Week 10 - Natalie Makel

For my blog this week I was inspired by my reading light. I decided to take a photo while I was reading a book at night. Although the photo did not capture the true color of the light, I thought it was useable nonetheless. The light is a blue hue which I find interesting for many reasons. First, we learned in class that on the Kelvin Scale, blue is the most intense light - daylight. Most designers make the mistake of thinking that sunlight is yellow, but it is not, it is blue. Also, years ago I read a study about colors of hospital rooms and how they related to patients' overall health. Rooms that were painted blue colors had significantly healthier patients than those who were in rooms with warm colors like red and orange. The patients in the cool-painted rooms also called for their nurses less than those in the warm-painted rooms. The blue light was indeed calming for me as well- it was easier on my eyes and made my book easier to read than the harsh warm light of my desk lamp. To achieve this color and effect I think I would use a fresnel as a top light, with a blue gel. My rationale for doing this is because the light in my room created amazing shadows and definition on objects all around my room; seemingly dull and ordinary things because interesting. A top light is fascinating to me because the contrast it creates on the actor's face. Also I would use a blue gel, because that is the color my reading light is.