If you look up the definition of “light” in the dictionary, you may be surprised to find quite a few entries. The description I generally use falls into the more scientific realm, but still may not do justice to the term: the energy producing a sensation of brightness that makes seeing possible.
Brightness is the word used most often to depict the level of intensity in lighting. Whereas too little brightness, or light intensity, makes it impossible to see, the same is also true of too much brightness. Excessive light intensity can be irritating – a mortal sin in the lighting industry. If you have ever had someone turn the beam of a flashlight into your face at night, you have experienced crippling glare. This is light intensity at its very worst. However, it is sometimes difficult to express to a client that light intensity does not have to be very high to do an excellent job of creating a safe and beautiful environment in your outdoor spaces.
Let me ask you a question, how many of you want to hear your radio at full blast all of the time? No one? I’m not at all surprised by that. How many of you want your radio full blast most of the time? Still no one? The assault on your senses would not make that a pleasant way to listen, would it? Lighting operates in a similar way with our senses. Outdoor lighting without a dimmer is like having a radio with no volume control. Who really wants it at full blast even some of the time?
Turning down the volume of light that is part of your immediate surroundings, like a patio area, can actually help you see out into your landscape better at night. Usually your landscape lighting is much softer than the often over-bright ‘can lights’ mounted above your head, and therefore your eyes have a hard time adjusting between the two light levels to see farther away. By dimming down those patio lights, your eyes will have more even lighting, making the adjustment much easier on the eyes and actually allowing you to see better. Not only will turning down the volume help you to enjoy the landscape lighting more, it will also help you see if something is moving around out there.
If you need to adjust the brightness of your patio or landscape lighting, contact us here and we can help.
