As one of my service and creativity activity, I volunteered to help the SIS magazine committee as I realized they were lacking members and were looking for students willing to help. Fortunately, my father had a collection of cameras, and was willing to lend them as long as I took good care of them. The committee had accepted my approach for volunteering and briefly explained what they were requiring for the photos. They asked for photos of students participating and the photo of what the activities are about.
Out of the 5 activities I participated, the most memorable activity was the trip to Bandung, to a geothermal power station. The activity was designed for science students who conducted research on the power-plant itself and the natural environment of the huge area needed for the geothermal power station. Students were shown the pipes which carried hot steams, fusion reactors that produced energy, deer that lived nearby, fungus that were found in the walls of the power-plant, and may more objects to research. While that was happening, I looked for opportunities to take photos and at the same time took notes of what the engineer was explaining. That difficulty was solved because I wasn't the only photographer that went to the trip.
This activity impacted me in that I gained skills of photography through the numerous failed photos that weren't used for the magazine. I learned a lot about the difficulties in taking photos of students at places I am also supposed to listen to the lecturer. I believe I can apply what I’ve
learned in this photography to other life situations because I now know how it satisfying to help someone and at the same time to learn something new. If i were to volunteer in the same situation in the future, It would be a lot easier as I have the know-how and skills, and I will be aware of the responsibility. The only thing I might change is that if I am alone, I shouldn’t participate as a volunteer where I am supposed to be learning along. It was an amazing
experience and I’m proud to call myself a photographer and a member of the SIS magazine committee.
