POW #9

Stop Motion: "You've Got a Friend in Me"

Kennygram #9

I took this picture at the stairs of the 100 building.  I tried to use the rule of thirds, but I think the stairs may take up more than a third of the picture. I did not use any special settings and kept the SLR camera on auto mode.

Current Event #9

Youngest Mayor in Dorset, Minnesota 

Event Summary: How old do you have to be in order to be eligible for mayor? Well, if you live in Dorset, Minnesota, you only have to be four years old.  Four-year-old Robbert Tufts has been chosen as the new mayor of this 22 resident town.  According to tradition, each year during town's festival the  name of next mayor is drawn from a list of names out of a hat. This is what led to Robbert's "election" as the next mayor. That being said, the life of a mayor comes naturally to "Bobbie" who spends his stressful days deciding on which bait to choose when he goes fishing and formulating campaign speeches.  He also has a "girlfriend" named Sophia, who may or may not know of Bobbie's aspiring love for her. Unfortunately, Bobbie's term will end after one year in August, but his legacy will surely live on.

Event Significance: I think that this event has a certain significance for the town of Dorset, Minnesota.  However, due to the fact that this town only has twenty-two residents and has had its zip code removed by the post office, the administration of Robert Tufts has little impact on the rest of the area.

Personal Response: The first thing that I thought of when I saw this event was how close the community in Dorset had to be.  For this town to only have 22 residents, each person must know everything about everyone.  I also thought that the carefree attitude expressed by the townspeople in the removal of their zip code and their method of elections shows a level of relaxation that many people never experience.

Link

W.E. 5/17/13

1. Comment and Critique
2. POW - liquid
3. Kennygram #9
4. Current event #9
5. Assignments

C.E. #8

Giant Snails Found in Houston

Event Summary: Researchers at the Institute for the Study of Invasive Species at Sam Houston State University along with authorities are warning Houston residents to stay away from an interesting pest.  According to reports, one resident was doing her daily gardening when she discovered a giant African land snail in her yard.  After notifying the Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center, warnings were issued about the possible diseases that these creatures can carry.  Some of these diseases include meningitis and different parasitic diseases.

Event Significance: This event is significant for the Houston area because these snails, while physically harmless, can carry harmful diseases.  Residents have been warned to take caution if a giant snail is spotted and to notify authorities.

Personal Response: When I saw the size of the snail, I felt a tingling sensation that went from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair.  It made me cringe, both on the outside and the inside as I wanted to crawl into a little ball and stare at the disgusting creature that had appeared before my eyes.  SNAILS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE THIS BIG. As I was investigating into the article further, I read the lovely fact that these snails can lay up to 100 eggs per month.  I just have one thing to say - I'm glad I'm not living in Houston.

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P.O.W. #8

The Journey

I thought that this picture was a good example of "character".  It shows a bug about to embark on a long journey up the tree branch.  This could signify people's journeys that they make in life in order to discover their character and who they really are.  I liked how the background is blurry, but I wish that the bug was more crisp and clear.  I took it with an SLR camera with the sunlight as my only light source.

KennyGram #8

I thought that this picture had a good contrast between the bright and fun hot pink poster and the dreary and gray water fountain and background.  I was not too crazy about this picture, but I thought it was an interesting one for some reason.  I took it with the SLR cameras in the classroom with the flash on.

W.E. 5/10/13

1. Comment and Critique
2. Photo of the Week #8 - Character
3. Current Event #8
4. Kennygram #8
5. WE 5/10/13

P.O.W. #7

This picture works for spirituality because it shows how we have to pinpoint who we are in life in order to understand what our future holds for us.  The circle within a circle idea is meant to help us narrow down the choices that we have in order to figure out who we really are as a human being.  This helps us develop our character and purpose in life. I took this picture in Boston with an iPhone.  

This picture works for spirituality because it was taken on the deck of the U.S.S. Constitution.  It is meant to show our pride for our country and how we are able to unite as a country to fight off our enemies and those who wish to control or harm us.  The picture is of one of the masts on the deck and this particular one happened to have a platform at the top of it.  I also took this picture in Boston with an iPhone.

