Unusual and Interesting Photos

Part 1

I really enjoyed his works. Reading the comments though, I was shocked to see how many people are bad mouthing the photographer. I found the pictures really cool and interesting.

I think he made these photos with some effect in photoshop having to do with overlays and enhancement.

I think a cool building to use for this scheme of ideas would be Notre Dame in Paris, France. Its a really neat building in general so I think it would fit in nicely with the others. Getting to this building would be not so easy and very expensive.
Another building that I think would be cool to use is a huge windmill with a water tower that is in a small park in Buda. I've had pictures taken there before and again, it is a really neat place.

 Part 2

I chose this photo because it was very calming. I found this in the Photojournalist of the Year section. It won first place. The serene setting and feeling the photographer set is what drew me to this picture. I think the judges chose this because how unique the idea of the picture was and how the photographer makes your eyes draw straight to the umbrella. The photographer had to be in the right place at the right time to get this shot.  

I chose this photograph because I have a personal connection to it. When I was little, and now still, my favorite thing to do was go to the rodeo and watch the mutton bustin' event along with bull riding. I found this in the sports action section. It was an additional entry. The exact time and position is what attracted me. I think that the perfect timing also drew in the judges. This photographer had to watch very carefully and have the right camera to capture this intense of a shot. 

When I saw this photo, it immediately gave me chills. I found this in the general news section. It was an additional entry. The emotion the photographer portrayed is what drew me to this picture. I feel the emotion set is what also drew in the judges. The photographer must have had a hard time asking to get a photo like this from a grieving loved one. He would also have to be in a very heavy set place full of grieving people. 

Part 3

-Photographers should always be on the lookout for projects. A subject, any subject, that we can explore with many different photos.
-Looking at his art from a different angle completely changes the illusion of depth here. What this can teach photographers is to never stop looking for the right angle to take a photo.
-Norman Rockwell was very good at creating a memory in our heads the instant we see one of his paintings. There are some books that have less story than this image. Do that with a photograph and you will have succeeded.

This photograph somewhat follow O'Keeffe's rules. O'Keeffe never really had a specific book of rules but really just painted beautiful flowers that had interesting perspectives like this photograph.  

I think the style of O'Keeffe influences me most. I love the aspects of nature and the multiple things you can do with it. 

Photo Manipulation and Ethics

Photographers and everyday people are constantly manipulating their pictures. From adding things in to make the picture more exciting, to taking items away. This is also causing these photographers to loose their jobs while making the company they work for look bad along side them.

Manipulated pictures are unethical because it is giving the viewer a false reality. The pictures also give a false hope to people. The pictures may give hope for certain things to come for these events and then when the photograph is not 100% true and correct, it takes that hope away from people.

I believe this photo was most unethical because it is telling society the idea that if you want to be rich or famous, you must be thin, which according to TV Guide, Oprah wasn't. Even though Oprah was rich and famous before this picture was taken, the magazine obviously believed that they would have more reviews on the article replacing her body with another.  

I believe this photo was the least unethical because even though the picture was doctored with and gives a false image to millions, it did not affect anyones personal life besides the photographer who edited the picture, and the publisher. When an everyday person realizes this picture is false, I don't believe they would be deeply hurt and traumatized by it. 

Photo Shoot Reflection

1. It was somewhat difficult to think of abstract ideas rather then just taking a picture of a square. Also there were students at lunch so we had to move around them not being able to get some of our desired pictures.
2. I tried to think about the rules of photography I knew at the time; rule of thirds, balance, and framing.  I mostly thought about rule of thirds which I'm most familiar with. In the picture I used for bowie, JBHS is placed in the lower right hand corner.
3. I would try not to use mergers in some of my photos which I believe I did.
4. I would use rule of thirds in the pictures I previously used them in again.
6. I would be interested in doing it again having some new ideas from learning about the six rules.

http://grangersphotojournalismblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/4-prompts-free-shoot.html

I like how he didn't take the prompts so literally and used abstract ideas for some of the pictures. I also like how the pictures looked meaning by how the focus looks.

I didn't think his square picture avoided a merger. The picture seems a little blurry too.

Merger

This would be considered a merger because in this picture, the mans body is cut off at an unusual perspective. 

Framing

This photo would be considered to be using the element of framing because the cross has a literal framing aspect around it formed by the two buildings. The buildings also give the cross depth. 

Balance

This picture represents balance because the buildings stand out against the smoke. Also, the buildings form a triangle with the shore line, having each building be shorter than the first. 

Lines

This picture represents balance because the lines are diagonal and parallel with each other, therefore, making them dynamic. The lines lead from the center of the building out. 

Rule of Thirds

This is using the rule of thirds because the building which is the eyes main focus, is off centered. It is placed in the lower left hand corner. 

Simplicity

This photo represents simplicity because the firefighter is the main subject in this picture with a fairly similar background behind it. 

National Geographic

I like this photo because I think it shows the journey of the person whose eye this is and how they finally accomplished their end goal. I also really like how you can see the canyon in the background. It was a very well captured picture. It tells a story in of itself.

I think the interaction of two beings, either being man and man, animal and animal, or man and animal and capture their reaction to the same thing, showing the likeness of the two.

Touching People

I thought this project was an interesting one. It made people think about how separated now even the closest two people are and is still making other people think just by reading the article. If someone approached me and asked me to participate in this project I would be a little surprised. I think I would do what they asked and would have to had direction from them not knowing what to do. I think it would be cool to go around school getting random people from all different groups and asking them to help us with a photo shoot and then give them directions and create different scenes as if you were to walk into the outside world and find these situations. The photos look okay. Some are a little awkward looking, naturally being some people tend to be uncomfortable in these types of situations. I liked looking through the pictures seeing what all the different people came up with.

