Photosynthesis

Serpentine: Photographer Mark Laita

2012-01-29T08:30:00.000-06:00

Photographer Mark Laita is a fine art photographer/advertiser based in Los Angeles. One of his latest projects, Serpentine, allows us to see the beauty in some of the world's deadliest creatures:

To view more images from this series (which will be published as a book in the fall of 2012) visit Mark Laita's website.

Tim Mantoani: Iconic Photographs and the Photographers Who Created Them

2012-01-22T11:19:00.001-06:00

[via Wired.com]: The Tank Man of Tienanmen Square. Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston in victory. The portrait of the Afghan Girl on the cover of National Geographic. Many of us can automatically recall these photos in our heads, but far fewer can name the photographers who took them.

Even fewer know what those photographers look like.

Tim Mantoani hopes to change that by taking portraits of famous photographers holding their most iconic or favorite photos in his new book Behind Photographs: Archiving Photographic Legends. Mantoani has shot over 150 of these portraits in the last five years, most of which are contained in the book. (Read more...)

Mark Seliger: "Originally an inside opener for Rolling Stone cover story of Nirvana in conjunction with the release of In Utero, my first Polaroid (with Negative) was by far the most emotional and revealing of his spirit. Two months later Kurt died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. This photograph became the memorial RS cover." Photo: Tim Mantoani

Lyle Owerko: "No one knew such a beautiful warm day would serve as the backdrop to one of the most painful and confusing events to the heart of mankind. This picture is one small part of such a huge event that ties the threads of thousands of stories and millions of people together.

Written words will never convey the whole scope of the event, nor even summarize the sounds, the smells or even the voices that are frozen in my memory bank from that day. I did the best job I could in photographing 9/11 so that future generations would have an idea of the scope of what happened, to have the evidence of how innocence can so easily be snatched away in a razor's edged moment of time.

My hope is that in time the wounds and pain will heal and that wisdom and peace will prevail among the darkness of this event, so that humanity can move forward into a time of grace and understanding." Photo: Tim Mantoani

Neil Leifer holds his photo, Ali vs. Liston, which he took on May 25, 1965 in Lewiston, Maine.

Photo: Tim Mantoani

Harry Benson: "Brian Epstein — Beatles' manager — had just told them they were number one in America, and I was coming with them to New York, 1964." Photo: Tim Mantoani

Jeff Widener holds his photo of Tank Man in Tienanmen Square from 1989.

Photo: Tim Mantoani

(Please note: This video is not viewable if you are browsing the blog through the Topeka Public Schools network. You will have to enjoy this video from outside the TPS network.)

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2012

2012-01-17T11:27:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to those students whose work was accepted to the 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Kansas regional show! Nearly 25 photographs were entered to the show and 4 were accepted and received awards. The images (that are shown below) will be on display at the Wichita Center for the Arts from January 31 through March 11.

Danielle Phelps, junior

Picture Me, Silver Key Award

Alexis Gonzalez, junior

The Old Fort, Silver Key Award

Emily Ferlemann, senior

The Fury of Judas, Honorable Mention

Dalton Lierz, senior

Starship, Honorable Mention

New Work: Advanced Photography

2012-01-09T11:08:00.004-06:00

As the final critiques from the 2011 fall semester ended, these twelve photographs stood out among the rest. The advanced photography classes are now beginning a new cycle and many new students will be added to the list of those whose work is displayed on this blog. I am very excited to see what this year's students have waiting inside of them!

Jon Brooks, senior

Kayla Deters, junior

Natalie Bender, senior

Shelbi Markham, senior

Carson Taggart, junior

Tanner Thompson, junior

Kyler Collins, junior

Kody Wade, senior

Klayton Edwards, junior

Patrick Lacy, junior

Austin Davids, junior

Kelsey Haflich, senior

New Work: Photography 1

2011-12-21T08:58:00.000-06:00

Such an amazing group of young photographers that have made their way through Photography 1 this past semester! I could have easily shown 20 more images but limited the post to these nineteen. I am looking forward to seeing many of these fine students in Advanced Photography over the coming semesters!!

Lauren Barr, sophomore

Tharin Brown, sophomore

Genevieve Akins, sophomore

Bailey Turner, sophomore

Alexandria Brant, sophomore

Katie Kapp, junior

Chelsea Thatcher, junior

Andrew Tenholder, sophomore

Fabian Correa, sophomore

Madison Hemmer, sophomore

Victoria Schwinn, sophomore

Natiya Bisnauth, sophomore

Jake Gregg, senior

Eric Pasley, senior

Clarae Simmons, junior

Kahlia Henderson, sophomore

Drew Dickes, sophomore

Rita Kerschman, junior

Payton Templeton, sophomore

I See What You Did There...

2011-12-11T21:15:00.000-06:00

(via past T. West advanced photography student Savannah Abbott)

A New Look!

2011-12-11T08:32:00.000-06:00

Now that the Photosynthesis blog just passed its 3rd anniversary, it was about time for a facelift. I hope you don't mind the new look. I think it is a blessed improvement! Especially now that the images and videos are much larger on the main page. You can still click on them to view them larger and in a slideshow, but if you are not much of a clicker than you can enjoy the images as they are.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

Aerial Photographs of the UK...in 3D!

2011-11-26T11:05:00.002-06:00

The Angel of the North sculpture, Jason Hawkes

[via www.boston.com] Do not adjust your monitor. You're looking at 3D photographs by Jason Hawkes of sites around the UK. You'll need some 3D glasses, and fortunately, they're easy to make yourself. Jason shares some tips for shooting from a helicopter, as well as making images in 3D: "I normally fly in a Eurocopter AS355 which is a five seater machine. I sit in the back wearing a harness and we usually take off the doors before flight. I shoot on Nikon D3X and D3S using lenses from 14mm up to 300mm. (3D) Rigs on helicopters are a nightmare, especially as I might use three different types of helicopters in a week. In the end I found with a little trial and error its just as easy to shoot with a single camera as long as you get the timings spot on. Once you have the images you just use some standard Anaglyph software to integrate the shots and you end up with these stereoscopic images. When viewed with chromatically opposite lenses you perceive the images as having three dimensions." -- Lane Turner

Stonehenge monument, Jason Hawkes

Christ Church at the University of Oxford, Jason Hawkes

The London Eye, Jason Hawkes

Wells Cathedral, Church of England, Jason Hawkes

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-11-19T16:59:00.002-06:00

I am so proud to present yet another batch of extraordinary photographs from this semester's advanced photography students!! If it is possible, you must come by and look at all of these photos in C307...they are incredible to view in person! And, as always, please feel free to leave comments for the students at the bottom of this post...they would greatly appreciate it.

Patrick Lacy, junior

Brittney Childers, junior

Natalie Bender, senior

Isaac Hockenbarger, junior

Alexis Gonzalez, junior

Ashia Gordon, junior

Kody Wade, senior

Salvador Munoz, junior

Michael Keatley, senior

Kelsey Haflich, senior

Johnny Hays, junior

Kyler Collins, junior

Melanie Yates, junior

Sarah Press, senior

Courtny Lane, junior

Mitch Montague, senior

Chris Harris, senior

Emily Ferlemann, senior

The Most Expensive Photograph in the World (For Now...)