This is a picture of the chandeliers that are in the front entrance at St. Joseph's Church.  They represent spirituality because the lights represent finding our way in darkness.  If we are lost and afraid, all we have to do is turn on a light and we will be comforted by the brightness that it provides.  This picture was taken with an iPhone as well.

Current Event #7

Bad Date Caught on Camera

Event Summary: An interesting photo taken of a couple after a bad fight at an Olive Garden has gone viral.  Adam Howell, a software designer in Pineville, North Carolina, witnessed the fight that took place between the couple.  According to Howell, after the confrontation took place, the couple tried to ignore each other throughout the remainder of the dinner.  The woman could be seen messing around on her phone while her date blockaded himself inside a tent of dinner menus.  His plan did not work for long, however, because the waitress had to take the menus away after the couple's food was ordered.

Event Significance: This event was not significant at all in any way; it did not change the world at all.  However, it provides a laugh for many people who find entertainment and enjoyment in trivial relationship drama.

Personal Response: I had a hard time trying to find an interesting event for this week.  I came up with a lot of other events that were good, but had relatively no information whatsoever about the event.  I finally chose this event to write about because it made me laugh at the intense drama that was unfolding at a restaurant.  I have seen people have a bad date before, but never one in which a person hides himself in a fort of menus, that was pretty original if I do say so myself.

Link

Kennygram #7

I thought this picture was a decent picture, but not an exciting one.  Yes, I liked having the tree trunk sort of peaking into picture over the begonias, but I did not find it all that interesting.  I did like the picture much better before I cropped it because the flower bed extended downwards and the begonias completely surrounded the bottom of the tree trunk.  The only thing that I really did not like was the green weeds growing next to the tree trunk.  I took it with the SLR cameras in the classroom around 10:30 in the morning, so I was using the natural lighting from the sun.

Assignments W.E.

1. Comment and Critique
2. POW #7 - Spirituality 3 pictures
3. Kennygram #7
4. Current Event #7
5. Assignments W.E. 5/3/13

Current Event #6

Miracle Photos of a Boy with Muscular Dystrophy

Event Summary: Luka has the usual boy dreams of skateboarding, swimming, and playing basketball.  However, these dreams will never come true for Luka; for Luka has muscular dystrophy which leaves him confined to his wheelchair and bed.  Because of his weakness, Luka is only able to produce tiny motions with his fingers.  But, his strong and whimsical imagination makes up for his lack of movement.  Dreaming of being able to see himself doing these activities, Luka asked photographer Matej Peljhan to make his dream a reality.  Thinking hard for days, Peljhan eventually thought of the idea of placing Luka on the floor and shooting from above.  His idea turned out to be a success.  Luka could now see himself doing activities that he never thought were possible, all thanks to one dedicated photographer. 

Event Significance: This event is very significant for children with muscular disorders and are unable to play sports or do activities that they have always dreamed of doing.  This story shows that it is possible to see yourself engaging in things that they would never think would be possible.  

Personal Response: I thought that this story was touching and relevant for our class since this story deals with photography.  I think that the way the photographer was able to make Luka's dream a reality was pretty ingenious and thoughtful.  I wish that I could be able to touch someone with my photographs like Peljhan did with his.

POW #6

I thought this picture was "square" because of all the windows and columns that were associated with the building.  Since a square is a type of rectangle, I thought that the rectangular windows worked in the picture, as well as the square parts inside the windows.  I took this picture in Boston and thought it was cool because of all the different building materials that are present on the building.  I also liked how aged the building looked.  I took the picture on a cloudy day with an iPhone, so I was pretty pleased with the quality.

The bottom says, "Every day, Massachusetts highways saves thousands of gallon of fresh water and eliminates polluting sewage. "

On a lighter note, I also wanted to put this picture in as a joke because it still fits the requirements for square, it has squarish pictures inside a rectangle frame against a rectangular cement block background. However, I thought that it was just plain queer and downright disgusting.  WHO IN THIER RIGHT MIND RECYCLES HUMAN WASTE?! It was in the bathroom of a rest station in Massachusetts, so that has to tell you a lot . .

