The Destruction of the Palace of Armida By Charles-Antoine Coypel

In this painting, the light is behind the woman on the large creature. The light is solely entered around her. Everyone below her are in the dark. The position of the light makes it seems as if she has descended from heaven in order to defeat some sort of evil on Earth.

Source: http://ec2-79-125-124-178.eu-west-1.compute.amazonaws.com/articles/The-cream-of-the-Old-Masters-crop/26750

Sunday Morning by Asher Durand

I like the brightness of this 19th century painting. The light source is clearly suppose to be coming from the sun. I think it is fascinating how the artist can use various tones of white in order to mimic natural light. The dark area in front of the trees also create a shadow. 

Source: https://fristartmuseum.org/calendar/detail/telling-tales-stories-and-legends-in-19th-century-american-art

Ashlynd - Q2M1

Chad - Q2M1

Chris - Q2M1

Eleanor - Q2M1

Emily C - Q2M1

Emily P - Q2M1

Ericka - Q2M1

Kate - Q2M1

Kuljeet - Q2M1

Megan - Q2M1

Morgan - Q2M1

Nathan - Q2M1

Quinton - Q2M1

Rafaela - Q2M1

Sean - Q2M1

Shana - Q2M1

Sofia - Q2M1

The Calling of Saint Matthew, Carvaggio

This painting by Carvaggio uses sunlight pouring in from an open window to highlight the expressions on the faces of the people depicted. The light is pouring into an empty room, giving it a hopeful feeling. It allows you to see the sorrow and negative emotions that people are feeling, but one of them is looking up at the light with hope. The light highlights the light colors and provides a contrast that emphasizes the dark colors in shadows. This is a way to reflect the dark emotions they are feeling and the light providing a relief.

From: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Calling_of_Saint_Matthew-Caravaggo_%281599-1600%29.jpg

"Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in his Gallery in Brussels" by David Teniers the Younger

This is a painting of a gallery of paintings—most of it is taken up by renditions of other paintings, all with their own light sources, displayed in a window-side gallery during what appears to be a bright afternoon. Teniers handles lighting and shadows highly realistically around the figures, furniture, and other real-world objects, but the gallery paintings are positioned in bright light so that the realism is maintained without any major changes to their coloring and light.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DAVID_TENIERS_EL_JOVEN_-_El_Archiduque_Leopoldo_Guillermo_en_su_Galer%C3%ADa_de_Bruselas_(Kunsthistorisches_Museum_de_Viena,_1650-52._%C3%93leo_sobre_lienzo,_123_x_163_cm).jpg

"The Baptism of Christ" by Aaert de Gelder

For an image of the Baptism of Christ, this painting is remarkably somber, even bleak. The color scheme of almost entirely browns and greys is a major factor in this, and so is focus of the lighting. It comes in four distinct rays from the sky, brightly illuminating Jesus Christ and St. John, but leaving every other figure in the dark, as the disk of light on the ground ends sharply.


Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gelder,_Aert_de_-_The_Baptism_of_Christ_-_c._1710.jpg

Oath of the Horatii, Jacques-Louis David

In this painting, the action appears to take place outside in a courtyard, in natural but dim lighting. The bright light on the arms of the Horatii men draws the eye to their swords as they take the oath. The softer, more concentrated light on the right highlights the expressions of the crying women. The darkness behind the arches distinguishes the figures from the background.

Judith and Her Maidservant, Artemisia Gentileschi

The source of light in this painting is the candle on the left, which gives the lighting here a strong chiaroscuro effect. The contrast between the dark sections of the painting, such as the shadow on Judith’s face and the background, and the lighter parts such as Judith’s hand and the Maidservant’s face, draw the viewer’s eyes to the action. The blackness of the background emphasizes the dark subject matter and the fact that the characters are hidden in the shadows.

Return of the Prodigal Son

The light in this image appears to be coming above from a candle or torch of some kind. The image also shows the viewer that the man and his son are the subjects, as it gets darker the more it goes back, to the point where the figure in the back is hard to distinguish. The artist depicts a boy, presumably the son of the man who's feet he is at, who is clinging to his father. These characters are also distinguished by their clothes, one with tattered rags and the other with a red robe.

Guercino

The light in this picture not only puts light on the woman and the stand, but it appears to clear up the clouds and expose the darkness. Along with the light coming from the dove, there is also more light coming from behind it, like more light is soon to follow. The image also seems to depict a holy event.

