Open Up Your Heart, Illuminate Yourself

An American In Paris (1951), John Alton, DP

In the last chapter in the late, heavy pages of John Alton's Painting With Light, the author transmutes from an instructor on cinematographic lighting technique to practically a dating how-to columnist.  As strangely out of place as this initially struck me to be, I looked at the calendar and thought, well, this is the day of the candy chalk heart, after all, let's hear the man out.  Because apparently for John Alton, it's more than just the movies that hinge on good lighting, all of our love lives are potentially at stake, too.  For you and me, it might just be, as Alton subheads his chapter, "Love At First Light."

The time will come when home lighting from a beautifying angle will be as natural as having an icebox is today. . . Until that time arrives, however, you will have to do your own beautylighting with whatever equipment you have available. While the lamps of today were not especially designed for that purpose, we can nevertheless, by intelligent selection and juggling around, improve conditions considerably, and improve your looks also.

If you expect a visitor whom you esteem highly and upon whom you would like to make an especially good impression, you can work miracles even with the primitive lamps. Rehearse the places where you think you will be sitting during the evening. 

Well, I say, Clueless (1995) taught me that.  Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and Dionne (Stacey Dash) where hip to good lighting during preparations for Cher's date with Christian (Justin Walker).  Good lighting was essential to the date's success:

"[Christian] said he'd come over with some videotapes and we'd watch them.  A night alone with Christian?  I sent for reinforcements. . . Di and I had to design a lighting concept."

 "And costume decisions!  I don't rely on mirrors, so I always take Polaroids."

Alton asks us to use mirrors as our reference point, but wrote in an age without Polaroids--yet even those are outdated by today's standards.  Lucky you, you can use your digital camera, and Alton has tips to expedite the design scheme.  If you have a fireplace, which he advocates, I envy the benefits of this illumination and also your real estate.

In the first place, take away the light that causes the strong shadows and replace it with one that is softer, perhaps with one that has a translucent silk shade.  If that does not do the trick, then kill the light before it can do the same to you.  Put it out, but in a hurry.  If another look in the mirror tells you that it is now too dark, put the light on again, and change your sitting position.  Move it to some other place.  If you still do not look well, change both the light and your place.  If time allows, and it should if you want to look your best, you will have to repeat this performance with each place where you think you will sit during the evening.  It is a lot of work and takes patience, but it is well worth the trouble.  It will pay off in the long run. . . .

If it is wintertime and you have a fireplace in the living room, try the following experiment.  Put out all the lights in the room.  This leaves the fireplace as the only light source. . . If the light from the fireplace is too strong, too contrasty, casting harsh shadows, then place the screen in front of it.  This will soften its light.  If you think that this light scheme is somewhat ultramodern, light a lamp in one of the distant corners of the room, but behind you.  This will light up the room and your hair, but not your face; the fireplace will take care of that.

When your friend arrives, watch his facial expression.  Not so much for his looks, but his surprise when he sees a new, more beautiful girl than he has known.  Thus you will see the miracles that light can work.

Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day.