Esteban Germann, a Laidlaw Scholar at EPFL, on studying new photography techniques for capturing daylight scenes.
Research Title:
High dynamic range photography techniques for exterior scenes
My research focuses on the capture and processing of high dynamic range (HDR) imaging in daylight research, with a particular focus on visual comfort. HDR imaging is crucial for accurately capturing lighting environments, but challenges such as the "overflow" phenomenon, where direct sunlight exposure distorts image, complicate its accuracy and use. To address these challenges, we developed a new methodology using the Shadowband tool, which was conceptualized by Dr. S.W. Wasilewski. This tool significantly improves the accuracy of HDR images taken from building facades, making it a valuable asset for daylight research.
In addition to enhancing HDR imaging techniques, my work contributes to creating a comprehensive dataset for visual studies. This dataset not only used to advance daylight research but also has broader applications in architectural design, where it can address the creation of spaces that prioritize visual comfort and light quality.
By refining HDR imaging methods, light researchers and designers can better assess and optimize daylighting in buildings, leading to environments that enhance visual comfort and well-being. This research promotes a user-centered approach to architectural design, where the quality of light and its impact on occupants are central considerations. For instance, a better understanding of our lighting environment can influence decisions on window treatments and blinds choices to improve natural lighting while mitigating glare, ultimately creating spaces that support human health and comfort through thoughtful design.
HDR photo capture equipment.
Where did your passion for this research originate?
My passion for daylight research stems from my fascination with how the architecture we live in every day can impact and influence us.
Since I was young, I’ve been fortunate to travel, and during my travels, I became increasingly aware of the importance and role architecture plays in shaping a city, religion, culture, or society. Architecture has always fascinated me because of the profound influence it has on people. As Winston Churchill famously said in 1943: “We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.”
In addition to my interest in architecture, I have always had a deep concern for human health. Before pursuing studies in architecture, I strongly considered studying medicine. Understanding how architecture can specifically improve our living conditions and, more importantly, its impact on health is something I wanted to explore.
This is where my interest in daylight research comes in, understanding how daylight, given that we spend most of our day indoors, affects human well-being. Gaining a better understanding of this relationship enables us to promote more responsive architectural design, fostering a stronger link between architecture and health.
It is precisely this connection between architecture and health that led me to pursue research at the LIPID Lab, which focuses on the relationship between the built environment and daylight.
What is the most memorable moment from your Laidlaw scholarship experience so far?
The most memorable moment of my Laidlaw scholarship experience was undoubtedly my Leadership-In-Action project during my journey in the United States. This journey left a significant mark on me, not only personally but also by highlighting the disparities in living conditions and the impact we can have on them. During my LiA, I focused on the effects of renovations on residents' well-being, particularly for low-income tenants in San Francisco's Chinatown, within the Billington Lab at Stanford. Through this project, I realized the tangible difference we can make in improving people's lives. Simple changes, like creating warmer homes and reducing utility bills, can significantly enhance residents' well-being and encourage more sustainable behaviors. This understanding showed the role we can play. Why was this so impactful? Moving from Stanford to San Francisco's Chinatown, from one neighborhood to a street, from one street to a house, and from one house to another, I witnessed the profound disparities in living conditions. I observed numerous inequalities throughout my journey. My experience in the United States revealed how contrasting and unequal the environment in which I was evolving was. Addressing these inequalities, especially those related to living conditions and the built environment has now become a central goal for me. I found a new direction in which I want to steer my future career and make a real impact.
The old building owned by the Chinatown Community Development Center that Esteban was working with.
What is the biggest challenge you came across in your research and leadership journeys so far, and what did you learn from it?
