While not much is earthshakingly new in the lighting arena, Landscape Contractors are really getting the placement of lights down to a science. More and more I see projects where the source of the light is well hidden. That, of course, is the key to a great effect. If you see the bulb, glare or a hot spot on a lit object the effect is ruined.

With low voltage gaining so much ground this art form has truly become the domain of the Landscape Contractor. In fact, lighting can be as essential to a project as the irrigation or plant selection. Sure, on the bigger commercial projects the norm is to still use 120v lights, complete with junction boxes and, more often than not, installed by a licensed electrician. (This is a good thing when playing with line voltage and while some are tempted to run the wires and make the connection themselves, the savings in dollars is not worth the potential hazards of making a mistake . . .)

Still, low voltage has become a plaything of the LC and rightfully so. The electricians (especially the association) will tell you that there are dangers in Low Voltage systems and only they are really qualified to install low voltage systems. Lighting designers will tell you that they hold the true qualification for placing and determining which system completes the project, and Landscape Architects are certain they hold the right to dictate the lighting system . . . Heck even building architects want to include landscape lighting when designing custom residential projects . . .

But this is the realm of the Landscape Contractor and should be fought for by you and your state associations. Additionally you need to aggressively include this service in your literature and bids.

Several franchising opportunities exist for Landscape Contractors to take advantage of. These can be a great way to assist your marketing and bottom line revenues, but whatever path you take every project you do for a homeowner or even for the smaller commercial projects should include your services as a low voltage lighting designer and installation specialist.

With that said . . . Congratulations to the winners of LCN?EUR??,,????'???s Best Lighting Effects 2007, our first-annual lighting contest. LCN had to wade through a myriad of entries and spent hours choosing the best shots from the winning companies. We hope you are both entertained by the selection and inspired to create even better lightscapes in all of your projects.

LCN sent out about 2,000 invitations in January to Landscape Contractors who listed Lighting Design/Installation as a company specialty. The response was fantastic and even though there was a short time frame the entries were spectacular. If you didn?EUR??,,????'???t get the invitation or missed the entry deadline don?EUR??,,????'???t worry, the next competition starts right away, as LCN will begin accepting photos of your best lighting projects, beginning May 1st.

So get out your cameras (remember to use a tripod and turn off the flash), visit your projects after the sun goes down and send your best examples to LCN. We look forward to seeing even more great lighting projects in the years ahead.

And, oh yeah . . . We also ran the award winners in LCN?EUR??,,????'???s sister publication Landscape Architect and Specifier News and have invited the LAs to join next year?EUR??,,????'???s competition as well . . .

So the gauntlet has been laid and may the best professionals win . . .

I think your chances are better than fair . . .

God Bless