Let There be Light!

“Let there be light.”  It’s a statement in the third sentence of the Old Testament.  We as humans view so much of our lives in terms of light and dark, bright and dim.  Catholics and Episcopalians pray for “light perpetual” to shine upon departed souls.  A relatively modern wedding tradition is for the couple being married to light a unity candle together from two separate candles, symbolizing their new joint life.

I have a clear memory of sitting in Physics 101 as a college freshman, several eons ago, as the professor tried to explain electromagnetic waves.  I’m not quite sure if knowing the physics of light makes it less magical or more amazing.  Light has been studied extensively - it’s all around us after all.  And for a long time, scientists thought they knew virtually all there was to know about it.  But just last month, researchers announced that they had discovered an entirely new type of light.  Then, earlier this week, a team at MIT announced that they have created a new way to turn electricity into light.  It turns out we’re still trying to figure light out. 

Much of the science of gemology is focused on all of the ways that light interacts with materials.  Reflection, refraction, absorption, diffraction, fluorescence...  These are scientific explanations of how light changes when it strikes an object, and they help explain what it is we see when we look at something.  These descriptions are important to us due to how powerful the language and imagery of light are.

In jewelry and fashion, the idea of light vs. dark is pronounced.  White evokes emotions of purity, brightness, and joy.  We sometimes associate white clothes with summer.  Black was once considered a mourning color.  

Jewelry is like light in so many ways.  We give it for some of our most intimate and important celebrations like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations.  It's designed to put a smile on your face and joy in your heart.

The next time you sit down to design a piece of jewelry, think about the contrast between light and dark.  Be thoughtful about which areas will be lighter and which areas will be darker.  When you put a piece of jewelry out for sale, make sure it’s well lit.  (At your next craft fair or trade show watch how much attention well-lit vendor booths get compared to unlit displays.)  When you describe your jewelry, talk about its brightness.  You might be surprised what a difference it can make. 

Photography Tip

We do most of our product photography in a studio with several large 500-watt softboxes, allowing us to direct large amounts of light precisely where we need it.  This is great for eliminating shadows, increasing depth of field, and minimizing hot spots on highly reflective surfaces.  But even with this professional-grade setup, sometimes we just can’t get the image right.  The solution?  Outside we go!  Natural sunlight is the best light you can get for jewelry photography.  If you’re struggling with your pictures, try taking some shots in the morning or evening in your yard or a park.

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A Note From the Author

As we mourn last Sunday’s terrorist attack in Orlando, the idea of light vs. dark is very much on my mind right now.  I’d like to end with a quote: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” - Desmond Tutu. 

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