Thursday, December 9, 2010

Life In The Valley

Ducks at the sharyland park swimming in groups around the pound.

Corinna Martinez walking down a side walk stops to
look at her phone while cars countinue passing

At The New Convention Center in Mcallen one
 flower stand out between all the businesses.

The entrence of Palms Crossing.

A close up on a flower that sticks out among the well kept bush.

Corinna Martinez stand among the entrance of the
convention center stearing out at the distance.

The clock tower at the New Convention Center in Mcallen.

The sideswalks intertwine among the tress showing cuves within the photo.


Leading lines is present here at the sharyland park as Corina Martinez
looks at the pond.

A little girl feed the ducks at the edge of the pond at the sharyland park.

Friday, December 3, 2010

100 Photographs


3. What's the "story" here?  A man is standing in front of tanks so they can not continue forward.
4. What else is in the photograph?  It looks like there is either a trolli or a bus in the top left hand corner.
5. What do you learn from this picture? The man is very brave to stand infront of mulitpule tanks.
6. Why do you suppose this photograph has become iconic? I think it is ironic because these tanks are for distruction and can kill many people yet one man is stopping them from envancing.
7.Why does this photo appeal to you the most? I like the bravery showin in the photograph.
8. How do you think the photographer got this shot? He was either on a very tall building or a man on a helicopter.
9. Is it possible to "see" this iconic photo with "new eyes," or is the image's impact is lessened over time with multiple viewings?Yes.
10. What differences do you notice between these photographs and those we've taken ourselves? nothing really only that the photographer is at the right place at the right time with the right techniques What is the difference between personal photography and photojournalism? 
11. What do professional photographers tend to pay attention to that amateurs do not? 
12. What makes a photo good? What makes a photo great

Monday, November 29, 2010

Critical Lenses


1. This photo creates a feeling of Strength.
2. Tells a story of a dancer. I do think that there is something that would be hard to convey in words because there is a purpose for the strickt detail of colors and lack of objects.
3. A woman with balley shoes jumping between two white walls.
4. Natural because the picture seems to be taken outside. The time of day would probably be morning because the sun does not seem to extreme.
5. The color blue stands out.
6. There is a little of the background out of focus but still clear enough to see. The white staircase can be clearly seen if looked at hard enough but the reason for the out of focus bits is to focus on the woman.
7. The camera seems pretty close maybe a couple of feet away. You can see the womans expressions better and her detail.
8. Yes The subject is centerered.
9. I thnk it is personal because its of the woman and the time and effort shes taken to be able to do this.
10. Her face, the fact that she is in mid air, and the surroundings.
11.The background would be the white walls and the staircase.
12.I think the photograph was taken to inspire.
13. Yes this does qualify as photojounalis and i think it falls on the category of art photography because the character has dance shoes showing a art and it is posed so it is not casual.
14.Yes and i do not think that it would become ironic because there is nothing ironic about the photo.
15. I notice that the woman jumps really high.


1.The photograph creates a feeling of joy.
2.I think the photograph tells the view to be estatic and jump. Yes it does because they are all dressed up and out of the ordinary yet they have big smiles on their faces.
3. The people are the subjet of the photograph.
4.The lighing seems to be natural because the photo seems to be taken outside. i think either it is early in the morning or close to dusk because it is not to bright outside.
5. The brown of the dirt stands out the most to me.
6. The background seems to be out of focus. The effect of this is to draw focus to the people jumping.
7. I think ithat the camera viewer is a couple feet away. The picture seems pretty close and the effect would be to draw focus to the subject of the photo, the people.
8.The picture sortta looks like repetition because they are all jumping and yes the rule of thirds is being followed.
9.I think the photo is impersonal because it is a group of people jumping maybe if it was one person with a unique object but since it is a group it is intriguing but not personal.
10. What strikes me the most is the people with the different clothing, all the people are smiling, and are in mid air.
11. The background seems to be a little town in a deserted area.
12. The photograph was probably taken to capture the image of these people representing eith an even or there culture.
13. Yes i think it qualifies as photojounalism. I think it would be more commercial to advertice a certain product vs being casual or art photography.
14. Yes the photo is timely and has timeless quality. i do not think that it would be ironic because it has a still motion.
15.  I notice that every body is in mid air except for one girl in the far back righthand side she is the only one with her feel on the ground.



