Week 8: Obsession - lighting with glass (Kayo)

I had a hard time to figure out my obsession with lighting. I like to have a relaxing time with candle (unfortunately this is electric candle lights...). I always want to something interesting or beautiful stuff, so I love this glass lotus candle folders that refract and reflect the lights. And the middle of the photo shows my handmade light, and I really obsessed to make this light. I think I like the lighting with glass or water because it makes beautiful effect such as the shadow patterns that photo shows. I never get tired of looking at this lighting, and I am always fascinated with it.

Week 8: Obsession-Lights and Automation-Faaizah

This past weekend I attended my first LDI. Ever since my high school lighting mentor first mentioned the convention to me 5 years ago, I put it on my bucket list to go. I always thought that theatre tech was a side hobby for me until my first year at UCI when I forced myself to take a break from anything theatre related. I figured that if I gave myself a clear break I could figure out for myself if I truly missed it enough to fully pursue it. A couple months into my forced break, I realized that I did not just miss it but that I was obsessed. I spent every spare moment reading whatever I could on the new types of technology being introduced in performing art spaces. There were giant leaps being made in incorporating automation, AR/VR, and motion control for theatre. My expectations for how the convention would be were beyond exceeded. I got to see first hand all the new technology that I had read about and was able to marvel at the variety of different approaches each company took to cater to a specific venue's event solution needs.

The video I took of the kinetic lighting sculpture shows everything I have been obsessed about regarding the movement of lights. By changing the physical position of a light, one can simultaneously create both a scene change and a light change. I saw a design concept for a production done where the theatre had custom built lighting rods that changed position to show the different architectural locations the characters were in, to simulate flight and to show World War II's destruction in the play the theatre put on. There are so many different ways to challenge how we use lighting in performing art places and this video was a great reminder of that. The convention reminded me of the reason I became obsessed with technology in theatre and encouraged me to keep studying so that one day I can help build this kind of technology.

Week 8: Obsession (Jialai)

Although I hate raining days, I love the weather, humidity, and unique view right after each rain. Irvine is a relatively dry place that can be uncomfortable for skin in somedays, however, after rain, the humidity rises to a perfect level that you can feel the soft water molecules in the air. The sky becomes white and grey with a lot of clouds, which can be a perfect curtain for the rainbow. I took this picture last week after that sudden heavy rain. We were planning to go out to dinner at that time, but after we saw this beautiful view on our way, we decided to park aside for a while and took some pictures of this unusual view in Irvine. I came from a city that rains a lot, and every time it rains, I will wait at home to stop, and go out to the park to feel the weather and look for a rainbow. In this case, I believe I obsess with the weather and view after raining.

Week 8 Obsession (Summer)

If you haven't realized yet, my obsession at this point is Disneyland. Specifically after the sun has set and the lights come on. Its some of the most beautiful, mesmerizing moments for me. Everything seems to be chosen specifically to fit a style, a mood and to invoke different things within the park. These photos for example. I had to take a picture of both and post both. The colorful, playful way "Its a Small World" has been lit fills me with cheer and makes me feel like a child again. The castle, on the other had,  seems more simplistic. I feel like I am more in a sophisticated winter wonderland than a child's dream. The castle sticks mainly to cool colors, whereas the other is very warm and festive.

Week 8: Obsession (Lyndsey Robertson)

I struggled quite a bit with the idea of obsessive lighting. It wasn't until I thought about the things that I obsess over that I realized what is a perfect represention of obsessive lighting in my own perspective. For me obsession lies within the late nights spent typing up papers or doing research I knew I should have started earlier. The majority of the time I am typing alone in my room with the lights off in the hope that at least with my room light off, it will deter my mother from coming in and chastising me for procrastinating (again) on her way to the bathroom at 3 am.....which she will do regardless. This leaves me, more often than not, staring mindlessly into the bright light of my computer screen, struggling to finish the paper while fighting off the headache that the computer light ultimately brings me. Not to mention this is usually coupled with the use of my phone flashlight as I use it to read any physical notes or handouts I need for said paper since I'm too stubborn to just turn my room light back on. Seems kind of ironic that the warmth I would usually associate with my room light becomes a danger in alerting my mother in these scenarios and I am forced to hover about whatever harsh light I can extract from both my computer and my phone.

Week 8: Obsession [Sierra C.]

