A Sunday on the Grande Jatte.  The grass, trees and clouds have a soft nature to them that seem to be pointalistic.  The time of day that I saw this completed the famous picture for me.  The low, afternoon sun felt relaxing with the long, lazy shadows pulling away from the people that sit facing the sun basking in its warm, amber glow.  This trip was extremely rewarding for me just for this sight.  I would definitely have to return here at the same time of day to see this great picture again.

-Dan Schreckengost

Poseidon's Light

I recently visited Las Vegas and my friends and I were walking past Caesars Palace when I saw these statues of Poseidon and friends lit in amazing changing colors. We took the obligatory tourist photos standing on the edge of the fountain in front of the statues but when I turned around to look at the light behind me the lights were changing colors in very pleasant shades of blue, red, purple, green, yellow, etc. I really enjoyed this spectacle of light as Vegas can get away with it. I was just thinking if I was standing in front of a fountain in Europe the lighting of the statue would be completely different, subdued. Perhaps, there would be no lighting just a street lamp or atmospheric lights from shops nearby. However, I was standing in front of a fountain in Las Vegas so the brilliantly bright colors changing before me were completely appropriate and creating atmospheric pleasure before my eyes. I stood and took several pictures of the statue to try to get the different colors but this one was my favorite. The cool blue Poseidon stoically posing in front of a warm background of sculptured women. I really liked how the placement of the lights highlighted the curves and cuts of the body on the statues making them look more sculpted and pronounced. However, how some of the lights were focused or pointed, a lot of glare was created. I really enjoyed passing by this fountain and seeing how Vegas could combine a classical looking fountain with a modern lighting design.

---------Stacy McKenney