FINAL EXAM EXTRA CREDIT

1. The man in the photo was allegedly pushed onto the train tracks by and angry panhandler. The man was trying to stop the panhandler from harassing a passerby, and was shoved in the way of the train. He was not strong enough to pull himself up.
2. The photographer, R. Umar Abbasi, said that he took the photo with flash to warn the conductor of the train in attempt to stop the train and save the man in the way.
3. I'm not sure how I feel about the photo, and I'm not sure whether or not I think Abbasi was right to take it. If his reasoning is true and he couldn't help the man up and was trying to warn the conductor as a last try, then maybe it was right for him to snap the photo.
4. Even If Abbasi was having trouble pulling the man up on his own, maybe he should have tried to get more people to help instead of leaving the man helpless while he snaps photos.
5. I think it was wrong to display this picture as the cover to a magazine. The man's death was inevitable, and seeing such a sorrowful photo and dressing it in a wild headline doesn't seem appropriate.
6. It appears that capturing a moment in history as it happens is the priority of a photojournalist. Depending on the situation, you can't stop every bad thing from happening.
7. I think if a life is in danger and the journalist/photographer is in a position to offer aid, than they should at least try to help. However, if it's too dangerous and they're risking themselves too much, then I can understand the scenario.
8. I think it depends on the situation when it comes to whether or not photojournalists should interfere with an event. Of course, it can't be easy to determine whether or not you should get involved in something if you only have seconds to decide.
9. If the photographer can't justify himself or his actions, then there's not much else to do. He can't convince the entirely of the public, and either way, a man in dead.

5 Websites

10 Photography Resolutions For The New Year
http://petapixel.com/2014/12/31/10-photography-resolutions-new-year/

In the article, different "resolutions" are suggested by the author. Each of the 10 resolutions is sort of advice for newbies and pros in photography, and I think some of them apply to things other than photography. One of the resolutions is to quit self doubt and put your work out into the world, and another is "don't let your gear stop you", since it's possible to do amazing things with the simplest supplies.

I learned that photoshop can be a great tool for images. I've never seen it as anything more that an app used to make pictures look funny and weird, but it can definitely be used for business related projects.

This is my favorite photo from the website!

a. I chose this photo since it seems so giddy and magical with all of the sparks of light in the dark.

b. I think the Rule of Thirds is a rule of photography featured in this image, since the woman isn't directly in the center of the photo. Also Balance is present in the shapes created by the woman's stance and what she's wearing.

c. I think the author's fiance took this photo, but I'm not sure the author is the woman in this image since there's no caption on the website.

a. On the website I saw lots of advice and tips for photographers of all different types, and photos to compliment the subject of each resolution. The photos were artistic (except for the photoshopped one since i'm sure it was meant to be humorous), and each had a bright light in it.

b. After reading through the entire article I learned that a lot of times even the best photographers can get lost in their work instead of appreciating the reason why they started snaping photos in the first place, for fun!

c. The site related to photography because it presents goals for photographers and tips on their work. It's for beginners and pros alike, and it gives plenty of advice and ideas for photo shoots.

The Disorienting Beauty of Spiral Staircases in Old Abandoned Buildings

In the article the style and subject of Christian Ritcher is elaborated. He grew up in East Germany and explored old abandoned buildings for fun, until he entered the field of photography. He searched through many structures looking for great staircases that looked gorgeous yet disorienting from the top level down. He continues to travel across Europe in search of more wonderful staircases.


a. I chose this photo from the site because of the design of the staircase. I like how the railing looks like a vine.
b. One rule of photography that I see in this photo is Viewpoint. This photo was taken from the top of the staircase looking down, which sets a different atmosphere.
c. Christian Ritcher is the photographer that took this image for his series "Abandoned Staircases".

a. On the website many of Ritcher's staircase photos were displayed. There wasn't a lot of information on Ritcher or his projects, but there was plenty of his images that confused my eyes.
b. While scrolling through the website I learned that old buildings can be really beautiful. It's the fact that the staircases were decrepit that made them unique.
c. This site relates to photography since the text is information about a photographer and his work. His photos are also shown on the page,

