#menloschool

[freshpixels]

Week 1: Sun prints

We started our class by learning about the earliest history of photography, and by making shadow images using some of these crude and simple photo processes. Here you see students making copies of semi transparent objects using sun prints with cyanotype paper.

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Raw-Rotation Wrap-Up

Taking pictures in RAW format was by far the most fun I had this year since I took the class in August.  I learned that RAW images are bigger in size, and therefore result in higher quality images.  You can definitely see more detail in the photos, which makes editing much better.  I liked being able to take my camera to several places, such as school, sporting events, San Francisco, and many others.  If I had more time, I would have probably fit in portrait photography, as I haven’t had much experience doing so this year.  At the same time, I realize there are so many other things that I could have done, and at the end of the day, it’s about shooting images that I am passionate about.  Cheers! 

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This week I started using a digital DSLR camera to shoot photos.  I focused on using light painting art, which involves lengthening the camera’s shutter speed to capture moving light.  While this form of photography produces great results, I found that it takes a lot of time and patience to shoot a satisfactory photo.  I had to figure out how long I wanted the camera shutter to be open, how much light I wanted to be illuminated on my face, and how still I needed to be in order to have a sharp picture.  I also found that it is easier to have a partner working with me, because of the amount of factors I have to control.  I was nonetheless eager for this challenge and enjoyed the process that it took take this picture.  

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Here are some samples of pictures that I took with my iPhone this week. As you can see, each theme for each picture is different. The great thing about mobile photography is that you take high quality pictures at a moments notice. I most cases, no prior planning is necessary.

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Here are some photos I took last week of middle school students playing each other in a soccer scrimmage.  Since photography became my hobby a couple of years ago, I never explored the opportunity of shooting action photos until last week.  I learned from this experience that it is quite difficult, and requires moving around according to the action on the field to capture a decent picture. I  was also able to catch the middle school students posing in a victory stance after their exciting game! 

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For my mixed rotation project, I took a visit to Whitaker Lab and photographed engineering students working on their respective projects.  Pictured above is a student grinding a metal bar.  The result of high speed friction between the rotating blade and the metal bar results in visible light sparks.  Lately, I have been interested in photographing settings that show light in a unique way, especially in dark backgrounds that accentuate the visibility of the light.  It is fascinating to watch a shower of sparks bouncing off a table!  I also took some other photos in the lab that I thought were pretty interesting. 

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Here is a picture that I shot using the same large format camera I have been using for the past couple of weeks. Carrying the device to the quad from the photography room was not easy. It was tall and heavy, making travel between locations lot more difficult than I anticipated. To a make matters more complicated, I found it initially to find subjects to use in my photo, but eventually I found these two guys who were more than willing to pose. I first used Polaroid film to make sure that the lighting from the sun wasn't too strong. When I was satisfied with he result, I then used black and white film to record the pic. I can't wait to work the film in the dark room!

[collegible]

Congratulations to Cisco & Sal! Looks like you two will be cheering for the same team next year! Keep up the great work at Menlo School! Class of 2022 & 2019!