1.This creates a feeling of freedom.
2.I think this photograph tells the viewer to be different and free. I do believe that something is captured that can not be conveyed in words.
3.The girl is the subject but i think the main idea is her jumping and the open window.
4.I think the lighting is naturnal becase of the window. The time of day could be anywhere from 1-4 because of the amount of sunlight outside.
5. The color in the photo that stands out the most is yellow, the color of the girls dress.
6. no part of the photograph is out of focus and that is to help the onlooker consentrate on every object.
7. The distence isnt that great maybe a couple feel away. The closeness helps get every object, the bed window girl and umbrella in the photograph and help create the feeling of freedom.
8.The picture is composed of a girl, bed, window, and umbrella. the subject centered is the girl. and yes the rule of thirds rule is followed.
9.The photograph is personal because it is of a girl. the action she is doing is to cause some meaning and not just and impersonal ideal.
10.That she is in midair and the window is open high enough to see the clouds.
11. The background image is of the open windows with the clouds outside.
12. The photgraph was taken to give a feeling or ideal of freedom in my mind.
13.Yes it does qualify as photojournalism and the photograph fals under art photography because of the way it was set up to be really artistic.
14.Yes it has timeless quality the girl is never going to coe down in the photo. The irony could be that shes jumping with an open window with an umbrella yet instead of jumping out the window she jumping on the bed.
15.i notice that the room seems really inclosed to where it is only a window and a bed and no other objets wich is unusual because i believe a room would have a few more objects.

Looking Closely at Photographs


David Guttenfelder, AP
 1. What feeling does this photograph create in you, the viewer?
 Humorous.
2. What story do you think this photograph tells the viewer?
 Does it capture something that would be hard to convey in words? It tells me the need to be alert. A soilder is not judge by his uniform but by his actions.
3.  Who or what is the subject of this photograph?
U.S soilders in Afganistan.
4. Is the lighting natural or artificial? What time of day is it?
Natural lighting and morning because the man is in his boxers.
5. What colors stand out? 
Pink on the boxers and the red shirt.
6. What part or parts are out of focus, if any?
 A little bit of the background.
7. What is the distance between the subject and the camera/viewer? What is the effect of this?
 hes Pretty close 5 feet away maybe and hes probably a little bit above them. the effect of having it out of focus helps fixate on the soilders and the mans boxers not what they are shooting at.
8. How is the picture composed? Is the subject centered? Is the "rule of thirds" followed?
 The subject is not centered but the photographer is following the rule of thirds. There is also repetition within the photo.
9. How personal/impersonal is this photo? What elements make it this way?
Personal because of the boxers.
10. What strikes you most about the photo? Why do you think that is?
The most striking thing would be seeing the guy in the boxers and still with the gun ready to do his job.
11. What is the background for this image?
Mountains, rocks, boulders and they're leaning on sandbags that form a bunker.
12. Why do you think this photograph was taken?
To capture something that has never been seen.
13. Does this qualify as photojournalism? As commercial, casual or art photography, or some other category? Why?
Yes it does qualify as photojounalism and i think it falls under the "other" category.
14. Is the photo timely? Does it have a timeless quality? Both? Might it become iconic? Why or why not?
Yes it is it also relates to this modern day because we are in a war and it might be ironic because we are in war war is ugly and the mans wearing pink.
15. What else do you notice about the photograph?
I notice that they are all crouched and ready to fire.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Vertical Photo Essay

 Juliana Salinas poses for a picture during
the  Senior Thanksgiving Lunch.

Madison Hiser and Eduardo Gamba posing for a picture
during the Senior Thanksgiving Lunch.

Marcos Del Torro in the hallways saying
bye to beta with his mother.

Sophomore Miguel Vargas posing for a picture.

Madison Hiser and Jarred Younce all smiles at the
Senior Thanksgiving Lunch.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Get Inspired!


