Leap magazine winter 2025 issue

LEAP

CONTENTS EDITOR’S PAGE 3

IN THE GARDEN PAGE 5

BE LIKE MCCURRY PAGE 11

CREATING A COVER PAGE 19

LIGHTS & SHADOWS PAGE 26

LOW-KEY PHOTOS PAGE 32

SIMPLE BACKGROUNDS PAGE 35

LIGHT WORK PAGE 39

BEHIND THE SCENES PAGE 45

LEAP MAGAZINE

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Editor’s Note LEAP MAGAZINE Editor's Note: Nurturing Young Visionaries Welcome to this special edition of LEAP Magazine, celebrating the incredible creativity of middle school students from Jonas Bronck Academy. These striking images, crafted with passion and skill, showcase a vibrant mix of portraiture, natural beauty, and urban storytelling. Each photo reflects the students' unique perspectives, capturing raw emotion and innovative techniques.

Editor-in-Chief

Mr. Bailey

From evocative lighting to creative props, their work exemplifies the power of youth artistry. Dive in and be inspired by the next generation of visionary photographers. Keep creating, keep leaping forward!

IN THE GARDEN

CAPTURING NATURE’S BEAUTY. MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AT THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDENS

The New York Botanical Gardens provided the perfect canvas for middle school photography students to showcase their creativity and newfound skills.

Each photo taken during their visit captures not just the beauty of nature, but also the students’ unique perspectives.

One standout theme in these images is the focus on contrast and depth. From the sharp details of delicate purple flowers set against a blurred background to the vibrant greens and warm autumn hues of sprawling trees, the students demonstrated a keen understanding of composition. These techniques highlight their ability to draw the viewer’s eye to the subject.

The students also embraced different perspectives, as seen in photos capturing meditative moments on the lawn or intimate views of leaves floating in a pond. These images evoke peace and introspection, showing an appreciation for the stillness and simplicity of nature.

Another hallmark of the students’ work is their attention to light and shadow. Some photos showcase sunlight filtering through tree branches, creating dappled patterns on the ground, while others use shadow to add texture and mystery.

These subtle details reveal an understanding of how light can enhance a photograph.

Through their lenses, these middle schoolers turned an ordinary visit to the gardens into an extraordinary visual journey. Their work reflects a combination of technical skills and artistic vision, proving that even at a young age, photography can be a powerful form of expression. The New York Botanical Gardens served as both a classroom and a muse for these budding photographers.

BE LIKE McCURRY

VIBRANT & HAUNTING Steve McCurry is a master of storytelling through portraits, and these images echo his iconic ability to capture raw emotion and connection. Each portrait draws the viewer in, emphasizing the subject's eyes, their unspoken story, and the powerful use of light and texture.

Photographing like McCurry requires patience and intention. In these photos, the careful arrangement of fabric and color mirrors McCurry's love for vibrant hues and cultural expression. The orange, purple, and blue wraps envelop the subjects, creating a sense of warmth and intimacy.

Every detail, from the texture of the material to the intensity of the gaze, adds depth and dimension.

Lighting plays a central role in evoking McCurry’s style.

Soft, directional light highlights the contours of each face while casting subtle shadows. This technique, combined with a dark, uncluttered background, ensures all attention is on the subject’s expression.

McCurry’s portraits often feel timeless, and these photos achieve a similar effect through simplicity and emotional resonance.

To shoot like McCurry, focus on building a connection with your subject. Let their personality shine, embrace bold colors, and experiment with lighting to create mood.

These portraits remind us that photography isn’t just about images—it’s about storytelling that transcends borders.

CREATING IMAGE &

COVER

LEAP MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS CREATE STUNNING FASHION COVER AMID CHALLENGES

Our Leap middle school students recently completed an extraordinary photography project: creating a fashion cover that rivals professional standards. Guided by their passion and creativity, these young talents took on the challenge of capturing the essence of fashion and identity, resulting in breathtaking portraits that showcase their unique vision.

The students experimented with dramatic lighting, bold props, and diverse textures to create striking images. From radiant accessories to vibrant patterns, each element was thoughtfully styled and photographed. The cover-worthy portraits exude confidence and individuality, reflecting the students' imaginative approach to blending art and fashion.

However, the journey was not without obstacles. One major challenge was achieving precise lighting. Working with limited equipment, the students learned to manipulate natural and artificial light to emphasize their subjects' features while maintaining a balanced composition.

Additionally, some students faced difficulties in building rapport with their models, which they overcame by fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

Despite these hurdles, the students demonstrated resilience, problem-solving, and teamwork. They also gained valuable skills in photography, styling, and communication. The final results speak volumes about their dedication, proving that with determination and creativity, even middle schoolers can produce work that dazzles and inspires.

THIS PROJECT UNDERSCORES THE POWER OF ART TO TRANSFORM CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT.

