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High School Submissions

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Runner-up, High School category. For the Art of STEM contest, I chose to take a picture of a plasma ball. A plasma ball by definition is a clear glass container filled with a mixture of various noble gases with a high-voltage electrode in the center of the container. When voltage is applied, a plasma is formed within the container. I chose this subject because whenever I've gone to the science center this was always my favorite exhibit to go and see. I thought this would be a good idea because it combines something that I've always loved and it can be captured in a photograph in many ways. I chose a close up of the plasma ball to really encapsulate to energy inside. I didn't want any negative space to distract the viewers from the main focus. Small exhibits and different attractions can often be overlooked, so I wanted to take this picture so the public could get more in-depth of the subject. The energy that is within the plasma ball is an odd yet satisfying sight to see and because of the high level of detail, there's always something to look at to keep you intrigued.
Runner-up, High School category. This image was taken in my front yard, which faces the Lower Shaker Lake public park. Growing up, I have so many memories with my friends and family in that very park, commonly known as the "duck pond" to Shaker residents. One day, I noticed the last leaf hanging onto the tree, and I figured with the beautiful lights in the background, it would make an amazing photo. I believe that this image represents a shifting of seasons with the representation of the leaf as a focal point, but I also find that it can be interpreted as a nostalgic memory of the Lower Shaker Lake to so many locals and visitors who come to Shaker every year.
I went to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and I was lucky enough to be there when the Chameleon was getting fed. I used a really fast shutter speed, and I got it at the exact time where he was grabbing the insect with his tongue. I loved the Chameleon's bright colors on it. So when I was editing the picture, I added a little bit of brightness and saturation. I also cropped out the person's hand when he was handing him the insect. I thought this would be a cool picture to enter, because I personally think it's cool that you see the tongue catch the insect. The picture is also focused on the chameleon and just that. You can't really see the background. The leaves are kind of in the way, but I didn't notice that until later. I think people will think this picture is attractive because of the bright colors.
I went to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and I was lucky enough to be there when the Chameleon was getting fed. I used a really fast shutter speed, and I got it at the exact time where he was…
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This is a photo of a white-tailed deer skull, which was found in an Ohio forest. The white-tailed deer population in Ohio has greatly increased from 17,000 deer in 1970 to an estimated 700,000 deer today. Deer have become overpopulated and have caused many issues in cities and forests. One reason deer have become overpopulated in parts of the US is the removal of predators such as wolves, black bears, and mountain lions. The habitats have grown smaller and smaller for the predators, which have caused them to be driven out of the area. However, this shrinkage has made these areas better for deer and they can cause damage to remaining forests. They feed on many varieties of plants in the forest and when deer populations are too high, they can cause some plant species to decline or disappear from the area. This means the more overpopulated deer are, the more they can harm the future for forest ecosystems.
Winner, High School category. I took this photo on the white sandy beaches of Siesta Key, Florida when the sun was bright and the tides were low, revealing different types of crabs, seashells, and starfish. Although low tides allow for taking beautiful photos, they are very harmful to marine life. I decided to take this photo of a blue crab to expose the reality of climate change, it is becoming more apparent that the animals of the sea and their welfare is constantly being overlooked. While the people of Florida were out tanning and searching for shells, many crabs were either striving to escape from dangerous predators or dying of oxygen depletion and exposure to the hot sun. With climate change as a new arising issue, the oceans and their inhabitants are being put at great risk. Underneath all of the beauty of this animal, people may not realize that it is no longer living and is missing limbs. Along with many others lying across the shoreline, it suffered from the low tides and increased temperatures due to climate change.
The image depicts a plastic bottle sitting in a bed of plants, however the plastic will stay there and not decompose at the same rate as natural substances such as food or animals. The image is important to me because it represents the direction that the world is going. Plastics ruin our earth and could result in the extinction of all life as we know it. The image is to spread awareness on the science of how the earth breaks down raw materials vs. plastics. Plastic water bottles can take over 450 years to decompose and our entire world runs on plastic. Plastic can also release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil which can leak into the water supply. It harms the organisms that use the water greatly. Preserving our earth is extremely important to me and I wanted my art to reflect that.
