Final Exam Review

1. Captions

Triathlon racer, Marcus Anthony, age 28, collapses in exhaustion  at the finish line of the Cycling, Swimming, and Running New York City Marathon on Saturday in New York City, NY. He cycled 36 miles, swam 18, and then ran 9 miles against some of the top triathlon runners in the world, and he persevered through his obstacles for one goal - to win the prize of a lifetime supply of chocolate for his daughter.

At 12 in the afternoon, her grandpa Sam, drunk per usual, was messing with the pies again at the Cohart HS Bake Sale. At that moment, Ashley contemplated to herself, that maybe her parents had the right idea to send him to a nursery home.

Tonight, on December 31st, somewhere in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Agent Lancelot, tied and blindfolded, is being led towards a mysterious black vehicle. He knew that he shouldn't have drunken the champagne at the formal party he attended last night in Italy, where his brother was the top gun Mafia leader.

2. Rules of Photography

1. Rule of thirds - The subject is not centered in the photo and is instead off to the side or to a corner of the photo. This rule can be used to show the subject's path in front of them and can create movement.

2. Balancing Elements - Elements in the photo create balance. This can be done with colors, lighting, or placement in the photo. 

3. Leading Lines - Elements in the photo cause lines that pull or lead the viewer across the photo or to the subject in the photo.

4. Symmetry and Patterns (repetition) - The photo is symmetrical or has patterns that make the photo interesting or intriguing to look at.

5. Viewpoint - Taking a photo from different angles (bird's eye view, ground level, ext.)

6. Background - The background of the photo is the main focus

7. Create depth - The focus on the subject is sharpened and the background is blurred to give the subject a feeling of depth or closeness

8. Framing - The subject in the photo is framed by an object or element in the photo.

9. Cropping - The photo is edited to cut out unnecessary parts of the photo and to cut down the size

10. Mergers and avoiding them - Merger is when the subject in the photo directly interacts with the background. This can include combing similar colors on the subject with the background or having the subject stand close or aligned with something that it appears to be coming out from the subject. To avoid merger, the subject should be placed somewhere where they are not a lot of distractions in the background of the photo.

3. Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO

Aperture - The size of the lens is changed to control the amount of light is let in, much like the pupil in the iris of an eye. The aperture takes in a certain amount of light to modify the Depth of Field in the photo by blurring out the background and bringing only the subject into focus. Aperture numbers come as ""f/1.4'" or "f/8". The smaller the aperture umber, the higher the aperture.

Shutter Speed - The amount of time the camera lens is open to allow light into the camera. Shutter speed is also known as "exposure time". Shutter speed numbers come as "1/250" or "1/6000". The higher the shutter speed number, the shorter the amount of time light will be let in, and the photo will "freeze" a moment in time.

ISO - The camera's sensitivity to light is changed to make the photo appear brighter or darker. ISO numbers comes as "25" or "1600". The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive it is to light, and the lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to light. Using a high ISO can capture a low-light environment, like a game at night, however, the photo will come out more grainy. A low ISO should be used when there is available light, though it can be used in lower light if the camera is on a sturdy surface. A high ISO should be used when there is too little light or to capture a speed shot.

4. Photo Manipulation Ethics 

 Altering a photo can be controversial in the world of photography and media. What may seem as a light joke or a simple edit can offend or upset someone because of the content that was changed (or left) in the photo.  Photo editing that includes adding or taking something away from a photo can be considered unethical because it disrupts the reality of the photo. One difference can completely change the story that is being told through the photo.

5. Portraits

Portraits are photographs in which a person is the subject in the photo.
Environmental Portrait - An environmental portrait is of the subject in their natural environment, usually interacting with something in that environment. Examples would include like a photograph of a farmer in a field or a ballet dancer on stage.
Self Portrait - A self portrait is one that the photographer takes of themselves. Usually self portraits include a series of photos in order to tell the photographer's story or to convey what they are feeling.
Casual  - The last type of portraits, casual portraits, are generally a photograph of a person who is not the photographer and who is not in their natural environment. There are two kind of casual portraits - Informal and Formal (the names speak for themselves but I'll explain anyway). Informal portraits are informal. The subject is not dressed up and is not acting formal (they may be laughing or smiling or doing something), and the lighting is not typically planned. Formal portraits are the opposite, in which the subject may be (most likely) dressed up and is acting formal (kind of like they're posing for a photo shoot, which they probably are, so they're generally looking at the camera), and the lighting is planned for dramatic effect or to make the photo "cleaner".

