- Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.
I will be partaking in a photography class provided by Shutterbug Photography and led by Bradley Adams. Each week I will attend classes to learn about different photography classes and go on a class outing. I also will be using STEP funds to buy a camera for this undertaking.
- What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.
Before I started the class, I had close to no understanding for the different topics of photography and composition. I didn’t understand the mechanics of a camera and how I could best capture moments to remember. When I took pictures of friends, I would just eyeball and guess what kind of picture would look good. I did not realize how beautiful a simple scene could be.
After taking the class, my understanding improved. I wouldn’t have my friends lost in the contrast of a back-lit scene. I stopped taking blurry action shots by adjusting my shutter speed. I saw how I could change my perspective and make a simple scene look great with contrast and highlighting my subject. I was able to see more beauty in the world and myself.
- What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.
My STEP Signature Project was very rich with memorable events and interactions. Bradley Adams was very genuine with his passion for photography and definitely rubbed off on all of the students. He captured my attention and it definitely helped me learn the different concepts of photography. He was able to break down the concepts well. Whenever I had questions, he would be able to cater his explanation so I could better understand. My classmates also were valuable to my experience.
All my classmates were older than me, but even so we were equals in the classroom. They would ask questions I would never think of, but the answers would deepen my understanding. I was able to have discussions about our projects and assignments and I got many different perspectives. Photography is a subjective art and speaking with each of my classmates exposed me to many world views. It was especially eye-opening when the class went on an outing in German Village.
As a class we went out to German Village, and this experience helped me find beauty where I may have overlooked it before. Walking with the group, it was interesting to see what my classmates would want to take photographs of. There is a cute little door down the sidewalk of German Village, and I literally changed my perspective by squatting down to make the door look more life-like. The class was a great experience, and I will carry the skill and hobby with me throughout my life.
- Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.
The change is significant because I will be able to add my own style into my endeavors through my pictures. I am a computer science and engineering major. However, I believe that I will be able to use photography to my advantage. In the field of web-development, it would be helpful to be able to source my own images to cater to a specific web experience. With different apps, I may use photography to help shape how certain pages or icons look. In e-commerce, being able to spotlight products would be extremely helpful. I also love capturing moments with my friends. I’m sure this skill will give me an edge in my field.
