(photo by Greg Matthews) L to R, Kellan Vincent, Wes Jackson, Emily Gorecki, Jan, Jesse Loucks, Dawn Hollingsworth, Jeff Kamm, and Tim Ryan.
Legacy, Learning, and Light: 2025 ILLI Reunion Shines in Nashville
The 2025 International Landscape Lighting Institute (ILLI) Reunion & Symposium, held at the Margaritaville Hotel in Nashville, brought landscape lighting professionals together nationwide for a day filled with education, connection, and inspiration. With Jimmy Buffett’s music playing throughout the venue, attendees were happy to be in such a lively and welcoming city.
Insightful Sessions Highlight the Day
The agenda featured various valuable sessions, but two presentations stood out to me for their depth and relevance—one from Alex Fabozzi and another from Dr. Tony Esposito.
Alex Fabozzi, IALD, MIES, and Senior Associate at Available Light, led a session titled “Leveraging Photoshop for Dynamic Landscape Renderings.” In this hands-on presentation, he showed how designers can transform daylight photos into convincing nighttime renderings. He explained techniques such as using overlay and soft light to simulate illumination and texture.
Importantly, Alex reminded us that Photoshop can’t predict how light actually behaves. Therefore, the designer must apply their knowledge of form, glow, and materials. One standout moment came when he shared that he spent six hours on a single rendering—two hours just painting light into the branches of a tree.
He also addressed the use of AI in design. While tools like generative fill can be useful for inserting elements such as trees, they still lack control and nuance. As he put it, “The smarter the tool, the less control you have.” He says it is best to get images from google and manually paste them into the design.
Technical Clarity in Color Rendition
Later that morning, Dr. Tony Esposito delivered “An Introduction to Color Rendition and IES TM-30.” Although I had heard him speak on this topic before, including at the ArchLIGHT Summit, this presentation was notably more technical. Tony explained that he tailors his material based on the audience—and this group could handle the depth.
He guided attendees through the basics of spectral power distributions and underscored the importance of accurate color metrics in lighting design. Thanks to his clear and engaging style, the audience remained attentive and involved throughout the session.
Honoring a Pioneer: Janet Lennox Moyer
The day concluded with a special keynote by Janet Lennox Moyer, FIALD. Earlier that morning, Janet told me this would be her final ILLI appearance, making her remarks all the more meaningful.
She reflected on her journey in lighting design and shared what led her to establish ILLI in 2008. Her presentation included archival slides from past Intensive Courses and gatherings, dating back to 1997. It was a touching reminder of the history and growth of the organization.
After her talk, the ILLI Board honored Janet with a Lifetime Membership. In addition, she was named the organization’s first-ever Fellow—a significant and well-earned recognition of her legacy.
A Day to Remember
From advanced rendering techniques to color science to honoring one of the industry’s most influential figures, the 2025 ILLI Reunion captured the full spirit of the lighting community. It was a day of shared knowledge, deep appreciation, and lasting impact—a reminder of what happens when passionate professionals come together with purpose.
Archives: What I’ve Learned by Janet Lennox Moyer–2016
Janet Lennox Moyer Received EdisonReport Lifetime Achievement Award