Finals week and graduation

This is the last entry in this blog... well, this blog series at least. The semester is coming to a close, and finals are over Friday night (and I do mean Friday night, as many of you know), so this blog is wrapping up as well.

It was an interesting assignment, and a good way to get started in the blogging world. This is the first attempt I've made at blogging, and it helped having a guaranteed audience in the class, and some easy topics that could be taken from assigned reading. That said, I'm not sure it's for me.

I've been thinking it over, and if I continue blogging I'll do it on a different platform, one that doesn't claim ownership of the pictures I upload, and I'd do it on a different topic. I'm not sure what at the moment, but I might look into it in the future.

For now, though, I'm content to finish up my last semester at school and get ready for graduating next week. My parents are flying out, my projects are going to be done, and it will be nice to have a little vacation in Hawaii before moving back to the mainland and figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life. A little late to be still working on that, but there's not much I can do about it now.

So aloha to my classmates who've been working on this assignment with me, and aloha to my teacher. Have a fabulous summer, and whatever else comes after that.

Portfolios

Unlike my current trend these last few weeks, I was very productive yesterday. I worked for several hours in the school's computer lab putting together a couple different portfolios of the work I've done throughout my college careet.

I have three different portfolios due, and they're all taking on a different theme. The portfolio from this course is online, and is a little limited by the number of pictures I can upload, but it's looking pretty good. There's a mix of graphic design  (although not as much as I'd like) and photojournalism.

My portfolio for my seminar course, on the other hand, is more influenced by my double-major in marine biology. It's geared toward a set of underwater photos that I took over spring break. I added some of them to my portfolio for this class, and they're some of my favorite photos. Merging my two majors is always more fun than focusing on one or the other.

Either way, my portfolios are looking good, at least to me. Hopefully professors and potential employers will be suitably impressed as well.

Multiple photos in one

In keeping with my last post showing a lightning photo, I thought I'd talk about another lightning photo today. I won't show this photo online since it's in the recent National Geographic magazine, but it's even more gorgeous than the I showed you recently.

The photograph also uses a technique we talked about earlier this year, the idea of taking multiple camera shots and combining them into one photo.

The photographer used a tripod and took multiple photos with exposures of 20 seconds during a night lightning storm. He then combined 70 frames into a single photograph. The result is a scene with multiple lighting strikes in the same area. They light up the sky, the clouds are white blending into purple then dark gray. The lightning, which looks like it's hitting the ocean, is a white-yellow with the area surrounding it a glowing orange. The ocean is slate gray and a stunning forground.

If you couldn't tell, I love the photo. But I'm also conflicted. That photo didn't actually happen. You can't go outside during a lightning storm and see that image. It's computer generated, a special effect. And I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love art photography, I love photoshop, and I love that a reader, not a National Geographic photographer, submitted this image. But still, it's not quite real, is it?

It doesn't really matter. If you get a chance to look through National Geographic (the April Titanic issue), see if you can find the photograph. It's a smaller photo, at the bottom of page 18.

San Francisco Lightning

I was browsing through news stories at work last week and came across something that I loved. Naturally, it was a photo, one of those gorgeous, unusual photos that I always wish I could take. It's a shot of lightening hitting the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. I first saw the article on msn but when I was looking back to find the photo for this post I found it on the San Francisco Chronicle website. The photo was taken by Phil McGrew, and it's absolutely beautiful.

I know you have to not only be talented, but also extremely lucky to get a photo like this. That's probably my downfall. I'm not lucky, so these photos don't usually happen for me. But I enjoy other people's luck, because I love seeing these types of images in the news.

Hope you guys enjoy it too!

Merging photos

We're updating blogs in class today, and I'm still a little short on material... are you tired of hearing that yet? Anyway, the best I can come up with for today is a little blurb about photoshop again, and putting multiple photos together.

A few weeks ago in class we took pictures on our downtown campus and used photoshop to merge them together. I worked with a partner to take photos, so photo credits on this go to Andrea (thank you for letting me use your photos, yell if you want me to take this down because it belongs to you).

The three photos I merged into the main photo are pretty obvious, the flower in the lower left, the palm tree on the upper left, and the HPU sign in the upper right. I think my favorite is the palm tree, just because there's already a palm tree there, but I like the way the merged photo looks, it's more vibrant.

This composite is obviously not the most talented work I've ever done, but I'm not used to merging images in photoshop quite yet, so this is what early efforts look like. And it's not terrible... I don't think so, anyway.

Government journalism?

I've been a little behind in my classes lately (all semester) and I'm just now getting to the spring break readings for this journalism class. This particular article, The Reconstruction of American Journalism, is unusually long. Needless to say I don't have the entire article memorized, or even remember the entire thing, but one aspect did stick out for me.

The article mentions that today, and in the future, journalism will need to be financed by alternative means, and stop relying on advertising. The article suggested that in the future one of these alternative means will be the government.

Maybe I'm honing in a tiny detail in a huge article, but that proposal caught me a little off guard.  You may have heard of the idea that the government help to finance some journalistic endeavors, but I hadn't. It goes against a lot of what I learned both recently and through high school. Journalism is supposed to be a sort of watchdog for the government, holding it accountable for its actions. Can the news industry really fulfill that responsibility if its partially funded by the government? It seems like a conflict of interest.

