Dr. Corey Arbini does a lot for Mehlville High School. He teaches several math classes, was a math department head for many years, and he currently helps with the FLEX program. Another interesting aspect of his life, however, is his interest in photography.
He started pursuing photography as a child through a summer program. “My parents sent me to…a summer camp thing. Just something to do,” Arbini explains. “I quit photography for a long time, but one day I decided to get back into it.”
Photography has opened up many avenues of opportunity for Dr. Arbini, including several trips he has was able to attend to take photos. “One [trip] that stands out is going to Tennessee…to take pictures of bears…I got way too close to a lot of bears, and I actually got mock-charged by one!”
Dangerous predators aren’t the only struggle Dr. Arbini faces while taking photos, however. “If you’re out taking pictures, you’re at the mercy of the day’s lighting. Sometimes camera settings…like setting the right ISO and shutter speed and matching up the shutter speed, just trying to get those things to be perfect, that can be a struggle to. And waiting…sometimes things are just out of your control.”
Photography is worth the struggle for Dr. Arbini though, and he wishes it interacted with his teaching more.
“Over the years I’ve thought about trying to do a project about how math and photography intersect…but I’ve yet to find a real way to bring photography into math things.”
Despite so far being unable to bring photography to the classroom, Dr. Arbini encourages his students and anyone that’s interested to buy a real camera.
“Everyone should own their own camera, not just rely on their phones. While phone are okay, and take some okay photos, they’re not a substitute for good cameras.”
So, despite some of the challenges, Dr. Arbini finds true joy in taking photos.