View of Toledo

The source of light is clearly from the sun but it is blocked by clouds dimming down the color. The gray sky is similar to the grays of the town but as the landscape becomes more prevalent the lighter green begins to counteract the dark gray.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View_of_Toledo

Las Meninas

The main source of light for this painting comes from the sun entering the window to the right. The directionality of light allows for interesting shading in for the dresses, but more striking is the gleam it makes on their hair. The sunlight from the staircase in the back serves to further separate the subject from the other subjects by not just a matter of distance but of a different light source.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Meninas

Old Landscape

Old Landscapes
from https://goldhurst.co/old-masters






The lack of a direct source of light in this picture is what I really like about it, I assume the light comes from the left side of the painting. The list is very soft and if you look at the sky it shares a similar yellowish hue as the rock in the foreground.

Esau selling his birthright
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_and_Esau


The single candle in the middle of the painting draws our focus in as it reveal the details of the two people in the painting. The shadows at the edge of the scene make the world seem forbidding and dangerous.

Philosopher in Meditation, Rembrandt

I like the symbolic use to light in this painting. The meditation philosopher is drenched in golden, borderline holy, light, while those above him (on the stairs, who might symbolize affluent members of society) are in darkness, and those below him/ in the foreground (bottom right, possibly symbolizing less affluent people with menial jobs) are working towards their own enlightenment, as can be seen by the man making his own light. I'm no expert in art history or analysis, but the light is used interestingly.

Source

In Inlet Near Naples with a Castle and Fisherfolk, Claude-Joseph Vernet

I like this picture because it is a realistic representation of how light comes from a source. If you notice the rocky outcrop to the left, you can see that the light touches the top and highlights the plants up there, then the light flourishes through the arch near the bottom left. The rock in between is defined, but not lit. It goes to show how important shadows are and how to properly couple light with shadow.


Source

Twilight, Venice by Claude Monet

I like how twilight in this painting is used to illuminate infrastructure from behind. Twilight sets a somber and peaceful mood, as the sun will be setting soon. The light from behind is enough that we can see reflections in the water on the left and it adds a sense of clarity. However, we are unable to make out a clear shape on the right side, where light and distance are obscuring our vision of the rest of the skyline. Ability to see the reflections in the water parallels the sense of reflection that this time of day sets. The hues in this painting are visually pleasing and are blended well together throughout the painting.

From: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_-_Twilight,_Venice.jpg

Seaport at Sunset by Lorrain

This piece, "Seaport at Sunset," was painted by Claude Lorrain in 1639. I like the use of lighting in this painting because the shallow angle of the light highlights the beauty and detail of the sea and surrounding seaport buildings and ships. I love the colors in this painting. The hues in the sunset complement the colors in the surrounding scene and make the painting appear very realistic. The lighting makes me feel like I am getting the last glimpses of a bustling day at the seaport. 

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Lorrain

Helios as Personification of Midday by Mengs

This piece, "Helios as Personification of Midday," was painted by Anton Raphael Mengs in 1765. I like the use of lighting in this painting because the intense nature of the yellow to white light from the sun creates a sense of awe, as it elevates the already divine subject. I like how the sun in this painting also frames Helios as most important, as it calls my attention directly to Helios, who blocks part of the sun and changes the shape of the light. The placement of the sun behind Helios also creates the idea that he is more powerful than the sun.

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Raphael_Mengs

Virgen de Guadalupe

This depiction of the Virgin of Guadalupe is stunning to me. The warm backlight gives her a radiant halo around her entire figure. As the light gets absorbed into the clouds, it is filtered into a shadowy, mystical aura.

Monet's Water Lillies

I love the milky texture of this painting. We see warm, golden lights coming from many directions as sunlight reflects off the water. It illuminates the blues and greens in such a peaceful, happy way.

"Cloud Study, Moonlight" by Albert Bierstadt

"Cloud Study, Moonlight" by Albert Bierstadt
I love the light in this painting because of the way it spreads and reflects on the clouds and land below. The way the moonlight distributes is very helpful to a lighting designer because it shows how subtle the spreading of the light is. It is also interesting because of the yellow-ish tones of the light, as opposed to traditionally blue moonlight seen in paintings and film.

