Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - In a year of 'final time events' at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Saturday saw a unique event unfold that resulted in a lasting image that will live inside the new Highmark Stadium upon completion.
Rochester Institute of Technology(RIT), commemorated the Buffalo Bills’ final season at Highmark Stadium with a one-of-a-kind photograph that will be displayed in the new stadium when it opens next year.
The 360-degree, extended exposure nighttime photo was created during the 37th RIT Big Shot, an annual event that has highlighted Cowboys Stadium, Churchhill Downs, The Alamo and dozens of other locations in the United States. The project began in 1987 to teach RIT students how to solve complicated problems with simple tools and teamwork.
Thousands of students and community volunteers used flashlights and other light sources to “paint” the 52-year-old stadium with light, while the Big Shot camera team captured the image.
Eric Kunsman, co-coordinator of the Big Shot and assistant professor at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), said the support from the regional community made this one of the biggest Big Shot events in recent years.
“Whether people came out because they love photography, the Bills, or both, the fact that we had thousands of people working together to create one photo is a powerful experience,” he said. “When people see the photo online or in the new stadium, they can point to where they stood or where they pointed their flashlight to help create the image. It’s an incredible memory for everyone involved.”
This year marked the first time that the Big Shot team captured a full 360-degree panoramic image of a subject. In addition to the panoramic photograph, the team captured six additional photographs to ensure every inch of the stadium was documented.