I'm Done!!!

(Me right after finishing all my finals!!! Do I look smarter? haha)

         I really enjoyed my first quarter as a freshman at DU, but I so happy to be finished with Business Calculus and Elementary Italian. I cannot wait to go home...as I have said a couple of times now, but I really did enjoy this class. I am very glad I got to meet and spend time with such great people.
         I had never had a blog before this class, but i really like having one. I want to try and continue the one picture a day theme or just at least try to keep a diary sort of thing going. We will see how well this goes when I actually tr to put it into practice when I get home.
        Thank you everyone!!! :)

Studying :( Instead of Having Fun

Studying is still my life. I am so sorry I could not attend class today and visit the exhibit, but there was an Economics review session that really helped me prepare for the final. I already regret not going with all of the class today, but if I get an "A" on my economics final it will be worth it. I hate that I favored getting an "A" over spending a great time with some new friends, but getting good grades and a great education is why my parents are paying an obscene amount of money for me to attend DU. If I could not work my hardest and deliver amazing grades then I would be letting my parents down and I would feel like a failure. 

I hope everyone had a great time! I am really sorry I missed it, but I could not reason giving two hours to have fun when I could be preparing for approaching finals. This is in no way a reflection upon the class...like I said I would have loved to come. I really enjoyed this class. It taught me about life experience through photographers like Sally Mann, Henri Cartier-Brasson, Hal Gould, and Annie Liebovitz, it taught me about the importance of timing, light, and framing within a picture, it taught me about cultures through meeting Ting and seeing how big the difference can be just within different states in the united states, but as it was teaching me about differences it also taught me about similarities and unity. I loved how people from all over the U.S. could get along so well in such a short period of time. (It really was short, and I'm sad about that.) I hope I get to see everyone next quarter...we should totally set aside some lunch or dinner outings! Roddy I will definitely stop in and stay hi and seek some more of your photographic advice. Roddy and everyone, thank you for a great Freshman Seminar and entrance into DU!!! 

Lost Pictures #3 and 4

I love the image of true laughter. I am so glad I got to catch  this moment. This picture was taken on my Birthday while waiting for our buzzer to buzz meaning we had a table at The Cheesecake Factory. Luna, the girl  in the middle had just proposed that in the next picture Rachel, the girl to the left, and Kit, the girl to the right, should kiss her on the cheeks. Rachel is pointing at Luna saying, "Look at her...what is she thinking!"

But as we all know; Luna always gets her way...

Lost Picture #2

This is my version of the window picture...I had been wondering where this went! The sky is gorgeous! I like that I still have the detail of the clouds and a detailed silhouette of Tracy. (Ex: look at her eye lashes and curls in her hair!)

Lost Picture #1

This picture was taken at the Denver Art Museum...it is just another example of the power and importance of light. The colors make this picture vibrant. The shapes of the windows also add ascetic to the picture.

Lost Pictures

I randomly found a memory card in my desk draw so I decided to see what pictures, if any, were on it. To my surprise there were over 100 pictures on this lost memory card. I am so glad I found them! I am going to share a couple of my favorites within these next few posts; hope you like them :)

Still Working

Still working on Italian and still love my desk lamp. The shodaw is perfect and the lighting is warm...not too white and not too yellow.

Italian

Italian is my first final and my hardest. I am not a language person so I will have to study immensely. This is how I will spend my next couple of nights; in my dorm staring at my Italian book illuminated by a single desk lamp. I love the lighting this desk lamp gives. It is not too bright so it does not make my eyes hurt after hours of studying. I cannot wait to get this final over with.

Finals Week

This is my life for the next week. Books, books, books. I am dedicating my time to eating, sleeping, bathing, and studying. Minimal contact with the outside world and all the distractions it brings. I'm about to have the best week ever...NOT!! I cant wait for this week to be over and be able to return home to my family, warm weather, and the holidays!!!! Just a few more days, I can do it!

Between the Sheets

Over the past few days I have been sleeping an incredible amount. Even more than usual, which is impressive. I look forward to my naps everyday because I stay up past midnight every night. I have been able to sleep amazingly well here at DU and now I am obsessed. Due to my new love of naps I decided to take a picture of my cute and comfy sheets. I can't get enough of them :) I love the texture you can see i the wrinkles of the sheets. Oh and if you cannot already tell purple is my favorite color. (example: blog background, sheets, etc.)

