How did it come about?

The idea for my project came very easily.  I had always wanted to know how to take pictures but I never got around to it.  So I knew already which instrument of vision I wanted to use.  Then the question was HOW to use it.  I've always loved the outdoors and I've always dreamt of taking pictures of nature.  So now I had my subject but my final project couldn't be just taking pictures of nature.  So, I had to find something unique about nature that I could focus on.  I got my idea from a leaf on the ground when I was waiting for a bus.   I kept staring at it and I realized how fascinating it was that the leaf was symmetrical.  Cue the lightbulb over my head. 

I decided it would be interesting to see how people would react when they would see photos of nature that were designed to show the natural symmetry in it. When there is a pattern, it seems like there might be some sort of plan out there and perhaps something greater than ourselves designing it all. And can you believe I got all of this from a leaf while waiting for the bus.

What was the project?

The project turned into quite an experience. I had to buy a camera (not so cheap I found out), then I went and figured out what I actually wanted to take pictures of. I made a long list of things with symmetry. As I imagined. The best pictures I took seemed to be of flowers or other attractive plants. But, I found beauty in water ripples and my dog's paws and other things as well. To present the photos I had taken I wanted to compare the "symmetry" I found in nature to real and true symmetry. To do this, I wanted to show the photos as I took them and then a copy of the same photos all with pieces of mirror across the line of symmetry in order to show true symmetry in comparison to apparent symmetry. I went thru many ideas on the actual presentation. I decided to construct boxes in the same way you would a kaleidoscope. I bought the lumber and decided it wasn't a good idea. Then thru a chance happening I visited a site about kaleidoscopes that said how to make your own. It suggested using Pringle's cans. A much simpler idea than constructing these heavy boxes. A light source for the photos was still a problem. To solve I went to Kinko's and had the photos put on color transparencies so that I could put them at the end of the can and natural light could come thru (much like a kaleidoscope) to light the "photos" up. So the project now consists of multiple small Pringle's cans with a slice of mirror in them with a picture at the end of the can. One can now compare the real symmetry of the world with the apparent of nature.

 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PHOTOS I CHOSE.