John Ott
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Nash Ott was a photographer and cinematographer who developed many modern photographic practices, including time-lapse photography and full-spectrum lighting.
and, as a result, Dr. Ott performed important research about the effects of natural lighting on plants, animals and humans.
Initially, Ott’s interest in time-lapse movie photography, mostly of plants, was just a hobby
. Starting in the 1930s, Ott bought and built more and more time-lapse equipment, eventually building a large greenhouse
full of plants, cameras, and even self-built automated electric moving camera systems (the first movie camera motion control
systems ever built) for moving the cameras to follow the growth of plants as they developed. He even time-lapsed his entire greenhouse
of plants and cameras as they all worked, a virtual symphony of time-lapse movement. His work was featured on an episode of the second incarnation of the request TV show, You Asked For It
in the late 1950s.
Ott also discovered that the movement of plants could be manipulated by varying the amount of water plants were given, and varying the color temperature
of the lights in the studio, with some colors causing the plants to flower and other colors causing the plants to bear fruit. Ott even discovered ways to change the gender of plants merely by varying the light source color-temperature.
By using these techniques, Ott time-lapse animated plants “dancing” up and down in sync to pre-recorded music tracks. The film, completed in the 1950s, was titled Dancing Flowers.
His cinematography
of flowers blooming in such classic documentaries as Walt Disney
’s Secrets of Life (1956), pioneered the modern use of time-lapse on film
and television
. Ott wrote a book on the history of his time-lapse adventures, My Ivory Cellar (1958).
Ott’s experiments with different colored lighting systems and their effects on the health
of plants led to experiments with colored lights on the health of animals, then humans, then on individual cells, using time-lapse micro-photography. Ott's experiments led him to believe that only a full spectrum of natural light (including natural amounts of infra-red and ultra-violet) could promote full health in plants, animals and humans. Ott made a second film, Exploring the Spectrum, completed in the 1960s.
of lights affects mental health, with balanced light reducing hyperactivity in classrooms and reducing negative behavior in prisons and mental health facilities
. Ott discovered that even individual cells’ ability to properly reproduce in both plants and animals (including human) is affected by variances in lighting as it entered the body through the eye
s. A second book, Health and Light, detailing these experiments followed in 1973. Medical research facilities, such as in the University of Oregon
Health Sciences Center (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon
, and others, experiment with his lights for both physical
and mental health
benefits.
In the 80s and 90s, Ott also published a series of seven articles in the International Journal of Biosocial Research, a medical journal
out of Tacoma, Washington
that studies links between physical
and mental health
. Titled "Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals, and People", the articles summed up Ott’s decades of independent research on the effects of natural light.
systems for businesses and homes and, in 1989, opened OttLite Technology to market his products. OttLite describes its "508 technology" as providing a balance of brightness and contrast that reduces glare and eyestrain and produces very low heat. These products, called "High Definition Natural Lighting", are marketed online and at lighting, crafting and hardware stores worldwide.
Photography
Dr. John Nash Ott began his career as a banker, but he soon became interested in photography. His interest in time-lapse photography led to a well-known career in cinematographyCinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
and, as a result, Dr. Ott performed important research about the effects of natural lighting on plants, animals and humans.
Initially, Ott’s interest in time-lapse movie photography, mostly of plants, was just a hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
. Starting in the 1930s, Ott bought and built more and more time-lapse equipment, eventually building a large greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
full of plants, cameras, and even self-built automated electric moving camera systems (the first movie camera motion control
Motion control
Motion control is a sub-field of automation, in which the position or velocity of machines are controlled using some type of device such as a hydraulic pump, linear actuator, or an electric motor, generally a servo...
systems ever built) for moving the cameras to follow the growth of plants as they developed. He even time-lapsed his entire greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
of plants and cameras as they all worked, a virtual symphony of time-lapse movement. His work was featured on an episode of the second incarnation of the request TV show, You Asked For It
You Asked For It
You Asked for It is a popular human-interest show created and hosted by Art Baker. Initially titled The Art Baker Show, the program originally aired on American television between 1950 and 1959...
in the late 1950s.
Ott also discovered that the movement of plants could be manipulated by varying the amount of water plants were given, and varying the color temperature
Color temperature
Color temperature is a characteristic of visible light that has important applications in lighting, photography, videography, publishing, manufacturing, astrophysics, and other fields. The color temperature of a light source is the temperature of an ideal black-body radiator that radiates light of...
of the lights in the studio, with some colors causing the plants to flower and other colors causing the plants to bear fruit. Ott even discovered ways to change the gender of plants merely by varying the light source color-temperature.
By using these techniques, Ott time-lapse animated plants “dancing” up and down in sync to pre-recorded music tracks. The film, completed in the 1950s, was titled Dancing Flowers.
His cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
of flowers blooming in such classic documentaries as Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
’s Secrets of Life (1956), pioneered the modern use of time-lapse on film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. Ott wrote a book on the history of his time-lapse adventures, My Ivory Cellar (1958).
Ott’s experiments with different colored lighting systems and their effects on the health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
of plants led to experiments with colored lights on the health of animals, then humans, then on individual cells, using time-lapse micro-photography. Ott's experiments led him to believe that only a full spectrum of natural light (including natural amounts of infra-red and ultra-violet) could promote full health in plants, animals and humans. Ott made a second film, Exploring the Spectrum, completed in the 1960s.
Natural light
Ott also discovered that the color temperatureColor temperature
Color temperature is a characteristic of visible light that has important applications in lighting, photography, videography, publishing, manufacturing, astrophysics, and other fields. The color temperature of a light source is the temperature of an ideal black-body radiator that radiates light of...
of lights affects mental health, with balanced light reducing hyperactivity in classrooms and reducing negative behavior in prisons and mental health facilities
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
. Ott discovered that even individual cells’ ability to properly reproduce in both plants and animals (including human) is affected by variances in lighting as it entered the body through the eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
s. A second book, Health and Light, detailing these experiments followed in 1973. Medical research facilities, such as in the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
Health Sciences Center (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and others, experiment with his lights for both physical
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
benefits.
In the 80s and 90s, Ott also published a series of seven articles in the International Journal of Biosocial Research, a medical journal
Medical journal
A public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed...
out of Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
that studies links between physical
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
. Titled "Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals, and People", the articles summed up Ott’s decades of independent research on the effects of natural light.
Natural lighting products
Further, Ott developed lightingLighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
systems for businesses and homes and, in 1989, opened OttLite Technology to market his products. OttLite describes its "508 technology" as providing a balance of brightness and contrast that reduces glare and eyestrain and produces very low heat. These products, called "High Definition Natural Lighting", are marketed online and at lighting, crafting and hardware stores worldwide.
External links
- John Nash Ott: Exploring the Spectrum DVD - http://www.exploringthespectrum.com http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Spectrum-Effects-Artificial-Organisms/dp/B0015I0HKO
- OttLite started by John Ott
- YouTube presentation on Dr. Ott