Photography 101 (Career Class)

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Sterling Goldwasser wrote:: The man responded to the boy's greeting with a "Take it easy, son." Sterling nodded and gave him a small smile, feeling a bit guilty for being amused at his clothing choice. Though that didn't change the fact that he was amused, he made a point to push all thoughts about it from his head, no need for him to be rude after all, even if the man couldn't hear him.

As the class started and Sterling listened to him talk, he couldn't help but relate to what the man was saying. Though he didn't take many pictures, only the occasional one when someone stopped him to have them take their picture, he could understand what he meant by expressing yourself through the art. It was much the same with music. A large point was to make the listeners feel what you feel. All of the greatest musicians could make you feel emotions that you kept hidden deep inside, and for Sterling, music was almost equally about helping him to release those feeling in a way that didn't involve punching someone or something.

As the group moved to look at the first piece and was asked what they saw Sterling was surprised by the fact he recognized it. It was one that Valentina had talked about constantly at home and even in her letters to him. It was one of the first photographs and was the oldest surviving picture in the world.He was surprised Kit had been able to get it unless it was a copy, and while he had no real interest in the artwork, he found himself leaning closer to look at it so he would be able to tell his sister all about it in his letters.

As the others finished talking he decided to have his own input, knowing some about the piece from his sister's excessive talking about it. He raised his hand and waited to be called upon before talking. "It's the worlds oldest photo and was one of the first taken. It's a picture of a town from an upstairs window, and if I remember correctly was actually taken with some sort of technique that transferred the picture to a piece of metal?" He knew he sounded like a know-it-all, but didn't care. At least he would be able to tell his sister all about it. Speaking of which, he pulled out a notebook and pencil to take notes. He would want to be able to tell Valentina everything.

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Gaspard Kylar wrote:: While the rest of the class could seem to see something, Gaspard wondered if he needed glasses. To him, at least, it looked like a hunk of metal and that was it. Squinting, he supposed he could see what the Hufflepuff and the others were trying to get at. If you squinted as he was and turned your head sideways. Sighing in resignation, he stayed quiet since he didn't think his answer would garner any acknowledgement aside from scorn.

Perhaps he should rethink this class? If they were just going to be looking at things you could barely decipher, he would much rather have his eyes blur from the strain of Ancient Runes or Arithmancy. Edging away from the others as they crowded around the 'art', Gaspard looked towards the door wondering if he would be able to slip out with none the wiser. Perhaps, just this once it would be okay to skive off a class. It was just extracurricular and wouldn't affect his grades in the long run...

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Sasha Denver wrote:: Sasha listened what was said once the lesson did start there now. To be honest she didn't know much about photography history there. Anyways she listened what everyone else said too when they were guided to some pictures in other room. She wasn't really sure what it was but she did see there same things what people had mentioned there now.

So Sasha decided to not add anything there now. There was no point really. Also seems like her housemate did the pretty good job at answering the question anyway. She herself didn't even know that.

She looked at the picture and must admit it wasn't easy to tell what it was on it but she could see things here and there. Well shapes of them. She wasn't really sure how well she will do in this class. She had taken it and now she will stick around too. Even if she is risking that Kit might recognize eventually who she is but she hopes not. It would complicate some things for her even more.

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Nerisei Gerber wrote:: Being one of the first to arrive at the lesson, Nerisei had the time to think about things. Would people join today's class, or would they prefer to do something else to fill their time, just like Anne? Honestly, in Nerisei's mind, everyone should join the Photography lesson, because art, in its every form, helped people develop both their intellect and personality. Some preferred music, others writing or even painting, and there were also others who loved to capture the moments in a picture.
Thankfully, a lot of people seemed to join, and that gave Neri a sense of relief. It seemed that a lot of students were art friendly, after all!

The lesson started soon after, and Nerisei fell quiet, listening to everything the Professor had to say. In the beginning, the Professor explained a little about photography, but Nerisei was too busy looking around the classroom. The Professor had transformed the place to look like a small Art Gallery, and to be fair, it looked amazing. The Ravenclaw witch had been to a lot of galleries, thanks to her mum, but she never got bored of it.

