American Soldier-Photos Make The Story

A.

The most powerful image in this slideshow is the image of the boy sitting by himself at Army boot  camp. This image is powerful because his body language expresses sad, and depressed, which is how many people must feel when they are forced to go to boot camp.

B.

Set 1 - at home  - Image #1 to Image #4
Set 2 - basic training - Image #5 to Image #8
Set 3 - in Iraq - Image #9 to Image #27
In Image #28 he is back at home in Denver

C.
     
The most powerful set of pictures was the set about basic training. This was the most powerful because it showed the hard transition between home life, and life at Army boot camp.

D.
     
The images work well to tell a story because they go in chronological order, show the most important stages of his life as a soldier, and show the emotional progression of his experience.

E. 
     
The captions of the pictures where Ian is the main subject, are all written in present tense.

F.
     
The captions enhance the photographs because they explain exactly what is going on in the photo, and they help the reader know how Ian feels about this process of becoming a soldier.

G. Based on the captions:
      
     Ian Fisher was a teenager when he was recruited into the Army. He was very sad to leave but, he had something to loo forward to, his engagement. Throughout the years in the Army, he suffered may injuries but he wasn't going to let that discourage him from proposing to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, Ian and Kayla broke up, and he was put on many pain medications for his injuries. Although he was going through a difficult time, he still did his job as a soldier and later went to Iraq. When he arrived home, he was happy to reconnect with his friends, family, and his new girlfriend Devin. 

Self Portrait and Portraits Part I

Tips:

• Experiment with Subject Expressions
• Get Closer
• Candids: Being Unobtrusive

Environmental Portraits:

     I like the fact that there is one main subject in the foreground, and a clear shot of a beautiful ocean in the background.  I chose this picture because the environment that he is in tells a lot about him. He most likely spends most of his time out on the sea, and, knowing from his outfit, he is a fisherman. The environment clearly describes a big part of his life.

     I like this photo because the subject is in good focus, and stands out because of the color of his jersey. I also like how the photographer followed the rule of thirds. I chose this photo because the environment fits in with the theme of the subject, which is basketball, and balances the photograph. 

Photography Self Portrait:

     I like this picture because even though it is a self portrait, it almost looks like someone else took the photograph. I also like how the subject is in one third of the photo, and how the background is simple. I chose this picture because I like how the lady is laughing but not making eye contact with the camera, and the photo is taken up close.

     I like this picture because it is simple and in focus. I chose this picture because he is the only thing that the viewer sees, and because his expression is very dramatic.

Casual Portrait:

     I like this photograph because the photography followed the rule of thirds, and because the subject stands out even though the background is busy. I chose this photo because it looks like it was taken spontaneously and because she is making a calm, but happy expression.

     I like this photo because she is in one third of the photograph, and because the background is beautiful but out of focus. I chose this photo because the subject is very obvious, and because she is making a subtle expression, making the photograph casual.

Portrait assignment:

   For my portrait assignment, I plan to take pictures of my friend's 14 year old sister, Emma.  I will take the pictures at a near by park that has lots of trees. To make the pictures better, I will take them in the early afternoon for the best lighting. I will also get closer to her as I take the picture so that they are focused and simple.

Love and Loss Warm-Up

1.
     At first I felt happy as I saw him and his wife together, but at about the 4th picture, I started to feel sad because the pictures showed how her cancer was progressing. And at the end, I felt depressed because his wife had died.

2.
     I think his comment "These photographs do not define us, but they are us.", is a great quote because in these pictures, the wife looked very sick and miserable. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are negative, or hopeless people. Its just a hard time in their lives and it shouldn't define who they are.

3.
    I don't think I could shoot photos if I was in this situation because I would be too sad, and it would be too hard for me to take pictures of someone in such pain. 

4,
     I would tell Angelo that I admire the fact that he took pictures of his wife even though he was going through a tough time. I would also tell him that he is a great photographer.

Rules of Photography Part II

Theme: Dogs

Rule of thirds

Balancing Elements

 










Leading Lines

 












Symmetry and Patterns (repetition)

 






Viewpoint

Background

Create depth

Framing

Cropping

Mergers

Abandoned Theme Parks

1.
     The abandoned theme park that I would want to go take pictures at is Takakanonuma Greenland, Hobara, Japan. I chose this one because there are still many rides visible, but they are all rusted. Being rundown and rusty would give an interesting rustic/antique look to the photos. Also, there is a lot of lush vegetation and fog that could add a beautiful effect to all of the images.

2. 

3.

     Other unusual places that might be interesting for photographers to shoot at would be:

• Plitvice Lakes National Park
• The Crystal Mill
• USA’s Largest Abandoned Subway is in Cincinnati
• 102-Year-Old Floating Forest in Sydney, Australia
• Pripyat, Ukraine

4.

102-Year-Old Floating Forest in Sydney, Australia

5.

     I chose this place because the scenery in beautiful, and a forrest growing on an abandoned ship is a neat concept. I would definitely take somewhat distant pictures to capture the surrounding water, trees, and the entire ship.

6.

     To shoot these photos I would need to travel to Sydney Australia. To do this, I would need to buy a $1000 ticket, pack my bags, and take a 17 hour flight to Sydney. I am not sure about the rules of going out to the water to get closer pictures, but I would try to canoe or take some kind of boat to get out on the lake.

     

Africa

1.
     I loved how Nick Brandt described his fascination with wildlife. I also agree with his point of view on photographing wild animals, "I'm not interested in creating work that is simply documentary or filled with action and drama, which has been the norm in the photography of animals in the wild. What I am interested in is showing the animals simply in the state of being..." He explains that photographers don't need to produce an image showing how fast or how aggressive and animal is, but how the beautiful animal is at its most simple state.

2.

3. 

     I like this photo because it is in great focus, and shows that even though the elephant isn't doing anything, it is still beautiful. 

4.

     The rule of photography evident in this image is definitely simplicity because there is one main subject, and the background is very simple. Also, the photo is very balanced because the subject is in the middle and each side of the photo is identical. Lastly, there are many lines evident such ad the horizon line, the hills, where the ground and the dirt meet, and where the dirt and the water meet. 

     

5. 

     Nick Brandt uses a Pentax 67II with two lenses. He doesn't use a telephoto lens because he wants to capture not just the animal, but the landscape and sky too. He also doesn't use a zoom because he wants to get close and personal to the animal and with nature.

6.

     He takes the photos because he wants to show/document the beautiful animals in their natural and most simple state.

7.

     He hopes to capture the beauty of these animals to show the world how magnificent they are. Also, to help persuade people to change their cruelty ways and help protect the wildlife rather than destroy it. 

8.

     "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." Nick Brandt expresses his amazement by Africa, and describes everything he loves about it.

Funny Captions

On the Central Park bench in New York, Earl, Frank, Betsy, and Joe are witnessing a brutal car crash that is occurring off in the distance. Everyone was in  absolute horror being unable to deal with what happened, except for Betsy who saw the camera and decided to make a nice gesture to America.

As she walks in to her favorite super market, MaryBeth sees a camera and decides to pose for a picture. She just finished buying a shirt at Walmart expressing how she feels towards her fellow shoppers.

Blind Billy sits at his 106th birthday party awaiting his guests. He couldn't wait to eat the smokey BBQ that was cooking on the grill beside him.