Chapter 10 - Photography class

Sebastian and Dorin ran.

At the back of the North Dormitory, there was a small garden that opened to the woods. Past these woods were several small buildings, one of which was a wooden cabin with a sign ‘Photography Club’ posted on a plank in front. Hanging on top of the double doors was a banner saying ‘5th Annual Photography Club Summer Camp’. Several people were standing around a table by the entrance.

“Please sign here for attendance!” It was Anastasia. She brightened up when she saw Dorin with Sebastian and waved them closer. “Good morning Dorin, Sebastian! Good to see you made it on time.”

“Good morning!” Dorin said beaming. “Is the class about to start?”

“In a couple of minutes, just sign your name here...” she pointed to a blank space in a list that was almost filled with names. Dorin signed the attendance sheet and turned around to thank Sebastian for taking him to the Photography Club when he noticed his friend signing his name too.

“Okay, you guys can go right in,” said Anastasia.

“You got in, too?” Dorin said delightedly.

[I’ve got my ways] Sebastian wrote in reply.

The two stepped inside the cabin.

There was a lecture hall inside, and standing on a platform in front of the seats, was Josiah, the Photography club president, fixing small rectangular strips into a round contraption. There were about 24 students inside the room, Dorin and Sebastian included. Dorin found two free seats in front and dragged Sebastian there just in time as Josiah tapped his pen on the table to call their attention.

“Good morning fellow students, and welcome to the Photography Club room,” Josiah said after clearing his throat. “As you all know, this is the 5th Annual Photography Club Summer Camp. My name is Josiah Simpson, Science department year 7, Major in Geography. I guess most of you already know about me, so with no further ado, let us start with our lecture...” He signaled Anastasia who turned off the lights and turned on the round machine. Dorin gasped. He almost jumped out of his seat as he stared at 3D images that seem to fill the room.

“Woah...” he mused as silent as he could, nudging Sebastian with his elbow. “Is that another technological contraption? I can’t feel any magic from it!”

Sebastian nudged him back, harder.

“Now, a short history on Photography...” continued Josiah, ignoring the murmuring from Dorin’s direction as he showed several images to the class.

“Nowadays,” he continued, “we seldom have the need to develop pictures since the advent of digital photography. We can now take photos even with our cellphones...”

“You can?” Dorin asked, looking at Sebastian. “Can you take pictures with your phone, too?” he asked again.

Sebastian continued to ignore him.

“Ahem...” Josiah cleared his throat. “As I was saying, with digital photography, you can take pictures, anytime, anywhere, with a device that could fit in the palm of your hand. You can also view your pictures in a matter of seconds, even movies...”

“But,” Josiah added, “There is no longer the thrill, the real passion of catching a single moment in the blink of an eye, that could never be repeated! To catch the best pictures you could compose! Pictures that you can not view until you have toiled in a dark room to have them developed!”

Josiah has his fists clenched in the air. A murmuring came from the room, even Sebastian was nodding his head in agreement.

“So now, we come to our main topic,” click. “Our main theme is ‘Analog Photography’, using Film Based Cameras. In this year’s Photography Camp, we shall be discussing how to use ‘single-lens reflex’ or SLR cameras.” Josiah signaled Anastasia to turn the lights on. “I expect everyone here is already familiar with the parts and uses of their cameras... Unless you have any questions?”

Sebastian looked at Dorin, waiting for the newbie to ask questions, but the other simply took out his camera, removed the lens cover, and started adjusting the lens. Sebastian shrugged, took out his own camera from one of his coat pockets, and heard Dorin gasp beside him.

“Oh, it’s a Leica M6 camera!” Dorin suddenly said excitedly. “Can I see it?” Sebastian looked at his companion and reluctantly handed his camera. Dorin held it with both hands, removed the cap from the lens, and focused it. “Is there film inside?” he asked.

[Don’t use it] was Sebastian’s written reply. [Have you seen a Leica before?]

“Yup, in your book last night,” Dorin replied absent-mindedly. “Look, that one’s a Spotmatic, and there’s a Bronica and a Mamiya too!” he looked at Sebastian. “You think perhaps they would let me look at their cameras?” he asked.

[Go ahead and ask them] wrote Sebastian.