Soon, the Professor moved them towards the first piece, and Nerisei raised an eyebrow at his question. She didn't know if it was just her, but to be honest, all she could see was some sort of a metal. Maybe painted with some sort of oily paint, but that was it. People started sharing their opinion though, and the more ideas Neri heard, the more she considered herself blind. To her, it was simply a piece of metal, but for all she knew, she could be wrong.

Subject: Re: Photography 101 (Career Class) Mon Jun 28, 2021 6:10 pm

It looked like the little Gryffindors really were going to be his best supporters in this class. Their enthusiasm was sure appreciated by the professional photographer as they threw out their assessments without fear of judgement or error. Ah to be that young and free again. Kit hoped these girls would never lose this special part of themselves.

"While Dominique and Mercy are both partly correct, it's Mr. Goldwasser who has hit the nail on the head," the man proclaimed proudly. "What you see is indeed the first photograph ever taken. A historical document so to speak. The University of Texas is where it currently resides but they were kind enough to let me borrow it for this class." Hopefully this would spawn new appreciation for the blurred photo in the students.

"You see, the idea behind the invention of a photograph was to capture what the eye can see, without attachment of the human mind that is biased behind it. For those who have learned how eyesight works in science, light and dark rays enter our eyes and our mind interprets them as images. Our brain then gives context to these images. At first, the idea was only to capture, not give context, which was how the very first machines to capture light and keep it in picture form were invented. If you'll please follow me."

Waling ahead, Kit made sure everyone was following as he lead them to the next exhibit, a looped video running on an old movie projector of a man sprinkling salt on bits of paper. The video was intentionally made comical as he reached in to his spice cabinet, sprinkling sheets of paper with salt, pepper, chilie powder and other contents of the cabinet. "Students, meet Mr. William Henry Fox Talbot - quite the mouthful no?" The man gave his students a moment to assess the video and the harried Englishmen performing absurdities in it.

"Can anyone guess what Mr. Talbot is trying to do with all those spices and pieces of paper? I'll give you kids a hint, he isn't making paper stew."

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Come plot with me! <3

Photography 101 (Career Class) - Page 2 Rsz_rs12

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Dominique Greene wrote:: Dominique smiled when Kit said that she was partly correct. As she would take that, but it seemed like Sterling was the one who got it right. It didn't bother her that she didn't get it right. It was just nice that Sterling was in a class with her. But she smiled as she was trying to get everything that she was learning today. As she was soaking it up like a sponge. They then went on to the next exhibit. Which this was something that she thought that she knew what he was doing. Dominique was sure that she would get this one right.

“ Is he developing film?” She knew there was a special room that was used. There could be no light or it would ruin the photo. She then just waits to see if Kit would tell her if she was correct or not. Even though she knew that it wouldn’t matter if she did get it wrong.

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Mercy Williams wrote:: Mercy was okay with being partially correct--she'd simply said what she'd seen. There was no way she could've known what Sterling knew, so she didn't feel bad about not having as good of an answer.

She followed Mr. Harrington to the next exhibit, watching the weird man for a little while as he sprinkled spices all over bits of paper. She had no idea what he was doing, but since Mr. Harrington was explaining about how photography worked and how light created pictures, maybe that was a clue?

She looked at Dia as she answered, and nodded thoughtfully. That seemed like a smart idea. She didn't know what developing film entailed, so for all she knew, maybe that was what Mr. Talbot was doing. Or maybe not.

"Is he making a picture?" she ventured a guess. You could create art with spices--they were all different colours, after all. It reminded her a little of a sand art kit she had when she was little. You mixed together all the different coloured sand to make pretty patterns. Well, you were supposed to anyway. She just liked to shake it up and get sand everywhere.

"Like, is he using the different colours to draw something?" she explained, hoping she might be at least partially correct like last time.

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Sterling Goldwasser wrote:: Sterling nodded to the teacher as he proclaimed he was right. He had expected to be, as his sister would have killed him if he'd gotten it wrong, but he still couldn't help a small smile from coming across his face. He listened to the rest of what the teacher said, but found himself less interested now. There had been a split moment where he wondered if he would actually enjoy the class, but as the discussion had turned back to things he didn't know, nor care to know, his interest dropped once more.

