With the photographs that will be displayed are members of the high school’s Journalism/Photography Club, including Advisor John DeAngelis and students Martin Mendieta, Brandon Knight, Nick Deletto, Nathan Ferranto, Kenna Latino, Kaitlyn Lucas, Kayla Patrick, Dylan Welch and Ray Hunter.
“View from the Window at Le Gras” was the first photograph taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1826 onto a pewter place that needed an eight-hour exposure.
In just two centuries, the art and technology of photography has evolved, from daguerreotypes on silver-plated copper sheets to black-and-white film developed in a darkroom, and now to digital cameras that can send images worldwide in seconds.
Throughout the years photographers have taken beautiful, artistic photos of nature and wildlife, of people showing raw emotion, and graphic wartime pictures of slaughter like those by Matthew Brady in the Civil War that shook public opinion.
This is fascinating history for aspiring photographers at Williamstown High School, whose photos will soon be displayed in the hallways near the senior entrance.
“I like the art of photography, and enjoy taking wildlife photos,” said freshman Dylan Welch, one of nine students at the Journalism/Photography Club meeting on Feb. 3 who shared recent shots and explained why they liked them.
Club Advisor John DeAngelis, a teacher at the school since 2011, started the digital photography program there and was the only one in the room who has ever used film.
“The interest in photography has grown greatly,” explained DeAngelis, who teaches photo and studio arts and keeps updated on all that the new technology offers.
The Williamstown students are adept at using digital cameras, setting the F-stop and shutter speeds manually, preferring 1/400th of a second for action shots. They all enjoy taking photographs when asked.
“I like shooting sports, especially ice hockey,” offered junior Kayla Patrick.
“I enjoy doing portraits and taking photos at concerts,” junior Ray Hunter noted.
Freshman Kaitlyn Lucas likes “going places and taking photos, and shooting dance recitals.”
“I like the freeness of photography,” observed junior Kenna Latino. “I’m into music and like shooting dance recitals and marching bands.”
Sophomore Nathan Ferranto said he likes “to take pictures of sports, and making posters for the teams.”
DeAngelis is a 2003 graduate of Shawnee High who attended Montclair State University and graduated from Rowan University as an art major.
During the club meeting, students scanned the code on a big screen and put up their photos. After five minutes, they were all loaded. As each photo came on the screen, the student who took it would stand up and explain why they liked it, followed by a round of applause.
“I like people showing emotion in pictures,” said a student about his photo of a wrestler pinning his opponent in less than 30 seconds during a high-school match. There were also photos of a basketball net and rim shining in the sun, two sneakers and a three-week old puppy laying on the floor.
DeAngelis, who initially taught at his alma-mater Shawnee for three years before coming to Williamstown, was thrilled about the students’ work being displayed in the hallways.
“We enlarged the prints and framed them,” he explained, adding that it will be great for the students to see their photos on the wall when they come to school.
“I went out with my sister to a pond and took a picture of the fence,” Hunt commented. “I liked the texture.”