6. Photographic Terms

Exposure - Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the camera's film (or electronic sensor). Exposure consists of three things working together: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, all which can alter the light that is reaching the camera.
Depth of Field - Depth of Field is the range of distance that appears sharp. In Depth of Field, the photo can transition from sharp to blurred or gradually become blurred. A photo can transition quickly from sharp to blurred if the subject is close to the camera and takes up most of the frame, in which there is little background. The Depth of Field is mostly affected by Aperture and the viewing
Focal Length - Focal Length does not describe the measurement of the camera's lens but the lens itself. It describes the angle of view, how much of the screen will be captured, and the magnification, how large individual elements will be. Basically, focal length is zooming in or out to control how much of the photo is capture and if certain elements are enlarged in the photo.

7. Magazine Covers

Early Magazine Covers

Early magazine covers often feature little to no illustration on the front. Most covers provide only a title and publication information. As magazines evolved, small and simple illustrations were featured on the cover, but did not reveal any information about the content and only served for decorative purposes. Some magazines featured departments within the magazine (Literature, Art, Music, Poetry, Humor, ect.) rather than previewing the actual content.

The Poster Cover
Poster covers have complex and detailed illustrations, designed by illustrators. Many poster covers did not relate to the magazine or the content within the magazine and instead portrayed a season or mood, as beautiful illustrations were the main attraction and cover lines were not and only used to a minimum.

 

Pictures Married to Type
These covers find the perfect balance between images and type on the cover. Usually, they include a photo that appeals to the audience or gets a message across, along with a primary and secondary set of cover lines in a contrasting color to support the photo. The creative placement of the cover lines on the cover would help to support the image.

In the Forest of Words
The type of magazine covers commonly used in the 21st century in which cover lines became as important, even more important, than the image on the magazine cover. Modern magazine covers focus more on the covers lines, which advertise the content within the magazine, than the image, although there are still magazines who use cover lines to a minimum or have a balance between the cover lines and the photo. Cover lines overlap over the imagery - often models - and obscure certain parts of the image to get a message or mood across to the audience.

Self Portrait & Portrait Photos

Self Portrait

Portrait

Vertical Self Portrait

Vertical Portrait

Fashion Photography

Fashion

Evolution

In the video, the model's lips and eyebrows were darkened, her eyes were lined with mascara and eyeliner, and her skin was made smoother with the use of makeup and acne and other marks were concealed, all before the editing began. When they started editing her image, her eyes and lips were enlarged and her face was shifted upwards so that she had a longer neck. Her face wasn't changed so much that she looked almost too unreal, but it was changed enough to look too perfect. 

Body Evolution - Model Before and After

In the video, her face was changed (her features were sharpened and her eyes were enlarged), her shoulders were shaped to be "feminine" (moved downwards to appear less broader, smaller), her arms , bust, waist, thighs, and calves were edited to be thinner. The model's legs, arms, and neck were lengthened, and her complexion was made to appear lighter and smoother. Basically, she was made into a Barbie doll, which is kind of creepy. 

Crazy Photoshop Skills

In the video, the model's butt, calves, arms, and shoulders were shaped to be smaller and more shapely, and her bust was shaped and made larger. Her butt and legs were made smaller and thinner, which looks kind of weird overall, and her rolls were eliminated which also made no sense. They continued to make her body as thin and small as possible that at one point, her head looked way too big for her body until they made that smaller too. Her cellulite was eliminated so that her butt, thighs, and legs were smoothed out. They lengthened her hair and made it looked a little darker, though that's the fakest hair I've ever seen. They smoothed out her curves, again, getting rid of lumps and rolls, and finally, they lightened her skin complexion. Despite being a plus-size model before, she was made smaller and thinner, which came out looking really freaky when you think about what she looked like in the original image.