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible. This quote is an excerpt from The Bee Movie produced by Dreamworks animation. I believe it really connects to my image, Abeille Sur Un Fleur, which shows a bee struggling in its physics defying life of bouncing from flower to flower collecting pollen. The drone of his wings are similar to the drone of the average daily life of people and bees alike. Where there's little stimulation or excitement, we just do what we do. I wanted to show how we're not alone in this way of life, to show how no matter how technologically advanced we are compared to bees, the average bee is the same socially and agenda wise as the average human.
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees…
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This photograph was taken at the Cleveland Art Museum in the middle of spring. This is an interesting photo, because snails normally hide during the day so they can avoid the sun. Even though snails can live in relatively dry conditions, they require some moisture which is why during the day they usually hide in the soil or in the shade. Snails are usually viewed as pests because at night they feed directly on plants, which can be very damaging. Sadly, in this photo the snail is most likely dead because it is shriveled up outside of the shell. It is possible that the snail died because it had to leave its shell to search for food. In the end, the beating sun eventually caused the snail to dry out, and because it was out of its shell it did not have any protection. In most cases snails will use their mucus to keep them hydrated, or to seal off their shell. However, this snail eventually became too dehydrated and died.
Dandelions, although they are considered a weed, remain beautiful and magical even as they wither away. This image is scientific, as it presents the circle of life, but it also carries a deeper meaning of beauty. Although these 'weeds' are a little rough around the edges this image presents a calming feeling drawing the viewer in to notice more in the image--such as the new Dandelions beginning to grow beside the old, starting the circle of life over again. This image also appeals to the viewer as it isn't flat, as there are many textures presented. Looking at the image you can almost reach out and touch the dandelions, you know the soft feeling of the flower and it brings back memories of picking it as you and your friend blow on it and watch the fluff of the weed float away gracefully in the wind.
Dandelions, although they are considered a weed, remain beautiful and magical even as they wither away. This image is scientific, as it presents the circle of life, but it also carries a deeper…
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My photo is showing a bumble bee pollinating a flower. Bees are one of the most important species in our ecosystem. They pollinate food crops that drive our food markets. But their impact goes beyond food crops. Honey bees also pollinate non-food crops such as cotton and flax. We don't realize how much of an impact bees have on our daily lives, from clothing to food. I remember being scared of bees when I was younger because they could sting you, but as I got older I started to realize how important they are.
This image was taken a couple months ago. I took this image at the garden located at my school. I had to take images for my photography class and that led to this photograph. I picked this image because I felt like I could turn it into something special. The photograph has a glowing atmosphere, and it is very colorful. This image is important to me because every image has a deeper meaning. My story behind the image is that beautiful things are not perfect. Everything has a down side. Moreover, I hope that the public can picture their own story by looking at this image. I hope they can relate to it and add their personal values into it. Overall, this image tells a story beyond just the bee and the flower. No one is perfect.
Bees oftentimes cause chaos. From scared children to stings, they tend to get a negative reputation. However, we often fail to realize how much good they actually bring to our earth. Aside from the obvious, like creating delicious honey, the majority of the food we eat actually depends on bees. About one third of our global food supply is pollinated by bees. This image shows a bee in a flower, where they are often found, run away from, or swatted at everyday. However, through this simple image, we get a chance to look at the beautiful creature that most of us take for granted. On the outside, bees may be scary- with a familiar buzz that may be associated with a sting. But without these small creatures, humans wouldn't live for long, for bees actually keep us alive. This picture Feared Lovers is a small way to get that point across.