Camera Obscura

              

              The Camera Obscura was an amazing little treasure or diamond in the rough as explained by Disney’s Aladdin. I feel like those who find it are lucky because they are introduced to something amazing, but too many pass by not knowing what they are missing. This makes me sad for the ignorant passerby, but it also makes me sad for the lack of appreciation given to Hal Gould. He deserves so much praise, but only a special select few get to see the extent of his talent. His wisdom, experience, and graciousness are something to idol at. I applaud his overall determination, talent, and absolute wisdom in mind and character that can only come with his extent of hard work and experience. I was honored to be in his presence and heard the extent of his presence in the photography world. I was glad I got to hear his amazing story. Truly a treasure…everyone should hear his story and recognize his impact in the art of photography. I was amazed that he could go unnoticed for so long, but that it a tribute to his character and humbleness.

            I want the surrounding neighborhood to know about the amazing person near them and I want more of the world to know of the Camera Obscura, but I think part of the charm and amazing experience of the Camera Obscura comes from the quite, quaint, and surprise factor offered by the secrecy. I would love to visit again. The shock I felt when I reached the upper level was astonishing. I was not expecting the fest of images that greeted my eyes when I ascended the old creaking staircase. With every image my amazement and knowledge of photography grew. I was truly inspired. I could have gazed at those pictures for days and days and days. The countless amount of photos would be able to teach me an unprecedented amount, but not in a traditional manner. I hope someone is inspired enough to actually take that time and evolve and develop as an artist in that small unordinary showcase. This would be what Hal Gould’s photos deserved…upmost respect and adoration. They should be cherished and learned from. Hal Gould’s knowledge should be passed down to the new generations. His name should be known thorough-out Denver. He definitely earned his own Hal Gould Day. I am so pleased with my experience at the Camera Obscura.  

      P.S. I loved the picture Chey took of Hal. His hand shows his wisdom. I'm mad that it is so blurry. This is still when I was afraid to ask if I could take someones picture, but now I regret not taking one.

Denver Art Museum

I’m glad we went on this field trip at the beginning of the year. It helped all of us get to know each other and it helped us get to know our way around downtown Denver. Learning where the Starbucks is was very nice, I definitely visited it a couple more times. I also felt more comfortable going downtown in my free time and taking a nice trip away from campus.

               The Denver Art Museum was beautiful on the inside and the outside. I loved the architecture; the use of windows and colors really added to the overall atmosphere. This trip made me realize how crucial light is. The lighting in the pictures and the lighting used to display the pictures is necessary to make the images pleasing to the eye. This trip added to my search for perfect lighting. I like doing studio photography because I can control the lighting, but I need more practice with natural light because it cannot be manipulated as much. Finding good lighting was one of my goals this year, but I did not meet it as much as I had wanted. This just means I need even more practice. I would like to try and continue my blog through-out the years and this should help me better distinguish good light from bad light. My search will continue.

               The exhibit was amazing. I liked learning about the different methods and ways to manipulate film. I never realized how liquids have such a large role in photography. Processing, developing, and printing all require liquids, but liquid can also be used as a way to distort film, add texture, or it can be the subject. Colored liquids are especially interesting. Liquids were used in several different ways within the exhibit.

This trip also made me focus on shadows because I was paying more attention to light. I discovered the intrigue of shadows, trying to determine how they are made is fascinating. Odd shapes can make very amusing and in my mind artistic shapes. I now enjoy creating shadows and I love how my eye is a little more trained and able to see them in everyday life. This, to me, is one of the main intrigues and purposes of photography. (Training the eye to see what others do not.) Like any other talent you must train yourself and your body above what is considered the normal.

This was one of my favorite pictures from the day because the lighting and shadows are great.



Hylaea-Library Showcase

           

            Timothy Weaver is a new media artist who used to be a life scientist. Knowing this helps me understand why he took the pictures he did. I liked having the background knowledge because it made me less disturbed by the art. I was still a little confused even after I learned his background, but only because I think I have a wall-up against death. I do not know why, I just know that I do not like thinking about it.

 In the pamphlet the exhibit was explained to be “part ecological ghost story/ part zoological bibliography” and I believe the pamphlet was spot-on in that definition. These two aspects of the showcase are very different and I think this is why I had such mixed feelings and reactions to the artwork. I did not know if the display was to be seen morbidly, scientifically, or sorrowfully. I guess it might be better not to know so you can see and think what you want, but all the emotions I had were too many for me to handle.

Overall I saw the artwork in a sorrowful manner. All of these bird species had become extinct due to human-induced measures. This made me feel very sorry for the ways that humans have selfishly destroyed nature. The price the birds had to pay was not fair; they had done nothing but what nature intended them to do.