5 Out Of 100 of the Most Influential Images of All Time

 
Behind Closed Doors

1. The motion of the hand and striped outfit in this image caught my eye, and I noticed that the woman was being hit. I can't just look at a picture of someone being injured without being compelled to find the reasoning behind hurting another person.
2. The photo was taken by Donna Ferrato who witness Garth beating his wife Lisa while she cowered in the corner. Donna had come to know the couple through a project on wealthy swingers, and after seeing such an act, Ferrato knew she had to spread the word and bring awareness to situations such as the one's that her shutter captured.
3. The video on the websites tells behind the scenes information and the thoughts of Donna and the woman in the photo. The woman in the photo explained how she had experienced violence such as what's showed, many times. When Donna revealed the photos in Time magazine, Elisabeth(the woman) revealed her identity. It turns out, the photos that Donna took were the first published images to capture domestic violence as it was happening.
4. The second photo is another image captured by Donna that grabbed my attention. The expression of the woman in the photo is truly sorrowful.
5. Donna Ferrato was born June 5th, 1949 in Waltham, MA, and attended Garland Junior College in Boston.

 
The Pillow Fight

1. I recognized the Beatles immediately when I saw this photo and wanted to know the story behind this joyous image. It almost looks like a posed shoot, since it seems silly that 4 grown men would be jumping around like children, but I was surprised to find out that it's not.
2. The photographer that snapped this photo originally had no intention of spending time with the Beatles (crazy, I know.), but after he met the band he knew he was on the right story. He captured this image directly after the Beatles discovered that their song " I Want To Hold Your Hand" hit No. 1 in the U.S.
3. In the video presented, Harry Benson (the photographer) explains some of the details of the photos he took while the Beatles were rejoicing. He said that he believed that the band's appearance in America helped lift the nation's spirit after Kennedy's assassination, and that the photos he took were special since the Beatles are never going to have another pillow fight.
4. The second photo was also taken by Harry Benson that I think is interesting since two sweet looking girls are surrounded by rubble, and it's a gloomy scene.
5. Harry Benson was born on December 2nd, 1929 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

 
Dalí Atomicus

1. I chose this image since it looks so strange and unreal, and I wanted to find out how it was captured in such a time period since it looks like a photoshopped photo or painted scene. Seeing the water in the air was certainly confusing.
2. Instead of doing a simple sitting and smiling portrait of his friend Salvador Dalí, Philippe Halsman decided to create an elaborate scene inspired by Dalí's painting Leda Atomica. To reach the final result, a chair and in-progress easel were suspended by thin wires and Halsman's assistants tossed three cats and a bucket of water into the air whilst Dalí jumped up. It took 26 tries so capture an image that Halsman was satisfied with, but it was worth all of the work.
3. Dalí was a painter and Halsman was a photographer. They both specialized in their subjects and collaborated for many years, using each other's talent and ideas to make outstanding creations. Halsman photographed more photos for TIME magazines than anyone else, and helped other photographers step out of the comfort zone to interact with creativity.
4. The second photo is of Elizabeth Taylor. This photo caught my eyes because this woman is really, REALLY beautiful.
5. Philippe Halsman was born May 2nd 1906 in Riga, Latvia. He died on June 25th 1979 in New York City. :(

 
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston

1. I chose this image since I recognized Muhammad Ali, and seeing him in this photo looking so young and triumphant was eye-catching. The color and lighting in the photo makes it seem very dramatic.
2. The photographer, Neil Leifer, just happened to be in the perfect spot to take this photo. The right place and the right time captured an amazing image of Ali radiating the "strength and poetic brashness" that made him a beloved athlete.
3. In the 50s and 60s, boxing was in its prime and every boy knew that Ali was the heavyweight champion of the world. In the first fight between Liston and Ali, people couldn't believe that Ali had defeated someone who was seen as invincible. The rematch between the two (when Leifer took this photo) was very much anticipated. Ali only threw about 4 punches, one of which was called the Phantom Punch, and that punch knocked out Liston. As Ali shouted down at Liston, "Get up and fight, sucker!", Leifer snapped this picture.
4. The second picture is another sports photo taken by Leifer. It grabbed my attention since I love track events.
5. Neil Leifer was born December 28, 1942 in New York City.


