Focus, Capture, Develop, and Take another shot are hard concepts to grasp while growing up and maturing. Throughout every obstacle that I have faced whether personally, academically or socially I have had to remember to apply these qualities to my life daily. As a child the one person a girl naturally gravitates toward to be her protector and supporter is her father. I, on the other hand, did not have that experience with mine. My transition from childhood to adulthood began at the age of seven, when I was placed into an unfamiliar and chaotic situation. I had to learn how to capture the essence of life’s gifts in order to cope and thrive. My mom had decided that we would be moving to Texas from California, for a job opportunity she received …show more content…
and with that decision came the courts and custodial orders. My father and I did not have a relationship. Our relationship was strained and caused us to never truly bond as father and daughter. Once the courts informed my father that I would be moving out of the state upon his approval, he decided that he wanted to fight for custody regardless of the fact that I barely knew him. The court decided that once I moved to Texas I would have to spend every holiday and every school break that I had, with him because the judge believed that creating a connection with my father would be in my best interest. This decision crushed me and I had to mature extremely fast. Every summer and every holiday, I was snatched away from my normal routine, my friends and my mom. I missed out on summer childhood bonding moments with my friends. I no longer could daydream; I had to be extremely aware of my environment. My stability and comfort were replaced with a situation filled with drama and chaos. There was nothing that myself or my mom could do to stop it. Due to being a photographer, the anatomy of the camera has truly allowed me to put the concepts of focusing, capturing, developing, and taking another shot into practical application.
Whenever I turn on my camera and place it in front of my eye, I am instantly able to change my perspective. I had to learn how to protect myself from the frightening actions and negative words spewed from my father. I chose to use my photography and journalism as my coping mechanisms while not realizing until now, how much writing and photography saved my life and kept me sane. Every time that I boarded a plane headed to California for my visits, I cringed because I never knew what to expect and I feared the unknown and known but my camera was always constant. As I discovered my passion for writing and photography, it became more than just a stress reliever or a way to escape into a place far beyond the courts or my dad, it became my way of life. The recognition and validation of my gifts, talents, niche, and abilities came by way of opposition and obstacles that helped me to realize my worth, purpose, and capabilities. My experiences during my visits took away a sense of innocence and taught me to not rely on the validation of others; to know my self- worth. My father often belittled me and whenever I felt less than, I would pick up a pen and reflect or take a photo and I was then reminded of my capability, worth and …show more content…
purpose. The day finally came when I was of age and the court decided that I no longer had to go to my dad’s; I had a choice and a say in the matter.
A major life altering shift occurred for me and I just like the settings on my camera I had to readjust and change my life perspectives while realigning my focus. I chose to capture the positives. I have grown wiser from these situations and have realized that I am tenacious and I have what it takes to adjust and maximize my talents and stretch my capabilities. I chose to be an asset to the world, rather than continuously looking back at my
past. Neither age nor physical change transitioned me from childhood to adulthood. The life experiences that I have developed from caused me to mature and embark on the journey towards my future. I have learned that it is my perceptions and goals that will change my life.
The poem “Extended Development” by Sarah Kay explores the ways in which the art of photography has changed throughout time, yet still remains a highly important and influential hobby. More specifically, how photography is an important aspect in each member of the speaker’s family. By using allusions, characterization, and imagery, Kay explores how the art of photography has changed throughout time.
Photography allows us to maintain memories and relish them whenever we desire. Although some advocates might argue that people are no longer enjoying experiences instead taking more pictures, in the essay, “Why We Take Pictures”, by Susan Sontag, she conflates that photography can be used as a defense against anxiety and a tool of empowerment. I agree with Sontag on the significance of photographs and how it allows us to store a part of our extended relatives so we are able to hold on the memories of family. Therefore, we must appreciate how photography allows us to manage anxiety, express feelings and remember our loved ones.
My mother once told me to take pictures during a family picnic. That was the day I discovered the art of photography. I found it fascinating how an image could be capable of sharing an entire story. What started out as a hobby, ended up becoming a life-long passion that has allowed me to develop into a more capable individual. When I saved up and bought my first camera, I read vast amounts of photography books and watched countless internet tutorials, in an attempt to teach myself how to become a good photographer. I would then use what I had learned and go outside, for hours at a time, and take pictures of the world around me. I even had the opportunity to practice commercial photography and graphic designing for various public events. These experiences have made a deep impact on my character. Growing up, I was reluctant to work with others, especially in school. Maybe because I was a natural introvert, I believed that in order for something to be done right, I had to complete it on my own and asking others for help was a sign of weakness. However, when complex situations arose during photo-shoots, I realized how lucky I was to be working and collaborating with talented individuals. By sharing the responsibility and by having confidence in my team, the quality of my work drastically improved, and in turn, I thrived in such an environment. It really was a surprise to me how photography has taught me the value of placing trust in others.
A person does not experience many events that shape their life in a large way, whether it be for better or worse. I have had just one major situation that has sculpted me into the person that I am today. In February of 2008, I was diagnosed with a life changing disease; it would relieve me of the agony I had been experiencing for as long as I could remember, but also restrict my diet for the rest of my life.
Some people, some great people deserve to live forever, or at least die in a worthy or in a fulfilling way. I just got the short end of the bargain, I just got one of the worst things on this earth, cancer. Anyone can get the disease, but the way I see it, it seems unfair and unruly that pure souls could end up with a painful and undeserving demise. Unfortunately, I was one of those pure souls.