He watched as Dorin did as he told him. Some of the students smiled at him – Dorin’s grin is really contagious, after all. A girl even took his photo, to Dorin’s delight.

“Now, people, please settle down first,” said Josiah, tapping the table once more. “Now, we will discuss in brief about aperture and shutter speed.” He took a short pause and looked as if he had little interest in the topic, then said simply, “Aperture dictates how much light gets in your picture. Shutter speed, how long the picture is taken.” He looked at Anastasia who came forward holding a camera. “For the purpose of illustrating this, here's Anastasia with a digital camera.”

“Yes, let's take a sample shot to see the difference in aperture...” said a smiling Anastasia. She connected a cable from the DSLR camera to a desk top computer while Josiah sat in a corner. “Now, I need a volunteer...”

Dorin's hand shoots up.

“Yes, Dorin, can you please stand in front with your back to the class?”

“Yes, ma'am!” he does just that.

“Now smile!”

Anastasia took a picture and checked the screen on the computer. The picture was blurry, though.

“Oh, let's try that again, won't we?”

Still, the picture won't show his face clearly.

“Hmm...” Dorin looks at the screen thoughtfully, “Perhaps the camera is broken?”

[Take mine instead] Sebastian offered, standing up.

“Oh, okay.” Anastasia took Sebastian's picture which showed up properly in the screen.

“Hey, how come...” protested Dorin, but Sebastian simply pulled him back to his seat.

“There you have it,” Anastasia continued with the lesson. “As you can see, this portrait was taken with a wide aperture. Notice that the back ground is blurry.”

She asked Sebastian for another picture.

“Now this picture used a narrow aperture, letting in less light, but as you can see, the image behind the model is more defined compared to the first shot.”

“Hmm... so too much light hides the details?” mumbled Dorin.

“This is because a wide aperture produces a narrow depth of field while a narrow aperture produces a wider depth of field.” Josiah cuts in. “Next topic.”

“Right, the light must be just right to illuminate everything!” Dorin said with a nod.

“Y-yes,” Anastasia smiled awkwardly at the club president. “Next is the shutter speed.”

Josiah took out a pinwheel, holds it up and blows at it.

“The shutter speed dictates how long the aperture blades are open.” She takes a picture of the pinwheel spinning. “A fast shutter speed is ideal for taking photos of moving subjects such as cars or children who can't sit still. When the shutter speed is increased, the amount of time the aperture is open is increased, also increasing the exposure by letting in more light.” She took another picture.

“This is ideal in dark settings like taking photos of fireworks in the dark,” said Josiah, still holding the pinwheel, “but it can lead to blurry pictures caused by either a moving subject or unsteady hands. This is where a tripod would be useful...”

“Now, let's look at the photos...” Anastasia points at the two new pictures on the screen. One shows a simple pinwheel, while the other had its blades in a blur.

“Okay, now for practical application,” Josiah took out 2 boxes full of small toys like drums, pull back cars, dominoes, a jack in a box and even a wind up monkey. “You are to find a partner and take photos using first, a wide and narrow aperture, then experiment with your shutter speed. You are to take pictures using the props from these two boxes.”

The students approached the platform to choose their props, Dorin was about to do the same when he noticed Sebastian aiming his cellphone at him.

“Did you take my picture?” he asked with a grin. “Let me see!”

They both looked at the camera phone. The photo, like the ones earlier, was blurred.

“Again!” said Dorin with a frown, keeping as steady as he could.

Sebastian took another snapshot which ended up with the same result.

“What gives?” Dorin wondered aloud.

[You probably have an anti-photo charm on you] wrote Sebastian.

“What for?”

[Ask your mom] Sebastian replied on his slate.

Before Dorin could say another word, Sebastian went to the boxes to take the only remaining props inside – a toy snare drum with sticks tied to its sides, and a creepy, wind-up monkey with an evil sneer on its face.

“Hey, you’re Sebastian, right?” called one of the students suddenly called to him. “Do you have some extra film on you?”

[What type?]

“135 film please, 12 shots,” the guy replied. Sebastian reached into one of his inner pockets and pulled out a small box of film. “Thanks,” said the guy, handing him some money.

“Do you have all kinds of film in there?” asked Dorin, eyeing Sebastian’s coat which didn’t look bulky in any way.

[Yup. I also have slides, the older, the more expensive]

Just then, Josiah called for their attention.