2011-11-13T21:04:00.001-06:00

Andreas Gursky's Rhein II is the world's most expensive photograph selling for a record-breaking $4.3 million!! Take a look at it below and discuss.

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-10-25T09:51:00.001-05:00

As critique #2 is now behind us it is incredible to see how much the Topeka West advanced photography students are growing. Their work is becoming stronger and I am excited to see what they present at the next critique!!

Clayton Werner, junior

Samantha Wise, senior

Klayton Edwards, junior

Emily Ferlemann, senior

Kheryssah Resendez, junior

Megan Ayers, senior

Biance McClure, junior

Kyler Collins, junior

Alexis Gonzalez, junior

Taylor Anderson, senior

Maribeth Emmert, senior

Brittney Childers, junior

Samantha Scott, senior

Dalton Lierz, senior

Ashia Gordon, junior

Kody Wade, senior

Please feel free to walk into C building and view these photographs first hand, and if you feel like it leave a comment at the bottom of this post...the students would enjoy reading the feedback!

The Water, Terje Sørgjerd

2011-10-21T07:00:00.006-05:00

Earlier this past summer, the Photosynthesis blog highlighted three time-lapse videos by Norwegian photographer Terje Sørgjerd. This past week Mr. Sørgjerd released a new time-lapse video titled The Water. It is as utterly amazing as the first three....please watch:

(Please note: This video is not viewable if you are browsing the blog through the Topeka Public Schools network. You will have to enjoy this video from the comfort of your home.)

The Water from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

Light Painting & photographer Eric Curry

2011-10-16T09:38:00.002-05:00

B-25: Bomber Crew Plus One by Eric Curry

The word photography literally translates to "painting with light". Photographer Eric Curry takes this translation to task in an astounding series of images titled American Pride and Passion: A Photographic Celebration of our American Spirit.

56' Ford Pickup by Eric Curry

If Curry's images resemble paintings more than photographs it's because of they way they have been lit. Instead of lighting the scene with sun or strobe, Curry painstakingly paints the whole image (area by area) with a large flashlight using long 30 second exposures. Multiple images are combined via Photoshop to create the final composition.

Tres Amigos by Eric Curry

If all of this sounds like a lot of work...it is!! Watch the video below for a better understanding of how the image (at the top of this post) B-25: Bomber Crew Plus One came together.

Happy Birthday Instagram!!

2011-10-06T19:11:00.001-05:00

Today, Instagram is one year old! If you haven't checked out this amazing FREE app, it is about time you did. Feel free to follow me @jberryman. Check out some of my recent Instagram photos below:

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-09-27T15:07:00.001-05:00

With a new school year well underway, the first round of critiques for the advanced photography students have already come and gone. I am teaching 3 very large advanced photography classes this semester and they definitely have me running every minute of the period! This semester's batch of students have already proven that they are ready to maintain the high levels of creativity and technique that have become the standard at Topeka West High School. Take a look at a small sampling of the images that were presented at last week's critiques...and remember that you can click on each image for a larger view.

Dalton Lierz, senior

Natalie Bender, senior

Danielle Phelps, junior

Melanie Yates, junior

Bianca McClure, junior

Jonathan Brooks, senior

Michael Keatley, senior

Megan Ayers, senior

Isaac Hockenbarger, junior

Brittney Childers, junior

Cloe Evans-Wenger, senior

Mitch Montague, senior

Sarah Press, senior

Shonna Harris, senior

Savannah Hays, senior

Kelsey Farley, junior

Please feel free to walk into C building and view these photographs first hand and if you feel like it leave a comment at the bottom of this post...the students would enjoy reading the feedback!

Photographing Fall Foliage

2011-09-24T07:00:00.006-05:00

photo by Zach Wallace ('05 Topeka West)

[via The Photo Argus]: Capturing the color of autumn is a unique window of opportunity for any photographer – vibrant colors can transform an otherwise mundane scene into a blanket of red, yellow, and orange hues.

So how does a professional photographer take advantage of this breathtaking season? There are many things you can do to set your images apart from simple snapshots – some are easy, and others a bit more advanced. Click this link and find a detailed guide to photographing autumn foliage – covering everything from light to composition, as well as a few other helpful tips which will improve your fall foliage techniques this coming season.

photo by joiseyshowaa via Flickr

photo by Christopher O'Donnell

photo by ecstaticist via Flickr

Time-Lapse Flyover of Earth

2011-09-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

September 11th: Ten Years Later

2011-09-11T00:00:00.045-05:00

Firefighter Matt Komorowski's helmet, photo by Ira Block

"The city is going to survive, we are going to get through it, I don't think we yet know the pain that we're going to feel when we find out who we lost, but the thing we have to focus on now is getting this city through this, and surviving and being stronger for it."

-former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani

Please click here to view an amazingly poignant video produced by Reuters TV

Dear Photograph

2011-09-03T07:06:00.003-05:00

I read a little blurb about a new photography blog over the summer...Dear Photograph. The author of the blog invites you to "take a picture of a picture from the past in the present."

I like the idea. So I do it. And, it was fun! (And, unexpectedly, more difficult to photograph than I thought it would be!)

The Kids J. Berryman

1995 J. Berryman

To view many more incredible images submitted by viewers from around the world, click here!!! ---------------------> Dear Photograph

Facebook to Add Photo Filters

2011-08-28T09:12:00.001-05:00

[via the New York Times' Bits blog]:

Get ready for the photo-filter wars to begin.

Facebook plans to add a series of photo filters to its mobile application in the coming months with the hopes of drawing off fans of Instagram, the popular photo-sharing application.

The new feature has been ready for some time, according to two engineers who work at Facebook, but Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, hopes his engineers and artists create more filters before releasing the new product. Both Facebook engineers asked not to be named as they are not allowed to speak publicly for the company about unannounced products.

The engineers said Facebook will introduce almost a dozen photo filters, including some that are similar to Instagram like old-style camera lenses and grainy film. Facebook will also try to introduce new styles of filters with the hopes of drawing users away from other photo apps.

The engineers also said that Facebook attempted to acquire Instagram over the summer, but to no avail.

Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, declined to comment about acquisitions or Facebook’s plans to release competing software. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment.

Facebook might have more competition to worry about than just Instagram. Programming code found in the upcoming release of Apple’s iOS 5 shows a series of new photo filters that are likely to be integrated directly into Apple’s mobile platform, MG Siegler of the blog TechCrunch noted earlier this month.

The World's Smallest (& Largest!) Stop-Motion Animation

2011-08-08T16:54:00.002-05:00

Tired of stop-motion animation videos, yet? Me either!

Earlier this year one of my advanced photography students (Emily F.) shared a video with me that boasted itself as the World's Smallest Stop-Motion Animation. When you see it you will understand why that is quite a boast!

The same company that created "Dot", the Sumo Science team at Aardman Animations, can now boast that they have created the World's Largest Stop-Motion Animation. Both animations were created with Nokia's N8, a smartphone that includes a 12-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens. Not too shabby!

Very Cool Concept!

2011-07-26T12:50:00.001-05:00

A very interesting concept! Want to know how this camera works? Read more about it (and the images it produces) on Yanko Design.

Rube Goldberg Photography

2011-07-12T17:42:00.001-05:00

WOW!!

To read more about the making of this amazing video click ----------> here.