I have and always will love Halloween above all other holidays. It's been my favorite time of year for as long as I can remember and I'm not ashamed to admit I'm more than a little obsessed with it. Despite the fact that we're coming up on Thanksgiving next week, I still have all of my Dia de Los Muertos and Halloween decorations up in my living room, including these string lights framing the window.

What I love about these lights in conjunction with the obsession theme is that, much like Halloween, there are two sides to the concept of obsession: innocent and dark. I feel like these lights fit both of those parameters. The fuchsia color recalls the childlike innocence of Halloween and bounces off the walls to illuminate the entire room in a pinkish glow. It's very pretty and in combination with all of the Halloween decor still set up, is very atmospheric. However, despite the beauty of the color and the childlike joy it brings me, it also becomes very eerie when we leave them on as a night-light of sorts. My roommate works really late and rather than leave on the kitchen light, we leave the Halloween lights on and that fuchsia glow comes across as quite creepy when it's the only source of light. For me, the progression of the mood these lights cycle through is representative of the progression of an obsessive habit; it starts out innocent and harmless, but can quickly shift into something scarier and unnerving. 

Week 8 Obsession- Chloe

I went to go look at some Christmas lights and displays. This particular display struck me as it didn't feel icy or fall into the typical Christmas colors of red white or blue. Purple to me is a color of obsession, of control. I love looking at Christmas lights as much as the next person but I think it's turned into a holiday of obsession for many people. The obsession with being enough, of gathering love for family and friends, of having material wealth and of feeling warmth. I think these obsessions can make holidays as harmful as they are uplifting. That's why I associate Christmas this way, it's beautiful and yet uncomfortable and full of expectations. The darker colors in this display feel a little eerie as well as cheery. I fits my view of the season perfectly.

Week 8 - An Obsession with Aesthetics & Coffee (Bella Keegan)

I'm not entirely sure how, but within the last year I've become addicted to coffee. Objectively speaking, I am well aware that it is not necessarily a healthy addiction. Putting that aside though, this obsession has led me to go out of my way to try out many different coffee places within Orange County. I personally really enjoy how every coffee shop has its own aesthetic and branding, and lighting can usually help to enhance whatever feeling the coffee shop is trying to emit. Below is a picture from Tierra Mia in downtown Santa Ana. While Tierra Mia could be considered a corporation because they have numerous locations, every time I enter this store I feel so light and completely welcomed by not only the employees but by the decor and lighting. The tiny coffee shop utilizes these giant windows to let in a lot of natural light, and then they use these incredibly fun decor lights that have this warm tungsten feel to help make this store feel incredibly cozy. To be honest, while I'm obsessed with coffee I am also obsessed with coffee culture and the way a coffee shop can transport you into an entirely different world. Tierra Mia really uses their location to the best of their advantage with their large welcoming windows, soft light, and white decor and without a doubt it is one of my favorite coffee shops in the area because of this.

Week 7: Newport Beach Night (Jialai)

I took this picture last night, which is super foggy weather. Newport Beach always is foggy at night, but it is too foggy that I kind of afraid to drive. Although the visibility is low, I can still tell what's roughly on the other side of the street. These fuzzy lights create a sense of mystery and scary at the back, but a feeling of dark and lonely in the front. I think it can be the aspiration to create this foggy environment on stage, especially in these dark dramas. Also, it shows how the fog may change the quality and texture of light on stage.

Week 7 - The Sky [Bella Keegan]

I've been unbelievably crazy this week,  but I was lucky enough to witness the sky pictured below one early evening. As jarring as the time change has been, I feel like I'm far more conscious of when it gets dark than I normally am. While the sun setting so early is disorienting, I feel like I witness far more colors painted in the sky because of it. The sky below was from somewhere deep in Westminister, and I was simply in awe when I witnessed it as I headed towards my car. The blues, pinks, yellows, and the clouds all looked so majestic. The time change has made me very conscious of what kind of impact the sun really has on our perception of the day, colors, and natural light. With the sun setting so early everyday, I've realized how much I miss natural light and how much the sun shapes my day.