            On a more technical note, it was interesting to see all the different mediums through which Weaver projected his art. The video, prints, and rare book installation meshed nicely and really helped make the subject of the art stand out. I liked how the library acted as a little treasure you never knew when or where you would find the next component to Weaver’s art showing.

            It is nice to know that our university is able and willing to put on exhibits like Hylaea. I believe it is important for the university to keep us informed and cultured. I know this was not a huge art showcase, but the university did what it could and I appreciate it. It is the little things like this that make our university so unique.

Eyes

These trees are so mysterious, seeing them always makes me wonder if trees are more alive then we think they are. These trees are also gorgeous...they are so different! I wonder what causes these trees to have such different bark. I also wonder why they make eye shapes and not other shapes. I wonder if you could genetically program a tree to make shapes like hearts or other shapes. It would be really could if you could!

Beautiful DU

I was walking back from my ten o'clock , Friday math quiz when I randomly notice how beautiful my surroundings were. The colors and architecture were stunning. I love how fall does this and I love that we have a campus that shows-off fall's amazing powers. I like personifying fall in this way. Interesting fact: I think the depth of field in this picture makes our campus look bigger than it actually is.

Sally Mann

(This is an eerie picture...I wonder what her children think of this picture. I do not have problems with the pictures Sally Mann took of her children, but I understand why others may question. I question a little, but It seems like her children turned out fine so who am I to judge?)

           Sally Mann is described as being able to see what others do not. She can find and make art out of ordinary objects and happenings. This is a true gift. She has been blessed with an amazing gift, a loving and happy filled childhood, a nice husband, three great children, and a wonderful career. I hope she appreciates what she has been given, but I understand that she also had to work and strive to deserve all the wonderful things that have happened to her. Even the bad that she had to experience, like her father’s death, influenced her work in a positive way. I liked learning about her process, her way of thinking, and what kind of person she is. By the end of the movie I felt like I knew her and I liked what I saw.

            I liked how she described that landscape has magic; she just needs to find it.  I also like how she described how she welcomed the angel of uncertainty. In my high school photography we sometimes made what we called trash art, which consisted of making a print that was not quite perfect then throwing it into the trash can in the dark room. In a few hours or minutes we retrieved our prints, but they had been transformed by the chemicals that were thrown on them while in the trash can; sometimes the prints were altered or “ruined” in just the right way that they became amazing works of art. I like how she admitted that some of her prints become amazing having nothing to do with her touch. She is giving credit where credit is due; I like this.

            When her project on death did not get to be shown at Pace I felt for Sally, but she should have thought about the situation more clearly. It seemed like she needed others to like and appreciate her work, but did she spend all her time working on the photos for herself or for others? I hope she did it for herself instead of others because she will never be able to control how others view her work, her satisfaction should be enough, but I understand needing to be liked and appreciated by others…it is due to our own insecurity.

Thunderhead, Ruth Thorne-Thomsen #2

      I am amazed by the talent Ruth Thorne-Thomsen has in order to put together a picture like she did without the modern day digital photography and programs like Photoshop. It must have taken her a lot of time in order to put it together. A picture like this takes determination, she must have really loved what she did or else she would not have invested the time necessary to produce such an outcome. I praise her dedication. It took a lot of learning to make a photograph like this. For example Thomsen received a BFA in painting from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, a BA in photography from Columbia College Chicago, and an MFA in photography from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She worked hard in order to make extraordinary pictures like “Thunderhead.”

“Thunderhead” also makes you think when you look at it. I found myself asking…why make a picture like this, but when looking at it further I realized the deeper meaning. “Thunderhead” juxtaposes what is going on inside the human mind to what is happening in nature. The human mind is cloudy, foggy, confusing. So many thoughts take place at once inside the human mind. The mind changes thoughts feelings and emotions quickly like a storm. The human mind can also be loud like a storm.  There is juxtaposition because the head is surrounded by calm serine nature. The landscape/nature surrounding he woman’s head is the opposite of the mind. Nature is peaceful and unchanging. I think the head/mind wants to be like nature. Nature is praised in this picture…if the craziness of the mind was being praised a storm would not have represented the mind, because a storm represents a bad situation, not a good one. Nature is praised because it looks beautiful versus dark and scary like the head’s mind.

I wonder why a woman’s head was chosen versus a man’s. Was this part of Thomsen’s plan or does it play no role in the overall concept of the photograph? I also wonder why Thomsen wanted to portray this juxtaposition in the first place. Was Thomsen feeling this way? (Confused on the inside and wanting to be like nature.)   