$2.3 Million Paid for Billy the Kid Photograph

2011-06-27T09:08:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday night, at The Old West Show & Auction, the only authenticated photograph of legendary outlaw Billy the Kid was sold for $2.3 million to billionaire William Koch. The tintype of Billy the Kid, or Henry McCarty, was estimated to bring in $300,000-400,000. But soon after the bidding started the cost shot up to over $1 million!

The Kid reportedly paid 25 cents to pose for the tintype in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, circa 1880.

3 More Gorgeous Time-Lapse Videos!

2011-06-06T14:42:00.002-05:00

I stumbled upon one of Terje Sørgjerd's time-lapse videos while browsing through one of the numerous photography blogs that I visit. After picking my jaw up off of the ground, I watched the other two videos that he also has available on Vimeo. Yeah, this guy's work is going on the blog!

Mr. Sørgjerd is a Norwegian photographer who is obviously very passionate about his work:

[via TSO Photography on Facebook] I have been published many times in some of the world biggest press and media outlets including, but not limited to: CNN, NBC, USA Today, Reuters, Discovery Channel, NatGeo, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Weather Channel and The Washington Post, Good Morning America, to name just a few.

I am probably most well known for my unique photos of the Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which erupted in 2010, leaving an immediate impact on our modern society halting air-traffic between North America and Europe for over a week.

I won't make you search for all three videos, because I am certainly posting all three here. Please, if you have the time, watch all three of them. And watch them full screen. With the sound on. You will be glad that you did!!

Endeavour Launch: Two Views

2011-05-22T11:12:00.001-05:00

Almost a week ago the space shuttle Endeavour launched on its final mission into space. Thousands of photos are taken during the launch, both by professional and amateur photographers, but these two photos certainly stand out not only because of their timing but also because of the simplistic equipment that was used to capture the images!

Professional photographer, Trey Ratcliff, was at the launch site but used a simple 50mm prime lens to capture this gorgeous photograph (a 50mm prime lens is the same lens that my Photo 1 students use during their first semester in photography!).....

...while amateur photographer Stefanie Gordon captured this incredible image using her iPhone!! Ms. Gordon's images and video have gone viral over the past week. Her images of the space shuttle are unique in that the launches are always viewed from the ground....never from the air!

Vintage Camera Post-A-Prints by Jeremy Slagle

2011-05-17T09:17:00.001-05:00

[via jeremyslagle.com] "One poster becomes four 8”x10” art prints. Post-a-prints are silk-screen printed on the highest-quality, acid-free archival stock—which means your art won’t fade or yellow. Each print is perfectly sized to fit an 8x10 frame or matte. Illustrations by Jeremy Slagle, based on vintage film cameras collected from garage sales and flea markets around Ohio. Four 8x10 art prints for only $39."

To order, click ------> here

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-04-30T18:07:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry to say, but this will be the last post of advanced work for the school year. The students in advanced photography this year have really blown me away with their creativity and attention to detail!

To see all of these pieces and more (!), come by Topeka West High School to enjoy Best of West 2011. Hundreds of pieces of artwork will be on display in A Building Monday, May 2nd & Tuesday, May 3rd.

Please enjoy these 16 incredible photographs and also feel free to leave a comment at the end of the post. The students enjoy reading what others think about their images!!

Anna Wenner, senior

Giselle Herrera, senior

Patrick Lacy, sophomore

Klayton Edwards, junior

Vicky Phelps, senior

Natalie Bender, junior

Sydney Barlow, sophomore

Grace Elizabeth Phelps Hyphen Roper, senior

Samantha Wise, junior

Kelsey Haflich, junior

Lexi Chitwood, senior

Mitch Montague, junior

Blake Dexter, senior

Emily Ferlemann, junior

Brett Sidesinger, senior

Kody Wade, junior

Introducing Pixlr, an extremely useful online photo editor!!

2011-04-23T11:07:00.005-05:00

Photography enthusiasts (namely my students) don't always have 24-hour access to image editing software. There are an array of online image editors (I reviewed Picnik back in 2009) but many of my students get used to the flexibility of more powerful programs, like Adobe Photoshop, in their advanced photography classes.

Last week, Mitch M. (one of my advanced photography students), mentioned an amazing little online editor called Pixlr. The layout, floating palettes, and editing tools are very similar to those found in Photoshop. After experimenting with it a bit I found that is does have its limitations but for those that are a bit savvy with Photoshop (but don't have the funds to drop for the full program), Pixlr is an awesome alternative!

To use Pixlr, go to http://pixlr.com/ and click on the link
"-> Open image editor <-":

Once the image editor loads, you can choose to create a new image from scratch, open images from your computer, open images from another website with a specific URL, or open images from other online libraries (such as previously saved photos to Pixlr or Facebook).

The layout of Pixlr is very similar to Photoshop including a tool palette, a navigation thumbnail, layers palette, and best of all a history palette!

Especially for the photographer Pixlr has included several pull-down menus that include a variety of image adjustment tools and filters.

Many of the included filters can add a creative uniqueness to your images before posting them online or sending them to friends and family.

For my very first edit using Pixlr I chose a photograph taken during my last visit to the Rocky Mountains. The "before" image is taken straight from the camera. After using three simple editing tools (Levels, Color Balance, and Hue & Saturation) I was quite pleased with how quickly Pixlr rendered my image and made it more colorful and presentable.

I also played around with a few of the included "Filters" such as Cross Process, Desaturate, and Mimic HDR.

After finishing the edited image I had the option to save the file directly to My Computer, to a Pixlr Library (that needs to be set up with an account name and password), or to several other photo libraries such as Picasa, Flickr, or Facebook.

If you are displeased with the image editing software that came pre-installed on your computer or you don't have access (or funding) to powerful programs like Photoshop I would recommend giving Pixlr a try!

0 to 100

2011-04-06T12:30:00.001-05:00

[via 0 to 100 Project]: "Experience the Ultimate Life Story. The beginning was humble, to say the least: The people at Flash Reproductions told the people at Up Inc about a cool new bookbinding technique. Intrigued by the possibilities, we brainstormed some ideas about how best to try it out. From there, we enlisted photographer Sandy Nicholson, and a critical mass of other partners, for a unique collaboration. The result? Together, we’ve created 0 to 100, a poignant glimpse of the true face of the human lifespan: 101 portraits of folks at every age, from mere weeks to a full century old."

The 0 to 100 Project is an incredible view into the vast diversity of the human face. Portraits of children younger than a year old to men and women into their 80's and 90's flow together to create a beautiful digital flipbook that you have to see to believe! Click -----> here <----- to view the 0 to 100 Project's digital flipbook.

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-03-28T07:53:00.001-05:00

Once again.....incredible pieces by some of the most talented photographers I have had the pleasure to work with!!

Emily Amyotte, sophomore

Natalie Bender, junior

Kenneth Diec, sophomore

Emily Ferlemann, junior

Grace Elizabeth Phelps Hyphen Roper, senior

Haley Pooler, sophomore

Vicky Phelps, senior

Jonathan Brooks, junior

Brandy Booker, senior

Blake Dexter, senior

District: an AWESOME time-lapse video!

2011-03-26T11:28:00.003-05:00

District, by photographer Drew Geraci, is an exciting HDR time-lapse video taken in Washington, D.C. Watch how Geraci captures the movement and intensity of one of our busiest cities!