Week 7: Second Home Pavilion-Faaizah

My friends and I went to visit the Second Home Pavilion in La Brea Tar Pits. We went during midday so there was a lot of sunlight hitting the installation. The artist used different types of material ranging in how reflective they were and in what colors she used for both the elastic bands and in the canopies she made. The resulting effect was a very soft yet textured gradient of different colors that shown on us as we walked through. I loved the effect that the tinfoil-like canopy material gave off in some of the areas of the installation because of the tiny beads of light that it reflected on whatever its light hit. It was a great feeling seeing so many people making comments on the different properties of light that the different areas of the exhibit had. Because the installation was out in the open in the middle of the Tar Pits park, I feel like everyone's experiencing walking through the exhibit would be different considering the different times of day they would see it. I would love to come back at a different time of day to see how differently the sun's angle would effect areas of the exhibit. Walking through the exhibit made me think a lot about the gels we use when lighting in theatre. It made me wonder how much different light would look if we experimented with not only different colors but different textures of gel.

Week 7: Exhibit Mobile (Lyndsey Robertson)

This mobile exhibit I experienced featured an array of colored projections along the roof of a dark tent. As the mobile in the center of the room spun, so did the color projections. It made the entire room feel like some form of hallucinogenic vortex which at some points made me feel dizzy if I looked up at it for too long. This is possibly due to a combination of the bright neons and their movement or due to the height at which one had to look up to see it as it was not visible at eye level.

Week 7: Romantic Sunset [Sierra C.]

I'm always fascinated by the progression of the sun and just how much the colors reflected in the sky can change within the same day. Living on the third floor of my apartment building gives me a great vantage point to witness some really amazing sunrises and sunsets, and the images show one of the few I managed to capture on camera. There is so much about I love this particular sunset. For one, the color gradient is so clear, yet the hues blend together and create a beautiful backdrop behind the trees. I'm always a sucker for a good silhouette and what sticks out to me is how defined some of the foliage is, especially in the first image. You can pick out individual leaves along the top canopy and it's so crisply outlined despite being in shadow. Sunsets in general are always seen as something romantic and lovely, but this particular evening really drove that home for me with the way the sunlight reflected the soft pink and purple hues. It reminded me a lot of some of the sunsets I'd see back home in Santa Barbara and was very nostalgic for me.

Week 7: A Foggy Night (Kayo)

Last night was strange and spooky night. When I finished strike and I was on my way to home, there was fog lies over an area. It was like natural smoke/fog machine effect. Lights were spread and make tree silhouette. Some area looked like fire because warm orange lights spread around and it looks smokey. It totally changed the view far from real environment, and I really love this dark and mysterious mood. I was so excited. Recently, I have not seen production that is using fog machine, but I would like to consider to use this effect. I also think that this effect is good for theme parks.

Week 7 Brush Stroke (Summer)

This is a picture I took while in movement, walking past the World Of Color at Disneyland California Adventure. I was amazed at what I saw. There were so many vibrant colors that were being altered by mist and streams of water. The colors filled me with joy and wonder, catching my attention but also blending so many colors beautifully. At first the source of light and colors would come out in a smooth, intense style. However, the water/mist would eventually scatter and smuged the light a bit, creating a fuzzier, more blending fashion to the light. My movement with the camera causes the lights in the top right to dance along the edge of the photo, creating a similar effect to the lights as the water did. Something about the way the water effects the lights remind me of the effects of haze and how both accomplish the same thing. 

Week 7 Chloe King

I was walking tonight on the Laguna Cliff Walk and there was this absolutely gorgeous sunset. The sky was overwhelming in its shades of orange and red, with the ocean painted gold. As we came around a curve I saw the silhouette of these palms rising from the ground like the shadows of giants. Their presence sucking the life from the view in front of me. I couldn't help but feel the sunset go from hopeful and romantic to melancholic. These palms were the beginning of nights smooth fingers, creeping in to steal the world back from the day. That mixed with the sunset being at 5pm made me finally understand the feeling of a California winter.

Downtown Disney Week 6, Chloe

Going into Downtown Disney, I was surprised at how grown up everything felt. I had expected to see a lot of color, lights and an overall air of excitement. Instead the scene felt very upscale and more catered towards the parents. If I look at the area in this light, I feel the lighting and architecture are quite beautifully done. Looking at it from the lens of an area meant to build you up for a day at Disney, I wasn't quite convinced it fit.
The first store, World of Disney, I felt was very successful. The outdoor display cases boasted bright, vibrant displays. The feeling of Christmas permeated from the shops windows. This was easily the most colorful shop in the complex. Walking inside I wasn't disappointed. The bright Christmas lights made the shop feel warm and inviting. I found myself wanting to explore the shop just to see how they had designed everything.