Q&A

1. Photoshop editing models is definitely not ethically acceptable. Using photoshop editing on models is to fit society's distorted perception of beauty, despite how wrong and disturbing it is. It's fine to smooth out the skin and sharpen the facial features, but the line is crossed when the body is changed to become thinner and curvier. Editing a model's body, male or female, to fit today's beauty standards, only hurts the people viewing the photo who also pick up on that distorted perception of beauty.

2. It's always ethically wrong to distort and edit any body type, but I think the worst would be making a plus-size model who's a size 18 look like a size 1. There's a HUGE difference, and you couldn't tell that they're the same person if not for the face. 

3. Changes to the face are acceptable, considering that makeup has been around since the Ancient Egyptians to enhance and sharpen facial features, and most of the time, the face is not edited so much anyway after makeup is applied. Anything below the face becomes less and less acceptable.  

4. Fashion photography has a lot more editing involved than photojournalism, and while photojournalism aims to communicate a theme, mood, or story to the viewer, fashion photography solely focuses on being appealing to the eye. 

5. Photojournalism photography hits closer to home - that is, it's more realistic. Photojournalism photography is edited usually to brighten the image, make it appear more drastic, and sometimes to cover up parts of the image that may be deemed unethical. Fashion photography is far from reality, and usually the models are completely distorted or edited to fit the beauty standards in magazines and modeling. This difference makes photojournalism more ethical than fashion photography because photojournalism is not very far from the truth, whereas fashion photography is.

6. Besides having to fill in an hour and 20 minute class, these videos show us how distorted and twisted today's beauty standards are and how far they are from reality. Today, a lot of teenagers are hurt by these standards and try to fit to them, sometimes going as far to purposely starve themselves to become skinnier. 

7. The editing and photoshop in female model's is given more attention to in society and social media than the editing and photoshop in male model's, which is pretty weird. People would be enraged if a female model were changed completely from her original image, but probably wouldn't care so much if it were a guy instead. Maybe because society also makes us think that women should be attended to and protected and told that they're beautiful no matter what, but men have to take it and deal with their own body issues. Both genders have body issues and should both be given attention.

Prompt Shoot #2

Electric

Cold

Purple

Magazines Part 2

Early Magazine Covers

Early magazine covers often featured little to no illustration on the front. Most covers provided only a title and publication information. As magazines evolved, small and simple illustrations were featured on the cover, but did not reveal any information about the content and only served for decorative purposes. Some magazines featured departments within the magazine (Literature, Art, Music, Poetry, Humor, ect.) rather than previewing the actual content.

The Poster Cover

Soon, simple and generic covers were replaced by complex and detailed illustrations, designed by illustrators. Illustrators were becoming increasingly popular and many memorable covers rose up that they were used as standards that had to be met. Many poster covers did not relate to the magazine or the content within the magazine and instead portrayed a season or mood. Beautiful illustrations were the main attraction and cover lines were used to a minimum. 

Pictures Married to Type

These type of covers aimed to find the perfect balance between images and type on the cover. These covers usually include a photo that appeals to the audience or gets a message across, along with a primary and secondary set of cover lines in a contrasting color to support the photo. The cover lines did not communicate the magazine's subject to the audience, but instead featured the names of the authors, though this would change in the future. Creative placement of the cover lines on the cover would help to support the image.

In the Forest of Words

As magazine covers evolved in the 21st century, the cover lines became as important, even more important, than the image on the magazine cover. Modern magazine covers focus more on the covers lines, which advertise the content within the magazine, than the image, though there are still some rare magazines that only use a small or modest amount of cover lines. Cover lines overlap over the imagery - often models - and obscure certain parts of the image to get a message or mood across to the audience. 

My Favorite Cover

Favorite Cover

My favorite cover is the cover by Golf Digest, featuring Jimmy Fallon.