You should definitely watch this one full screen!

A Guide to Taking Better Profile Pictures...

2011-03-18T07:29:00.002-05:00

A Pentax Camera Exploded (not literally)

2011-03-13T09:30:00.004-05:00

Photographer Todd Mclellan likes to disassemble objects. Like my brother, when we were younger, who would meticulously take apart his bicycle and lay out all the pieces in a row (so he could remember how they go back together). I guess people like Mclellan (and my brother) are curious to see how objects work or how many pieces are inside.

Take a look at one of Mclellan's latest pieces: a Pentax Spotmatic F SLR broken down and laid out in all its visible pieces (the photograph before is not Mclellan's...just an example of what the Pentax looks like in its normal state):

To see more of Todd Mclellan's work visit his site here -----> www.toddmclellan.com

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-02-25T07:00:00.003-06:00

A new semester has started and the Topeka West advanced photography students are off to an amazing start! Please enjoy these 15 wonderful works of art to end your work week. Be sure to share this link with other fans of photography and don't forget to leave a comment and the bottom of the post...the students would really enjoy hearing about what others think of their images!!

Samantha Wise, junior

Emily Amyotte, sophomore

Patrick Lacy, sophomore

Brett Sidesinger, senior

Grace Phelps Hyphen Roper, senior

Kody Wade, junior

Vicky Phelps, senior

Dagan Brichalli, senior

Brittany Bodenheimer, sophomore

Natalie Bender, junior

Bryce Maes, junior

Blake Dexter, senior

Kyle Owen, senior

Ruth Macias, junior

Gene' Boeselager, junior

Two Photographers

2011-02-22T07:00:00.007-06:00

Two amazing landscape photographers....with really cool sites online! Check out their portfolios by clicking on their names...

Mitch Dobrowner, Arm of God, Galacia, Kansas, 2009

Jonathan Andrew, Vididular, Iceland

Pummelvision

2011-02-19T10:08:00.001-06:00

Do you have hundreds (if not thousands!) of photos uploaded to your Facebook, Flickr, or Tumblr accounts that you want to have some fun with? Then check out Pummelvision (http://pummelvision.com) that takes your photos and turns them into a short video. Then upload your finished video to your Facebook page or send the link to your family & friends and they will be able to experience snapshots from your life within seconds!

Pummelvision is also a great tool to play around with stop-motion animation. To see other examples from Pummelvision users visit their gallery here. Have fun!

New Work: Advanced Photography

2011-01-28T14:27:00.002-06:00

I'm a bit late with showing off this body of work (since they were turned in last December, before Winter Break), but....better late than never! As usual, my students from last semester turned in some amazing photography!! Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post to show your support. More new work by this semester's students will be posted in a few weeks. Their first critique is right around the corner!

Travis Jenson, senior

Vicky Phelps, senior

Dylan Rogers, senior

Brett Sidesinger, senior (cyanotype)

Jonathan Brooks, junior

Kyle Owen, senior

Emily Ferlemann, junior

Natalie Bender, junior (digital panorama)

Grace Phelps Hyphen Roper, senior

Alexa Bowen, junior (digital manipulation)

Anthony Flippo, senior

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2011

2011-01-15T08:40:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to those students whose work was accepted to the 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Kansas regional show! Over 40 photographs were entered to the show and 7 were accepted and received awards. The images (that are shown below) will be on display at the Wichita Center for the Arts from January 25 through March 6. The two pieces that were awarded Gold Key awards will compete against other Gold Key winners from across the United States for a chance to be displayed at the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards held in Washington, D.C. later this year!

Anna Wenner, Senior

Fire in the Night, Gold Key Award

Emily Amyotte, Sophomore

Trunk, Gold Key Award

Anthony Flippo, Senior

Lutra, Honorable Mention Award

Travis Jenson, Senior

Aromatherapy, Honorable Mention Award

Vicky Phelps, Senior

Arabesque, Honorable Mention Award

Vicky Phelps, Senior

Sworn to Secrecy, Honorable Mention Award

Ryan Scott, Senior

Loopholes in Limbo, Honorable Mention Award

Time-lapse Photography

2011-01-06T19:09:00.000-06:00

Time-lapse photography (<--- click on the link to read more about it on Wikipedia!) is a really amazing photographic technique. Time-lapse photography appears to be like video but at its essence it is still photography. Like video, multiple "frames" are taken and viewed in rapid succession. Depending on how much time has "lapsed" hundreds to possibly tens of thousands of images can be used to create the final image. Actions or events that would take hours to happen stream by in mere minutes, speeding up the world and sometimes making the mundane incredibly fascinating!!

Please enjoy these 5 awesome examples of time-lapse photography that I (and many of our students) have viewed over the past year:

Iceland, Eyjafjallajokull-May 1st and 2nd, 2010 by Sean Stiegemeier

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse 2010 by William Castleman

Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie & Eyal Landesman

Aurora Borealis by Tor Even Mathisen

The Longest Way 1.0 by Christoph Rehage

Holiday Shopping Guide for the Modern Photographer

2010-12-09T21:24:00.000-06:00

There is still plenty of time to shop for the photographer in your circle of friends, or family, or yourself! Take a look at the latest gadgets and gear available for your favorite photographer! Be sure to click on the links below each image to learn more...

iPhone 4 with 5-megapixel camera and LED flash

The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby

Depth of Field scale tshirt

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 editing software

Camera Lens Mug

Holga Toy Camera: Twi-Lite Zone

Gorillapod

Camera Lens Bracelet

Rocky Mountain School of Photography summer workshop

New Work: Advanced Photography

2010-11-27T08:15:00.001-06:00

Two more amazing critiques with the advanced photography students have come and gone. They are now preparing for the final critique of the semester. They will be hard-pressed to top themselves by the end of the semester...but I am definitely looking forward to seeing what they plan to present!

Grace Elizabeth Phelps hyphen Roper, senior

Anna Wenner, senior

Dylan Rogers, senior

Taylor Weakly, senior

Natalie Bender, junior

Travis Jenson, senior

Vicky Phelps, senior

AJ Calvin, senior

Jenna Sann, senior

Jonathan Brooks, junior

Ashten Zander, junior

Ryan Scott, senior

Brandy Booker, senior

Cody Martin, junior

Emily Ferlemann, junior

Kyle Owen, senior

Photosynthesis is 2 Years Old!

2010-11-15T05:49:00.003-06:00

Pick a Number, Juwa

I can hardly believe it! This blog is now two years old...it seems a lot older than that. Over the last two years I have shared some incredible photography both from professionals around the internet and from the many amazing students in the photography program here at Topeka West. I wish I could personally thank each and every one of you for your submissions and your support. You are very much appreciated and are the reason this blog continues to thrive! --Mr. B.

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#2 grey, Mark Ralston

Photography 1: New Work (Repetition)

2010-11-12T14:20:00.000-06:00

The last several weeks have been very busy for this semester's Photography 1 students! I'm sure most of them have been enjoying getting out of the class room and taking their first rolls of film out and around Topeka. Here is a small sampling of images from their first project: Repetition.