RING LIGHTS SHOOTING WITH FILL IN LIGHT

MASTERING RING LIGHT PORTRAITURE WITH A DSLR CAMERA The students of Jonas Bronck Academy In post-processing, enhance contrast and have beautifully captured the art of portraiture using ring lights and DSLR cameras. A ring light is a powerful tool for evenly illuminating a subject, reducing harsh shadows, and bringing out vibrant details, especially in the eyes.

Start by positioning the ring light at eye level with your subject for flattering, even lighting. Experiment with distance; closer placement enhances sharpness and creates striking "halo" reflections in the eyes. Use manual mode on your DSLR to control aperture and ISO for optimal exposure—settings like f/4.0 and ISO 200 are often ideal.

Direct your subject to engage with the camera, framing their face symmetrically within the ring light. Play with hand placements or props for storytelling elements, as seen in these creative portraits.

color to make the subject’s features pop.

Remember, the key to great portraits lies in connection and experimentation. te your artistry!

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Jonas Bronck Academy students demonstrate how combining technical skill with creativity leads to compelling and emotive imagery. So, grab your camera, explore your ideas, and let the ring light illumina

LOW-KEY PHOTOS 2021, February 21

The Art of Low-Key Photography by Jonas Bronck Academy Students At Jonas Bronck Academy, middle school students dove into the world of lowkey photography, mastering the technique of using light and shadow to evoke emotion and depth. This style focuses on minimal lighting and high contrast, creating a dramatic atmosphere in every shot.

The students’ journey began with understanding the balance between light and dark. They experimented with different light sources, learning how to position them to highlight facial features or create silhouette effects. A critical part of the process was working with natural light streaming through windows, as shown in the photos provided. This allowed them to capture intimate moments and raw expressions, showcasing the power of simplicity.

Throughout the project, they embraced challenges, such as finding the right angles and adjusting exposure to avoid over-illumination. They also explored the significance of body language and subtle facial expressions, making their subjects appear both vulnerable and powerful.

This experience taught the students the importance of patience, precision, and storytelling in photography. Low-key photography pushed them to see light as a tool to amplify emotion, proving that sometimes less is more. Their work highlights not only technical growth but also an artistic maturity that tells compelling stories through contrast and shadow.

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SIMPLE BACKGROUNDS

When it comes to creating striking portraits or still-life images, one of the easiest and most effective techniques is to use a simple background. A clean background ensures that the subject remains the focal point of the photograph, allowing their expressions, details, or colors to stand out vividly.

In a photo studio, simple backdrops like white, black, or gray are popular choices. They eliminate distractions, making the viewer’s eye immediately drawn to the subject. Middle school photographers can benefit from this approach by focusing on the subject's emotions or textures instead of competing elements in the frame.

When you use a plain background, it also helps with lighting control. Light bounces off fewer objects, creating even illumination on your subject. This is especially useful for beginners learning how to manipulate lighting effectively.

Additionally, simple backdrops let you get creative with props, poses, or accessories without overwhelming the image. A bright scarf, a unique hat, or even a fun gesture will shine when the background doesn’t compete for attention.

For middle schoolers just starting in photography, simplicity is key.

Begin with straightforward setups to master composition and lighting before moving on to more complex styles.

Remember: simplicity doesn’t limit creativity—it highlights it!

Using the photos provided create an article by middle schoolers from Jonas Bronck Academy, talking about the process and importance of working and low-key photos. The article must be 182 words.

LIGHT WORK

STUDIO LIGHTING CAN TAKE YOUR PORTRAITS FROM BASIC TO BREATHTAKING! THE IMAGES HERE SHOW HOW SIMPLE LIGHTING TECHNIQUES CAN CREATE INCREDIBLE RESULTS.

Directional Lighting. Notice how light comes from a specific angle in these portraits. This technique adds depth and shadows, highlighting the subject’s facial features. You can do this with a desk lamp or flashlight angled slightly above and to the side of your subject.

Soft Light Magic. The soft, smooth look in these photos is created with diffused light. Try covering your light source with a thin white cloth or wax paper for an even glow. This makes the subject's skin look natural and reduces harsh shadows.

Some images zoom in tightly on the face. Use framing and light to draw attention to the subject's expression or details like hands or accessories.

Have fun experimenting!

Lighting is your secret weapon for storytelling.

Look at how props— like colorful fabric or feathers—catch the light. Experiment by adding props with unique textures to your photos, and position the light to make them stand out.

BEHINDTHE SCENES

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Special thanks to all the photographers that have contributed to Leap Magazine.

Almonte Liz Amon-Ra Princess Andrades Isaiah Asad Afeef Bizzell Jaheim Bolanoz Edwin Gonzalez Jazmine Gonzalez Valentina Gonzalez-Pascual Camila Gutierrez Miguel Khumalo Maida Lucero Gabriel Mejia Gonzalez Eduardo Mustofa Myeisha Paulino Jaelis Danial Peña Amie Deleon Mayson Esala Zephaniah Flemming Somaya Gonzalez Jazmine Gonzalez-Pascual Camila Henderson Nycole Hernandez Alexis Izekor Etinosasere Khumalo Maida Lorenzi Matthew Moody Gabrielle Mosso Guadalupe Mustofa Myeisha