If anyone in class is still reading this blog (I know, the semester is dragging on, projects are due, finals are around the corner, I've been lagging myself) what do you think? The proposal surprised me, did it surprise anyone else?

Writer's block... so more photos

Unfortunately I haven't been intensely motivated to find something to write about the last few weeks. School projects, spring break (during which I had more fun and did less homework than intended) and impending graduation are getting the best of me.

In particular, I've been having minor panic attacks about finding a job after graduation. The financial reality of actually taking an unpaid internship because I can't find a full-time job is a little stressful, so is the prospect of buying a car, insurance, moving, etc.

So instead of writing a longer post today, I figured I'd post a few photos I've taken recently. Nothing special, but a few odd shots that I got while I was out that I thought were interesting. You might agree, or they might now be your taste. That's part of what I like about photography. People can take radically different photos, and even though one person might not like them, another person might fall in love with them.

Free Photos

After reading a my classmate's blog Life Changing Moments in which she talks about a reunion with memorable people she met in Cambodia, I decided to post a few photos from my own Cambodia trip. My trip wasn't quite as philanthropic as hers (I went on vacation while she helped to teach kids English) but it did produce some great photos.

I took the pictures with my little point and shoot digital camera, but still. Trees were overgrowing temples, and the city of Angkor Wat (spelled differently depending on who you ask) was absolutely gorgeous. The problem is that I really like those photos, and I'd like to continue owning them.

It was the thought of posting my Cambodia photos online that finally got me to read Blogger's usage agreement. I've been meaning to read it for a while, but the photos I've posted thus far aren't really fabulous. They're nice, but they're not fabulous. The Cambodia photos may not be fabulous either, but they're closer to it, and they're worth me finally acting like a responsible journalism student and reading the terms and conditions of use.

So here it is, Blogger, and Google's, little paragraph on the things we upload.

"When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content. The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones. This license continues even if you stop using our Services."

Not only do we give all our content to Google, we give it to their undisclosed, uh, who are they, again? Not partners, even, just "those we work with". Obviously I'm going to sleep better tonight knowing my information is in good hands.

Fellow bloggers (if anyone besides classmates is reading this), take a look at Google's Terms of Service agreement. You know, the one you've probably already agreed to.

For those who are interested, Facebook has a similar policy. The first paragraph of their Terms of Use is below.

"For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it."

It actually looks like Facebook gives users more leeway than Google in that the deal ends when you cut Facebook out of your like. That actually does help me sleep better. 

Apple's Ubiquity

As a minor break from the monotony of my favorite subject, photography, I've decided the inspiration for this week's blog should be one of our reading assignment for class.

The article, What Apple’s iPad Means for Journalism Design, Multimedia & Business, talks mostly about how the ipad is going to affect newspapers, magazines, and other media that is traditionally available in hard copy. It mentions that Apple is becoming a middle man with power over the information we can consume on Apple devices, via Apple apps.

I don't have strong opinions on how the ipad itself will change journalism, but I do have an opinion on Apple and its technology. Since Apple's resurgence and reemergence with top of the line computers, phones, mp3 players, etc., it has become ubiquitous. Everyone, literally everyone, I know has some type of Apple device. Apple has taken over technology and invaded our pockets and purses. Internet is the same way.  Everyone is connected via ipad, blackberry, or the laptop they carry around in their backpacks.

Which means that article I was talking about applies to just about everyone, all the time. Even when they're underground riding a subway.

That article probably applies to you. Unfortunately it doesn't apply directly to me. Not yet, anyway. I am the only person I know (including many friends who are in debt from college loans and a few bad decisions) who does not shell out money every month to pay for my smartphone's internet. Why? Because I don't have a smartphone. Or an ipad, itouch, Apple anything, or a computer that I carry around in my backpack. Compared to most people in the modern world, I am digitally cut off from everything. I don't even have wireless internet at home.

That little fact makes me feel a bit behind the times. I would love an ipad, if only to check up on National Geographic's latest Visions of Earth while I'm on the bus to work, but that's not going to happen until I have a solid job with a solid, livable income. In the meantime, I'll say what a lot of people have been saying for years: I can live without internet on my phone, or checking my twitter feeds whenever I have two seconds to spare. So can you.

But if you don't care that you can survive without internet or the convenient devices Apple feeds you (because let's be honest, you don't care; mobile internet is fabulous), at least try to branch out. Let's not let Apple be the driving force, the gatekeeper of the information we receive via apps. Apple isn't the only one selling tablets or 4G phones. Try buying from someone else, and join me in my little microcosm where the only apples around are Fuji or Granny Smith.

Photostories and sidewalk art

To those who commented on my last post, be it for a class assignment or not, thank you for your input. I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds the college girl compelling, but there was also a great point about the ubiquity of hard-working college students just trying to get by. If my professor had made that point I might have conceded the argument. He made other valid points, of course, and he's open-minded enough to let me try working on a project that might not turn out so well. I appreciate his flexibility, and his candor.