Thunderhead, Ruth Thorne-Thomsen #1

Hall Buddies

Stefan and Matt are roommates on my floor and both of them tend to sleep with their door open. One time when Matt was sleeping my roommate and I watched him sleep for a few seconds and he happened to wake-up with us standing over him. He was a little weirded out; as he should be, but we thought it would teach him and his roommate not to sleep with there door open. From the picture above, of Matt's roommate Stefan, you can see the lesson has yet to be learned. Stefan obviously  fell asleep while reading so his unplanned sleep lead to this picture. We shall see when the lesson will be learned...until next time... (P.S. I did not notice the awkward hand placement until after the picture was taken...funny though, right?)   

Campus Treasures

I found this little beautiful statue walking on my way to J-Mac the other day. I like that someone took their time put this together and kept it there so everyone can enjoy it. I certainly did. I wonder who made it...

Changing Colors

Fall is amazing when the leaves actually fall and change colors. In San Diego this never happens, it never gets cold enough. I can see why people love fall now...it is so pretty.

Rainbow

Seeing rainbows always makes me happy! I had to take a picture because it made me smile :)

Sky

I like the color of the sky and the green grass combined with the texture of the white clouds. The little pathway in the corner is also intriguing. Where it leads a mystery. I love hidden treasures like this within pictures.

Sunset at DU

I love sunsets! The silhouette is amazing! This picture is a cell phone picture so it looks good at this size, but it looks blurry when expanded, like how it was shown in class. I think it looks better here.

Twins!

I took this picture when two twins, Chris and Kevin, were waiting to have a turn on the slack line. I thought it was a cool picture because even their feet look the same! It helps that they are wearing their pants the same way too. This is a simple picture, but I like it.

The 2 Sides of Amaya

I love these pictures!!!! They represent Amaya so well...she can be composed like the ballerina that she is or she can be crazy like the rock climber in her. I love the juxtaposition in her personality. Amaya is a great friend oh and she is roommates with Sam...what a fun room :) The pairing is crazy! Amaya and Sam have a ton of fun together!

Silly Sam

I'm getting better at taking pictures of people. Sam lives done my hall so I just asked if I could take some pictures of her. She was totally up for it and ended up being a great subject. I got this little beauty from her! :) She probably shouldn't find out that I chose this picture hahaha!

Camp Out

I went to the DU camp out for hockey tickets and it was really fun except FREEZING!!! I was so proud of my roommate and I for putting our tent up by ourselves that I had to take a picture. (It looks good right?) This was only my second time putting up a tent, we did it really fast too! But I didn't even get to sleep in it!!! (LONG BORING STORY.) Evan though I didn't get to sleep in it I still like that I assembled a tent :)

Dorm Room Fun

I like the lighting in this picture. The shadows I created add a lot to the picture. The lighting makes this boring picture a good picture. I took this picture  in my dorm room because my roommate always makes fun of how many cups I have. I was able to control the lighting and make it how i wanted it with a desk lamp. I like experimenting with lighting.

Henri Cartier-Brasson

(One of my favorite picture by Henri Catirer-Brasson. Like stated in the movie people are alive when they are thinking and in this picture the rugby man is strongly contemplating so he definitely seems alive. I like that this is an exposed "middle ground" picture, it is not an extreme so it really seems your are finding a treasure that otherwise would have been missed.)

Henri Cartier-Brasson can be described in one word- WISE. His experiences and natural talent have given him an amazing life. He is respected and loved by many and he deserves it. He has worked long and hard to gain his fame and become an expert at his practice. He also loved his life and everything he was privileged enough to witness and shoot. I would have loved to have his life as well, but it helps me to remember that even he had to practice for years. He did not shoot the above picture just by natural born talent. Every person has to practice their talent before becoming an expert. Brasson does have a certain eye, but he had to train it and take care of it, just like everyone else.

Brasson’s experiences have brought great wisdom. I loved hearing a part of how he looks at the world and photography. He spoke about how there is a mysterious link between the subject and their surroundings. To me this explains why photos are never the same and why they are so special. The camera can freeze a moment so this mysterious link can be better seen. He explains that photography is simple observation, you just have to look. He makes it sound so easy, but in a way it is. If you see the perfect image framing and timing are the main obstacles. (Oops and lighting!) Brasson believed it was good to aim well, shoot fast, and then scram. I like this thought process, but I need to take more than one picture sometimes; if the subject allows.