Salvador Munoz, sophomore

Mason Payne, sophomore

Taylor Anderson, junior

Justin Sly, junior

Austin Davids, sophomore

Allison Owen, sophomore

Kenneth Diec, sophomore

Chris Harris, junior

Mackenzie King, sophomore

Macahla Wesley, sophomore

Laura Ruhnke, junior

Jeremy Selley, sophomore

Shelbi Markham, junior

Kaleb Toda, sophomore

Instagram

2010-11-07T08:15:00.001-06:00

Instagram (compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad) is an amazingly fun & simple life-sharing app for your iPhone. Snap photos wherever you go to show the world what’s going on in your life. Follow your friends’ photo updates as they move through the world. Select from photo filters that transform regular ol’ photos into works of art you’ll want to keep around forever.

Apply over a dozen fun & beautiful filters to your photos
Post as many photos as you want, for free!
Find and follow friends who are using the app
Attach (optional) location information to any of your posts
Share your posts to Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, and Facebook
Check in to Foursquare when you post a photo with a location
Let you friends know what you think by liking & commenting on their photos
View the most popular photos around the world from Instagram users
Supports first generation, 3G, 3GS, and iPhone 4 phones
Full iPhone 4 camera support

I have already downloaded and installed the app and the Popular photos are amazing to browse through! Also, if you are interested, I have registered as jberryman and feel free to follow me as I have already uploaded my first image.....very cool!!

iPhone image taken during the KC Plaza Art Fair

Uploaded image

Profile status showing uploaded image,

feel free to follow and comment!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T08:43:00.000-05:00

What better way to celebrate Halloween than to enjoy the images by Kansas City-based horror photographer Joshua Hoffine? His work is elaborate, creative, and....scary!!

Candy, Joshua Hoffine

From Hoffine's artist statement: "I stage my photo shoots like small movies, with sets, costumes, elaborate props, fog machines, and special effects make-up. Everything is acted out live in front of the camera. I use friends and family members, including my own daughters, as actors and crew.

I try to present the images within the visual grammar of a child. I want the viewer to empathize with the child, to share their point of view, to feel their sense of vulnerability. The images stress danger, and depict an amoral world where purity and innocence are under constant threat. Like fairy tales, these photographs function as cautionary metaphors about the potential dangers of the world."

Swarm, Joshua Hoffine

See more of Joshua Hoffine's work at www.joshuahoffine.com and keep up-to-date with his latest projects at Hoffine's Behind the Scenes Horror Blog!

New Work: Advanced Photography

2010-10-21T14:10:00.001-05:00

After another two days of amazing critiques the advanced photography students have stepped it up another notch! Please enjoy this small sampling of the incredible talent that is evident here at Topeka West!! Be sure to click on each image to see a larger version...and don't forget to leave comments at the bottom of the post, the students would love it!

(Coming soon: new work by this year's beginning photography students.)

Travis Jenson, senior

Dagan Brichalli, senior

Natalie Bender, junior

Emily Ferlemann, junior (cyanotype)

Vicky Phelps, senior

Jenna Sann, senior

Ryan Scott, senior

Alexus Renyer, junior

Emily Amyotte, sophomore

Maci Loughrea, senior

Grace Elizabeth Phelps hyphen Roper, senior

Joe Bourne, senior

Alex Rios, senior

Rebecca Dixon, senior

Anna Wenner, senior (cyanotype)

INDIA by Brian Slater

2010-10-13T07:37:00.000-05:00

A wonderful video showcasing the work of Brian Slater, Topeka West class of 1997, during his trip to India, January 2010:

Photography by Brian Slater © 2010, India January 2010
www.brianslaterphotography.com, www.sim2020.org

102-Year-Old Lens to Create Modern/Vintage Photos

2010-10-10T18:29:00.000-05:00

[via PetaPixel]: "Photographer Timur Civan had a project that required vintage-looking photographs. Originally planning to shoot the project on a 4×5 large format camera, he abandoned that route after calculating the cost for equipment and processing. His lens technician friend then discovered a 1908 Wollensak 35mm F5.0 Cine-Velostigmat hand-cranked lens in a box of spare parts, and spent 6 hours helping him make the lens fit on an EF mount for Civan’s 5D Mark II."

Here are some of the images taken straight from Civan's Canon 5D Mark II (no post-editing)...very cool!!

Camera USB Drive

2010-10-03T08:35:00.000-05:00

Have you been searching for that perfect gift for the photo enthusiast in your life (or for yourself)? Then take a look at the coolest USB flash drive to ever hit the market!

only $20!
available in 5 different body styles (Nikon, Sony, Ricoh, Olympus, or Canon)
4 gigabytes of space!
compatible with Macs and PCs
2" wide and 1.25" tall

What a great gift this would make...order one (or three!) today at the Photojojo Store!!

New Work: Advanced Photography

2010-09-27T07:00:00.004-05:00

What a fantastic start to a new school year! The two advanced photography classes presented very impressive work at the first critique last week. I am showcasing a small amount of the images below. If you'd like to come and see the work first-hand, please feel free to stop by C building (room 307). The images will be on display until the end of the first quarter.

And, as always, also feel free to leave any comments for the artists in the comments link at the bottom of this post. The artists will greatly appreciate reading feedback about their work!

Emily Amyotte, sophomore

Alex Rios, senior

Natalie Bender, junior

Vicky Phelps, senior

Anna Wenner, senior

Emily Ferlemann, junior

Lindsey Modin, senior

Ryan Scott, senior

Grace Elizabeth Phelps Hyphen Roper, senior

Alexa Bowen, junior

Anthony Flippo, senior

Kyle Owen, senior

Travis Jenson, senior

Cardboard Cameras

2010-09-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

Long Beach, CA sculptor Kiel Johnson (who received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas!) creates some pretty crazy stuff out of cardboard...little urban landscapes, submarines, and really cool cameras. Enjoy this small selection of his high-quality work and definitely watch the video that includes a time-lapse creation of a larger-than-life twin-lens reflex camera!!

single lens reflex 2

point and shoot

polaroid 1

Kiel Johnson's Cardboard Twin Lens Reflex Camera Time Lapse from Theo Jemison on Vimeo.

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(update, 9/26/10) sent in by an anonymous commenter, click here to check out a larger-than-life size Holga camera!

Photographer: Stefano Unterthiner

2010-09-19T12:00:00.002-05:00

[via stefanounterthiner.com]: "Stefano Unterthiner began serious photography at the age of 17, went on to study zoology, obtaining a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, and then started his career as a professional photographer. One of his first assignment won him the prestigious Mario Pastore prize for best young environmental journalist. Stefano is the author of five photographic books, he's a regular prize-winner in the international BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, and his work is widely published in magazines worldwide such as National Geographic, GEO, BBC Wildlife, Terre Sauvage, Animan, & Airone.

Stefano travels regularly around the world in search of new subjects for his photo stories. He specializes in telling an animal's life story, living in close contact with his chosen species for long periods. Most of all, Stefano has a strong commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental issues, and he is particularly interested in human-nature interaction."

View the rest of Stefano's amazing Photo Stories on his website!

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An encounter with the king of the forest - the European bison from Stefano Unterthiner on Vimeo.

New Terminology: Bokeh

2010-09-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

Bokeh (pronounced 'bo' as in bone, and 'keh' as as in kelly) comes from the Japanese word boke which means blur or haze or the blur quality.