“Please note that you will be submitting a total of 4 photos today; 2 pictures to show the difference between wide and narrow aperture, and 2 pictures to show the difference in shutter speed. You can take as many photos as you want and choose 4 from the stack after we get them developed.”

“Oh, we get to develop them today?” asked Dorin. Josiah ignored him.”

“You have 2 hours to take pictures,” the lecturer continued, “you may take it here inside the room or you may step outside. Your subject for today is the toy you chose from our boxes. Anastasia and I will be available if you have any further questions.”

“We will have our lunch break at 12 noon,” said Anastasia, “but before you leave, please put the toys back in the boxes. The class will resume at 1 pm“

[Let’s go] wrote Sebastian.

The two decided to step outside to take pictures under the natural light. Sebastian placed the creepy monkey on a wooden fence with the woods as the background, and started taking photos.

[Take the drums and play behind the sneering monkey,] he told Dorin, writing fast.

“Like this?” he asked while Sebastian took pictures of the monkey with him playing in the background.

Dorin took a couple of pictures of the monkey too, then of Sebastian, then of a curious red fox peeping between the trunks of 2 beech trees in the woods.

[Don’t take too many pictures, your film might run out] wrote Sebastian. [You also took photos last night, right? There are only 36 shots in that camera. You can’t just put in a new one since we need to develop the roll later]

“Oh, I’ve still got... 17 shots remaining,” said Dorin, looking at the frame indicator. “Can you stand under the sun with the drum?” Sebastian did as he was asked and gave a drum roll as Dorin took some pictures. He focused on Sebastian’s hand as it beat the drum.

“I heard there’s a photo contest after the camp?” he asked Sebastian.

[Yup. 1st place is a high-end twin-lens reflex camera] wrote his friend. [Reason why I joined]

“Woah, a vintage camera, huh?” Dorin mused, “That would be nice, but I’m already content with my SLR,” he grinned. “Besides, a new digital camera would be of no use to me back home where there is no electricity.”

[Are you finished? We still got about 2 hours before lunch]

“Then, how about a trip around campus while we look for somewhere to eat?”

Sebastian nodded in reply.

They made their way, following a path leading away from the cabin, out of the woods, and into an area that Dorin recognized.

“Hey, this is that place last night where we left Margarette near the gates!” he looked around and ran to the side of the wall. “It’s my tiller! You planted it!” he touched the branch of laurel. New leaves were already sprouting from it. Sebastian watched him closely.

[That is a branch of a golden bay laurel tree. It only grows in the southern lands] he wrote.

“Yeah, my mom brought a twig once and planted it in our garden. I see you have planted it as well.” He touched the branch again. “It’s deeply rooted in the ground, I’m guessing you’re a wood element?”

[Something like that] replied Sebastian.

“So you can help plants grow? I bet you have a great garden back home.”

[A herb garden for my spell ingredients] Sebastian wrote. [I have been wondering how you used the branch to fly, it hasn’t been embedded long with power, you mentioned a rudder?]

“I just needed something to sit on while traveling, and it helps with turning directions, less stress on the wind magic.”

[You were using pure wind magic to fly?] Sebastian asked.

“Yup, wanna see?”

[Yes, please]

Dorin gave a whistle. The air started to stir. Another whistle and a gale lifted him up to the air. Sebastian held on to his coat. With a third, higher note, Dorin started to move around, first one direction, then the other, and soon he was flipping in the air.

“Wow, the charm aunt Agate gave me really works wonders! I feel so light and my magic is flowing out regularly!”

[It’s a wonder you can fly at all. The whole university grounds has a magic suppressor of its own. Most students can’t work magic inside the campus, particularly here, inside the inner walls]

“Really?” Dorin asked, “How about you?” Sebastian was motionless for a while. He raised a hand. On his palm, water started to accumulate and overflow. He closed his hand and the water was gone, evaporating into the air. Perspiration dripped from his chin.

[That’s the most I can do]

“But the plant...”

[It was already flowing with your energy, all I had to do was focus on it to grow] he wrote. [I would like to do some tests to gauge the magnitude of your magic, would you consent to that?] he asked.

“Sure, why not?” Dorin replied with a friendly grin, “But you need to show me around campus first!” he quickly added. “Besides, I’m starting to get hungry!”