Andrew Davidhazy photographs

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RITArc-0247

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of three photographs by RIT Professor Andrew Davidhazy. The first photo, String Vibrations, won honorable mention in the photography category at the sixth annual International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge in 2008. Over 21 countries were represented with more than 180 entries from illustrators, photographers, computer programmers, and graphics specialists. The award is given by the National Science Foundation.

To capture the image, Davidhazy tied one end of a cotton string to an electric motor and the other end to a weight. Davidhazy explained, "The vibrating string appeared to have volume in the final image even though it was just a single string whirling in space. This was because the string delivered uneven amounts of exposure to the camera sensor as it rotated depending on whether it was traveling toward, away, or across the camera's lens. This created variations in exposure giving rise to brightness differences in the image. In effect, the moving string had become its own shutter."¹

_{1 "RIT Professor Andrew Davidhazy Captures Beauty and Science in Award-Winning Image," by Kelly Downs. RIT University News, October 6, 2008.}

Added to the collection in 2014 are two photographs which are examples of periphotograph techniques. Periphotographs, sometimes referred to as cyclographs, are made by placing the subject of interest on a rotating table and photographing the surface features of the rotating object through a narrow slit placed in front of a length of moving film in a camera modified to accomplish this task.

Dates

Creation: 2008

Creator

Davidhazy, Andrew (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Andrew Davidhazy graduated from the Boston Latin School and went on to pursue an undergraduate AAS program in Photographic Science, then a BFA in the Professional Photographic Illustration program, and finally, a MFA in Graphic Design, all at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He worked at RIT from 1963, holding a variety of positions, including Research Photographer in the Distillation Research Laboratory and Director of the Division of Arts and Graphic Arts.

Davidhazy was Chair of Imaging and Photographic Technology in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences. Specializing in applied and technical photography, he has brought his expertise to several courses, including High-Speed/Time-Lapse Photography, Photoinstrumentation Applications, Survey of Nonconventional Imaging, Special Effects Photography, and Introduction to Scientific and Technical Applications of Photography. He is now retired from RIT.

Extent

3 Item(s) (3 Photographs)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Three photographs by RIT Professor Andrew Davidhazy including a photograph of rapidly moving string that won honorable mention in the photography category of the sixth annual International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge in 2008. There are also two Examples of peripheral photography in the shape of a cone and a tube that feature Mr. Davidhazy in the image.