ShareThisLIGHTING TECHNIQUES
MOONLIGHTING: Lighting experts use several techniques, but moonlighting (also called downlighting) is the most popular. It is a soft, natural-look light with a dappled pattern of light and shadows. To create the effect, multiple light fixtures are mounted in tall tree branches to cast light downward through the lower branches and onto the ground. "It's as if the space was illuminated by a full moon," lighting designer Randall Whitehead says. Doug Tibbits' firm Premier Outdoor Lighting frequently positions lights in dense canopies of oak, laurel and camphor trees at residential and commercial projects throughout the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. "It creates a blanket of soft light," he explains. "When you have a variety of different heights and textures (below), it provides a nice soft illumination that falls down on the plants. It's a more natural way of illumination."
UPLIGHTING: Uplighting, a popular technique with palm trees, is used to highlight and add dimension to trees, palms, shrubs and other objects with lights shining up from the ground. One of the biggest mistakes with uplighting palms is placing the light too close to the trunk. "The best way to light a palm is from the next palm over, or be at least 10 to 12 feet away," Whitehead advises.
SPOTLIGHTING: The best features in your yard, such as a prized plant, statue, fountain or gazebo, can be illuminated with spotlighting, which uses carefully placed directional fixtures. Spotlighting is also used in outdoor kitchens to focus light on work areas such as the sink, grill and food prep area.
GRAZING: Lights can be placed at the base of walls and pointed upward to skim the surface with dappled light and shadows, a technique known as grazing. It is also used to project through low-growing plants, such as ornamental grasses.
PATH LIGHTING: Path lighting is placed low to the ground and pointed downward to illuminate walkways. Lights can also be recessed into the ground and filtered to diffuse the light.
TIPS
-- Plants look healthiest when illuminated with cool colors from LED and fluorescent sources. Add a daylight-blue color-correcting filter on incandescent outdoor lights to eliminate the amber hue.
-- People, however, look best in ambient fill light that softens shadows. To light outdoor rooms, use warm colors from halogen, incandescent and warm-hued LED lights.
-- Don't use dimmers on outdoor incandescent lights; their color becomes more amber, making plants look sickly.
-- Hide light fixtures behind shrubs, tree branches or other foliage, unless they are decorative.
-- Use patterned filters on light fixtures to create moonlight and other interesting effects.
-- Soften outdoor decorative lighting by using 25- to 40-watt bulbs.
-- UV-producing cool lights can attract insects. Use warm-hued LED lights in outdoor sitting areas.
-- Create two levels of light: one for when you are inside looking out and one for when you are actually in the garden.
Sources: Randall Whitehead Lighting Inc.; the American Lighting Association
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
Must credit St. Petersburg Times
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