The description: "Golf Digest evolved more in 2014 than in any stretch of its 64-year history. Following a major survey that helped us understand the preferences and habits of the millennial golfer, we embarked on a thorough redesign, moving the magazine from strictly service to lifestyle and service. Our June cover succinctly captures this evolution. Not only does this issue represent the first of Golf Digest’s redesign, cover subject Jimmy Fallon, photographed by Peter Yang, perfectly speaks to Golf Digest’s new target audience and fastest-growing segment of readers—millennials. Fallon unveiled the June cover on the Tonight Show." - See more at: http://www.magazine.org/asme/magazine-cover-contest/past-winners-finalists/2015-winners-finalists#sthash.HsgyLzew.dpuf

Critique

The cover is light and amusing and appeals comically to the viewer. Jimmy Fallon, a well-known and beloved talk show-host/comedian, poses with a golf club. The magazine cover uses the approval of a famous comedian to convince the readers to consider reading the magazine. Then they portray him in a comical pose (which attributes to what he is best at - being a comedian) to further catch their attention. He is set against a plain, light grey background so that the spotlight is on him. The magazine advertises the subject of the magazine - gold - by having Fallon hold a golf club and pose as if he is about to put it into the hole. The magazine communicates that a famous person like Jimmy Fallon approves of their magazines and it's content (golf), and because of that, other people should approve the magazine by reading it. 

Best Covers of 2015

Best Covers

1. Formal

2. Informal

3. Informal

4. Environmental

5. Formal

6. Formal

7. Formal

8. Informal

9. Informal

10. Environmental

11. Formal

12. Formal

13. Informal

14. Informal

15. Informal

16. Formal

17. Informal

18. Environmental

Magazine Tips

The 5 things I'll be thinking about when I make my magazine cover are:

1. Have an interesting cover to arouse curiosity in the readers to draw them to the magazine cover.

2. Do not judge the cover while it's on-screen as the image on-screen may vary very differently from the physical cover.

3. Make the cover pop out from the background. The cover shouldn't blend in.

4. Experiment with the cover sizes and the sizes of the type on the cover. The virtual image will be misleading so experimenting to achieve the ideal product in necessary. 

5. Colors may catch the reader's attention, but too many can cause merger and that should be avoided.

American Soldier - Photos Make the Story

A. There were three images that I thought were very powerful in the photo, one taking place in the 2nd set of photos (Basic Training) and the two others taking place in the 3rd set (Iraq). The first one is of a soldier crouching in the undergrowth with a rifle armed. The second photo is of five soldiers looking at something that can't be seen by the viewer. The third photo is of soldiers loading into what looks like a mobile home or trailer, but one soldier, Ian, is enjoying a smoke. I thought these images were powerful because of the emotion they displayed - intensity, concentration, and exhaustion.

B. 
Set 1 - Home - Image #1 to Image #3
Set 2 - Basic Training - Image #4 to Image #13
Set 3 - Iraq - Image #14 to Image #26
In Image #27 he is returning home.

C. The most powerful set of images was in Set 3. Set 3 takes place in Iraq and captures the soldiers in action and the effect it has on them. It's very easy to read the emotions in these images, and many of the soldiers look grim or exhausted.

D. The images show a montage of what takes place in Ian's journey. Not only do they clearly display the process in chronological order - leaving, going to basic training, going to Iraq, and coming back - but they also display how it changes Ian by including photos that show his emotions. What he goes through and how it changes him both tell his story.

E. Many of the verbs are written in present tense as if the scene in the photo is happening at that moment. 

F. The captions add to the story that the photographs tell. On their own, the photograph tell a simple story about a boy joining the Army and going through Basic Training, but with the captions, more details are revealed behind the photos and give the viewer/reader a sense of familiarity with the subject.

G. Ian Fisher was known as the local tough in Lakewood, Colorado, but as graduation comes near, he has to think about his future. Fisher settles on joining the Army, like his father, and eventually sets on his way to Basic Training after a heartfelt goodbye from his friends and family. Basic Training proves to be a challenge for Fisher but he perseveres. He leaves Basic Training with a spring in his step and a good feeling about his future. But things go downhill at his first assignment in Fort Carson, which is only an hour's drive away from his hometown. Fisher struggles between his duty to his assignment and the familiarity of home, and he faces challenges with drug abuse. He is given a second chance after his bad experience at Fort Carson and is on his way to deployment to Iraq. 

Warm-Up and Portrait/Self-Portrait Preview

Love and Loss Warm-up

1. Looking through these images, I felt a sense of familiarity with the subjects. Through these images, I could tell what kind of relationship the subjects had and what they had to cope with. As the images progressed, they told the story of a woman living with cancer and how she dealt with her illness. All without a single word. I felt a little hopeful sometimes, seeing the woman being supported by her husband, but often I felt the heavy weight of depression and dread, knowing how it all might end.