My image is highlighting the engineering part of stem and engineering is what makes the world go around. Many people believe that engineering is just simply building things, but in reality, engineers do everything from coding, building, and developing new ideas. Engineering helped the world become what it is today. From windmills, solar panels, cars, lights, home appliances, etc. Engineering helped the human race flourish to what it is today by merely developing and producing products. Society depends on the engineers we have today, but they are not given credit towards what they do. My piece is a wired robot; one of the earliest elements of engineering most children are taught. I wanted to take a picture of this because it's something that many people have grown to learn. You can break any electrical piece apart and see some wiring; it is what makes things work. Robots are the future of our society, and we rely on robots now more than we ever had. That's why it is so vital for the youth to be informed about the aspects of engineering and every field of it. There are all types of engineering to help the place we call Earth home.
This picture took me multiple days, for I wanted to wait for the perfect cargo ship to pass by. But, once I found the right boat and got set up, it was very easy to get good, clear photographs. This is because these cargo ships go very slowly so you don't have to worry about panning or taking the shot quickly. While the boat was passing by, I tried many different angles to take the photo, and even flew my drone above the boat to get an aerial view, which I also really liked. I ended up choosing this photo and this boat because I feel that the red paint of the boat contrasts well with the very blue water and sky. I had to edit this to get rid of some unwanted elements, and it took me a while to get it just right. But, I feel that now that it is done, it is very rewarding. The science and engineering behind these boats is very cool. It is incredible how people are able to design and build these colossal ships and design engines and propellers that are able to move them. One crazy thing about them is that they take approximately one mile to stop or to turn, which is a very long distance
Energy is everywhere. Every breath, every step, every jump. Photography can capture a snippet of this. In dance, kinetic energy is used to create movement and art. The dancer built up potential energy, which is transformed into kinetic energy as she soars into the air. As she bends her knees to jump, she exerts force into the ground and--because of Newton's third law--it also exerts force onto her. As she releases, she goes into the air and the potential energy converts to kinetic energy, following the First Law of Thermodynamics. As the dancer reaches her maximum velocity, gravity brings her back down to the ground. The kinetic energy begins to convert back into potential energy as she returns to the ground. It takes passion, hard work and a desire for perfection. Dance is everywhere. Dancer Taylor Jacubenta is in the iconic Kitri Jump. This photo was taken in a parking lot with shrubbery in the background. Natural light provided the shadow, and editing in Photoshop enriched the photo.
I took this photo at my school's learning garden. It is of a bee landing on a flower collecting pollen. This was a challenging photo to take because I needed to get the bee in focus before it flew away. This was challenging because I had a very short amount of time to capture this photo. This is important to me because this is one of the first pictures I took this year. I love this image for how close up the image is and how much detail you can see. I also love the fact that this is a unique photograph that I won't be able to retake again. This is one of my favorite photos I have taken this year, and I think it fills the space well. The value of this image to the public is to spread awareness around the topic of bees going extinct in recent years. Many people do not understand that bees are essential to our planet because of pollination. Bees are essential to us and our world and if they continue to decrease in numbers, it could completely change our world as we know it. I hope that people get a new understanding of the importance of bees from this photograph.
With the recent push for the acknowledgment of and for action against global warming, I thought this photo was fitting for the contest. This photo was taken on Christmas day where it was 60 degrees Fahrenheit. During this time the lake is starting to slowly thaw. The whole photo shows many different types or styles of weather interacting all at once during a period of time that is normally primarily cold and snowy--at least in the Midwest. The weather changes show how fast temperature can change now in comparison to a few years ago where it was more linear and stable and at a level that was considered to not be a concern. This is extremely odd for the middle of winter in the Midwest. With the recent research and large amounts of information supporting the valid existence of global warming action needs to happen. Hopefully this will give more exposure to the serious threat that global warming proposes. I hope with this photo helps more and more people to call for immediate action and help support the need for more to be done and for people to see that this is a real issue. We have until 2050 to prevent major irreversible impacts on our planet.
