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Artificial Light

White light is a myth. All light has color, sometimes subtle, other times not. Our brains often ignore it.

Humans evolved for tens of thousands of years seeing by a single light source - the Sun. Our eyes are tuned to it. Our brain strives to interpret everything we see within the context of sunlight. Anything that comes close to the Sun’s greenish-yellow hue we see as white. Biologists call it “chromatic adaptation.” Photographers call it “white balance.”

In the last 200 years electric lighting has consumed the world. It is nearly everywhere. Our brains, still trying to interpret everything as sunlight, struggle to catch up. Artificial light can affect our mood, emotions, and physical health. Depression, anxiety, migraines, drowsiness, and sleeplessness can all be caused by artificial light. As we develop technology for increased efficiency, we often ignore the impact of light on ourselves.

All photos in this series have been shot with a neutral daylight white balance. The colors they show are relative to sunlight.
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“Research consistently demonstrates fluorescent lights raise stress markers, such as reduced heart rate variability, raised blood pressure, increased skin conductance, stronger startle response, reduced drop in body temperature during sleep, increased cortisol, and reduced slow wave (stage 4, the deepest stage) compared to full spectrum incandescent lighting” - Victoria L. Dunckley M.D., Psychology Today
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“Research consistently demonstrates fluorescent lights raise stress markers, such as reduced heart rate variability, raised blood pressure, increased skin conductance, stronger startle response, reduced drop in body temperature during sleep, increased cortisol, and reduced slow wave (stage 4, the deepest stage) compared to full spectrum incandescent lighting” - Victoria L. Dunckley M.D., Psychology Today

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  • “Research consistently demonstrates fluorescent lights raise stress markers, such as reduced heart rate variability, raised blood pressure, increased skin conductance, stronger startle response, reduced drop in body temperature during sleep, increased cortisol, and reduced slow wave (stage 4, the deepest stage) compared to full spectrum incandescent lighting” - Victoria L. Dunckley M.D., Psychology Today
  • “Fluorescent lighting was not meant to come into such general use: it was a temporary, emergency feature that was only ever intended to keep factories working 24 hours a day during the second world war.”<br /> - Michaele Wynn-Jones, International Association of Colour
  • “When designing buildings, emphasis is placed on construction and maintenance costs. However, real people will be working in these buildings, so consideration should be given to their psychological and physiological well-being. The improved health of building occupants benefits employers and building owners because of improved performance.”<br /> - L. Edwards and P. Torcellini, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • “Beyond the functional considerations for visibility, lighting is also psychological. ‘It plays a huge factor in how a person perceives the workplace,’ says Jennifer Woofter, president of Strategic Sustainability Consulting. Studies have shown that happier workers are more industrious, their impression of the company is higher, and they have lower absenteeism or turnover rates. The right fixtures can even foster creatvity, boost morale, and encourage communication. A little mood lighting is good for the bottom line.”<br /> - Jennie Morton, BUILDINGS
  • “The detrimental effects of high-intensity LED lighting are not limited to humans. Excessive outdoor lighting disrupts many species that need a dark environment. For instance, poorly designed LED lighting disorients some bird, insect, turtle and fish species”<br /> - American Medical Association
  • “High-intensity LED lighting designs emit a large amount of blue light that appears white to the naked eye and create worse nighttime glare than conventional lighting. Discomfort and disability from intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and safety, resulting in concerns and creating a road hazard.”<br /> - American Medical Association
  • “In addition to its impact on drivers, blue-rich LED streetlights operate at a wavelength that most adversely suppresses melatonin during night. It is estimated that white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps. Recent large surveys found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and obesity.”<br /> - American Medical Association
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