[via Wikipedia] "Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape cause some lens designs to blur the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye, while others produce blurring that is unpleasant or distracting -- "good" or "bad" bokeh, respectively. Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions. Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas. However, bokeh is not limited to highlights, as blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image."

Here are eight wonderful examples of creative bokeh photography. Be sure to click on the link after the images to see even more!

40 Beautiful Examples of Bokeh Photography @ thephotoargus.com

America in Color: 1939-1943

2010-09-11T08:16:00.013-05:00

Many of you will certainly recognize Migrant Mother photographed by Dorothea Lange during the Great Depression. Lange's photos has, through the years, come to exemplify the pain and strife that affected a large population of the working force in America. Most of the images produced by Lange and other photographers who worked for the Resettlement Administration were produced in black and white. In fact, most of the images (since the invention of photography) that define the history of the United States are in black and white. Many of you may not know that color photography was available as early as 1936 when Kodak produced the first commercially available color film called Kodachrome.

Over the summer the Denver Post displayed a gorgeous collection of photographs on their photography blog Plog that shows a rare and unique glimpse into American history in full glorious color!

[via Plog]: These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.

Scroll through the rest of the images here ------> Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943

Magnetic Polaroid Frames

2010-09-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Photojojo Store has the coolest magnetic Polaroid frames for sale! You do remember Polaroids don't you? It hasn't been that long since Polaroid stopped making film.

If you miss that Polaroid-feel to your photos than these magnetic frames would be the perfect idea to display your images on any metal surface. Or, gift them to your favorite photo-enthusiast. For $15 you will receive 6 frames and a dry-erase pen to title your mini works of art!

If you would rather turn your blasé digital images into a digital Polaroid then check out the Poladroid application for your computer!

Topeka West Student Websites: Update

2010-08-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

I just found out a couple of days ago that Topeka West graduate Heather Mabry ('08) started her own photography website. She created the site on Weebly.com. The layout is very clean, the photos are crisp and clear, and, best of all, it's free!

Check out Heather's photography website here ----> Heather Mabry Photography

Over the past year I have showcased other Topeka West students' websites/galleries as they have become available. I suggest that you visit these sites as well...our students would definitely appreciate the support!

Brian Slater's ('97) website ForwardsBackwards

Josh Mishler's ('00) website Juxtaposed Machines

Caitlin Seals Schwanke's ('07) website Caitlin Seals Schwanke Photography

Erik Boeselager's ('10) photostream on Flickr

Maci Loughrea's ('11) photostream on Flickr (also, view it here via Fluidr)

and Anna Wenner's ('11) gallery on Deviant Art

Amazing talent...each and every one of them!! Know of another T. West student who has a photography website or gallery online? Let me know. I'll include the link in the next update. And, please feel free to leave a comment about the artists' work....they'd love it!!

Nikon Announces the New D3100

2010-08-23T20:35:00.000-05:00

Still thinking about purchasing that new digital SLR camera but want one that will last for awhile? It's time to think about the new Nikon D3100!

14.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
includes a 18-55mm VR (vibration reduction) image stabilization lens
full 1080p HD cinematic video
fast 11-point autofocus system
a full 3-inch LCD monitor
ISO sensitivity 100-3200, expandable to 12800
6 automatic exposure scene modes
compact and lightweight design
$699.95

To read more about this amazing camera click this link --------> Nikon D3100

The World's Largest Digital Photograph...for now!

2010-08-19T13:55:00.010-05:00

Photographers at 360World have created the most amazing panoramic photograph using the city of Budapest as their subject. The image is so massive it is mind-boggling to put into perspective!

Consider this: most consumers carry around a digital point and shoot camera that creates images around 10-12 megapixels. What is a megapixel? A megapixel equals 1 million pixels (a pixel being the smallest element in a digital image). So if you are shooting with a 10 megapixel camera, each image you create (theoretically) contains 10 million pixels. Following so far? The image of Budapest shot by 360World is almost 70 gigapixels. That's almost 70 billion pixels!!

Look at the image above. See those buildings on the horizon? Click here to zoom into the windows on those buildings. Really...go ahead!! Mind-boggling!!

To watch a video of how this incredible image was created click on the Making Of tab on the website (directly below the image)...interesting!

Light Painting and Video Animation

2010-06-14T22:46:00.003-05:00

Okay. I had no intention of taking such a long hiatus from the Photosynthesis blog. I've been enjoying my summer way too much and now that the World Cup has started....well, it's difficult to get anything accomplished!

But tonight I happened upon this incredible video combining light painting and stop animation. Incredible! Be sure to watch the "behind the scenes" which you can access at the end of video.

And I promise I will do a little bit better with the updates! I already have a couple of new posts already lined up......1.) Holga photos taken in Italy by a past T. West photography student and 2.) examples of Bokeh photography (yeah, the term was new to me as well!).

So, enjoy Light Warfare!!

Best of West 2010 is Here!!

2010-05-01T19:56:00.004-05:00

Join the Topeka West art department in celebrating the art work created by our very talented students! Come by all day in "A" building this Monday or Tuesday (May 3rd & 4th) to see the show...especially the photography!!

Yet Another Congrats!

2010-04-29T21:09:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Andrew Martin ('10) whose spectacular photograph of the Topeka West boys' basketball team will grace each and every cover of next year's school planner! You students remember those, right? Planners? Hehe!

Just a few weeks ago I posted Andrew's winning photograph along with another photograph by Emily Schaffert. Andrew's photo placed second in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association's regional contest. Please wish Andrew and Emily good luck as they compete against other high school photographers in late May at the state level.

A Timely Global Mosaic

2010-04-25T10:00:00.001-05:00

Want to be part of a "Global Mosaic"? The New York Times photography blog, Lens, is coordinating a massive photographic experience that will take place on a specific date at a very specific time.

The NYTimes is asking all photographers (amateurs, students, professionals) to take a photo, wherever you are, at exactly 15:00 U.T.C. next Sunday, May 2nd. What is U.T.C.? The letters stand for Coordinated Universal Time (formerly known as Greenwich Mean Time). At 15:00, much of the populated world is in daylight, creating a perfect opportunity to record what you are doing, or experiencing, at that exact moment!

General topics (provided by Lens) include Religion, Play, Nature & the Environment, Family, Work, Arts & Entertainment, Money and the Economy, Community, or Social Issues. According to the post: "What matters more than technique is the thought behind the picture, because you’ll only be sending us one. So please do think beforehand about where you will want to be and what you will want to focus on."

If you would like to participate, take a photo at exactly 10 a.m. (Central Standard Time) next Sunday morning. Quickly upload it to your computer and then submit your photo to: submit.nytimes.com/moment. Within mere minutes images will begin to appear on NYTimes.com and the Lens blog. You will be able to witness what others, all across the world, are experiencing at exactly the same moment!!

To read the rest of the story, click -----> here.

New Work: Advanced Photography

2010-04-21T07:00:00.002-05:00

Critique #3 has come and gone. This semester's advanced students are creating some of the highest-quality work that I have ever witnessed! Once again, if you cannot make it to C building to see the work for yourself (hanging in the windows of C307) here are the same images in digital format. Enjoy! (Be sure to click on the image if you would like to view it at a higher resolution!!)