Smoke has been around since the beginning of time; with fires for heat, to lighting a cigarette, to being pushed out of cars. Originally, no one had the proper knowledge to learn the havoc that something so minute could cause to an entire society. But with centuries of research we have the data and irrefutable facts that this toxic gas is a disturbance to this world we claim we love so much. In 1996 our state of Ohio began a new vehicle emissions testing program, E-Check, which is used to decipher when motor vehicles produce excessive pollution into the air. E-Check is known to be the most cost efficient tactic to save our earth. In my image I want to show just another car producing pollution which is something that most people are not conscious about. We are always so worried about getting to where we need to be without giving a second thought of the effects of our methods of getting to and fro. This 2017 Nissan Altima is luckily a hybrid that checks off all of the E-Check criteria making this a safe car for the environment. Even with this being said, think of all the uncertified vehicles in the world.
My piece of art is important to me because it shows how I personally view the Earth we live on. I love birds because of how carefree and gorgeous they are. My piece shows the science behind nature that sometimes we overlook. When we think of science we think of energy and mechanics, but we don't think about the environment. Birds are a part of our day to day lives, just like other organisms. With climate change one day we will not see these beautiful animals if we continue to harm our planet. My photo is valuable to the public because it allows the viewer to see every detail of the Blue Jay and recognize how special animals are to us. Being able to get up close to the Blue Jay allowed me to connect with it more. I was able to see that this small creature has its own habits just like us humans, and has a life of its own. I hope that when people see my piece they will start to realize that we should not take the small things we have on this Earth for granted because if we start to forget these animals, they will soon disappear.
This photo is a picture of a house structure made of sticks. I found the house in the garden at my school (Shaker Heights High School). I edited this photo to make the background black and white, I then went over the house to add color. I edited it in that way because the house was surrounded by trees and was kinda hidden away in the back part of my school's garden. Personally, I think this photo is a metaphor for loneliness. I want someone to look at this photo and come up with a story for the house and the garden. People could relate to the photo in many ways. Everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives. The meaning of the photo can symbolize anything for anybody. My favorite thing about this photo is the house really stand out. Not only because the background is black and white, but the trees and nature around it makes it pop.
This photo is a picture of a house structure made of sticks. I found the house in the garden at my school (Shaker Heights High School). I edited this photo to make the background black and white, I…
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A new class of brain cells, mirror neurons are active when people perform an action and when they watch it being performed. Some scientists came to the conclusion that a mirror system in people form their background for social behavior, giving us our ability to imitate, acquire language, and show empathy and understanding. They are called mirror neurons because when an animal acts and watches the same action, they were thought to "mirror" movement, as though the observer were acting. In my photo I decided to use mirrors as a way to show that what a person sees in the mirror isn't what another person is seeing, we all perceive the world around us differently. I have learned that your mood can also affect the way you see yourself in a mirror, for example, if you looked in the mirror right after doing great on a test or making any other achievement you will find yourself more attractive than you really are, while if you looked in the mirror while you were already down then, most likely, you will see yourself through a different lens. My picture is all about the different moods your mirror has seen you in.
Science is Key. We use science in our everyday lives and we don't even realize it. In order for us to use science and experiment with different things, we need to make sure we use it safely in order to be successful. I chose this picture because my subject is representing safety by having all the right materials. For example goggles are shown in the picture which are protecting your eyes from things in the lab. He also has on gloves and an apron to make sure he will not get anything on him that could put him in harm's way. I choose to put that photo in black and white because I thought it made the other things in the image stand out. In the image his gloves are bright blue so it comes out of the picture very well. also his eyes are bright brown so they pop out in the image as well. I am very happy with my image because I think it represents the message of science safety really well. I learned most of these techniques in my school science class, as we use the same procedures when we are doing lab. Overall this project was fun and taught me a lot.
The picture is of two people in a school hallway. One is running circles around the other. To take this picture I used the freeze method of taking photos. By using this method I achieved the allusion of a ghost like figure running around the person standing still. This photo is important to me because it was the first photo I took in photo class. I think that this is one of my best works just because of how simple it is. I also really like this photo because I did not have to make any edits to it besides resizing it. I think that when a photo is bare with no edits it looks best, it just depends on how you adjust the features and settings on the camera, as well as the lighting and the way the camera is angled. The best thing about this photo is the fact that it took 10 minutes to capture and it still can be very deep and meaningful. It can represent many things but when I took the photo I was not trying to put in a specific message. It can represent how society is moving fast and some can't hang.