2. "These photographs do not define us, but they are us."

After viewing these photos, I understand now what the photographer was conveying. The photos do not tell you what kind of people they are. They do not tell you about the subjects' personal life or personality or memories. The photos show the struggle that this couple goes through as a result of cancer. It is through struggle that one's true self is revealed. The photos are a part of a significant part of this couple's life, and it is a part of their story. It is a part of them. 

3. I honestly don't know. Would I be the cancer patient or the loved one? If I were the cancer patient, I think it would be easier documenting my own life. It'd be easier to deal with the fact that as I took those photos, I would be making my final mark on the world. If I were the loved one, however, I think that it would be a little harder. It would be hard to take these photos knowing that any day could be the last day you talk to them. However, I would still be glad that I would be documenting them, so that if they do die, I would still have those pictures to remind me of them.

4. If I could write him a letter, I don't think I would have a lot to say. It's harder when you don't know someone, because you don't know what's the right or wrong thing to say. However, I would write something along the lines of: 

Dear Angelo,

What you did for your wife, Jennifer, was very brave. It's hard dealing with the loss of a loved one, and even harder when you know that loss is in the future. But I think it's beautiful, that in her last days, you documented as much as you could to capture a special part of her.

Self Portraits and Portraits (PART 1)

TIPS

1. Hold your camera at an angle

2. Take a series of shots

3. Play with eye contact

Environmental Photo

I really like the colors in both of these photos. In the first photo, the colors of the background and the farmer are muted, but then there's this strike of red on the photo from the cranberry field. I think it gave the photo a nice effect. In the second photo, the colors of the sunset merge and contrast with the shadowed snow on the ground. A lot of elements in this photo made it an appealing photo to look at. I picked these photos because they show the relationship of the subjects with the environment.

Self-Portrait

I couldn't just pick two for this one. 

The first three photos are more serious. I like the first photo because of how reflective it is. I thought it was a really cool effect that sparked my interest, and it gave the photo a kind of intense feeling. The second photo is meaningful. The angle was turned upside down to make it seem like the subject was falling upwards, or like they were losing their footing and falling into nothingness. The third photo has a cool perspective that makes the subject seem like it's larger than the mountains in the distance. Plus, I liked how the yellow line leads the eye to the subject. This photo gave me a sense of wanderlust. Finally, I picked the last photo just for fun, because I thought it was funny and I needed a laugh today.

Casual Portrait

I chose these two photos because of how contrasting they were. Both photos convey emotion, but one is happiness while the other one is dark depression. I like how the lighting in the photos makes a big difference between them and helps to set the mood. The first photo is dark and intense in contrast to the second photo that has softer and brighter lighting. 

For my portrait assignment, I'm not exactly sure how I will plan things out. I don't think I want to photograph just ONE subject, and instead capture many subjects, including myself. I would like to shoot in many different kinds of background and settings. I may choose a certain theme for my photos, or I might just go with the flow and capture the image when it arises. To make my shots successful, I'll choose angles and perspectives to make the photo interesting. I'll capture the relationship between the subject and the setting or an object in the setting whenever possible, and capture the subject's face to give the photo a sense of familiarity and emotion. And of course, I'll use the rules of photography - particularly leading lines, balance, and framing. 

Rules of Photography Part 2

The theme: Flowers

Rule of Thirds - Where the frame is dived in 9 sections (3 up and down and 3 left to right) and the subject is placed somewhere in the outer sections.

Balancing Elements - Balancing the photo in the picture by placing another subject of lesser importance.

Leading Lines - The viewer's attention is caught by appealing lines that lead to the subject of the photo.

Symmetry and Patterns - Using symmetry or patterns in the picture to catch the viewer's eye.

Viewpoint - From where the photo is shot (above, below, ground level, at the side, from the back, ect.)

Background - Placing the subject against a simple background so that the viewer's attention is not misled.

Create depth - Placing the subject (or subjects) in a foreground, middle ground, and background to create depth.

Framing - Placing natural frames around the subject to isolate it from the rest of the background.

Cropping - Cropping a subject in order to mute out the background and bring the viewer's full attention.

Mergers and Avoiding Them - Merger is when a subject interacts with another subject in the photo. This can be good or bad.

