Tag: Princeton University

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Hoping to make some photographs for a photo challenge, I went into Princeton and walked around near the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, formerly the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

From Wikipedia:

In 1930, Princeton University established the School of Public and International Affairs, which was originally meant to serve as an interdisciplinary program for undergraduate students in Princeton's liberal arts college. In 1948, the School added a graduate professional program and was renamed to honor Woodrow Wilson, who was the 13th president of the University, governor of New Jersey and the 28th president of the United States.
...
In 2015, student protesters forced Princeton to reconsider having the School named after Wilson due to his racist views, of which they disapproved. The Wilson Legacy Review Committee ultimately decided to keep his name attached to the School, noting that, like many other notable figures from American history, Wilson had a "complex legacy of both positive and negative repercussions".

On June 26, 2020, following the eruption of George Floyd protests and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Princeton University Board of Trustees decided to rename the Woodrow Wilson School the "Princeton School of Public and International Affairs", citing Wilson's "racist thinking and policies [that] make him an inappropriate namesake for a school or college whose scholars, students, and alumni must stand firmly against racism in all its forms." It was also announced that Wilson College, the first of Princeton's six undergraduate residential colleges, will be renamed First College. Woodrow Wilson opposed admitting African-American students to Princeton and introduced racial segregation into the United States federal civil service as President.

I wanted to capture the intensity of the contrast between the white of the columns and the shadows but the overhead clouds didn't care what I wanted, obscuring much of the light. I also think I arrived an hour too late.

Submitted for the 100DaysToOffload project.

Symmetry

Last night I typed out quick notes on approaching this week's Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. I did some reading on the three types of symmetry; translation, rotation, reflection, and glide reflection.

Symmetry is "the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis" or "correct or pleasing proportion of the parts of a thing".

This afternoon, I was inspired to visit the Princeton University campus, specifically, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, which is now called the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Green Hall | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 400

In 1963, the psychology and sociology departments were relocated to Green Hall on the corner of Washington St. and William St. The building had been previously occupied by the School of Engineering. In 2013, the Princeton University psychology department moved again to Peretsman-Scully Hall. I parked on William Street, stopping to photograph the Washinton Road entrance to Green Hall. It took a lot of work to position the camera to ensure that the scene was evenly balanced.

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 400
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 400
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 400
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 200

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs is a short walk from Green Hall. I'd like you to please read my previous post to learn more about how the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs became the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Department of History, Dickinson Hall | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 200
Department of History, Dickinson Hall, | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 200

Having photographed what I wanted, I walked around the Princeton University campus, observing other examples of symmetry at the Princeton University Chapel and East Pyne Hall. There are numerous doors to the Chapel, so many that one wonders if they are escape hatches for some purpose.

I looked down the middle between the east and west entrances of Pyne Hall, taking pains to line up the arches to showcase the symmetry. Inside the archway, the ceiling details continue the gothic style of architecture found at the University, one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.

Princeton University Chapel | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 200
East Pyne Hall | Monday 28 September, 2020 | Day 190 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/11 | ISO 200

It was submitted for the 100DaysToOffload project.

Isolation Photo Project, Day 49

This afternoon Bhavna and I went to the Princeton University campus. The intent was to change our routine and walk the campus for exercise for a change of scenery. Of course, I brought my camera. Near University Place and College Road intersection, we donned our facemasks - it's all the fashion these days - and sauntered toward Henry Hall and Laughlin Hall. I photographed some of the trees and buildings in the mottled light of the afternoon sun. We found our way to the newly named Beatrix Ferrand Courtyard. My camera found windows, doors, trees, and flowers to photograph as we walked toward the steps up to Blair Hall. We encountered a few people, many of whom wore masks, but others did not. We had enough rooms to keep almost three metres from people.

Sunday 10 May, 2020 | Day 49 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/10 | ISO 320

We strolled toward Easy Pyne Hall, where I took more photographs. I remembered the gardens at Prospect House & Garden, and knowing that Bhavna had never been there, I suggested we make our way over. We spent a lot of time walking between the trees, flowers and plants. Bhavna complained that I had never told her about the garden. As I expected, the garden had more people than the other parts of campus but not enough to be a problem. The campus is closed, so empty of students.

After Prospect House & Garden, I explored the campus with Bhavna. There are many areas we have yet to visit. More photographs. I was hungry, and Bhavna had to use the bathroom, so we cut back westbound toward where we parked. I took more photos along the way, including one of a red fox. At first, I thought it was a statue, but then the fox moved its head and twitched its ears. I think this fox is the same one that has been spotted near the Dinky Station. We stared at each other for about a minute before the scrawny-looking fox ran off.

Sunday 10 May, 2020 | Day 49 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | f/8.0 | ISO 400

As I sat here picking the keepers, I realised I didn’t like them. Perhaps I am just creativity exhausted or just exhausted. Of the 250 images I captured, I have deleted all but seven.

Submitted as part of the 100DaysToOffload project.