"The Conversion of Saul" Michelangelo

"The Conversion of Saul" Michelangelo
I think this painting is so interesting because of the way it uses light to imply power. This is something that was fairly common during this time period. Religious figures were often back-lit or being the source of light to indicate power or innocence, which is really interesting. Being back-lit is still pretty common in films and photographs and I love the way it can impact the audience and their understanding of the characters.

Sunlit Mountain

I'm a geoscience major, so I really love rocks, but besides that, I like how this photo illuminates the rock face of this mountain. The sun is behind the photographer, so the front light exposes everything; I feel like there aren't a lot of places to hide in this photo because the light shows everything there is to see. I also like the fade from intense yellow-gold sunlight to a colder blue-ish tone as the sun sets.

Sunlight Through Clouds

I like this picture of sunlight because it shows how the lights breaks up the clouds and shines through, but also gives them shape, definition, and dimension. The sunlight also gives the gray-ish blue clouds an orange or yellow change in color and I think it's interesting to look at.

Cave Sunlight

This is a picture I took of my friend running through a cave. I really like how the intense light outlined her silhouette. I also really like how you can see the texture of the rocks and cave based on the highlights casted by the sunlight.

Window Sunlight

I took this picture of the sunlight streaming from my window a few years ago. I really like how the light is warm and how it only barely illuminates the room, rather than flooding the room with light. I also like the shadows on the blinds.

Sunlight #2

The angle of this photo, looking directly at the sun, is remarkably dramatic. The presence and positioning of the trees seems essential, splitting the sunlight into rays and giving a sense of movement.

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sunrise-shade-of-a-forest-165812/

Sunlight #1

This photo captures the sun in a transition period, where it is present but only lighting part of the landscape. One's attention is immediately drawn to the sun itself, as well as the sky and ocean lit by it, but there is a surprising amount of detail in the dark foreground and mountains, encouraging the viewer to take the time to visually explore the photo.

Source: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/761222

Natural Light

I like this picture because I like that the sun is right in the center. I love that the sun's rays create an interesting rainbow effect that focuses your attention into the middle of the picture. The natural light makes the small shrubs in the front more apparent and detailed as well. I like the contrast between those shrubs and the dark landscape in the background.

Natural Light

I particularly like the high intensity of the natural light. It comes from near the corner of the photo rather than the center but still manages to illuminate the surrounding trees. I also like how clearly you can see the sunlight beams hitting the branches.

Soft sunset

In this photo, I think it’s interesting that the sunlight has a different quality in different areas of the sky, appearing as a softer yellow light in some areas. The eye is drawn to the overwhelming, warm orange appearance of the cloud, but the image becomes softer and calmer as you look into the blue and yellow parts of the sky. The soft and warm qualities of the colors and textures here have a comforting effect.

from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/arts/design/weather-cloud-pictures.html

Intense sunlight through clouds

The sunlight in this photo creates an intense, moody image for the viewer. This intensity is seen especially as the bright yellow sunlight functions as a backlight, contrasting with the darker trees below it and the grey clouds. This contrast highlights the gloominess in the colors and shapes of these two darker objects.

from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/13/arts/design/weather-cloud-pictures.html

The sunlight streaming through the slitted windows gives a rustic feel and with the sun showing all the dust in the air the feeling of an old building full of history is further reinforced.

https://www.toddklassy.com/barn-photos

Sunset in the Park

This photo was taken in a park near my hometown in Round Rock, and what fascinates me most about it is the lens flare from the sun as well as the contrast between the trees from my point of view and the rest of the park. The grass and gravel look golden because of the light shining on it, and this contrasts the sides of the trees that we can see which are facing away from the sun and are therefore darker and more of an outline compared to other objects.

Sunlight and Humans

This is a picture I took of my friend at the beginning of winter break. I love the way sunlight can accentuate a figure, and provide a sort of natural, stunning frame. I like the rainbow-colored lens-flares. Additionally, I like the way the brilliant warm light intensifies the red color of her hair.

Lake Reflection

I took this picture while out on a run at a nearby lake here in San Antonio. I really love how the sun perfectly reflects off of the water and that there is such a contrast between the water in the daylight and the water in the shadows of the trees. I'm also interested in the light that the sun makes on the horizon and how it subtly fades from yellow-orange to the blues in the rest of the sky.

Girl on beach

This photo, from someone's personal blog, is of a girl on a beach. We can tell the sun is in front of her, as her hair glows in the warm light. The brightness evokes an uplifting mood. This photo makes me feel happy.

