illumination and illuminants

These photographs demonstrate an illumination mode of perception. The candle gives off a warm yellow light to the objects in the immediate surrounding. By contrast, the sky outside gives of a whiter light to the outdoor objects.

This image of the sky shows an orange illuminant quality of light coming from the sun reflecting in the clouds around sunset.

This image shows a the illuminant quality of light coming in a window and mainly touching the curtains.

This is a picture of the blue light given off of a gas stove flame reflecting on various surfaces of the stove and the pan next to it.

Film, Illumination, Surface

These first two images explore the film of the sky in relation to the surface of the water and the film of a window pane.

I then investigated the difference between light on a surface when you can identify the light source contrasted to light on a surface that can not be identified. In these images, you can see the source of light from the hanging light fixture and the sun coming in the windows. When viewing these images you are using a surface mode of perception.

However, when you can no longer see the source of light you switch into a film mode of perception and it just looks like there is a warmer tint on all the surfaces.

Surface

I took pictures of the morning light as it cast building shadows onto other buildings outside my window. Our eye reads the building surfaces as one even though the surfaces have hue and value variations on one surface. Looking at the same views in color, black and white and sepia brings attention to different changes in the surface variations. Color shows the warmth of the light and the coolness of the shadow. The black and white and sepia highlight the drastic value differences in the light and shadow.

Three photos showing surface mode of perception

These surfaces are perceived to be consistent colors despite the varied hues and values caused by the presence or absence of light. These varied colors allow us to understand where various surfaces are located in relationship to each other.