Throughout history artists have used various mediums to express their vision of the world, some use oils and canvases, some use marble or clay and others use a camera. Gregory Crewdson uses both a camera and his impeccable lighting skills to create beautiful, otherworldly scenes. In the article In a Lonely Place by Gregory Crewdson, Crewdson discusses how his art reflects "ideas of beauty, sadness, alienation, and desire." Crewdson derived these ideas from myriad influences. The most influential of these sources would have to be other Hollywood artists and films. The light work used in nearly all of Crewdson's pieces is very reminiscent of the unnatural light that embodies the great works of the Baroque artistic period. The light appears seemingly from an unknown source, but serves greatly to elevate the dramatic themes of the pieces. The light also serves to bind the pieces together. This technique of using the unifying power of light was also used by Edward Hopper. Edward Hopper had a great influence on Crewdson. Both artists use their mediums to tell a story in a scene. They use windows, walls and even doors to frame their scenes. The scenes are framed in a way that leads the viewer to believe they are “looking inside” the subjects; it gives the artists' works a voyeuristic quality that is both intriguing and mischievous. Like William Eggleston, Crewdson takes everyday events and turns them into something mystical and captivating, often with a hint of the sinister. This is best reflected in Crewdson's piece “Untitled (boy with hand in drain.)”. The scene takes place in a normal bathroom, even the task at first glance seems completely normal. A boy with his arm down the drain looking for a... medium of paper... of light to show how magical and sometimes mystical our world can be. His pieces display a tranquility that often masks an underlying, disturbing truth. To create these images Crewdson uses influences from other artists and cinematic films to embellish his visions and images. Gregory Crewdson once said, “I love the experience of cinema: being enveloped in the complete world of another's imagination. I love the quality of film: how it captures the color and light of a scene so richly. And I love photography: what is left unsaid is where we can begin to let our imaginations spin." Crewdson realizes both the most intriguing and frustrating aspect of art; he asks a question but refuses to reveal the answer. He is the unanswered question that leads the viewer to study the work and spend hours contemplating its meaning.