Since the theme of this event is called "New Beginnings" i would probably take a picture of a baby surrounded by its individual culture. For example the baby getting baptized to show culture. I would have to go to my church and watch the baptismal take place. Depending on the date and times these events take place i would find it on the church bulletin. I like this picture the best from the ones shown on the website.

"untitled" photographed by Jan Hartzog
 

Cool Photo Composition Techniques

Rule of Thirds: Photo prise le 10 mai 2006 (© fd / Flickr)
Leading Lines: Copyright © 2007 Barrie Brewer, Nikon D50/18-200VR, 9.3s shutter, f8
Curves: Pedernales Fall State Park, Texas
Photographed by Jeff Lynch
Repetition: Photographed by Ioan Alexandru Chiru
Birds Eye View: Photographed by Legend Kung picture of Gulin
Worms eye: Photographed by Joel Satore
Framing: 2005 James M Barnatowicz

Selected Focus: February 26, 2009 by Lara Hartley

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

BETA Life

Seniors Trina Jones and Juliana Salinas walking out of they're Pan Am class.

Michaela Cavazos completing her assignment in Mrs. Wilsons class.

Rene Martinez walking to his locker after school.
Michaela Cavazos reading an article on the computer in Mrs. Wilsons class



Seniors Crystal Diaz, Corinna Martinez laughing together during lunch.
Madison Hiser in Mrs. Palameras class laughing.
Abraham Ludden walking to school from his car in the morning.

Juliana Salinas reading in Mrs. Palameras class.
Katrina Jones sitting with her Halloween costume on in lunch.


Katirna Jones and Juliana Salinas walking toward the bus at pan american.



Jessica Gonzalez and Diana B. in the morning waiting for the bus.

Sophomores Kevin Vasquez and Jessica Gonzales making jokes on their way back to class.


Isaac Lemon in palameras class.

Abby Cartagenas doing her Beta Life project in Mrs. Wilsons class

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

What are you feelings about the first nine weeks

The first nine weeks. The last first nine weeks of high school. I can not believe its almost over it is going so fast and i feel like theres so much more i want to do. I've had such a great nine weeks i got closer to one of my sisters and I find the things that make me happy and I am finally able to look at myself in the mirror and say "yea i have my faults and I am not perfect but I am happy being me" What i did well haha i did not break down like last year ha I think I have been a lot stronger but i need to get my priorities straight. I got better at gym and i have worked rally hard at dance and I am closer to my goals. I could not believe i got mostly all A's in my classes and the ones i did not get A's in were because i did not put my all into my assignments partly i did not even do them. So this nine weeks Im done with most of those feelings that do not really matter anymore. I am going to graduate. I am going to college. Regardless. So i do not really stress on that but i know i have to work harder on gym and dance and school in general. I look at myself and i see that i have a lot of fight. I might be scared of a lot of things but nothing ever stops me from doing what i know i need to or want to do. That fight this nine weeks faded a little because Im tired of working and part of me just wants to layback and relax which i have been doing a lot more of in my own way. A quarter of high school is over it has been really awesome i think it is only going to get better.

Tips for Taking Better Photos

The first tip is looking your subject straight in the eye i think i might need to work on this guideline because i just have a tendency to take a picture with out putting much effort into it. Now, especially when photographing children, ill pay more attention to keeping the camera at the person's eye level. The Next tip would be using a plain background this tip i do not need to work on. Using flash is were i seriously need help on. I always get confused whether to put the flash function on or off. I understand now that even when outside you might still want to engage in using the flash because the picture may still be to dark. I like getting close ups on people so this function I believe I am better at. I like the example in the article.  Its amazing how different feel of the picture is in tip 5. The way the first person took the photograph is boring and the second picture looks like it was from pride and prejudice or something. The ideal of focus i think is cool you can blur things in the photo.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Photos of the day