As promised, I got over myself and called the old lady, asking if she would be willing to participate in the project. Fortunately or unfortunately, she's not. She's going into surgery this Thursday (nothing serious, she will be completely fine) and will be out of commission for two or three weeks. She's not comfortable being photographed during or in the weeks after, her surgery.

So I'll do my best to convince everyone, especially my professor, that my project on the college girl is worth it. I believe everyone has a story to tell, most people just choose not to tell it to the world.

Because that's all I really have to post today, and it's not particularly interesting, I thought I'd share another type of art form. Photography is how I've chosen to express myself, which leads to my discussions of photoshop and class projects, but I've always admired those with the talent to create works of art without the use of technology. Attached are some photos from a Denver chalk festival. Photo credits go to my mother, Wonderful Wanda, who loves these as much as I do.

Just because we're young...

I have a project for *gasp* my photojournalism class coming up soon. It's an in-depth photostory on a "compelling" subject. We'll talk about the meaning of compelling later. We were recently required to submit three ideas on who to do the project on.

My three ideas were:
1. An old lady who lost her husband (years ago, not recently) and lives alone.
2. A college girl (not a friend of mine, that wouldn't be good journalism) who recently had to drop out because she couldn't pay her loans, is working two jobs, taking only one class, and barely scraping by.
3. A recent college graduate who still hasn't found a job in her field and is working multiple jobs trying to find her way into the industry.

I like choice number 2. Why? Because I can relate. Because a lot of people in this economy can relate to debt piling up, working more than one job, and not doing what you really want. Because I'm terrified it's going to happen to me after I graduate.

My professor likes choice number one. Why? Because she's tragic. She lost her husband, she lives alone, and she collects mugs with faces on them.

Naturally my professor and I had a bit of an argument over this. I promise I'm going to get over myself, probably tomorrow, and call the old lady to see if she'd be willing to let me follow her around for a few days taking pictures of her. If she says yes, then my professor will get what he wants, and I'll make the best in-depth photostory on this old lady as I can.

Despite giving in, something about the situation still bothers me. Why, exactly, does my professor find the old lady "compelling" and not the college girl? Is it because she's my age and he thinks I'm taking the easy way out with one of my friends? Not true. Is it because she's young and in college, so her life can't possibly be hard? I've had an old man come up to me on the street and tell me that I was lazy and needed to get a job. I didn't say anything back, but I have a job and I'm double-majoring in college. I work hard. So do most of the college students I know.

Of course, I could be way off base. The photostory examples he showed us are of cancer patients who work full-time and are the sole providers for big families. But since I don't know any cancer patients, and I'm not sure exactly how to walk into a hospital and ask one to let me take pictures of him/her, I guess I'll settle for the old lady. If she says yes.

Photoshop is more fun.

One of my favorite things about taking pictures is fiddling around with them in photoshop. As a photojournalism student this is strictly off-limits. The goal in photojournalism is to protect the integrity of the photo, and alter it as little as possible, preferably only correcting color, contrast, and lightness. You are not allowed to play with the photo.

That's unfortunate, because changing photos in photoshop is what I like best. For instance, I love to take pictures of flowers. But let's be honest, everyone takes pictures of flowers. As gorgeous as they are, seeing flower after flower can get a little old. So I've become one of those people who takes a picture of a flower and then changes it in photoshop. Now, this just makes my picture another of hundreds of electronically enhanced flowers, but I've wasted twenty minutes playing around and managed to convince myself my picture is just a little bit different. Sometimes delusions are better than reality.

Anyway, the point of my rambling about photoshop is that in personal, not photojournalist, endeavors photoshop can make everything a lot more interesting. Or at least provide an enjoyable half hour before getting back to school or work.

After that half hour is over I like to choose my best photo alteration, usually to make it my desktop background for a few days. Then I'll get bored and switch it again. Choosing the best photo, however, was never one of my strong points. I'm indecisive, always have been, probably always will be. It's why I'm double-majoring in college, I just couldn't manage to choose.

So here are two pictures of a rose, altered in a photoshop-like software that I got free off the internet (since I'm poor and can't afford photoshop). Which is better? Expect more questions like this from my indecisive self in the future, I'm serious about not being able to pick one.

  

They're not even all that different. You'd think I'd be able to choose to a favorite.

Introduction... yes, this is a boring title...

An introduction would probably be helpful, seeing as this is the first post of a public blog. My name is Julie, and I'm a journalism student who is particularly interested in photography. This blog is an assignment for a class, as I'm sure most of you know, and most of my posts will probably be centered around photography, and interesting (to me, anyway) little tidbits I come across along the way.

I'll start with the assignment from last week, an assignment to take photographs that illustrate the idea of loving food. I'll admit I wasn't particularly good at showing how people or animals love food, mostly because showing the actual habit of eating usually isn't flattering, but I do enjoy taking pictures of the food we all love. My favorite photo from the assignment was a picture of cookies from the Cookie Corner. The view is a little different, the angle is just a little off, and I think it makes a decent photograph.

If I were capable of buying expensive meals I'd experiment to see how appetizing I could make fancy meals look with my new camera. But I'm not, so I'll count this as a good start.