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Stage Lighting and visual Perception

Stage Lighting and visual Perception

The practitioners of the art of stage lighting employ the principles of visual perception in designing the look of the stage. Theatre creates and maintains different kinds of realties. At times reality is imitated, at other times a new and different theatrical reality is created.

Theatrical lighting influences the way in which the spectator perceives what is being staged, and this is particularly evident when the mise-en-scene, scenery, and lighting are closely integrated.

Through manipulation of the controllable variables of light –intensity, color, direction, quality, pattern, and movement of light, the lighting designer can make an important contribution to the visual impact of the show.

The red backdrop seen through the windows is unrealistic, but very theatrical. Tales of Hoffman, The New Israeli Opera.

The stage lighting designer controls the relative brightness of the objects which compose the stage picture, as well as the absolute brightness of the stage. Lighting produces the light and shadow pattern of the plastic elements on the stage, including, most important of all, the actors. Stage lighting is a ready tool for directing the attention of the spectator, guiding it to focus on the relevant part of the stage. Lighting plays a role in defining the scenographic space. Control of lighting permits very fluid and exact control of the color of scenery and costumes. Lighting also takes part in shaping the emotional response of the theatre spectator by suggesting the atmosphere of a scene.

Dark-adaptation1

The Controllable Variables of Light

Stage Lighting and Depth Perception

Modeling by Light and Shadow

Angle of Illumination of the Actor

Brightness in the Theatre

Focus and Attention in the Theatre