Thursday, September 25, 2014

Academics & Community Service Photo

From the Academics and Community Service photos, my favorite show a boy with green safety goggles on, while he pours two liquids, a green and a blue, into a beaker of purple liquid. The background is extremely blurred out, and the boy looks very concentrated and precise.

1) I chose this photo because its qualities, such as the bright colors it displays and story it tells, drew me in immediately as great photography.

2) One photo rule displayed in this photo is balance, because of the pouring liquids creating the shape of a triangle and the shape of the glass beakers. Also, the way the boy's body is perfectly centered and almost the same on each side of the photo shows simplicity.


1) I think great opportunities to take great academic photos is at the courtyard tables and in science and Spanish classrooms because in my experience, lots of action and team work is displayed in those classes. 

2) A classroom I would like to visit is Profesora Hanson's class because we always are standing and practicing our vocab with hand motions, and sometimes even dancing.

3) As a photographer, I can put myself in positions that make me see all the action I need to take an interesting photo. Also, I will use and test out as many photo rules as I can, now that I know how they can improve my work.

Academic Shoot Preview Assignment

FILLING THE FRAME:

In my opinion, this photo represents a good example of the subjects filling the frame. The way that all these boys are holding hands in a circle and almost all of their whole bodies are shown in the photo, perfectly fills the frame. Also, the photographer not only filled the frame but with a bright filter and interesting subjects, leaving the viewer wondering why they are holding hands.







THE STORY:

To me, this photo is the best example of a photo with a background story, as viewers can tell that all the students are interested, eager and enjoying themselves. Also, viewers can see that the class must have worked together or worked hard to create this experiment that they are all proud of, therefore creating a story.







ACTION AND EMOTION:

Of the winning photos, this photo displays the most action and emotion compared to the others. The photo shows volunteers serving food to the needy, making the viewers feel emotional gratitude for the helpers, and sadness towards the homeless. Also, the fact that the volunteers are busy at work preparing food while the homeless people eat and collect their food, displays action.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Unethical Photos


 In my opinion, this photo is the most unethical. I think this because of the fact that the editor darkened the face of an African American man's face out of racism, which doesn't show good qualities of a editor for a magazine that any diverse person can buy.










In my opinion, out of all the photos shown on the website, this photo is the least unethical. I think this because the meeting did happen, but no one got a picture so it is somewhat okay to reenact it so viewers have a better understanding of what went down, especially since the people in the meetings themselves were there and were okay with taking the photo.

Photo Manipulation and Ethics

A.  The story "Ethics in the Age of Digital Manipulation", four cases are presented where a photographer has photo shopped an important image, therefore dramatically changing it or misleading the viewers. These mishaps are unacceptable, as people learned when Brian Walski was fired from his job for tampering and editing a photo of the new cabinet in Israel. The four edited photos I read about all contained a similar thing: a cropped out person or object because he or she felt that the person doesn't belong, or felt a dislike towards them/it.

B.  I strongly feel that this type of photo editing is unethical and unacceptable because it will always negatively effect, mislead or offend others. Just because the editor wants to crop a certain part of the image based on his or her opinions, does not mean that the majority of other people feel the same way.


Post Shoot Reflection

1. The challenges I faced while trying to find good examples of these four prompts was the fact that there were so many ways and forms of shooting these words, but only a few of them were interesting a strong examples. Also, because having the prompts creates an idea and picture in my mind of the photos I will take, it was difficult to realize that the photos were harder to shoot than I thought they'd be.

2. While shooting these themes, the technical aspects of photography I that I found the most difficult was the way I held the camera and getting the buttons to work while in a certain position. For example, for a photo of a square, I wanted to take a photo of a square shape on the ceiling, and the only way to make the photo look good was to make the camera look straight up at the square, then focus the camera, then shoot.

3. If I could do ever thus assignment, I would definitely include some of the photography rules I learned, now that I am aware of how much better they can make my photoshoot turnout. For example, for the theme of 'happy', I took a photo of two girls laughing but failed to capture their whole bodies, which cuts out their body language that could make the photo represent 'happy' even more accurately. 

4. For this photoshoot, the things that I would do the same is keeping my wide variety of options open for shooting, and always having a good and creative imagination for finding great photo opportunities.

5. After reviewing my photos after learning the photo rules, I realized that they can use some work. If I had added some of the rules, for example I needed more balance and less merging in the photos, they would appear more organized and professional, and overall more pleasing to the eye.

6. I am really interesting and devoted to shooting these photo themes again because since I have learned all these new things, I know I can make my photos so much better and professional, which will take me one step closer to shooting top photos.

STEP 2:
http://reagansphotojournalismblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-09-15T09:50:00-07:00&max-results=7

Reagan's photos followed all the prompts perfectly, and they were more abstract and went beyond the words, and more to the meaning. Also, all of the photos are pleasing to the eye and are accurate towards the prompts.

One aspect of Reagan's photos that could be improved is stating the prompt in the photo a little clearer. In a couple cases, I wasn't always able to know what the photo was trying to show, until I read the caption.

I commented. 





Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Extra Credit - The Falling Man

     The 4 stories about the falling man are different, but all have something in common. The photo was taken on September 11th of 2001, by Richard Drew who decided he would focus on the one thing that the other photographers weren't capturing. After reading the articles, I learned that the public had many opinions when this photo was released on the cover of a newspaper, these opinions including many different emotions like horror, sadness and shock. In my opinion, I think that the majority of people were right to have this photo taken down. Although it displays the true terror and grief that people should be aware of about 9/11, it should be shielded from certain people. Many parents may not want their young child to see a photo like this, and others may want to teach them about the photo so they can develop a better understanding of 9/11.
    
