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Middle School Math Department | Seeing Mathematics Through the Lens

March 12, 2025

Mathematics is often perceived as abstract symbols and formulas, while photography is the art of capturing moments and freezing the world in time. When these two seemingly different disciplines intersect, a unique form of expression emerges—mathematical photography. It is not only a clever fusion of light, angles, and composition but also a visual representation of mathematical principles in the real world.

In the themed activity "Seeing Mathematics Through the Lens" in our middle school math class, students became mathematical explorers, using their cameras as pens and the real world as their canvas to capture the beauty of mathematics around them. Each student was required to take at least one photograph that embodies a mathematical concept or principle and give it a creative title, such as "Less Diamonds, More Love," symbolizing the application of inequalities, or a witty wordplay using "Square Root" to represent square roots in a fun and engaging way. They then printed their works in color on A4 paper and provided an explanation of at least 50 words to reveal the mathematical mysteries behind their images.

Through the interplay of light and shadow, the golden ratio sketches the most harmonious compositions; through the camera’s lens, symmetry unveils the rigorous beauty of mathematics; amid the layered and crisscrossing streets, perspective rules reveal the geometric wonders of space. Throughout this project, middle school students not only honed their photography skills but also deepened their understanding of mathematical concepts through observation and reflection. They told mathematical stories through images, captured the essence of math through their lenses, and brought abstract theorems to life in the real world.


This interdisciplinary journey not only taught students how to interpret mathematics through photography but also helped them realize that mathematics is not confined to the classroom—it is hidden in every corner of life. Through the lens, they discovered the beauty of math; through reflection, they grasped its profound logic. And that is the most captivating aspect of mathematics—it is not just the accumulation of knowledge but also a way of observing and understanding the world.

Written by Wei Xu

Proofread by Chad Higgenbottom

Pictures by Middle School Math Department Teachers

Edited by Cong Luo

Reviewed by Zheng Wenyin, Chenli Shen, Cong Luo