My journey as a Laidlaw scholar has come with several challenges, particularly at the start of my research and, more recently, being at Stanford. However, the biggest and most consistent challenge I’ve faced has been building confidence in myself and my work. When I first joined the program, surrounded by talented peers in highly specific and scientific fields, I began to doubt my own abilities. I think it’s important to mention this, as I’m likely not the only one who has questioned its own legitimacy. Yet, it was these same peers, through their openness and willingness to share, who showed me that, like them, I belonged and could trust in my abilities. Ultimately, I was my own biggest barrier. Through my research and, more recently, my LiA, I’ve been able to confront and set aside many of the biases and assumptions I had. I’ve realized that confidence, like most things, is a non-linear process that takes time to build.Thanks to this challenge, I’ve learned that I can trust in my abilities and what I’m capable of achieving. If I had to sum it all up, I’d use a quote from Ellison S. Onizuka:"Your vision is not limited by what your eyes can see, but by what your mind can imagine. Make your life count and the world will be a better place because you tried."
Esteban and his summer work team.
Which particular leaders inspire you the most and why?
Among the many leaders who inspire me, three stand out: Margaret Thatcher, Simon Porte Jacquemus, and Jean Ziegler. While each of these figures may be subject to criticism, they all embody distinct yet complementary qualities that I deeply admire. Thatcher’s unwavering determination and ability to lead with conviction during a period of economic upheaval in the UK remind me of the importance of resilience and standing firm in one’s beliefs when striving for change. Simon Porte Jacquemus’s ability to weave his own narrative into his designs, blending his heritage, experiences, and emotions, highlights the power of authenticity in leadership. His success and ability to cross boundaries show how embracing one's personal story can create a powerful impact. Leadership can and should be about inspiring and uplifting others through creativity and story. Meanwhile, Jean Ziegler’s commitment to social justice and his tireless advocacy for global equality inspire me to pursue leadership to fight inequality. Ziegler’s dedication to challenging the status quo to address societal issues encourages me to lead with a conscience and sense of purpose, striving to shape a more just and equitable world.
Together, these three leaders inspire me to lead with conviction, authenticity, and a sense of social responsibility, while never losing sight of how having a vision—something to strive for—when paired with discipline, can make a difference.
What does it mean for you to be a Laidlaw Scholar?
Being a Laidlaw Scholar means embarking on an extraordinary adventure filled with transformative opportunities. The word that resonates most with the Laidlaw Scholar experience is undoubtedly "opportunity." Being a Laidlaw Scholar is, above all, about having the courage to seize these opportunities. This is likely the most valuable aspect of the program: it offers us the chance to open up new horizons and create pathways for growth.
To do this, a Laidlaw Scholar must set aside their biases, show curiosity, fully commit, and overcome the fears that often come with new experiences. Seizing these opportunities also means opening up to others and meeting extraordinary people along the way. These encounters truly enrich the Laidlaw experience, as it is through sharing and confronting ideas with others that we learn the most.
In summary, being a Laidlaw Scholar means being open-minded, having the courage to seize every opportunity, and embracing the diversity of people who make this journey a unique experience.
Briefly describe a scene from the future you are striving to create.
As a future architect, my ambition is to contribute to building a better world by creating shelters that are not only functional but also improve the living conditions of residents, thereby creating a sustainable impact. For me, sustainability begins at home, where people live, and that's where I want to make a difference.Although it may seem obvious, architecture is not sufficiently aware of its own impact and role in the world. Today, it appears to be lagging behind contemporary challenges: economic and social inequalities, climate change, urban densification, ect. Faced with these issues, I share Lord Laidlaw’s view that we are living in a time where better leadership is urgently needed, especially in the field of architecture. This ambition to be a leader in the field is accompanied by an ultimate quest : a quest for architecture to be architecture again, that is to say "a science encompassing a great variety of studies and knowledge," as Vitruvius expressed in De Architectura. Reaching this ideal is, I hope, a goal to strive for.
The project I worked on during my LiA was recently used as a way to justify fundraising a campaign to fund resident quality of life improvements that got left out. We can have a real impact on residents' lives! Find out more about the work being done by the Chinatown Community Development Center here: https://www.chinatowncdc.org
If you want to learn more about Esteban's work, explore Esteban's research here and follow him on LinkedIn. Estebanis a Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholar at @EPFL. Become a Laidlaw Scholar to conduct a research project of your choice, develop your leadership skills, and join a global community of changemakers from world-leading universities.
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