He didn't really have any interest in the light or context of the picture and was instead caught by the fact that he was looking at the first ever picture to be taken. Granted, it didn't seem to be a very good picture, but it was the first one, and that was just cool to him. As most of the class moved to the next exhibit he took another couple second to stare at the picture, though he could still hear Kit and was most definitely listening, if not just for another chance to show off in front of Dia.

As Kit stopped talking Sterling joined the group, gazing at the man in the video. He agreed with Dia and smiled, nodding to her before looking back at the video. There was no way for him to be sure, and he didn't have another guess so he just stayed quiet.

Subject: Re: Photography 101 (Career Class) Mon Jun 28, 2021 6:11 pm

Kit let the little ones speak their mind, appreciating their interest as well as their perceptiveness before speaking up himself. "Mercy, while you are correct in that he is making pictures, he isn't drawing with the spices. Little Dominique has the completely correct answer here," the man beamed proudly at the young Gryffindors. "Mr. Talbot in indeed developing film."

Giving the students a moment to relate the process of developing film in a dark room with sprinkling spices in a kitchen, Kit continued. "You see kids, the very first paper on which photographs could appear was called "salt paper", quite accidentally discovered by Mr. Talbot since his mercury infused paper still refused to print the photographs taken correctly. He found that adding a little salt would help as much in his photograph paper as it would in his stews - for he was notoriously terrible cook."

A polite round of laughter emitted from the student group, thank Merlin he was still funny.

"Now, I have a very interesting little game I'd like you to play," Kit informed the students as he moved them along to the next exhibit. "I'm going to show you two different - very different - pictures and you are all going to guess whats similar between them. Remember there are no wrong answers, so throw out whatever your mind says." With that, he ushered them to a dimly lit showcase made to look like a balcony whee two pictures took place of pride - one of hem admittedly a little risque for the youngsters but they would learn soon enough anyway.

"So, anyone wants to guess the similarities between the two pictures?"

________________________________________________

Come plot with me! <3

Posts : 39 Join date : 2021-06-28

Nerisei Gerber wrote:: The lesson was flowing, and people kept sharing their ideas on the pictures. The Professor, so far, seemed to have very good knowledge about Photography, and the young witch was really glad about it. It was rare, nowadays, that Professors were actually that passionate about their subject.

Next there was a video of a man using all sorts of powdery stuff over the pictures. Nerisei recognised him as William Talbot. Her mother had talked to her about him before, and the witch actually knew that the man wasn't playing around, but was, actually, testing to see which of the powders would develop the film. But before the witch could speak up about it, a younger Gryffindor spoke up, giving the wrong answer. Though, another Gryffindor popped in to save the day, and provided the Professor with the correct answer. Nerisei made a face, kind of miffed that she didn't have the chance to speak up. But the lesson was still going, and there were many questions she was sure she would be able to answer.

What the Ravenclaw didn't expect next was for the Professor to speak of a game. As he explained what was going to go down, Nerisei found herself raising an eyebrow. Comparing two pictures shouldn't be that hard, but the witch had a weird feeling in her stomach, something that she couldn't really explain. But they were ushered towards the pictures soon enough, and for the first time today, Nerisei found herself wishing she hadn't attended the class.

The first picture was of a man dressed in a suit. The picture was obviously old, compared to the one that was right next to it. The other picture showed a naked girl, taking a picture of herself using her phone. Nerisei had to blink a couple of times, unable to register what she was seeing. The Professor couldn't possibly be serious? Plus, there were way too many differences, instead of similarities. What was he expecting to hear? Especially from the younger students?

The Ravenclaw witch took some time staring at the pictures. She still found it really hard to understand why on earth the Professor would find nude pictures appropriate for the lesson, but the truth was that this was reality, and sooner or later, they would all come to face with one. Or they would even take one. At that though, Nerisei felt her cheeks grow hot, as a shade of pink took over them.

"They were both taken with a mirror?" The witch offered, gulping down the lump that had formed in her throat. This was not the only similarity she could spot, but it would suffice for now.

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