Africa and Abandoned Theme Parks

Africa

1. Nick Brandt's photos captured the raw and simplistic beauty of nature. Brandt captures the scene perfectly by capturing the animal's profile and the natural landscape to give the photo an "untouched" vibe. Brandt himself doesn't believe in shortcuts, and as he described in his photo he has gone as far to wait days and weeks to capture one perfect moment. Brandt gets as close to the animals he photographs and puts himself right at the scene to make his photos as up close and personal with nature as possible.

2. 

3. I chose two photos that were my particular favorites instead of one. Both these photos have one element in common: elephants, but that's not the only reason why I chose them as my favorite photos. The first photo has a simplistic beauty. The background is simple - a light and overcast sky and a desolate plain. Then, stretching from one side of the photo to the other, is an elephant herd. One leads the herb mightily in the front while the others follow. The background allows the viewer's attention to first fall on the lead elephant and then slowly make their way down the line. I like the photo because it's simple and light. There's not TOO much in the photo and that makes it great.

The second photo is quite the opposite. While there isn't much activity in the background, the shadows and the lighting make it quite dramatic and intense. However, it still doesn't draw the attention completely away from the elephants illuminated at the bottom of the photo. The photo additionally captures the landscape and the sky to give the photo a wild and fierce vibe. 

4. The first photo has the rule of simplicity and leading lines in the photo. It's simplistic background makes the subject crystal clear. The photo is captured in a way that the viewer's eyes first land on the front elephant, and then gradually make their way down the line across the frame. 

The second photo has neither simplicity nor leading lines (even though the elephants ARE in a line in the photo, it does not drag the viewer's eyes in the same way as the first photo). The rule used in the second photo is balance. The shadows and lighting come perfectly to put the elephants in the spotlight, but they also create a dramatic background to fill in the rest of the frame. 

5. Brandt uses medium-format black and white film and does not use telephoto or zoom lenses (these type of lenses would make it appear as if the photographer is right next to the subject even if they're far away from the subject in reality). The type of film and lenses Brandt uses ensures that his photos are as raw and real as possible. To get a close shot, he has to get up close and personal to nature. The black and white film means that the photo is untouched by Photoshop or any other photo-editing software, making the photo completely "real".

6. Brandt was drawn to the raw and natural beauty of east and southern Africa. He describes that, "There is something profoundly iconic, mythological even, about the animals of East and southern Africa. There is also something deeply, emotionally stirring and affecting about the plains of Africa—those vast, green rolling plains punctuated by graphically perfect acacia trees under the huge skies." Brandt wants to capture the animals existing in their natural setting.

7. Brandt hopes that his photo may bring awareness about the situation in Africa in which animal species are dwindling in numbers. He hopes that people, the authorities in particular, will do more to prevent poaching and to expand animal preserves and conservation.

8. "In 1995 I first drove the main road from Nairobi down through southern Kenya to Arusha in northern Tanzania. Along the way, in completely unprotected areas, I saw giraffes, zebras, gazelles, impalas, wildebeest. A few months ago, just 13 years later, I made the same drive. I didn't see a single wild animal the entire four-hour drive. It's not that they've moved elsewhere. It's that they've been wiped out—turned into bushmeat."

Abandoned Theme Parks

1.  

I would want to go to the Glen Echo Amusement Park  in Maryland. The park has a rustic and vintage vibe that would be really interesting to photograph. The park is open to the public and easy to access too, and that can open up a bunch of photo opportunities. The park is still kept in good shape so that the photos can be pleasing to the eye and still display an old-timey feel.

2. 

3. Five Other Places I'd Love to Photograph:

1. Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia

2. Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

3. The Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) in Evora, Portugal.

 

4. Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California

5. Shewdagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar

4. Salar de Uyuni in Bolvia

Many people have documented Salar de Uyuni in both dry and wet season. This particular photo was taken by Hideki Mizuta, a photographer for National Geographic. A place for natural beauty, it attracts many photographers from science magazines around the world.

5. I think this would be a very unique and interesting place to photographer because of how reflective it is. The salt flat, went covered with water, reflects the sky and anything within the lake. I think that would make a lot of great and interesting opportunities to photograph the interesting visual effects the salt flats create.

