Creating Visual Depth in the Landscape
"Something just doesn't look right..." Have you ever driven or walked around a property and had that thought while viewing the nighttime lighting? All too often the missing element is a lack of knowledge or experience with the designing contractor in regards to depth perception and the sight process. All of us have eyes that basically work the same way in that our eyes can only focus on one element at a time and are attracted automatically to the brightest light source. When we figure that many current designs are being done by young contractors whose sole lighting knowledge is a short seminar hosted by a manufacturer trying to sell product; the end result is often predictable. Many of the available lighting distributors today teach contractors to design based largely on lamp life and the "drama" of multiple focal points often overlooking the process by which the eye sees. More importantly the brain processes that information into a mental picture, if you will, based on available input.
When this emphasis on high light levels and multiple brightly lit focal points is factored in, what we end up with is a picture of hot spots that are dramatic individually but do not work well as a group. To avoid this happening in your designs it is important to insure you satisfy the "why light"? Part of your design process by understanding the concepts of color temperature and footcandle or lumen readings. The first, color temperature, refers to the overall warmth or, lack of warmth, in a light source. Measured in degrees Kelvin it is an indicator of the expected visual appearance of the light source. You all have seen and experienced halogen light sources which in our arsenal are at the high end of the Kelvin scale being very white with good color rendition. These are ideal sources for selected focal point lighting as they will be the brightest lights in the picture and will attract the eye, which is a desired effect. Other light sources are straight incandescents also with filaments, yet are much lower on the Kelvin scale offering a much softer warmer light that is more relaxing and inviting. Mixing these two types of lamps one is able to literally paint a picture that is warm yet offers true drama, and moves the eye naturally front to back and side to side.
When we go back to answering the question of "why light", we get constructive feedback from customers of how a space is used and what type of light source would be most appropriate for the situation. Walkway lighting and converse lighting in a sitting area lend themselves wonderfully to relaxing an area. It is best to satisfy the needs of the customer without overwhelming them with light. If you use their suggestions to vary light intensity through the landscape, enhancing certain areas and softening others, you are bound to be successful.
Contractor of the Week Mark Piantedosi
Mark has been using Nightscaping® Lighting since the mid nineties and has rapidly expanded his knowledge and expertise to a level which qualified him as a Nightscaping® Registered Contractor. Originally, Mark and his dad worked through a well respected and extremely successful landscape construction firm. Owned by the family, they offered lighting to all of their construction clients. Seeing the need for a more focused approach to a popular customer request caused Mark to create a new business which completely focused on lighting, Commonwealth Lighting. We have seen Mark grow not only as a designer, but as a professional installation contractor who offers maintenance contracts to all of his lighting clients.
We look forward to many more years of business with Mark, and greatly admire his professionalism and dedication to customer service.
MARK PIANTEDOSI
Commonwealth Landscape Lighting
Acton, Massachusetts
ph: 978-857-0164
*All landscape photos represent Mark's work
Add a twinkling sparkle to the evening with Starliters from Nightscaping®. Available in multiple lengths and with or without perforations this creative fixture has countless accent lighting applications in the landscape. Common uses include downlighting from trees, arbors, pergolas, gazebos, or other garden structures. Try grouping three or more Starliters to create dramatic lighting effects your clients are sure to enjoy.
Similar Fixture -Sparklers
Provide both functional and visually interesting sources of light with Nightscaping® brand Sparklers. The Sparklers come in three sizes and look best when installed in clusters utilizing each of the three different heights. These fixtures cast low levels of light directly to the ground and also project a sparkling pattern of light out onto walls, plant material, and other surrounding objects.
Similar Fixture - Twinkler
Use the Twinkler for holiday lighting, in commercial settings or wherever your client wants to direct attention. The intermittent blinking light source is guaranteed to get noticed. Although appropriate for residential applications, this fixture is probably most effective when used to gain recognition in heavily lit commercial areas.