Tyler Wade, senior

Aquia Wilkins, senior

Katie Fitchpatrick, junior

Faye Miller, senior

Isla Alvarez, junior

Anthony Flippo, junior

Delaney Hurd, junior

Blake Dexter, junior

Victoria Phelps, junior

Brandy Booker, junior

Kyle Owen, junior

Travis Jenson, junior

Andrew Martin, senior

Grace Phelps-Roper, junior

Emily Wentworth, senior

Jackie Hebron, senior

Megan Mapes, senior

Maci Loughrea: TPAC's Young Artist of the Year

2010-04-17T07:00:00.006-05:00

Congratulations Maci!!! After a brief phone call to the Topeka Performing Arts Center Friday afternoon, I was told that Maci had won TPAC's Young Artist of the Year Award in the Visual Arts category!

For those of you who have been following the blog for more than a year you might remember that Andrew Martin ('10) won in the same category last year. Two years in a row, baby! Let's go for three!!

Please enjoy the following ten images that helped Maci secure this very prestigious award. She is a very talented young woman and I hope to have her back in the photography program during her senior year at West!

The Widest Photo Ever Created?

2010-04-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Simon Hoegsberg (a freelance photographer working in Copenhagen) has created what many believe is the widest photo ever shot. We're All Gonna Die - 100 Meters of Existence is exactly that...100 meters wide! If you can't quite grasp the length of 100 meters, think about Olympic gold-medalist Usain Bolt who ran 100 meters in 9.68 seconds in Beijing.

The title of the photograph: “We’re All Gonna Die – 100 meters of existence” is not meant to spread fear as some people may believe – on the contrary, it’s meant to point out that life is beautiful, and unless we open up to each other instead of keeping our longings, hopes and experiences to ourselves we’ll fall into the grave with a lot of valuable information and love that we never got around to sharing with the people we’re in touch with. -- Simon Hoegsberg

Hoegsberg captured 178 people over the course of 20 days in Berlin, Germany. This photograph is beyond incredible! To see it in its full glory click ----> here.

To read a short interview with Hoegsberg about We're All Gonna Die click ----> here.

New Work: Photography 1

2010-04-13T07:00:00.003-05:00

The spring semester Photography 1 students are finally getting consistently sunny weather to shoot with. I have been extremely impressed with the quality of prints they have been creating. Please enjoy this first gallery of work and feel free to comment on any of the prints (by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of the post) as the students would surely enjoy the feedback. I promise more images to come later in the semester!

Sarah Press, sophomore

Dylan Rogers, junior

Jenna Sann, junior

Miriam Wollschlager, junior

Alexa Bowen, sophomore

Lindsey Modin, junior

Ana Montero, junior

Jill Siebert, sophomore

Brandon Talley, junior

Kelsey Tinoco, junior

Recognize this photo?

2010-04-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

No? Here's a hint: click here.

If you didn't instantly recognize this photo...where have you been? Seriously though, this photograph has certainly changed Richard Misrach's career. To see more of Misrach's photography, you can view a large gallery of his work at Edelman's Gallery online.

Miss the Darkroom? There's an App for That!

2010-04-06T18:15:00.000-05:00

SwankoLab is more than just an image-editing app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. SwankoLab is a darkroom simulator that includes chemicals, formulas, timers, and a working safelight! You process your digital photos using chemical formulas (that you create or come "pre-mixed") allowing you a wide range of control over how your photos turn out. Take a look at a sneak peek of the user interface:

That is too cool!! SwankoLab releases to the App Store in early April.

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Update (04/04/10): At this time, SwankoLab is not available on the App Store. The creators do have an alternative app, Hipstamatic iPhone App, available now.

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Update (04/06/10): SwankoLab is now available on iTunes!! Take a look at these awesome promo examples....

"Sleeping" Insects and Dew Drops

2010-04-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

Miroslaw Swietek, an amateur photographer living in Poland, took up photography only two and a half years ago and already he has created some very inventive images!

Mr Swietek enjoys photographing insects in a forest close to his home. He seeks out insects very early in the morning when they are "sleeping". They are not really sleeping. The insects enter a state of torpor which makes them very inactive and less sensitive to external stimuli. The morning dew collects on their bodies, making some of them almost impossible to identify.

"I have books which help me identify insects but because they are all covered in dew I find it almost impossible to know which types they are.", states Mr. Swietek. "At 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. insects are sleepy and taking photos of them is easy, but it is very difficult to find them."

Etre Touchy Gloves

2010-04-01T07:00:00.003-05:00

I know...I know....it's now Spring and maybe I should have posted about the Etre Touchy gloves about....three or four months ago, but hey, new information comes when it comes. ;-)

So maybe you are looking for a special birthday gift or an early idea for Christmas! A pair of these gloves would be the perfect gift for any photographer. Etre Touchy gloves give you the warmth and dryness of a normal pair of gloves but also provide the fingerless-glove dexterity needed to push buttons, adjust settings, or load/unload film or media cards.

Etre Touchy gloves come in four different styles and cost about $30 a pair. Ready to order a pair for your favorite photographer (or yourself)? Click here to order today!! (psssst! They're also great to use with touch-screen electronics!!)

Senior Art Exhibition: Ann Degenhardt

2010-03-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ann Degenhardt (a 2006 Topeka West graduate) will be displaying her senior exhibit at the Washburn University Art Building from April 12th - 23rd. A reception will be held on April 17th starting at 6 p.m. Please join me....I'll be there to say congratulations and to admire the work of a student who started her career in the same dark rooms that my students are using today!

Directions to the Art Building can be located ------> here.

Coming Soon to Photoshop...Content-Aware Fill

2010-03-27T20:00:00.002-05:00

So we used to know when a photo had been digitally altered...there were always things that just weren't quite right. Now with Adobe Photoshop's impending content-aware fill, we'll never be able to trust a photograph again!

If you have any experience with Photoshop, this video will blow your mind!

Congratulations!

2010-03-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

A huge congratulations is in order for two of our current advanced photography students...Emily Schaffert and Andrew Martin!!

In February, Emily and Andrew both submitted photographs to the Kansas Scholastic Press Association's regional contest held at Emporia State University. At the conclusion of the contest Andrew placed SECOND in the Sports Photography category and Emily placed FIRST in the Academic Photography category!! See their photos below:

Emily Schaffert, junior: First Place, Academic Photography

Andrew Martin, senior: Second Place, Sports Photography

Emily and Andrew's winning entries will be automatically submitted to the state competition that will be held at Kansas University in May. When you see either one of these students (or if you have them class) be sure to tell them congratulations on their winning photos!

Also, a special thank you to Mrs. Dekat for working with Emily and Andrew and for providing the information about this competition.

New Work: Advanced Photography

2010-03-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

The advanced photography students this semester continue to amaze me.....see for yourself!

Emily Park, senior

Andrew Davids, junior

Samantha Wise, sophomore

Holly Higgs, senior

Ryan Scott, junior

Andrew Martin, senior

Jackie Hebron, senior

Grace Phelps-Roper, junior

Cameron Seals Schwanke, senior

Dagan Brichalli, junior

Quentin Chediak, senior

Faye Miller, senior

Erik Boeselager, senior

Kendis Fortney, junior

Please feel free to leave comments for the students to read. Thanks!

March Madness & Buffalo Wild Wings

2010-03-19T15:00:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting to post this commercial since last March! The photographer's flash is a cannon...love it!!