Music is one of the most fantastical forms of entertainment. Its history stretches all the way from the primitive polyrhythmic drums in Africa to our modern day pop music we listen to on our phones. It has the ability to amaze us, to capture our attention and leave us in awe. It soothes the hearts of billions, and it is so deeply rooted in my life that it has touched my heart as well. Everyday I walk to the beat of the song stuck in my head and hum along to the melody. For me, to listen to music be lifted into the air by the hands of your imagination and float around for a while. You forget about your worries, your troubles and find peace within the sound. Every chapter in my life is attached with a song. Every time I listen to a certain song, thoughts of my past come flooding back
I have addressed how I plan to carry out my exit project. I talked about what is required of me to complete my exit project, what I have done so far, and what I still need to do towards my progress and completion of my time lapse video. Doing this project has helped me discover my purposes for choosing it: to expand my knowledge, experience, and technique on photography, explore my photography capabilities, and to give me a overall opinion on my future in relation to photography. I also will use this project and the experiences that come with it as a test of my faith in myself, patience, and perseverance.
Growing up, my father’s absence played a major factor in my stride for success. His absence was the scapegoat for why I always felt like I may not be good enough – or why I’d be looked at as an outcast. I’ve always made it my first priority to overcome his negligence by attempting to do my best in school – earning good grades, joining school clubs, giving back to the community. However, never did I receive the recognition I’ve always dreamed of and never was I satisfied with my outcome, but never did I think that I would find through the one who seized it all.
At the young age of ten, I was faced with a situation that has had one of the largest influences in who I am today. My parents’ divorce has and still currently plays a role in my life that has affected my drive for motivation bringing diverse perspectives. At such a young age, I was filled with such remorse, discouragement, and fear. My educational abilities were collapsing, along with some of my common social activities. I was absent-minded due to my adolescent understanding and confusion of the situation. I became emotionally depleted coming eye to eye with what I was promised would never happen. My personal connections with my family gradually became diminished, from what I kept so valuable. I was placed in a situation that tore apart my contentment, arrogance, and self motivation. It wasn’t until years later, I took my position as a chance to transform my bleakness into a strong desire for greatness.
Photojournalism plays a critical role in the way we capture and understand the reality of a particular moment in time. As a way of documenting history, the ability to create meaning through images contributes to a transparent media through exacting the truth of a moment. By capturing the surreal world and presenting it in a narrative that is relatable to its audience, allows the image to create a fair and accurate representation of reality.
Prior to this course, I knew photography was a part of my every day life. After experiencing this course, I know I knew little about photography. Photography is definitely part of my life, but as I reflect on my sixteen-week progression, I realize that everyone can take a picture but “taking a photograph” as an art. My initial thoughts were that with smart phones we are all “photographers” sharing and it has become part of our visual culture, but not all photos deserve appreciation. Although I believed I had an eye for interesting things and liked to shoot pictures from angles or interesting features, I realized that knowing more about the functions and diversity a quality camera could provide was missing. Photography has been a vital part of my personal history and now will be a bigger part of my life as I am armed with knowledge and experience with angles, lighting, settings and Photoshop so the memories I capture will have a stronger purpose. Point and shoot has transitioned into a passion for finding interest in a subject and utilizing my knowledge to create artful photos. Ordinary or standard shots will be a part of my past. Reflecting on my interest in photography as a potential path for my future, or a part of an overall career choice, I realized that if I continue on a public relations or marketing path, photography will be a critical part of my career. Photography 181 has given me invaluable information that will be carried on into my future in both business and personal arenas. My place in photography will continue to include sports action photography as I am an athlete and appreciate these, as well as in editorial or brand image photography as part of my career.
When I was younger, I had friends, but I was the person who did not want to dance at birthday parties. I was someone who enjoyed talking to the lunch moms instead of playing on the playground. I was shy and my mom handled everything for me. Until now, I did not know how much work went into raising me. I never knew that there were deadlines to paying bills or that appointments had to be made in advance, but everything changed one morning when I woke up to the blaring sound of my mom’s alarm. I was confused because she was a light sleeper, and I became anxious. I ran into her room, and immediately I knew something was wrong. The death of my mother during the first month of my eighth grade year, as a single event, did not instantly mark my transition to adulthood, but it did change my life forever. My mother died before she was able to watch me graduate middle school, before she was able to teach me how to drive, and before she was able to share all of her wisdom. Her death was the most painful experience I have ever encountered, but I was lucky enough
Newton, Julianne H. The Burden of Visual Truth: The Role of Photojournalism in Mediating Reality. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001. Print.
While in school, Mom didn’t have it to easy. Not only did she raise a daughter and take care of a husband, she had to deal with numerous setbacks. These included such things as my father suffering a heart attack and going on to have a triple by-pass, she herself went through an emergency surgery, which sat her a semester behind, and her father also suffered a heart attack. Mom not only dealt with these setbacks but she had the everyday task of things like cooking dinner, cleaning the house and raising a family. I don’t know how she managed it all, but somehow she did.
Without a doubt, being a highly respected photographer would be my dream career. The type of job that wouldn 't feel like a job because it is one of my favorite hobbies. Growing up I always noticed how much longer I took to take a picture of someone than when they did the same for me. I soon realized that I actually had a passion for getting the right shot that I understood that not every pictures the same and that certain angles made others look better in places. The praise I received for taking a lot of these pictures motivated me. I liked that I hardly ever got told to take these pictures over and I loved that I was always the one chosen to take them time after time. Once I understood that I had this passion for photography I made sure a camera was the first thing on my Christmas list that year. I also knew that there was nothing but room for improvement, so i sought out private lessons which I worked and saved up for.