LIGHTING

TECHNIQUES
The best garden lighting
layouts usually take advan-
tage of a number of lighting
techniques commonly asso-
ciated with outdoor lighting.
For example, we can illuminate the same tree in several
ways, each creating a different lighting effect. The spot
fixtures shown on pages 22 to 29 designed for use with
halogen directional lamps are by far your best tools to
fashion many of those special effects.
Some of the more popular techniques are described briefly
in the following pages and they may be useful in plan-
ning your layout. Nevertheless, remember the following
before proceeding :
DO NOT LIGHT EVERYTHING
If you illuminate everything equally you take away the
emphasis from what you really want to highlight. Select
those objects that you want to focus attention on and
light only them. The interplay of highlights and shadows is
what results in the most interesting visual surroundings.
DO NOT OVERLIGHT
With landscape lighting, we are highlighting articles such
as trees, statues and shrubs against the near black
background of night. Even low wattage lamps can produce
ample brightness against the dark veil of the night. Too
much wattage may brighten objects too much and may
result in visual discomfort.

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 Lighting Techniques
Mirroring

This mirroring technique takes advantage

Effect : Direct Accent Lighting
Direct Accent Lighting
This technique calls for a direct beam of light aimed directly
towards the object to be illuminated. Lighting fixtures using
PAR and MR halogen reflector lamps are the most common
choice. Since these lamps are available in a multitude of
wattages and beam spreads, you are sure to find the right lamp
whatever the size and distance of object you wish to illuminate.
Products recommended for this application; pages 22 to 27.
of the natural reflection of calm water.
The scenic effects can be breathtaking.
Imagine, if you will, the raw beauty of a
moonlit snow-capped peak reflected on
the surface of a serene mountain lake.
Similar reflections are possible in the calm
water of an artificial pond by simply high-
lighting objects at the edge of the pond.
Products recommended for this applica-
tion; pages 22 to 27.

___________
Light beam
aimed at
the object

___________
Image
reflected
into the
water

Technique : Direct Accent Lighting Effect and

technique : Mirroring
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 LIGHTING TECHNIQUES

Effect : Moonlighting Technique : Moonlighting

Moonlighting

Moonlighting is soft directional lighting from above. Install an accent lighting source
high up in a tree and allow the light beam to trickle through the branches towards the
ground. The branches and foliage are immersed in a luminous glow and their shadows
fashion a mosaic of patterns on the ground. Products recommended for this
application; page 28.

Silhouetting

The silhouette lighting technique seeks to capture the peripheral outline of an object by focusing
light on the backside of the object while the front side remains in the dark. The luminous effect
is quite mystical as an aurora of
light appears to emanate from
the outer edges of the object.
The diagram shows how the sil-
houette effect is produced when
an object, say a tree, is illumi-
nated from behind. Products
recommended for this applica-
tion; pages 22 to 27.

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Effect : Technique :
Silhouetting Silhouetting
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 Uplighting

Uplighting is extremely popu-

Lighting Techniques
lar in landscape lighting pro-
jects. Here the light source is
usually installed at ground
level and the beam aimed
upwards against the object
(a tree trunk, foliage, wall,
shrubs, etc.). The landscape
designer can alter the resul-
ting visual effects by varying
the distance and/or the ai-
ming angle with respect to
the object. Products recom-
mended for this application;
pages 22 to 27.
Effect : Technique :
Uplighting Uplighting

There are applications, however, when we simply want to

blanket the ground or a vertical surface with soft illumina- Flood Lighting
tion as evenly as possible. For these, area lighting and flood
lighting techniques are perfectly suited since they provide Whenever there is a need to light large
wide vertical or horizontal beam spreads. vertical surfaces evenly or a group of small
objects, floodlights are recommended
because they are designed to spread light
almost evenly over larger areas. This way
the entire illuminated space draws atten-
Area Lighting tion rather than a single isolated object.
Floodlights are also very useful when we
Decorative arrangements such as rock gardens, flower beds need to accent an object, say a bush, at
and low level shrubs require soft widespread illumination close range. Products recommended for
directed downwards. The key words here are “soft”, “wide- this application; page 23.
spread” and “downwards”. SNOC garden downlights feature
painted white interior surfaces for maximum efficiency and
concealed lamps to
focus attention on the
area and objects illumi-
nated. Products re-
commended for this
application; pages 3
to 15.

Effect and technique : Effect and technique :

Area Lighting Flood Lighting 39
 LIGHTING TECHNIQUES Shadowing

In this variation of accent lighting, we create two dis-

tinct lighting effects. We brighten the object (plant or
shrub) with a direct beam of light but we also inten-
tionally allow the object to project a sharp shadow
against a backdrop (perhaps a fence or a wall). Since
by simply manipulating the position of the light
source with respect to the object, we can change the
size, shape and position of its shadow, the possi-
bilities are endless. Products recommended for this
application; pages 22 to 27.

Effect : Shadowing

Technique :
Shadowing

Grazing

There is an abundance of natural materials that are

prized primarily for the richness and feel of their
texture. The angle at which these textures are
lighted has all to do with how they appear to the
viewer. When the beam of a directional light
source is aimed at a sharp angle against a deeply
textured surface, contrasts are maximized and
the richness of the texture is enhanced. Products
recommended for this appli-
cation; pages 22 to 27.

________________________________________ Effect : Technique :

For more information on the landscape lighting Grazing Grazing
techniques, visit www.snoc.net
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