Kennygram #6

King of the World

I thought this picture was cool because it it so plain and simple.  I love the simple blue sky/background that the bird is against.  I thought that the bird was in a perfect position because his/her beak is open and she/he is poised and turned in a good direction in the picture.

Assignments W.E. 4/25/13

1) Comment and Critique with Mr. Yocum
2) Blog Post - "Photo of the Week 6" - The theme this week is "Square".
3) Blog Post - "KennyGram 6"
4) Blog Post - "Weekly Assignments W/E 04.26.13"
5) Blog Post - "Current Event 6"

POW #5

Jesus - I took this picture because it shows Jesus as a young boy being taught to pray by Joseph.  I wanted to take a picture of this statue so that the picture shows the front of the statue.  However, the statue was not level, as well as the plaque that is on the front of the statue.

Couples together/love - I took this picture because instead of showing a couple together in love, I chose to do a family together in love.  I liked how the red stone background is the same throughout the picture and I really liked the addition of the flowers on the bottom.  There is a shadow in the bottom right hand corner that I just now noticed while I was typing this paragraph that I don't like, but overall I thought it was a good picture.

Pathway - I liked this picture because of the repetition of the columns on the left hand side, as well as the depth of field that is going on in the picture.  When I was standing in the hallway, I could see a black gate at the end of the pathway.  However, this is not visible in the picture which made me disappointed.  I also think that the sunlight on the left is a bit annoying as well.

Someone sitting alone - I really liked this picture because I thought it was a creative interpretation of sitting alone.  Instead of actually sitting, I was lying down on the ground while I propped my feet up against a tree.  I liked how the tree was visible in the picture as well. The only thing that I would change was to maybe have on some type of shoes in the picture.  When I took the picture, I was wearing my Sperry's which are not the prettiest shoes to be wearing, not to mention that mine are brown and would blend in with the tree trunk.

Dead flowers - Not to be weird, but I collect dead flowers . . . I have multiple bouquets of dead flowers, including ones from my first Communion and first Reconciliation. . . like that's not weird at all . . . 

I did like this picture because it shows the detail in the dead roses.  I also liked how there were a ton of flowers and not just one red one or one yellow one.  The only thing that I did not like was that I think the background was a bit overexposed, but that may actually draw the person's attention to the flowers instead of what was going on in the background.

Kenny Gram #5

The View from the Bleachers

I thought this picture was interesting since you rarely get to see the bleachers from this point of view.  I liked how the bottom of the bleachers is in the center and sort of leads out into the middle of the picture.  The only thing that I would change would be to remove the two poles in the background using Photoshop, but I am not that advanced in removing poles and such and I think it would look very bad after I did it.

C.E. #5

Boy Throws Foul Ball Back Into Field

Event Summary: What started as a cheerful and happy baseball game in Oakland turned into a disappointing one last Sunday.  After a foul ball was caught by a man in the stands, he humbly gave it to the family sitting to the left of him.  He gave it to the father who then proceeded to give it to his youngest son.  However, as the father turned to thank the man for the ball, his son shocked the fans by throwing the ball back into the field.  The father, unaware at what his son did, turned around to find the ball missing.  On further investigation, he realized what had taken place.  Throughout the remainder of the game, his son could be seen tucked into a tight ball, not wanting to face reality.  In the end, the ushers brought back the ball to the young boy.  For this family, this event will be forever remembered as one eventful day.

Event Significance: This event doesn't have any significance to the world what so ever, but it does create a happy and heartfelt feeling in everyone who reads it.  Especially in the wake of the Boston Tragedy, this story brings relief to the disturbing reports in the news which will not go away any time soon.

Personal Response: I first saw this story on the morning news and thought it was the sweetest thing.  The little boy's reaction after his father figures out what had happened was priceless as he lay cuddled in a ball with his head in his glove for the remainder of the game.  I thought it was so nice when the ushers returned the ball back to him.

Link

Assignments W.E. 4/19/13

Assignments

1. Assignments W.E. 4/19/13
2. Kenny gram
3. Photos of the week
4. Comment and Critique
5. current event