Surfing Hippos

1. When I first looked at this image I thought it was a photo of rocks floating in water, and thought that was a stupid concept. However, when I clicked on the picture and discovered that the rocks were actually hippos, I was quite pleased.
2. The photo is of two hippos surfing the waves of the Atlantic ocean. A scene such as this is not common to see in the wild, since hippos are usually found in water that's inland, not out at sea.
3. In the audio presented, Michael Nichols (the photographer) explains how he came to take this photo. Every morning he'd walk along the beach looking for hippos that were drifting in the current to reach grasslands, and one morning in particular he encountered a family of hippos "surfing".
4. Micheal Nichols was born November 6th, 1931 in Berlin Germany, and died November 19 2014 in Manhattan, New York City.  (This might be completely wrong because the only person who popped up when I searched the photographer's name was Mike Nichols.)

Prompt Shoot #3

Tiny


Circle

Magazine Preview Assignment Post 3 "Favorite"

 "New York’s “Spring Fashion” cover with actress Elle Fanning has artist Will Cotton revisiting Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting “Girl With a Pearl Earring” in pose, expression, and lighting, while Fanning’s Vivienne Westwood–inspired headpiece made of icing and designed by Cotton prepares readers for the stunning “Candy Land” portfolio inside the magazine. Cotton has been using candy in his artwork “as a metaphor for pure pleasure” since the late nineties, and used spring looks as inspiration for New York."

This magazine cover photo is a portrait of a woman with something like a bouquet of flowers on her head. The woman is pale, but her skin is even and smooth. Her shoulders are angled since her body is facing the left side, but her face is turned and her attention is focused on the camera. Her expression reveals that she is calm and curious. Her look is mostly natural, but she has on red lipstick. Her eyes look green and her hair is a light color. There's nothing in the background, it's just black, and the woman's shoulder's and back of her neck is covered in shadow. The text of the name of the magazine is partially hidden behind the flowers on the woman's head, and the rest of the text surrounds her. The photo inspires spring fashion and art style.

A Local Austin Photographer

After sifting through websites and images, I finally found a wonderful photographer that suites my tastes. His name is Nathan Hall, and he is a professional photographer who does photoshoots for bands/musicians, portraits and fashion, he also takes snapshots of events and street art, architecture/real estate, and landscapes and nature. Nathan Hall (with crazy nicknames like: Ginger Yeti, El Perro Sucio, and Sasquatch) is a very humorous and outgoing person. He says he enjoys making photoshoots fun when he's with his clients. Even though different lenses are used for special subjects, Nathan works commonly with prime lenses since the results are cleaner. When it comes to portraits, Nathan's style is consists of "hard light and high contrast", but from what I've seen, there's no specific pattern to his style in the way his images look. However, the look of his photos is unique.


I like this photo because of the look of the sky above the house. The house in itself looks large and almost ominous. I think this photo follows the rule of simplicity.
I like the fact this photo seems to hold meaning, but it's so simple. That little gun and no action seems to say a lot. The rule of thirds plays a part in the success of the image.

I like this photo since I have a connection the setting. I've been there many times and it looks even more beautiful every visit. This photo captures the perfection of the scene.

This image has a serious atmosphere to it, and the musician seems engulfed in his song. I love music more than anything, and I favor the guitar as one of the best instruments.

This photo is very simple, but also dramatic. The lighting is perfect, setting the mood for the image.

American Soldier

A. I think the most powerful image posted by the Denver Post is the one named "Attention to Detail". The black and white photo concentrates on the subject as he focuses on his stature, giving the image a serious atmosphere.

B. The images work together to tell the story of Ian Fisher's experiences in the way that you can tell how Ian has grown and changed in the photos. Ian starts off more carefree at the start of the year coverage, but by the end it's obvious that he carries himself in a different way, and is much stronger mentally and physically.

C. The captions enhance the photos since it adds more to the story of the image, and explains it in some cases. Captions can influence different emotions that correspond with the photos.