The second shop, Salt and Straw, had a far less lasting impact from my view. It was clear that they wanted to make the shop feel like an old fashioned ice cream parlor and from the outside, they succeeded. However, upon entering the shop I was disappointed. There was no vibrancy. The cute, ice cream shaped lighting fixtures let out a harsh white light. Everything in the shop was illuminated so brightly that there was nothing left to discover.

Week 6: Site Specific -Downtown Disney (Kayo)

Overall: I feel that Downtown Disney is the parts of theme parks. I was excited when I walked around there even though I did not enter the theme park itself. I think which is what designers wants. Downtown Disney is introduction to theme parks and the place that guests are immersed in an aftertaste of the theme parks. I liked a mood of this place. I thought that some area may need to have more lights, but to use decorative lights create soft and warm mood. I feel calm and relaxing like between reality and dream world. Also, I think stores that are related Disney use brighter lighting than others. There are It could attracts proper's attention.

Disney Home: I think Disney Home did good job. This store draw my attention because bright (actually not too bright) warm lighting. It is Disney related store, so lighting makes it highlight. I feel it makes feel inside of home as home supply store. It is clean and warm, and I can see the color of object clearly. Also, I love the store signboard. Lighting creates edge of Mickey Mouse symbol shape, and it shows this store is Disney related without words. 

SEPHORA: This store grab my attention in not good way. This store is used bright white light, and it is really bright. I think it is hard that non Disney related store blend in this place, but I think there is other way to accomplish it. Lighting design is suits store itself, and strip lights matches store design too. However, it brought me back to reality, so I feel it is not good for this place and I was kind of disappointed. It could be dim lights, or building design could be a strip lines and put lights behind and highlights the lines. It will be more classic looks, but I think it does not spoiling the image of original store.

Blog 6: Site Specific - The Irvine Spectrum [Bella Keegan]

On Friday night I was able to visit the Irvine Spectrum right before most of the stores closed at 10pm. Upon my arrival, I was surprised (yet not entirely shocked) at the fact that Christmas seemed to be full in swing. Ignoring the overly abundant Christmas lights decorating the outdoor shopping mall, the Spectrum is clearly intended to be a welcoming, yet somewhat upscale mall for families and teenagers to spend their weekends. This is seen in the beige colored buildings, white trims, and the fact that the place has a huge variety of offerings all ranging in price range. As far as lighting design goes and how it emphasizes this concept of serving the upper-middle class, all of the store signs were bright with generally a yellow or white back glow or front light, and most stores were lit with warmer tones. For the outside of the stores, there were generally light circles within the ground that bounced off of the walls of the store fronts. Having this theme throughout most of the stores helped to unify them and make them all feel cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing. Pictured below is the environment I experienced.

As a deep dive into the Spectrum's lighting, a store I felt like did a particularly poor job fitting into the theme established was Urban Outfitters. Now don't get me wrong: the lighting at Urban Outfitters really suited the brand. In the picture below, you can see that the store felt somewhat overexposed, with big windows and big lighting fixtures inside of the store. The lighting appeared bright and very cool in color and tone which works entirely for the brand (retro & nostalgic, yet cool). However, its relation in regards to lighting to the other stores within the Spectrum was extremely poor. The store felt too well lit in comparison to other stores, and everything felt cold and not nearly as warm and inviting as everything else. Furthermore, the lighting on the outside of the building was so harshly contrasting in both color and in terms of the fixture that they felt like two different worlds. The store sign was also really hard to read while it was dark was nothing was lighting it or helping to emphasize it besides the actual lights inside the store.

On the opposite end of the spectrum (in terms or stores with lighting that complimented the purpose of the Spectrum), Blk Dot coffee's lighting was really well done. The lighting fell into this concept of clean, warm tones while feeling extremely inviting and comforting. I stopped at this store and felt beckoned in by how well lit it looked, and how the lights seemed to compliment the wood being used as well as the white columns of the already established spectrum. In comparison to the last store, everything appears to be well lit and the sign truly makes the store stand out while maintaining it in the upper-middle class theming of the spectrum.

Looking at different stores and how their lighting can hinder my perception of them was really interesting, and I well definitely be paying more attention to wether or not things fit within the realm/world that they exist in. 