Glowing Trees At Sunrise, Mattamuskeet Lake, North Carolina, 2011

This photo, from National Geographic, is of a sunrise in North Carolina. I like that we are able to see just one central light source, but see the light extend to all the space we can view. This is difficult to accomplish in stage lighting. The dim, orange glow manages to envoke an eerie yet serene mood. I feel peaceful.

Sunlight on Mars

Sunlight is usually an illuminating force that makes the object more inviting, but with the sun setting behind the rover, the rover's shadow is elongated which brings to mind just how the emptiness of Mars continues to stretch. The shadow, made by the sunlight, taking up most of the photo shows just how alone the rover is by barely even having itself in the photo.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/science/mars-opportunity-rover-dead.html

Sun Rays

The sun rays in this picture are beautiful and godly, as they're huge and looks well against the cool blue of the sky. The giant cloud in the middle grabs the attention of the viewer, as it blocks out the sun but also allows its rays to break on through into the sky. It looks like something big and bright is happening behind the cloud.

Fall Sun

The thing I liked about this photo was how the sun and light didn't completely block out the blue of the sky. The way the blue fades around the sun and fills the sky is really pretty, which I thought made the picture seem calming due to the simpleness of just one color in the sky.

Direct Sunlight

This picture is from a street in Paris. I like this photo because of how overwhelming the light is. You are almost unable to make out the other parts of the photo because they are cast in shadows. The buildings are now different than how people would see them if they were this in space in person, you can see how light has impacted shape and forced an overwhelming and uncertain feeling by creating shapes that are large and somewhat unclear.

Sunset in El Paso

This is a picture I took in El Paso, Texas from a mountain overlook at sunset. I took this picture because I loved seeing the contrast of the blue sky and orange sun. The large dark clouds invoke an ominous feeling and the sun looking so small in the picture feels very literally like something coming to an end. I think this photo is interesting because while it is a sunset the sun (light source) is small and doesn't seem to be lighting the whole sky, yet you can still see how bright the blue sky is. Overall the lighting in this photo is different from most sunsets and invokes a less peaceful feeling.

Lighting in Nature

From-

http://www.alohaandarrivederci.com/2017/10/10/6-breathtaking-spots-to-watch-the-sunrise-on-oahu/

I really like how the cloud serves as a natural filter to change the shape of the sunlight from that produced by the typical round image of the sun. This difference caught my attention as a viewer. In addition, I like how the clouds limit the intensity of the sunlight and create some shadows creating a calm atmosphere. I love how the shallow angle of the sunlight models the coastline. I also think that the color of light in this picture and the subtle shadows on the beach are captivating and add dimensionality to the scene. 

Lighting in Nature

From-
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/national-parks/photos-sunset-wars-instagram-saguaro-joshua-tree/

I really like how the shallow angle of the sunlight models the desert landscape. I like how the sun captures the viewer's attention and places focus on the tall saguaro cacti. I love how the intense sunlight, through contrast, really makes them stand out from the landscape. I also love the colors in the sunset, which complement the tans of the desert scene.

Natural light - rays

     This is of light breaking through the water. Here we can see the little rays of light as they streak through the ocean and pierce the darkness. The clouds also don't look that far away, the light itself doesn't allow depth perception so the clouds could be right on top of the water for all we know.

From: https://www.videvo.net/video/water-caustics/4631/

Natural lighting - Silhouette

     I like the red, orange, and yellow hues this light provides. It is quite colorful as it creates silhouettes of people riding horses with a giraffe following them in the foreground.

From: https://www.nationalgeographiclodges.com/about-our-lodges/best-of-lists/best-natural-light-shows/

Light from Nature

From ~ Accuweather

I relay like this picture, it reminds me of a fantasy movie with the light rising in beams of light from the ground. The few stars in the background that you can see give an excellent contrast tot he list pillars in the foreground.

Light in Nature

From ~ Smithsonian

I love the rays of light in this photo, it immediately draws your attention to the sun. Once my eyes were drawn there I found myself looking at the beams of shadow that the trees create.

Lighting in Nature

February 25, 2019 10:05 am Amman, Jordan. 

I like how the light creates dramatic straight streaks across the jagged rock making a relationship between linear and natural shapes. I like the stark white light entering through the gap of rock as it adds a sense of drama.