This image is of a LED star shining in front of a window. My family and I just moved into a new house, and for the holidays this year, we decided to decorate our house with some newly bought decorations. We found these cool LED lights, and they happen to represent science and technology well. In my school, we have a photography class, and I rented one of the cameras over our winter break. I went on many walks because the weather was nice, but I enjoyed taking pictures at home more. To me, this photo not only represents my photography knowledge but represents a cool and impactful way that technology advances society. In many cases, technology can help improve society, but this photo represents how technology can also be entertainment and something subtle that most people sweep past. I barely edited this photo because I thought the way the photo came out naturally better represented the STEM mindset. All I did was adjust the contrast the slightest bit so that the star wouldn't be so obscenely bright. I like how the wire is still shown behind the star, as it represents how technology is connected, and not entirely perfect.
The story behind this image started when I meet a girl named Gabby who is 18 years old. As I was talking to her I noticed her eyes were two different colors. I complimented her eyes and asked if she had contacts in, she told me no and that she has Heterochromia. Heterochromia iridis is an uncommon condition in which the two eyes are different in color from each other. Eye color is a manifestation of the pigment that is present in the iris. Brown eyes are rich in melanin, and blue eyes indicate a lack of melanin. Some of the most common reasons why this happens are due to family DNA, trauma during birth, genetic mutation and diseases. Gabby was just born this way. I feel this image is important to not just me but to the public because this image can educate people about Heterochromia. Learning new information like this could inspire people to come up with a cure for Heterochromia. The image could also could inspire people in other ways. Another question I had for her was if she thinks it limits her in anyway and she told me she loves having two different eye colors.
Nature's gaze depicts the beauty, wonder, and curiosity that exists in all living beings. I believe that all creatures are beautiful in their own way and you will find that all animals have very prominent personalities if you are around them enough. In my piece, I combined my 2 favorite hobbies, horseback riding and photography, to show the beauty and complexity in the simple and everyday. I took this photo while walking around the barn. I have spent countless hours with friends--both human and animal. As I was walking around, the depicted horse, Frankie, was curiously following me around and posing for the camera at every chance she got. I believe that in this photo you can truly see the wonder in her eyes which perfectly matches the wonder in her heart and soul that exists in living creatures everywhere. This photo contributes to the public because it shows that there is something profoundly human and personable in nature and the wild that I believe we all need to get a little bit more in touch with. As human life continues to progress, we are inadvertently stripping away our worlds wildlife, therefore we are ultimately striking down natures gaze.
This photograph is taken along the Erie Canal Towpath. This trail follows closely the path that many boats and mules took from 1827 to 1913. This photograph shows the wheat-growing along the path. Wheat lines the highways and is seen by thousands every day, but few stop to look. I decided to stop and admire the natural beauty. I snapped a picture of the beautiful sight with light streaming through the stalks. I choose to make this photo black and white to show the stark contrast between light and dark, and it helps show the difference between the light happy sun and the dark soil of the earth. This wheat helps show the power of botany, the study of plants. With the rising temperatures from global warming, many plants are starting to die off. This natural beauty shown in this photo helps represent what we need to save by using fewer fossil fuels. When editing this photo I chose to make very few adjustments in Photoshop. I felt that the beauty of nature should be kept in this photo. In conclusion, this photo took much time and effort to try and make the true beauty of nature show.
This image that I took of a tree, close up, is important to me and the public because of how much trees are starting to become overlooked. When I was younger I loved climbing on trees with my brothers--it was just something that we did and actually had fun while doing. I've recently been paying more attention to how much our environment is changing and trees are highly affected by it. More and more trees are getting cut down and people are taking for granted how important trees are to our environment and aren't considering how much they are tainting and destroying our communities by building more and cutting down trees. I took the picture close up to show how beautiful trees are when your really close. They aren't as simple as people treat them, they are just as complex and important as we are. I chose to take a picture of this specific tree that me and my brothers would play on until we got older, but it's the same tree that we would climb and I thought that it was an interesting fact, but I chose photo to spread the idea of keeping the environment safe.