Photojournalism is a form of journalism in which a collection of images create a story. This is different from all forms of photography cause you need to tell a story through that one picture. Anyone can take a picture but not many can take one like a photojournalist can. There are a lot of challenges that come with taking a miraculous photo. It is art because photography is a form of art but through this art there is usually a significant purpose. this purpose is to capture the surroundings and document it to show the world what certain moments felt like with out an essay. It puts the reader in this position which changes the feeling of the moment and brings more emotion vs reading it and seeing it. this makes new photography important and memorable because a picture can always be brought back up. the picture never changes so it helps constantly remind the reader of the emotion and feeling in the moment. A photojournalist captures the idea of a moment and continue to show it over and over. The memory the feeling never dies with in the picture no matter how old the picture might have been the memory within that picture never gets old.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Senior Moments

Some Unforgettable Senior Moments would have to be entering gymnastics. Its changed my outlook on life and has taught me a lot more about life that I haven’t learned in school. So far my senior year hasn’t been full of fun it has consist of hard moments. Moments when I am to tired to think where I just want to sleep. I see life passing by and I build a brick wall in order not to think of the fact that I am growing up to the point where im going to have to leave childish actions behind.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A generation of nincompoops?

From the article i dont really believe that it is a generation of nincompoops simply a different generation. Nowadays with the new technology that has been created alot of techniches that used to be essential to sustain life are not anymore. For example, how to use a can opener, we have automatic can openers so there is no need to use the old one. This generation brings new technology and new ways of working out obstacles so, why be upset if this new generation can not work old technology. The older generation constantly nags for us to be better and strive to understand new things that are coming out but when we have mastered those technologies they turn around and get mad because we don't know the old technology. I sympathize with this at the same time because its not good idea to lose that knowledge of older technology. At the same time though i don't think it is fair and just to judge the new generation on this. If the older generation thinks that were to lazy then let them think that as long as the new generation succeeds and apply knowledge to the betterment of the world then there is no need to worry.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Concert Photography


I would love to go to an usher concert. He is a beast. I like all his knew songs and his performance at the VMAs left me in awe. I would love to seem him dance and I would take so many photographs. I would take Corinna even if she didn’t want to go. I would make her take pictures of me going “I love you usher!! Omg!!” I would. Believe it.  I would make a photo gallery because I would want to go back and remember the memory. 





 

Monday, September 20, 2010

Photojournalist

To be a photojournalist one must be able to take a not just a picture but one that tells a story. A picture that stands out beyond the rest and makes the audience feel. Nowadays we find it easier to take picture with the new technology we encounter but anyone can take a picture and press a button nut photojournalist take pride and make sure it is not just a picture that it is a story. A trait I have that a photojournalist has is that I like telling stories the way they happened exactly. I like photography because I see memories and the moments captured into a picture, which is key to being a photojournalist. I wouldn’t like to be a photojournalist and I don’t think I have what it takes because even though I enjoy photography I don’t think it would be something I would love to do personally. I see that as I grow up the career that I choose is one I would have to live with and do for most of my life and I have a belief that if your going to dedicate yourself to something you must love it. If you love something your doing it would be so much harder to let it go and let your work degrade. 

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Photographic Fakery

Unfortunately, in photojournalism there are journalists that publish articles which contain pictures that are fake. They Photo shop objects or other details to draw the reader into to the article. The problem arises when the reader finds out a certain picture is fake and the trust between the informed and the informer is broken.  So I think that if journalist want credibility they should never put a fake picture in their article and therefore have it punishable by law to do so. It confuses the audience on what to believe and maybe was more truth and less manipulation in these articles when a true story is published there will be no speculation to whether it is accurate or not. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

School

My summer was full of changes and growing up stuff. I cant believe I'm a senior already! :O i still feel like I'm a freshman but now that i look back on it I've seen how much everything has changed and never would i ever had thought id be here freshman year. Schools barely starting and my first thought is i don't like school work. Its nice coming to school this year surprisingly. its finally sunk in that some of the people I've grown up with since 7th grade i might not see again. Its sad but at the same time we all make the best of it x) I have a feeling we'll stay in touch and all the memories we have made and will make will be those to remember. So all in all i guess I have mixed emotions about graduating but i have a feeling this years gonna be the best :)

Photojournalism 1B
I love you guys :]