See Utah in 360 Degrees: Virtual Reality Panoramas

2010-03-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Recently, Topeka West's very own Linda Harold sent an email containing a link to a very fascinating site. I've been familiar with Quicktime VR (virtual reality) panoramas for several years, but each year they just get better and better!

The night sky and Double Arch, Arches National Park in Utah

The photo above is a still shot taken from a 360 degree VR panorama in Arches National Park in Utah. To experience this breath-taking panorama for yourself ----> click here!

There are many panoramas to see on the site Utah3d.net. Each one is unique and incredibly fun to spin around in! Click on these quick links to see a few more:

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Ironically, just a week or so before Linda sent me her email, my wife's Aunt Janie sent me a link (via email) to Quicktime VR tours of the Vatican...

...click here to tour the Basilica of Saint John Lateran (click on a numbered circle to tour that area of the basilica).

A Day in the Life of New York City...in Miniature

2010-03-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

created by Sam O'Hare...director, photographer, and visual effects artist
titled The Sandpit...a day in the life of New York City
O'Hare shot over 35,000 (!!) photographic stills to create the video
the images were shot over 5 days and two evenings
the miniaturization effect created using tilt-shift effect (<--- What is this?)
music composed by Human, co-written by Rosi Golan and Alex Wong
interview with Sam O'Hare ----> here

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Numbl...a new game available on the Apple App Store!

2010-03-07T09:12:00.012-06:00

Today's post is not so much about photography as it is about supporting the creativity of a past Topeka West photography student. Andy Wise graduated from Topeka West in 2002. Since that time he has received a degree in graphic design from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri and currently is the Creative Director for a marketing and advertising agency called Obata in St. Louis.

Last semester, Andy's younger sister, Samantha, joined the ranks of the Topeka West photography students when she enrolled in Photography 1. During that time she showed me a numbers game that Andy was in the process of designing for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and the soon-to-be-released iPad.

This is the "main menu" screen, displayed when Numbl is first loaded.

This weekend I received an email from Andy stating that his game is now available on Apple's App Store and the game is called Numbl (a combination of the words number and jumble).

Who knew that addition could be so addictive? Numbl is an entertaining math workout for your brain. It's perfect for a quick game, or an endless two-player battle against a friend!

Numbl tests your simple, speedy addition skills. To play, touch numbered tiles as fast as you can to reach a target sum, which is displayed at the top of the screen. Once each tile is used, it disappears. See how quickly you can clear the screen. You'll be surprised at how soon your skills improve!

See how your time compares to other players around the world in the top-100 high score leaderboard. Then, show off your addition wizardry via Facebook and Twitter.

The grid of numbers in a one-player game of Numbl.

After a correct answer, the Numbl tiles disappear to the top.

There is also the option for two players to play simultaneously...

When a 2-player game begins, the numbers for each player slide into place.

I have yet to download Numbl from the App Store this weekend because every time I try I receive an error message stating that the App Store isn't available (even though I am browsing on the App Store when I am trying to download.) Ahhhhh, technology! I will post an immediate review when I finally get the application on my iPhone.

How cool is this that a past Topeka West student is creating apps for the iPod and iPhone? Go Andy!!

Update: I was finally able to download Numbl from the App Store (and updated my iPhone software while I was at it) and I have to honestly tell you that it is an amazing game! The graphics are gorgeous and the gameplay is quick and addictive. You want to constantly keep improving your time. I'll have to take on my son in a two-player challenge. He's kind of a math-genius so I'll be lucky if I beat him even one time!

Update II:

Words of Wisdom for the Aspiring Photographer

2010-03-05T07:00:00.001-06:00

Photoshop and Photography: When Is It Real?

2010-02-27T17:12:00.011-06:00

[from David Pogue's Technology blog] "In the March issue of Popular Photography magazine, the editor's note, by Miriam Leuchter, is called 'What Is a Photograph?'

You'd think that, after 73 years, a magazine called Popular Photography would have figured that out. (Ba-da-bump!)

Actually, though, the editorial is about the magazine's annual Reader's Photos Contest. This year, in two of the categories, the winners were what the magazine calls composites, and what I call Photoshop jobs.

One photo shows a motorcyclist being chased by a tornado;

another shows a flock of seagulls wheeling around a lighthouse in amazingly photogenic formation.

Neither scene ever actually existed as photographed.

Now, in my experience, photographers can be a vocal lot. And a lot of them weren't crazy about the idea of Photoshop jobs winning the contest.

I have to admit that when I saw the winners revealed in a previous issue, I was a bit taken aback, too. I mean, composition and timing are two key elements of a photographer's skill, right? If you don't have to worry about composition and timing, because you can always combine several photos or move things around later in Photoshop, then, well -- what is a photograph?

The thing is, though, this isn't necessarily an open-and-shut case. Ms. Leuchter's editorial points out that photography has never been strictly a 'capture reality' art form. It's never been limited to reproducing what the eye sees.

From the very beginning, photographers have set up their shots, posed people and adjusted brightness and contrast in the development process. So although you may think that some line has been crossed, it might not be so easy to specify exactly where that line sits.

Here's a list of things people do to and for photographs, ranging from the innocent and traditional to the dangerously artificial. If you were running a photography contest, at what point would you draw the line and say 'That's not photography anymore?'

You move the camera to get the best possible shot.
You attach a lens that takes in a much wider or closer view than you would get with your eyes alone.
You choose a shallow depth of field, providing that sharp-subject, blurry-background look of professional photos, which looks nothing like reality.
You set up lights to illuminate a scene in a way that nature never intended.
You bring in a professional crew to transform a model's skin, clothing and hair.
You witness a spectacular event, and then ask the people involved to go back and re-enact what just happened so you can have your camera ready.
In the darkroom, you "burn" and "dodge" to make certain parts of the photo brighter or darker.
You bring the photo into Photoshop to remove red-eye. (After all, the red-eye wouldn't have existed if you hadn't taken the photo to begin with.)
You bring the photo into Photoshop to make the colors "pop" a little more.
You bring the photo into Photoshop to shift one element slightly for better composition.
You combine two or more photographs of the identical scene, taken at different exposures, strictly to produce a better range of lights and darks (what's called "high dynamic range" photography).
You combine two or more elements of different photos of the same scene, taken around the same time, simply to get them all in the frame at once (like the seagulls/lighthouse photo).
You combine two or more elements of different photos that were taken at different times and places (like the motorcycle/tornado photo).
You use a 3-D modeling program to create a photorealistic scene that never existed anywhere but in your imagination.

Of course, your answer may be something like, 'It depends on the purpose of the photo.' If you're a news photographer, you (and your audience) would probably be O.K. with tweaks to the color and contrast, but that's it. On the other hand, if you're an advertising photographer, you and your audience would probably have no problem with anything on the list above.

The question here is, what should the rules be for a photo competition?

Ms. Leuchter suggests that next year, they'll have a separate category for Photoshop creations. I think that's a good idea.

But meanwhile, we live in an age where Photoshop jobs are commonplace, reality TV shows dominate the airwaves, and news bites are taken out of context and manipulated. Maybe, these days, the question isn't 'What is a photograph?'; it's 'What is reality?'"

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What do the readers of Photosynthesis think? Does David Pouge bring up a valid point? Do "photoshopped" images belong in a separate category? Let us know your opinion by leaving a comment below.