     Although this photo is very sad, I am glad we will be learning about it in class so I can learn more things about the photo. For example, who was the falling man? Was his family upset when the photo was released? To what extent and what angles were use when Richard Drew was capturing these moments? To conclude this summary, the famous Falling Man on 9/11 has for sure been seen all over the world. Whether the photos and articles intrigue readers to learn more or sadden them causing them to look away, it is an important and unforgettable moment in history that should be accepted and remembered.

6 Photography Rules


Avoid Merging  
This photo stood out to me as an example of merging because both men in the photo have parts of their body cut off. If the photographer would have taken the photo in a portrait style, I think it would have provided the viewers with more information on the setting and people of the photo. Also, the photographer could have taken this photo from a different angle to show the whole truck in the background so it doesn't appear cut off.

 

Rule of Thirds
This is a good example of Rule of Thirds because the main focus in the photo is the long flood of confused and frightened people, which is taking up two thirds of the frame, while the people on the highway take up the other third.


Framing
This photo shows a great example of framing because the main focus the photographer was capturing in this photo is the smoke in the background, being framed by the perfectly normal buildings and the lamp posts. Also, the photographer shot from an almost worm's eye view which showed the full length of the buildings and there size compared to the large smoke cloud.


 Lines
This photo displaying a fire in one of the towers with lines of windows, all highlighted by the bright orange fire inside the building. Also, the stripes on the American flag and the poles in the bottom right corner of the frame show lines. 


Balance
This photo shows Balance because of the way the photographer captured the perfect line of buildings in New York, while he/she still had room the show the smoke in the sky, which gives viewers an idea of how much smoke and destruction took place compared to the buildings. 


Simplicity
This photo is an accurate representation of simplicity because the whole background is plain lines going down, while there is only one subject in the photo. Also, the fact the the photographer shot the falling man right where the background lines change color splitting through the middle provides a simple photo with an abstract meaning. 






Monday, September 15, 2014

National Geographic // Favorite

 Photo: Dubai
 Photographer: Catlain Marin


Of the 45 amazing photos I saw on National Geographic, I choose this one as my favorite. I love the way that the photographer decided to take pictures from high up in the sky, making this photo unique. This angle and height in pictures in rare to see which is why it caught my eye, immediately highlighting the beautiful sunrise in the city and the cloud coming up from the middle of the frame, making the photo not seem too perfect. If I were to submit a photo to National Geographic, I would use photos that I would've taken in the mountains with great bird's eye views of pretty landscapes below them.

Touching People

1. I think this project and photo essay is very unique and interesting. It makes you see more than meets the eye because you know that the people in the photos are strangers.

2. If some random person approached me and asked me to take part in a photo shoot, and proceeded to tell me to touch a stranger, I would definitely feel a little nervous and maybe a little scared. I think I would only do it if I was with another adult or person so I felt safe and secure.

3. I think a fun, different and interesting photo shoot to participate in or take photos for would be one where you placed the same person into many different households, making the photos show how the people, culture and setting/environment changed while the person stayed the same.

4. I think the photos are fun to look at and pleasing to the eye. The photographer does a great job of including the peoples' whole bodies and interpreting color and interest into the photo. 

Top 3 out of 40 Best Photos



-- Taken by Gary Crosby Jr.--

 I chose this photo as one of my favorites because I think it successfully shows many emotions including affection, sadness and unbreakable bonds. In this photo, the photographer centered the man and his dog so they are the main component of the photo, when the 2 people om the sides almost framing the man and dog. I think this photo makes the top 40 because of how accurately it represent this small, but unforgettable frame in time. 



--Taken by Rich Lam--
I chose this photo as one of my favorites because I love how just by looking at the photo, it easily expresses the strong bond between the two lovers. The photographer does a great job of making it obvious what the main component of the photo is, all while not having to completely center it, but making it focused and everything else blurry. This photo deserves to make the top 40 because it was extremely well taken and shows compassion in a hectic time.



 -- Unknown Photographer--

Lastly, I love this photo because it symbolizes the relationship between man at one of its worst times, showing how not everyone was cruel. The photographer set up this photo by almost centering the subjects and blurring out the background with other photographers trying to get a good shot, making it seem like his shot angle is the best. In conclusion, I think this photo is in the top 40 because it can always be looked back on and remembered the man can go through hardships, but can get through it starting with kindness.

Happy, Bowie, Metal, Square

Happy
Bowie
 Metal
 Square
 

Warm Up: 9/15

1. This unique photography idea is very eye-opening on how many crazy and interesting opportunities can come from one cool idea.

2. When I was first looking at the photos, it took me a couple seconds to process what I was looking at. The photographer did a fantastic job at camouflaging what the photo really was.

3. Sometime, I could definitely try something unique like this when my creative juices are flowing and I comprehend an organized plan.   

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Great B&W Photographers Part 2

      Minor Martin White was born July 9th of 1908 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1927, after graduating high school, White attended the University of Minnesota, but left for a while and became interested in writing. He liked to write poems, his deep thoughts, keep a journal called "Memorable Fancies", and write about his photography. When White did go back to the university, he decided that he didn't want to study science anymore like he was supposed to, and started to try out many jobs involving writing. Minor White's photography career really started in 1938 when he had moved to Seattle, and got a job for the Oregon Art Project. At the same time, he took publicity photos of plays and performances in a theater in Portland. Later on, White was drafted into the war and felt that he had to hide his true self from others. After his war days, he traveled to New York and started photographing landscapes, people and abstract matters in black and white and color for the rest of his career. Unfortunately, Minor White died in 1976, being one the Greatest American Photographers.

                         


SOURCES USED:
http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/minor_white/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/642060/Minor-White