This image that I took of a tree, close up, is important to me and the public because of how much trees are starting to become overlooked. When I was younger I loved climbing on trees with my…
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This image is of the Shaker Heights High School field and shows kids playing on the turf. This picture was taken during a gym period so the field had a lot of people on it. The picture is very vibrant because it was a clear and sunny day, but I also made some edits in Photoshop. The edits I made included dehazing the image +100 as well as changing the Blacks to -55. The image is very light hearted and calming. It took many tries to get the right angle to capture the entire field, and I ended up going to the top of the bleachers to capture the entire field. The field represents athletics and Shakers great variety of sports and activities. The photo turned out well and captures Shaker's essence of vibrance and diversity. This picture is important to me because I go to Shaker Heights High School and I use this field a lot during the year. This photo has value to the public because it portrays how nice Shaker is as well as the diversity of our school has. I really enjoyed taking this photo and I think it is a very unique and engaging image.
This image is of the Shaker Heights High School field and shows kids playing on the turf. This picture was taken during a gym period so the field had a lot of people on it. The picture is very vibrant…
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In the summertime, tree leaves can fall victim to a variety of leaf illnesses and conditions. Insufficient watering, transplant shock, soil compaction, newly planted trees, moderate to severe drought, over-fertilization, and much more are all potential circumstances that can damage trees and their leaves. Leaf scorch is a common condition that can occur if a plant or tree uses its water source faster than it can absorb it from the ground soil. Plants and trees take in water through their fine feeder roots and transport it through their vascular system to the leaves. Leaf tissue that is farthest from these veins will suffer first from dehydration. In the case of leaves turning brown, curling up, and falling off, leaf scorch may be the most likely culprit. The obvious signs of leaf scorch are yellow and brown-like color changes on the tips and ends of tree leaves. These leaves will eventually curl up, wilt, and drop off. This disorder is also referred to as Leaf Wilt and Leaf Burn.
I've always had difficulties sleeping and it's frustrating to me because I love sleep. Whether it's sleep paralysis or just difficulty falling to sleep, there's always a reason I struggle to sleep. I took photos for a project earlier in the year where I created multiple photos with different effects to try to give people the understanding of what sleep paralysis is. This photo is one I didn't use but as I looked over it I realized it could be a great representation of what getting a good night's sleep will do to you. The lights are supposed to show that your brain is working at full speed, while the painting on the wall can symbolize how healthy your body can react to it. So many studies have been done on the importance of sleep to the mind and body and I think if you look at it the right way you can see that it perfectly can represent the importance of sleep to a person. I like this photo because it's something personal to me and I feel like I do really creative and awesome pieces of work when I have a project personal to me.
In my project I used a flower as my main subject to relate to science and to life. The title of my picture is called Happiness in Nature. The photo is of a flower that is a light purple which represents happiness and I emphasized the flower as a symbol of life and how special life can be for everyone. I feel that it is important to me because it shows the beauty of nature and what a good life is when taken cared of well. It has value to the public as a way to show inspiration that you should treat yourself good and anyone can have a happy life if you are respected and show sympathy towards others. The flower can also have a another symbol, like the symbol of love, making people show affection through the beauty of nature.
This image is important to me because I am fascinated with nature and the mysteries of nature. It gives the public a new way to look at nature and compare it to other scientific categories. In my image, there are trees that look like the nervous system of the human body. This shows people how to look at nature and not only look at it but think about it more in-depth, the public could gain more respect for nature through my image. It also persuades people to think about the history of nature and how it has gotten to this point. I look at nature myself sometimes and think to myself how many different forms of life there are in the world. I have seen many forms of nature myself and I am fascinated by how much life I have seen. There are life forms such as land animals, sea animals, plants, etc--there is so much more to discover and explore all around the world in different countries. Overall, this shows how creative nature can be through its natural and original state.