On April 6, Sullivan Solar Power sponsored and co-hosted an interactive workshop, Light and Time: Exploring Parallels Between Solar and Photography, with the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park. Sullivan Solar Power became a Corporate Member of MOPA this year because it values the museum’s dedication to providing educational opportunities for San Diegans and its commitment to a sustainable future. The museum’s mission is to inspire, educate and engage through the presentation and preservation of photography, film and video.
During the workshop, participants learned about the sun's role in photography and explored the parallels between solar panels and photosensitive materials. After a discussion about how two simple ingredients, sunlight and time, can produce a photograph, MOPA educators taught participants how to make one-of-a-kind cyanotype, or “Sun-Print”, using photographic or light-sensitive paper, dried materials, and sunlight.
Following this hands-on activity, Sullivan Solar Power invited participants to stay for a deeper dive into the science and technology behind solar energy today. Nationally certified energy practitioners from Sullivan explained how similar to the photogram reaction, sunlight reacts with solar cells to produce energy that can then be converted and used to power your home.
In one hour, the sun casts enough energy on the Earth’s surface to provide the entire world with power for one year. The sun-print workshop and discussion on residential solar systems are small examples of the power of the sun, and how we can harness it to fulfill both creative and utility needs.