Light and music shows
Is lighting the same for everyone?
Here is the scenario we want you to imagine: You go into your kitchen to make yourself a midnight snack. You turn on the light, stand at the countertop, reach for the bread, take out a bread knife and start cutting yourself a slice - wait! Take a good look around your kitchen, do you see a shadow in front of you? Do you have to stand differently to get a good view of the bread? Is the room way too brightly lit? These are all serious aspects that we don't really think about. Let's take your office, for example, and ask the same questions. Surely your office is illuminated by 600x600mm LED tiles or luorescent tubes. This makes the room seem optimally lit, doesn't it? Well, maybe it isn't, after all, for example, a 50-year-old needs almost twice as much lighting as a 30-year-old to perform the same task. So how can you find optimal ceiling lighting when we are all different?
Natural Bridge Caverns: Hidden Wonders light and music show
Instead of a guided tour through the Box Canyon, a platform was built at the entrance to the hall - the cave itself now serves as an impressive stage. A unique light and music show awaits visitors there, which has moved some to tears. Enjoy the amazement!
You can see a short version of the video on the right.
Click here for the full version on YouTube
What do I want to bring into focus with the lighting?
When we light a cave, we ask ourselves two questions: what are we lighting and how will the audience see it. These are the same questions that arise when designing theater shows, homes, office spaces and even the bedroom. We often catch ourselves lighting a space without thinking increasingly from the user's point of view, when we should be designing optimally for the user without thinking much about the space. Yesterday, a colleague asked us to look at a concept for a cave light show, the question to ask was, "Do we use a light show to show the cave or do we use the cave to show a light show?" - a question that is not so easy to answer. When you show a light show inside a cave, you don't distract from the cave, it becomes the medium for the light show, it comes into focus. However, using a light show to show the cave requires less reliance on what the music and lights are doing and more on how the two aspects show the rock and its textures.
Light and music show in the Grottes de Limousis
Cave Lighting developed this show in winter 2020. The idea behind it: To bring visitors closer to the dark cave chamber with its diverse formations in a special way. Step by step, the structures become visible through targeted lighting - and invite visitors to discover the space in a completely new way.
On the left you can see a short version of the video.
Click here for the full version on YouTube
How does that translate to everyday life?
So the approaches to the interpretation of the focus are very different and it always depends on the viewer. Again, the same questions can be asked when designing your home. What exactly do you want to put in focus? The entire kitchen or the countertop with the bread? Installing lights in the center of your kitchen is best for illuminating the space and providing an even balance of light, but it doesn't always give you the best lighting for the task at hand. Nowadays there are waterproof LED tape and down lights the size of a penny coin, so why still apply the same principles of lighting the room as when we can choose more efficient and task lighting?
The Aggertal Cave has been shining in a new light since 2021.
As part of a comprehensive renovation, the cave was fitted with a modern lighting system from Cave Lighting, which impressively highlights geological structures. The new technology makes it possible to visualise the history of the earth step by step - from fossil coral reefs to the formation of mountains. The highlight of every tour is the light and music show, which rounds off the tour in an atmospheric way and delights many visitors.
You can see a short version of the video on the right.
Click here for the full version on YouTube
The key is to build synergies.
When we design a light show, it is important to combine all the available elements, whether music, lighting, existing formations, etc. so that there is a harmonious synergy. Also, when lighting your home, it is important to identify what the lighting needs; task lighting, general lighting, night friendly lighting, etc. It's easy to tack on a few lights and just move on - you'd probably find it sufficient. But that doesn't mean it's the optimal or healthiest solution. If we take time to think about these issues, we can ensure that any artificial lighting harmonizes the user's interaction. The next time you're making a secret midnight sandwich, just think about how much better it would be if the light was simply an aid and not a stress to the eyes.
Lake Shasta Caverns - light and music show in the Cathedral Hall
An impressive project was created in just six months: a specially composed light and music show, perfectly matched to the unique atmosphere of the Cathedral Hall. The show was programmed directly on site in March 2025 - in just two weeks. Visitors and the team are thrilled: an emotional experience that impressively showcases the natural beauty of the cave and remains unforgettable.
On the left you can see a short version of the video.
Click here for the full version on YouTube
Peace Cave - light and music show in Zone 12 (Slovakia)
Between 2023 and 2024, an impressive production was created in several stages in the Peace Cave. The final show in Zone 12 was realised on site in August 2024 by Jan Ptacin with the support of Vladimir Vashkevich - in three intensive days. The cave is not yet open to the public, but this video gives a first impression of its extraordinary beauty and the impressive light and music show..
You can see a short version of the video on the right.
Click here for the full version on YouTube