Newspaper Design #1

King Pica Spread

Phobia Shoot

Arsonphobia- the fear of fire

Siderodromophobia- The fear of train, traveling by train, railroads

Atephobia- the fear of ruin or ruins

Selfie vs. Self-Portraits & Shutterbug Websites

Part 1- Selfie vs. Self-Portrait

 What is a selfie? A photo taken of someone that they took (usually with a smart phone and then shared on social media).

What is a self-portrait? A portrait that the artist produces of themselves. 

Is there a difference? If so, what? A selfie and a self-portrait are conveying different things. A selfie is showing what is happening in the moment, to document what was happening that second. It is something that is used by people who just have a smart phone to take pictures (although you can use a DSLR camera for it) and isn't very in depth. A self-portrait is conveying what is important to the artist and has depth to it. It can be used to learn more about the artist. 

What style do you prefer? Why? Although selfies are more convenient and I do take them to commemorate memories, I prefer self-portraits because there is more depth to them. The viewer can see the effort that was put into it and requires more thought, making it a lot of fun to plan. The fact that there are many ways to take a self-portrait, that makes it more unique. 

Is one more valuable/important than the other? Why? They both have their purposes. Due to that, one is not more important than the other. A self-portrait conveys more, but takes more planning. A selfie doesn't convey anymore than who you're with and where you are and takes next to no thought.

Part 2- Shutterbug Websites

The intention of this website is to provide good websites for inspiration. This website also has tips and techniques for good photography. It is a good resource for photographers that are just starting because of all the tips that the website has collected from seven other websites. It is a collection of seven Shutterbug photography websites, with various tips and tricks on each. They write about how each website is useful and what information can be gathered from each. There is also information on what each website centers on, such as editing tips, photography tips and video-graphy tips. A lot of the websites help keep other photographers caught up on tips of the trade. The average viewer can get helpful websites to go to for extra information and pointers. They can also get information on which websites have credible and worth while information. I won't add this website to my bookmarks, although I'd like to look at the seven individual linked websites to see if they would be useful. I thought that the website was a little confusing to navigate. I would recommend this website to the people who need a start on trustworthy websites for pointers on various techniques and tips.

Shutterbug Website

Prompt Shoot #4

A Goal

Out the Window

So It Begins...

Something New

The In-Between

Phobias

A. What is a Phobia? An irrational fear of something, someplace, or of an action.

B. List and define 5 phobias from The Phobia List

• Dinophobia- The fear of dizziness and/or whirlpools.
• Lygophobia- The fear of darkness.
• Motorphobia- The fear of automobiles.
• Necrophobia- The fear of death.
• Sideridromophobia- The fear of trains, railroads, traveling by train. 

C. Brainstorm on your blog possible ideas for your Phobia photo.

For motorphobia, I could have one of my parents park their car with the headlights on, while on a dark(ish) street. I'd have the car doors open, with light from a street like highlighting the top of the car. The lights on the inside of the car will show that theres no one in the car. I could take this picture from the front, or I could take it from the side, looking into the car. I would shoot from a lower angle looking up, making the car look bigger than it is. 

For sideridromophobia, I could go to the railroad that is on the outskirts of downtown. The area around it is pretty desolate and abandoned. I'd go around mid day, making the light shine off of the tracks. I could take the picture looking straight down at the tracks, to the horizon, or from the side of the track, but still including the paneling. 

For Acousticophobia, the fear of loud noises, I could have someone (probably one of my friends who isn't busy) cover their ears, with a painful expression on their face. I would have harsh lighting, coming from beneath the chin, with no other lights. That would create harsh shadows, while also elongating the face and highlighting the expression on their face. 

For Arsonphobia, the fear of fire, I could light a match and have it in a dark room, making it the centerpoint of the image. I'd probably have my mom or brother hold it while I take the picture. I'd also include their hand. 

For Atephobia, the fear of ruin or ruins, I could also go to the railroad outside of downtown. There are buildings there with overgrown weeds and broken windows, creating a type of ruins. 

For Bibliophobia, I could have a hardcover book open, with pages torn, or torn out. I have book pages from an art project I didn't use, so I could rip those instead of pages from an actual book. I would include harsh(er) shadows, probably more on the darker side.

For Catoptrophobia, the fear of mirrors and reflection, I am going to spill water on concrete and take a picture of the reflection in the water. I'll probably do it under a tree. 

(Sorry, I did a few too many)

D. Photographic Techniques

For most of them, I have different ways of creating lighting, I'd also use backlighting for the ones with people. I'd create depth of field on most, if not all of the ideas, while using framing for some of them. 

Reflecting Back on 2018

Favorite Photos of the Year

This was one of my favorite photos because the woman is wearing this beautiful headdress for a transgender pageant in the Philippines. 

This was one of the most memorable photos because this was the extinction of a species. The fact that the death of this rhino didn't make international news is shocking and shows the type of mind set that we, as people, grew in 2018.

I just thought that this picture of fog moving across the waterfront of Qingdao, a providence in Eastern China. The colors are really pretty, which provides a dream-like feel.  

Five Prompts


1. Best Song of 2018- Lovely by Billie Eilish & Khalid

I got this song from the iTunes top 100 list, the 91st spot on the list. I really like the artist Billie Eilish, and I have been listening to her music a lot since I found out about her from my friend. I particularly like this song because I like the double meanings with the lyrics and the actual music that is the song.

                                       
2. Best Movie of 2018- Love, Simon

Love, Simon is the 72nd movie in the list of 200 movies on Rotten Tomatoes. I really liked the book, and enjoyed the representation of the LGBT+ community in the movie. I got to see it on multiple occasions with my close friends, so I also have good memories from going to the theatre and seeing the movie.

3. Most Important News Story of 2018-  The March for Our Lives: Taking their message to the streets

I think that this is one of the most important news stories from 2018. It brought attention the the tragedies of the school shootings that happened more often than they should. The March for Our Lives showed support to the survivors of the shootings and for the family members of the victims.

4. Most important person of 2018- The Silence Breakers of the #MeToo Movement.

The people who spoke out about their sexual assault helped to bring something that is talked about into the light. The people who spoke out were able to make peace with what happened, while also helping other people gain the courage to talk about their own sexual assault. This movement also helped to bring to light the victims of sexual assault and to fight misconceptions surrounding it.

5. Biggest Entertainment Story of 2018- Independent World Finals Recap

I think that this is one of the biggest stories that WGI (Winter Guard International) posted due to the popularity of the World Championships that are held in Dayton, Ohio. I got to watch all of the Independent World guards and most of the Scholastic World guards on a streaming network. I loved watching the different shows and seeing the awe inspiring performances by these groups. My favorite was CGT Dallas, from Dallas, Texas. I got to see them live three times, and they placed 4th in the World Championship finals, while also getting Fan Favorite.

Holiday Break


1. My mom and I went to Fredericksburg the day after school ended. We always go after I get out of school, which is something I look forward to. I also went to Houston with my mom and saw my grandfather. I got to spend the last half of Christmas with him, I hadn't seen him in a while. My dad was able to take most of the break off of work, and so I got to hang out with him more than usual.

2. My resolution for 2019 is to take more initiative in what I do and to do more things that put me out of my comfort zone. I don't want to have as many regrets in 2019 as I do from 2018. I also want to keep my grades up, and to continue to do good in my classes.

3. I am looking forward to the color guard season and where it takes me. I'm excited for the competitions and being able to see my friends from other guards at the competitions, as well as finding out the new marching show theme. I am also looking forward to the art competitions that are coming up.