He said America had great extremes; I like taking picture of the extremes, but finding “treasures” in the middle ground is a joy of mine as well. Extremes may be easier to find and shoot because they stand out, I like searching for pictures, but this means I always have to be ready and unfortunately this is not always the case.

When Brasson talked about balance I was inspired. Something seemed to click. How could he explain the makings of a perfect picture in such few words? It shows why taking a perfect picture is not an easy task. Having your eye, mind, and heart aligned does not happen 24/7. I would love to be balanced 24/7, but again it takes practice.

One of my favorite things about pictures are the memories attached to them. You could see Brasson remembering the moments as he flipped through the pictures. They made him happy, the power of pictures is astonishing.

It was interesting to hear that Brasson does not like the processing and developing stage. I like these parts of photography because they strongly connect you to your photo. You can make your photo to your like, which I think is amazing.    

Campus Finds

I love weddings!!

This is so cute! The bride and broom probably met at DU :)

I loved seeing this while walking back from a class, it made my day!

I hope the bride and groom live happily ever after :)

Random College Activities

A friend of mine thought his hair was getting too long so he let me and some of my friends buzz it and he said, "You can do whatever you want." These became the famous last words as we continued to give him racing stripes and a huge M off-centered on the back of his head. He took a little heat from his friends about the hair cut, but he'll live. To see the process and results of the hair cut click HERE. I love how he looks scared even before we really started, he knew he was in trouble.

Annie Leibovitz

 
I am fascinated by Annie Leibovitz life: so spontaneous and full of rich experiences. One of Annie's most interesting adventures was when she toured with The Rolling Stones. I cannot imagine having this opportunity. The power between the dynamic duo of Annie and The Rolling Stones created amazingly "real," hypnotizing, and disturbing pictures. The way Mick Jagger abused his body is atrocious and yet he was an icon. Everyone fantasizes about the rock and roll lifestyle, but when seeing the backstage happenings through Annie's camera the images do not seem so enticing.

I had seen the image taken by Annie Leibovitz of Annie Lennox before, but I had no idea it was one of Annie Leibovitz photographs. I really like this picture. Annie Leibovitz’s art is very influential. I remember this picture and when I think of Annie Lennox this is the image I see. I am sure this is the case for many Annie Lennox fans. The power of Annie Leibovitz’s art is amazing. She is lucky that her art has such a large audience. I do not think anyone would have a problem doing her job, but that’s the catch…not everyone could do her job. I strongly believe this, her talent is rare, others with access to the same resources; a creative eye is necessary.

I love the picture of Susan Sontag. I had no idea that Annie Leibovitz and Susan Sontag had such a close relationship. I find their relationship interesting because I would not think that they viewed photography in the same way. I was touched by their deep friendship.

Meryl Streep is an icon. This picture is genius! It is easily one of my favorites by Annie Leibovitz. It was probably an honor for Meryl Streep to be photographed by Annie Leibovitz and Annie Leibovitz was probably honored to be photographing Meryl Streep. There was so much talent in the room when this picture was taken. I would be honored to be the photographer or the subject in this circumstance. You cannot go wrong with getting to be Meryl Streep o Annie Leibovitz. I wonder if they get along…I wonder if Annie Leibovitz likes most of the celebrities she takes photographs of or if she even cares about getting to know them. I would want to meet my subject and try to understand them, but I don’t know if Annie Leibovitz does. I think she would because she seems to like people the same way I do.

Annie Leibovitz has an amazing life…I hope she enjoys it as much as I believe I would.

 

9/19/2010

I took a trip to Boulder after the first week of classes. It was an amazing adventure. I got to learn about the light rail and bus system. It was a fun night full of snacks, jokes, water balloons, and sleeping on couches.

On Photography

I used Susan Sontag’s “On photography” as a jumping off point to discover my personal views on photography. On Photography presented a new way to view the world through photography and its effects on people and events. Sontag introduced new ways of thinking about photography; my view of photography was completely expanded. Her views were enlightening, but unique to the point that I noticed I did not agree with all of her statements and connection between photography and photographers.


Susan Sontag seemed to play around with how photography could be viewed. One example of this is in her mention to Plato’s Cave. It was smart of her to mention a connection to Plato’s Cave early in the chapter because immediately it makes you think. I wish she had taken the connection a little further, but that might have limited the reader’s ability to create his or her thoughts on Plato’s Cave. The only mention of Plato’s Cave is, “Humankind lingers unregenerately in Plato’s Cave, still reveling, its age-old habit, in mere images of the truth.” This quote quickly shows peoples’ obsession with photographs; the humankind revels in photographs (images of the truth). This idea was shown in Plato’s Cave and I believe it is true. Because this human curiosity still exists photography has power and importance.


