Design Advancement Tools

There are two important tools one can use in landscape lighting design. The first is Photography and the second is the Critique. One might ask how these are tools, but as you will see, both can be used to advance one’s ability and recognition within the profession.

All lighting designers are judged by their work, and it matters not what the discipline is—landscape, architectural, interior, or exterior. Therefore, our work is our ‘brand.’ Our relevance and importance must be presented by a visual means—photography, in this case. Poor imagery results in never winning awards, as well as lower quality of jobs and smaller-scaled projects. By treating our photographic work like a promotional tool, we can advance. You should invest in a highly effective photographer or in yourself, which means you should spend a great deal of time mastering this art. Please see the following section on Photography.

The Design Critique is another tool that we can benefit and advance from. Very few today spend time performing critiques upon their own work or the work of others—this is a learned skill. One must have experience in the trade craft and artform if they are going to know what to look for in this critiquing process. Additionally, a design critique should measure against a set of principles and standards if it’s to mean anything. The following should be included for these measures:

The Principles of Composition—this includes Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Pattern & Rhythm, Movement, and Unity. Each photograph should be assessed against these principles, to include having a full description of what the evaluator is ‘observing’ in the photo. It’s very important that the one critiquing has sufficient experience of composition, as found in art.
For those with little experience and those who have not performed critiques before, time should be spend reviewing examples of ‘good’ lighting designs. ELLI has provided the Educational Gallery that has a large photographic section dedicated for this learning. It also has provided a section in the gallery that features Design Critiques of some of these projects—this will provide you with an understanding of how to perform them.
The Common Flaws Encountered—this includes the common flaws found in landscape lighting today. All of these flaws are associated with Composition or aspects of one of the compositional principles. This will include ‘glare’, ‘hot-spots’, ‘light trespass’, and more.
The Photography Displayed—this includes the how well the captured image is displayed. Was the best viewing angle used for the scene or setting? Was composition considered by the photographer? How much light and darkness is shown? Photography can be judged, and it can make a lighting designer win or lose awards.

Currently, ELLI is the only landscape lighting organization to utilize Critiquing as a measure or tool for advancement. ELLI does provide a service to have your project to be professionally critiqued—the cost is $300.00 per photo to be critiqued. If you are interested in this service or wish to learn more about the design critique, then please complete the following form, submit it, and pay by the payment button:

The cost of this service is $300.00 per photo. Please use the “Sign-Up” button to get started. click here for the payment.

The goal of the Design Critique process is to help lighting designers better understand aspects of lighting design that they have not yet learned. It’s a short-cut in one’s natural learning curve. Landscape lighting designers can now utilize this option for their personal advancement needs.

Photography

Photography is a critical part of this learning and awareness, as it provides us the easiest format by which to understand. As humans, we best learn through our visual means. Therefore, photography is an aid in this. It allows us the opportunity to capture a moment in time and space, from a specific point of view.

As lighting designers, we must rely on high-quality, excellent imagery to effectively portray our work, and to evoke emotion. These images communicate and express our art-form. As a consumer, imagery is the easiest way to explain design intent.

The benefit of good photography allows for the following:

The Consumer can see how experienced the Lighting Designer is through this representation.
The Consumer can judge who is the best provider for the job.
The Trade Professional can use it as a means of competitive advantage.
The Trade Professional can communicate emotionally through this visualization.

The Use of Photography

Trade professionals need to be aware of the impact of good photography. It is highly suggested that a professional photographer with experience in night-time photography is utilized. Some lighting designers believe they can provide the same or better level of imagery. However, in most cases, this is far from the truth.

Why is photography so important? Because it represents your name and brand. One must truly consider how this decision alone impacts one’s success, professionally-speaking. Photography can be the difference between being ‘average’ or ‘mediocre,’ with that of ‘excellent.’

Lighting designers should consider photography as an art, just as their own craft, because it is. One would be best served by guiding the photographer, as to what they wish to capture. The photographer should focus his/her attention on the composition of these scenes. Their skill is in the experience with the camera and how to best display this imagery—it’s a joint effort.

Considerations in Photography

There are three considerations the lighting designer should understand in photography:

Imagery should pose No Questions. The viewer should never be distracted by what is visually displayed, such as glare, high contrast areas, competing or lacking focal points, poor lighting techniques, etc. Questions provide stress to the viewer’s mind, and it is in this observation that it provides discomfort and confusion—this is not good.
Imagery should look about the same as it does at night. It should not look fake or enhanced to provide a false presentation.
Imagery should evoke an emotional response. Again, this is dependent on the lighting designer’s ability to apply light. But, when it is provided, it facilitates a reaction and it sets you apart from the others.