D. Ian Fisher made a life changing decision on his 17th birthday when he concluded that he would join the army, but has a few mixed feelings when he receives a phone call a year later from his recruiting office. A week before leaving home, Ian speaks with Sgt. Joseph Camarillo about what to expect in basic training. Friends and family throw Ian a goodbye party in their own ways, and Ian bids farewell to his close friends with teary eyes. Ian has a tough time with his basic training due to an old injury in his elbow, but gets along well with his new comrades.

Mural Project

For our mural project, my group and I decided to have an autumn theme. I took photos of fall evidence in nature, while my partners kept a lookout for Halloween setups, fall fashion, and plenty of pumpkins.

Here are the photos I shot.

Magazine Preview Assignment Post 2

1. Formal
 

2. Informal

3. Environmental

4. Formal

5. Informal

6. Enviromental

7. Informal

8. Formal

9. Formal

10. Formal

11. Formal

12. Formal

13. Environmental

14. Formal

15. Informal

16. Informal

17. Formal

Magazine Preview Assignment Post 1

1. I think I should make sure the design of my magazine cover isn't overly bright or distracting in a negative way.
2. Different aspects of the cover should compliment the others, so the scene fits like a puzzle piece.
3. In the cover photo the text should have a font that fits the subject, whether it be serious, silly, or calm.
4. The cover photo should have an atmosphere to the theme, so that it doesn't "feel" bland.
5. My cover photo needs to be diverse; not typical or like the others.

Self Portrait and Portraits Part 1

1. Alter Your Perspective

2. Hands and Other Details

3. Hold Your Camera on an Angle

Environmental Portraits

I like this photo because the woman in it seems so graceful and gorgeous among the rubble of something old and worn. Everything is perfectly contrasted, and the sunlight adds a relaxed feeling to the image. I chose it because of the balance of the photo.

I love the way the water looks in this photo. Its undisturbed (besides the bubbles), and the reflection of the people is like a mirror's. There's not a lot of light in this image, and that makes it look even better since you can't tell what's under the water's surface. I chose it because of the appearance of the water.

Self Portraits

I chose this photo because I feel that there is a lot of hidden meaning behind it. The girl looks very stressed and conflicted, but the shimmering glitter in the photo gives the image a different feel. I like how the background is blurry and the subject is more in focus so that her expression is more defined.

I chose this photo because of the perspective it's in. It's as if the subject is looking over the viewer to something farther up and eye-catching. I love this photo because the girl looks peaceful laying down and looking up dreamily.

Casual Portraits

I chose this image because of how relaxed the atmosphere of the photo is. The woman in the photo looks comfortable laying down, and her smile is very beautiful.

I chose this photo because of the blissful feel it gives. The couple in the photo both look so joyful, and the smile on each of their faces shows it. Even though the woman in the photo is facing away from the camera, it's obvious she has a grin on her face.

For my portrait assignment I will shoot photos of one of my close friends, Kylie, because she is one of the most beautiful girls I know. I want to shoot in an urban setting, since downtown Austin has some unique highlights to make an image interesting. I'll make sure each photo has plenty of lights to accentuate the subject's features, as well as the area around her.

Funny Captions

Best friends Mike Turner (bottom) and Rob Yankee(blue shirt) are skydiving for the first time. They decided to fall from California skies together on October 28th and they seem to be having a great time.

Mike Turner and Rob Yankee went skydiving on a warm afternoon in California. They enjoyed themselves!


Granny Rosa finally figures out how to play video games! Her grandchildren brought a Wii and Granny Rose is teaching herself how to control what's on the tv screen. Her grandkids have been waiting quite a while for their turn to play.

On Sunday Granny Rosa's grandchildren brought a Wii for her to experiment with. She didn't let anyone else play for the rest of the day once she got her hands on a controller!


Twin sisters Annie and Sarah take a trip to the beach in their hometown after their last visit which was 50 years ago. A lot has changed since then, because their old now, but the sisters are still enjoying themselves in the water as the wheelchairs don't exist.

Wheelchairs and old age didn't stop sisters Annie and Sarah from enjoying themselves at the beach. After 50 years they finally returned to their hometown to cool down from the midday heat.