Students in the Tamaqua Area High School's Photography 1 class decided to go old school when it came to creating a design for the Tamaqua Has Heart project.

Photography has come a long way since inventors' first successful attempts at capturing images on light-sensitive objects in the early 1800s.The basis of photography is found in the natural optical phenomenon known as "camera obscura," when an image is projected through a small hole in a surface, which is then seen as a reversed and inverted image on another, opposite surface. Camera obscura, as it became known as in the 1600s, began being studied in earnest in the sixth century, although some researchers suggest the naturally forming occurrence could be the inspiration behind cave drawings.Through the years, artists, scientists and inventors have worked at finding ways to capture those images for keeping and sharing. From artists using pinhole cameras to draw their subjects to today's digital cameras, the process has evolved considerably from the simple black-and-white images copied by British inventor Thomas Ridgewood and French inventor Nicephore Niepce. (Niepce is credited with producing the first permanent photo-etching in 1822.)Many cameras today can record video or you can edit your photo to make the colors pop or get rid of red eye.With so many options to choose from, the students decided to use a technique known as photograms or cameraless photography.Used in the 1800s, photograms are made by placing an object directly on the surface of a light-sensitive material, such as photo paper, and then exposing it to light. The result is usually a negative shadow image showing variations in tone based on the transparency of the object used. Areas of the paper that receive no light appear white while transparent or semitransparent objects appear gray.During the 20th century, the photogram process was used extensively by Philadelphia-born avant-garde artist Man Ray, who named his work "rayographs." It was this style the students selected, deciding to use symbols of their high school years as their subjects.The chosen objects are placed on light-sensitive paper, then exposed in the school's dark room.Once the design is done to the individual artist's satisfaction, the backing is peeled off the "photo" and transferred to the heart, using an acrylic medium. The students are creating hundreds of "rayographs" to be used on the heart.Mackenzie Dunster, a junior, chose to use broken glass for one of her designs. "Broken glass can be put back together, but it will never be the same, just like me in high school," she explained.The students have until the beginning of May to complete their design, which will be sponsored by Shafer's Pharmacy of Tamaqua. The Shafers selected the design at an artist meet and greet held on Jan. 24.Participating students include: Adidh Balliet, Amber Barron, Chloe Bates, Anjellica Battaglia, Maddy Berk, Xavier Candrado, Miranda Chinchar, Skyy Clouser, Emma Coccio, Lexus Disbrow, Mackenzie Dunster, Alyssa Frye, Sam Fox, Bernie Gigli, Tyler Hollenbach, Alex Ho, Jane Kupinsky, Renee LaShamb, Lauren Marcolla, Sarah McCabe, Maddy McGlinchey, McKayla McLaughlin, Logan Miller, Julia Muscolini, Cyerra Patterson, Aaron Raeder, Kipp Tonkin, Melvin Texidor, Samantha Wagner and Danny Yates.The Tamaqua Has Heart project is a joint effort of the Tamaqua Community Art Center and Rural LISC, coordinated by volunteers Wandie Zammer-Little and Kyle Whitley.Once completed, the fiberglass hearts will be placed at strategic locations in downtown Tamaqua until a gala auction event in September.