Top 40 Photos

Vanderlei Almeida 

-This photo was very moving for me. The fact that the dog knew who it was and that it was saddened by its owner no longer being with them was interesting to realize we are similar. The empty graves you can see behind the dog drew my eyes to this picture. I believe this picture made the Top 40 because its very inspirational. Seeing the dog and knowing that they can have the same feelings as we do really makes one think not only about the feelings of these dogs but of the fact that of how selfish we all really are.

 Aaron Thompson 

-I chose this photo because it drew me in emotionally. Being able to see the little boy with the officer and seeing the boys face is what drew me in. Seeing the little boy having to understand that he lost his father for good, and knowing we have things some people don't have and that we take advantage of them, even someone like a father in our lives.  I believe it made the Top 40 because yet again, it makes people think about the luxuries we have that a lot of people don't and cant ever get back. 

Jack Bradley

-I chose this picture because seeing the boys face light up from hearing for the first time made me grin. I have a personal connection to the picture my aunt being deaf, hoping someday this will be her reaction if she will be able to hear. The close up of the boys face displaying his reaction drew me in. I believe this picture made the Top 40 because it can spread hope for everyone not just the deaf. It makes people believe anything is possible. 

Great Black and White Photographers Part 2

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

     -He was born May 15th, 1925 in Normal, Illinois.
     -He died of cancer on May 7th, 1972 in Lexington, Kentucky.
     -He attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
     -He was an American photographer alongside an optician.
     -He published four books, Father Louie, Ralph Eugene Meatyard: The Family Album of Lucybelle Crater and Other Figurative Photographs,  Ralph Eugene Meatyard 55, and  Ralph Eugene Meatyard: An American Visionary.
     -He took all his photos in and around Lexington where he moved at the age of 25 and stayed until he passed.
     -Meatyard's photos were used to transform the "everyday nature of a family photograph into an unexpected moment."

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/M/meatyard/meatyard_resources.html
http://www.believermag.com/issues/200612/?read=article_mcdermott

First Free Shoot

Metal

Rule of Thirds

Happy

Simplicity

Bowie

Rule of Thirds

Square

Lines

The Camera

1. Explain the “camera obscura” effect. How is it achieved?
     - Camera obscura was the first camera. Inside a completely dark room, a tiny hole is created in one wall. Through the hole light is focused, and the outside scene is projected upside down on the opposite wall.

2. What invention during the 17th Century helped man get a step closer to creating the modern camera?

     - In the 17th century, the modern camera came one step closer when Isaac Newton and Christian Huygens perfected the understanding of optics and the process of making high quality glass lenses. 

3. What were the parts of the first modern camera invented by Niepce?

     - Niépce added film to create the first successful photograph, and the modern camera was born.

4.What do modern digital cameras have in common with Niepce’s camera?

     - The modern camera and Niepce's camera both has a box like object with a glass lens and film.

5. What do digital cameras use to capture an image?

     - Digital cameras use electronic film called a CCD.  

6. What is the difference between the Auto Mode and the Program mode?
     - On Program mode, you can control the flash, where as in Program mode, the camera does so for itself. 

7. What is the Portrait mode used for? How does it work?
     - Portrait mode is used to blur the background. The camera will try and use the fastest available lens setting.

8. What is the Sports mode used for? (not just sports) How does it work?

     - Sports mode is used to freeze motion. The camera uses the highest shudder speed possible. 

9. Why should you do a half press on the trigger button?

     -A half-press will tell the camera that you're almost ready to take a shot and to be prepared and then the camera will attempt to lock focus on the subject.

10. What does this symbol mean? When would you use this?

     - This means no flash. There are many cases where you may not want flash at all. The mood of the photograph can sometimes be more dramatic when the natural light is used.

11. What does this symbol mean? When would you use this?

     - In most camera modes, Auto-flash is enabled by default and will automatically fire if the camera thinks it needs more light.

12. What happens to your photo if there is too much light?
     - Too much light and the picture will be washed out.

13. What happens to your photo if there is not enough light?

     - Not enough light and the picture will be too dark.]

14. What is a “stop.”
     - The term "stop" is used in every aspect of photography to represent a relative change in the brightness of light.

15. How many stops brighter is the new planet if there are two sons instead of one?
     - It would be one stop brighter. 

16. How many stops brighter is the new planet if there are four sons instead of two?

     - It would be two stops brighter. 

17. What affect does a longer shutter speed of have?
     - A longer shutter speed gives more light to the photograph. 

18. What affect does a shorter shutter speed have?
     - A shorter shutter speed gives less light to the photograph. 

19. What does the aperture control?
     - It reduces the brightness. 

20. When adjusting the aperture, how can you increase the amount of light?

     - You can adjust the aperture by making it have a larger opening. 

Great Black and White Photographers

Emmet Gowin

Willie Cooper

 Danville,Virginia 1970  

Roger Fenton 

Sebastopol from Cathcart's Hill

1855

 William Klein

 Horn & Hardart

Lexington Avenue 1954-55

  Ralph Eugene Meatyard 

Untitled (Landscape with barbed wire fences and telephone poles)

1959

My First Pictures

I feel that this was my best picture. I like how the lighting looked. I also like the placement of my picture. I felt I used the rule of thirds justly. 

I felt that this was my worst picture. I didn't like the way he was posed. I think that my picture looks somewhat crooked too. I didn't like how dark the lighting looked either.