Final exam field trip
To capture images for their final exams Chagrin Falls High School students, in film photography or digital photography, traveled to Kingswood Center Gardens and Mansfield Reformatory to show their artistic abilities. The day was rainy which allowed for interesting photos to be developed at Kingswood. The digital photography students had a list of requirements to focus on at each location. Kingswood Gardens were established in 1926; however the 47-acre plot was not open to public until 1953 . The gardens were ingrained by Mr. Charles Kelley King. The plot was made into the horticultural library. There are eight main gardens here including the historic garden which still displays the same landscape as Mr.King set up over eighty years ago. The gardens featured peacocks and swans as well. To read more about the gardens you can visit their website here. Students enjoyed the gardens; however Bridget did receive feedback that students found the rainy day to create interesting photos but the students would enjoy seeing the gardens in different seasons, and weather.
From the Kingswood center the students were required to produce two nature detail photos, two photos of a large-depth of field scene, two photos presenting interesting detail, and four personal choice photographs. Students then went to see the Mansfield Reformatory. The reformatory was built in 1834, it is designed by Levi T. Scofield. Also, amazing architecture presented in the reformatory was created to cause inmates to goo through a "rebirth" of their lifestyle. After years of reforming inmates, Reformatory closed in 1990 after housing 155,000 male inmates. In 1955, the most the Reformatory ever housed was 5,235 inmates . The Shawshank Redemption was filmed in the reformatory as well as 13 other places in Mansfield Ohio, the city of the Mansfield Reformatory. Another movie filmed in the reformatory was The Wind is Watching by Nicole Ann Hicks, and Rick Montgomery Jr. It is a very popular place for music videos to be filmed as well featuring many bands displayed on Warped Tours throughout the years. To read more about the reformatory you can visit their website here.
The reformatory allowed students to get engaging architectural photographs and to experiment with their flash photography. Students requirements for their photographs involving the reformatory include two of exterior architecture, two of interior architecture, interesting detail, mood, and six personal choice photographs.Students enjoyed seeing the reformatory and unique photograph opportunities. Overall, students felt the trip was worth the drive from the school due to the unique opportunity the gardens and reformatory gave the students to shoot. Aside from the students requirements at the gardens and the reformatory, they were required to produce nine photo journalism photographs to practice their photo journalism skills. Bridget's photographs for photo journalism are featured as accents photos and below.