(2nd of 3 pages)
If the water is clear, then lighting from within the water feature can be used to create several different effects. Non-directional lighting can create a soft, even glow across the surface. This is an especially effective technique when water lilies or other floating aquatic plants are present.
Directional light sources positioned to project through the surface onto surrounding walls or plantings create a moving effect of shadows and ripples. These fixtures can be used to highlight fountain bowls, statuary, overhanging trees or any other surrounding landscape feature.
If there is a waterfall present, a directional light source placed within the water feature and behind the fall will considerably enhance the fall's evening appearance. This technique and the effects rendered can prove to be more desirable than what can be achieved when lighting from the front or outside the water feature.
It is
important to remember when
lighting from within a water feature, that this is not a practice
copied from the natural environment. Water is not naturally lit from within;
therefore, water features lit in this manner command attention in the
evening landscape. These techniques should be used sparingly. The goal
is to enhance the natural surroundings, not to diminish their importance
in the landscape.
Lighting from inside the water should be reserved for features that: deserve increased attention in the evening landscape like fountains or falls, will benefit from the movement associated with this kind of lighting, or need to be lit for safety purposes.
Sometimes lighting from inside the water is not the best solution. Leaving water features completely dark from within, especially ponds, can also enhance the client's overall enjoyment. This approach allows the designer to create mirrored effects on the water's surface.
The
darker the water is, the more effective this technique becomes. Mirror
lighting is achieved by uplighting surrounding plant materials or structures
opposite the primary viewing angle. This will result in a spectacular
inverse reflection of these landscape elements dancing across the water's
surface. If uplighting is not an available option, downlighting from hidden
sources
can produce similar effects.
In addition to mirrored effects, subtle downlighting from trees and structures will create a romantic atmosphere around the water feature. The shadows created from light cascading down through trees and leaves result in fanciful patterns of light and darkness that delicately come to rest on the ground below.
Although mirror lighting and downlighting are found naturally, water is not separated from the natural environment for the specific purposes of lighting. For example, waterfalls are not naturally found framed in a spotlight. As discussed earlier, directional lighting from outside or in front of a waterfall is in many cases a secondary alternative. However, this technique can be successful if backlighting the fall is not an option.
Crosslighting, or casting light on a single object from two directions, is effective when lighting (more...) back to page 1