Week 6 Downtown Disney (Summer)

I went to Downtown Disney for my site specific blog. I chose this place because I was hoping their Christmas had started and I could comment on the lighting for that holiday celebration specifically. However, it was only partial Christmas. The street was bustling and busy, filled with many people and loud noises. However the lighting did not fit this on the street. The lighting reminded me of a 2 - 3 star restaurant, dimly lite and a bit draining. It seemed as though they goal was to achieve a dimmer, more relaxed lighting effect for patrons but was not something I fully enjoyed. Also, there are rings around the trees as you can see in the picture. I believe there may have been a malfunction because the further you walked you found that they light up in many colors, which I feel enhances the space with more cheer and an inviting aura. 

I wanted to make sure I got two photos of this store. One of the outside looking in and another of the inside. Now, this store filled me with joy. It may look too bright in these photos, however it was just bright enough. It was not draining or difficult to see. It filled you with a sense of alertness, and made it impossible to miss the many colors and patterns on the merchandise.

I believe it accomplished its goal best because the lighting made everything so appealing it would be easy to drop tons of money in this store. Not only that they added Christmas color lights throughout the store to remind you what season it was and to go along with the seasonal merchandise. 

This store did not accomplish its goal to me. It was filled with so many treats and a display area where you could watch the treats being made. However, it was dim, and had no intense lighting, I found myself working hard to see things and having to get close. I believe the lighting made things less appealing as well. I had no craving to buy anything because nothing looked appetizing. These types of stores should be using lighting to help enhance and sell the product. However, I didn't see that happening. 

Week 6: Irvine Spectrum (Jialai)

I noticed that the overall Irvine Spectrum Center (Picture 1) was in the festival and Chrismas mode. There were a Chrismas tree and an ice skating place in the middle of the center, and small led lights were all over trees and bushes. It gave me a feeling of happiness and warmness. In this case, I think the "Anthropologie" store (Picture 2) did a great job of creating the same lighting mode as the design of the surroundings. They use mostly warm lights in the store, which emphasized the mood of Chrismas. There were also red and orange decorations on the window. On the other hand, the "Maybe Crazy" store looks too bright compared to the surroundings. The lights in the store are cold colors and there are no decorations on the door and windows, which don't have any elements related to Christmas. 

Week 6: Irvine Spectrum Themed Lights: Faaizah

Overall Mood: After doing a walk around Irvine Spectrum today, I took notice of the strong Arabic market influence in both the lighting and in the architecture. Overhead the rows of shops there were canvas canopies that had strings of lights attached to them. I noticed that almost every usage of light had an amber tinge to it. This added an element of warmness in an otherwise open design. Near major archways throughout the spectrum there were hanging lanterns that had geometric cuts along the panels which are largely influenced by Arabic art styles. The sconces along the orange walls added to the warm atmosphere by its yellowish light. I feel that the choice in using dimmer lights aided in creating a more welcoming and warm atmosphere that made it easy to forget that it was in the low 60's outside. As opposed to indoor malls where there is heavy use of down fluorescent lighting, the lights from the different angles were all easy on the eyes which made me want to stay longer in the environment.

Skinfoods: I felt that this store did a good job in contributing to the warm, amber atmosphere. Near the front window there was a chandelier that gave off a warm candlelight which matched the color of the lights from the two outside sconces. Because the store matched the ambiance of the outside design, it felt cohesive and inviting.

Champs: The lighting design for this store felt very jarring and misplaced to me as I walked by it. From the outside, I could see the strong use of downward white light. This contrasted with the warmness of the Skinfoods store right next to it. I felt that I could not look at the store for that long without wanting to return to something that would be easier on my eyes.

Week 6 Irvine Spectrum (Lyndsey Robertson)

Much of the lighting near the center of the spectrum (second photo)  is fairly dim. It appears to be centered around a cozy, patio feel as there are a large number of patio chair seating and ground lit shrubbery for people to relax around possibly after a meal or while waiting for friends or family members. The Melt (third photo) successfully supports the general cozy ambience of this section as it also utilizes simple amber tones of lighting, along with a small number of fixtures to keep the lighting dim yet again. Dave & Busters (first photo) on the other hand greatly contradicts this cozy environment as it is fully lit by the bright neons of the arcade games inside. This is a stark contrast to the outside environment where both The Melt and outer section are intended to bring people in to relax and enjoy the almost fire side ambience, D & B's is intended to hype people up to play and compete against one another in arcade play: successful for it's own business but unsuccessful in supporting its surrounding environment.

