photography challenge

augmenting visual perception: photography challenge

the augmenting visual perception: photography challenge encourages anyone with a digital camera to photograph or film their visual perception of the same written prompt as if their digital camera is their eye, and therefore, an extension of their brain.

frame from THE MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA (dir. Vertov, 1929)

the final photos and films entered to the photography challenge will be presented at the augmenting intelligence final project showcase at carnegie mellon university on fri. dec. 6, 2024.

the first 10 participants who contribute a visual submission to the project will be compensated $20 via electronic payment.

inquire to participate via this form to confirm your spot.

the prompt

take up to three unique photos or videos of your interpretation of the following prompt–

document how you see sunlight filtering through a plant.

explain your thought process behind each shot via words or drawings.

use any digital camera you have access to–

  • your smartphone,
  • a canon powershot from 2009,
  • a flip phone from 2003,
  • a sony A7S IV from 2022
  • (anything you want, as long as it is digital)

to get started, here is my example offering–

WHO ken

WHY most of the leaves have dried up or fallen from the trees, except for the ginko trees. they drop their leaves all at once after turning bright yellow. as i was walking through a shadow, i looked up and noticed the sunlight illuminating the top of the tall ginko tree and started taking photos and videos as i continued my walk.

HOW ultraeye (samsung galaxy s21)

WHAT ginko-sun

WHERE & WHEN walking to the library to work on a machine learning problem

i was transfixed by the idea of using my phone to capture light filtering through the ginko leaves, but it was too harsh without being able to control the aperture, so i kept it dark.
when i moved my body slightly, i saw the sun peak through the leaves. i kept moving until i saw the exact sunbeam i wanted.
if i wasn’t precise, the sun would flood the lens and become more abstract. i kind of like it this way.

questions? email ken stewart at kmstewar@andrew.cmu.edu

the augmenting visual perception: photography challenge is a final course project for the augmenting intelligence course at carnegie mellon university’s human-computer interaction institute.