6. To take this photo, I would need to make plans for a plane to Boliva, a place to stay, and means of travel to the salt flats. I would need certain attire and possibly be prepared for a little mountain climbing. The salt flats are near the Andes mountain range and are at an elevation over 3,000 feet. To take photos, it might be better to take the picture with a tripod in order to avoid unsteady photos.

Funny Captions

Funny Captions

 Mr. Johnson sets up a sand bag barrier around his front yard and erects a machine gun, pointed straight down the walkway. That morning he had received a call that his in-laws were in town.

During his 80th birthday party, Jeremy Sanchez lit his cake on fire with a flamethrower because, in his words, some people just want to watch the world burn. Before that, he had received the news that Zayn had left One Direction.

Grandpa Randall, dressed in a suit, is dancing in a while a group of identically dressed people of all ages in  follow his lead behind him. Two days before, his nephew complained that old people were "embarrassing", and Grandpa Randall set to prove him right.

Mural Project Q&A + Great Black and White Photographers (Part 3)

Mural Project Q&A

1. The theme should be something that embraces Bowie's individuality and uniqueness. It should be something that will put Bowie apart from any other high school in the district.

2. Phone cameras are preferable and if someone does not have a phone camera, they could coordinate with someone who does have a phone camera to borrow their phone to get their photos. We should keep using the regular cameras to a minimum for this.

3. I would want to place the mural somewhere at the front of the school where it can be displayed for everyone to see. Around the front entrance so that students can walk up to school and the mural will be the first thing they see.

Great Black &White Photographers (Part 3)

My chosen photographer was Lothar Woleh.

1. What caught my eye about his photos is that they stood out in the sense that they gave off a mysterious and almost eerie feeling. His photos usually feature a man standing nearly in the center of the photo, looking straight at the camera, in a mysterious setting (a spiraling staircase, a cathedral clouded by fog, sunlit steps, ect.) His photos were all in a different setting but a single man being present in the frame was a recurring pattern that I thought was really cool because it gave off a creepy vibe - like it was the same man appearing in each photo.

2. To answer this question, I have chosen the last two photos above (of the man standing amidst the fog in front of a cathedral and of the man sitting on a sunlit staircase).

(First picture) I see a large courtyard out in front of me, and there is white, thick fog clouding the world beyond it. Then suddenly it wisps away to reveal a mysterious man dressed in dark clothes. Further behind him, I see a cathedral rising from the mist, unveiling its majestic structure. I smell rain and a layer of musk underneath its freshness. The air is heavy and muggy, but slowly it unveils the acidic smell of asphalt from the street beyond the courtyard and the smell of exhaust fumes coming from the cars. I hear murmur of people passing by, and the distant rumble of cars on the street, but their sounds are muffled by the heavy fog. I hear the tolling of a bell from the cathedral - loud and booming and cutting through the blanket of mist. I taste rain on the tip of my tongue - cool and refreshing. I can taste the strong smell coming from the wet ground - earthy and moist. I feel cool raindrops rolling across my skin, and a chillness in the air. I feel dread on my shoulders and a shiver slipping down my spine. 

(Second picture) I see the secluded hallway of an old and rundown subway. I see dirt on the chipped walls and dust settling in the air. At the end of the subway, I see a staircase, lit by sunbeams coming from the top and falling in geometric perfectness. I see a man sitting in the center, casting a great shadow on the ground. I smell the musk of exhaust from the subway carts and a spurt of stale cement, worn down over the years. I smell the sour scent of sweat and dirt and mug collecting over the years. . I smell metal from the rails. I hear air rushing from the staircase, and the quiet echo of people from above. I hear a distant subway bellow in greeting as it nears a neighboring station. But where I am, it is only a muffled mumble, and it is only me , the quiet beat of my heart, and the  mysterious man. I taste the heavy smell of musk and exhaust. I taste salt and undercoat of salt and grime in the air. I feel the brush of a breeze coming from the empty tunnel behind me. I feel grit on the bottom of my shoes, and a thick layer of dust settling on my shoulders. I feel the heavy weight of dread in my chest and my heart in my chest.

3. I would like to use posters to show the world my photographer and his work because posters can be put up on walls and doors and windows to display them and can be exhibited in a creative and artistic way while still spreading a message to the viewers.