Week 6: Lights at the Spectrum [Sierra]

Overall Feeling:

One of the things I noticed about the lighting at the Spectrum was that it's not overwhelming or excessive. I've only been out there a handful of times and I generally never paid much attention to the lighting fixtures or effects, but I was surprised by how subdued it was, with the exception of the giant color changing Christmas tree and Ferris Wheel of course. Some of the fixtures were very pretty (i.e. the middle eastern hanging lamp fixtures) but overall, I feel like the lighting is very underwhelming in a good way. There are a lot of stringed lights under canopies and sections with themed fixtures, but much of the lighting seems to come mostly from the store fronts. I found this to be a really effective strategy because the string lights give a very casual and welcoming atmosphere which make you want to stay since it's not an assault on the senses, and because the walkways aren't brightly lit, the light bleeding out from the store fronts is much more effective in grabbing your attention and making you want to look inside.

For my two individual stores, I went to Hot Topic and MiniSo:

I felt like out of the two, Hot Topic is more successful in conveying the overall theme of the store with its lighting fixtures and directing attention to their products. Hot Topic locations always give off a grungy, kind of industrial feeling and I think they're very specific about the mood they're trying to convey with their lighting because they have a particular aesthetic that they're known for. The Spectrum Hot Topic was very dimly lit and their fixtures were bare bars with bulbs which, along with the concrete floors and metal hardware, emphasized the industrial tone. What I found really effective in Hot Topic is that despite having dim and simplistic lighting, many of the bulbs were strategically placed to highlight and draw attention to the products. It gives the customer a sense of direction and focuses the guest's attention exactly where they want people to be looking - on the current sales and promotional products that will make the most money.

In contrast to Hot Topic, MiniSo has an excessive amount of lights and I don't think it serves them in a positive way. Whereas Hot Topic's lighting is tied to the aesthetic and mood of the store, MiniSo is just overwhelmingly bright and doesn't serve any purpose in setting a mood or defining the aesthetic of the store - it's just bright and boring. It gives the store a very sterile feeling, especially in combination with the white walls, and it reminded me of being in a grocery store or a hospital. The light didn't seem to have a function beyond simply illuminating the space. There's no sense of direction and the lights don't help to focus the customer's attention on anything in particular, which isn't an effective marketing or product-promotion strategy. I didn't know where to look when I walked in and with the sheer amount of things they sell, it was quite a sensory overload. I was overwhelmed and frankly didn't want to spend much time in the store. While my personal bias probably has something to do with how much time I spent in Hot Topic versus MiniSo, I do think the lighting contributed in how quickly I left MiniSo and my lack of desire to go back.

Week 5: The Anteatery [Kayo]

The Anteatery building at UCI caught my eyes when I was on my way to home in this week. I have seen this building a lot of time, but I never pay attention to it. I realized for the first time how beautiful structure is. I think it is because I saw thus building during the night time. This building's window glass has the mirror effect, so I usually cannot see the inside of building much in the daytime. The lighting inside of building make window frames silhouette, and I can see the structure clearly. Interior lighting creates the depth of inside building, and it enhances the building design that is modern and geometrical.

Week 5: Warm Tones (Summer)

When looking at this photo, I am remind and filled with many different emotions. It is a warm photo and the lighting seems very warm, however there is enough of a difference in each light that they don't come off too harsh to the eyes. I am interested in the colors chosen for this space in the photo. I also am interested in the cool tone lights used in this photo, that give off something that feels like a light cool amber.  I also find myself intrigued because there is no one source for the light and i'd like to think about/ and save that for the future.

Week 5: The Mesa Parking Structure (Bella Keegan)

Sunrises are simply always so beautiful. There is something so comforting and peaceful about them, and not only do they look beautiful with their soft colors but they also feel warm, almost like a gentle caress. I love watching the sun rise because I feel like that by being up before the sun, I'm privy to its soft secrets and the plans it has set out for the day. Often though, I feel like it is impossible to really capture the feeling of a sunrise on my own phone or camera. This week I was lucky enough to come across the scene below as I was parking in the Mesa Parking Structure.  The sun was slowly coming up and peeking through the open sides of the structure casting these long, warm, and gorgeous beams of light on the structure floor. I was in awe about how this sight and the lighting captured the feelings I associate with sunrises: warmth invading the dark and opening up the world. While I don't like getting up early, I love to be up early to witness moments like these. Moments that are so beautiful and tranquil that they almost do not feel real. It's truly amazing how light can transform a parking structure into something that almost seems godly, untouchable, and astoundingly beautiful,