Creating illusions of nature using artificial light

摘要

People from all walks of life, of varying ages and differing cultures are frequently amazed when they gaze out to sea across shimmering dunes or when they witness a stunning sunset. It seems as though light has a magical power which can bring an essence of hope and happiness to our lives. This article discusses how the medium of light correlates with human well-being, generating pleasurable experiences and supporting positive feelings, the aim being to consider ways to go about creating the illusion of nature in an indoor environment. The poetic aspect of lighting design is as important as the practical qualities. The technique discussed here looks specifically at regenerating patterns created by the interaction of natural sunlight and water, focusing on dynamic caustic networks - a term from the field of optics describing the envelope of light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface or object.