While thinking of Plato’s Cave I began to question reality, will we ever know what reality truly is? Is our world actually contained in a locker like shown in the movie “Men in Black,” do other worlds exist? I cannot answer any of these questions, but I can explain the “reality” that I am most comfortable with. “Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world.” -Arnold Newman The image taken by the camera is not reality. What my eyes see is reality. If I was told the image taken by the camera is reality I would not believe it and I would want to go back to believing that only what I saw with my own eyes is reality. It is sometimes hard to see the difference between what I see and what a picture shows, but a camera picture never looks exactly the same as “reality.” Even though I know a photo is not reality I can still believe that the moment has happened. Even the exact moment a picture is taken, when reality has not had a chance to change, the photo still is not reality. It is a copy; memories are copies of reality just like photos. One reason why photography is so amazing is because it slightly alters reality. My eyes and my camera will never “see” the same image.


Sontag presented many comparisons and assumptions about why people take pictures. Most of her ideas were simple and easy to agree with and understand, but others were more questionable. Taking pictures for memories, evidence, knowledge, and art all seem understandable. Even taking pictures for a sense of power or participation can be comprehended. Using photography to combat unsure responses to the new and unfamiliar is hard to accept. When in Florence this past summer I took a picture of Michelangelo’s “David.” I did not take the picture because I was afraid of my feelings; I took the picture in hopes of maintaining my feelings of awe. If I could have touched “David” instead of taking a picture of it I would have. I think photography helps create a connection it does not decrease one. The camera helps me see the object more clearly; it does not distance me from the object because it is literally between me and the subject. In relation to my life I have trouble accepting Sontag’s suggestion.


My connection with photography also makes it difficult for me to accept a major metaphor supported by Sontag. The metaphor connecting photography to shooting or murdering a person disturbs me. I do not want my camera to be a “predatory weapon” and even though I use the words load, aim, and shoot to describe acts involved with photography that does not mean I have a fantasy of violating people I take pictures of. Sontag supports this metaphor by comparing photographic safaris to hunting safaris. This connection is not strongly supported. Comparing a viewfinder to a telescope is not enough. Justifying the popularization of photographic safaris due to the rarity of the animals is not enough. Photographic safaris would have become popular even if the animal populations remained plentiful because photographers respect the animals’ beauty and hanging a picture on a wall is better for the animal then hanging its hide on the wall. I believe the competitive nature is similar, but the underlying goals cannot be compared. Malicious intent does not exist in photographic safaris. Photography does not bring harm to the animals; in reality, it does just the opposite because the money spent on the photographic safari is used to better serve and protect the animals. A game hunter will never be satisfied with photography because the click of a shutter does not carry the same effects as a click of a trigger. A game hunter and a photographer have two different intents; therefore, the two cannot be compared.


Sontag explains, “All photographs testify to time’s relentless melt.” Photography and time seem to go hand-in-hand. Photography easily welcomes comparisons and connections with time. Sontag presents some convincing relations between time and photography. Because photography intensifies the flight of time; Sontag states, “To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability.” This is a cynical way to view photography, especially coming from a photographer, but in a way it is true. This statement greatly applies to the picture I took of my grandma even though it was not my intent. The picture shows my grandma’s vulnerability to time and cancer, but it also shows her strength by showing her mortality. Sontag’s statement, “Time eventually positions most photographs, even the most amateurish, at the level of art” can easily be grasped. Even the horribly crooked family pictures seem more like art due to their sentimental value and texture given by old fashion cameras.


On Photography introduced new ideas about photography; some more easily accepted than others. The importance and power of photography is represented very well through Sontag’s real-life examples. The Holocaust pictures hit me almost as strongly when I saw then in the 8th grade while reading “Night.” Her ideas on why people take pictures struggled to convince me because she did not have strong examples from actual people to support her beliefs. Quotes from real sources would have really helped her cause and would have better changed my views. Even though I do not agree with Sontag’s statements completely, I still respect her beliefs and think she is an intelligent woman. I enjoyed reading On Photography and appreciate the new perspective.

9/12/2010

My roommate, friend, and I had a great adventure today: we went to the grocery story in a motor home! My roommate's friend's parents were nice enough to take on their way through Denver. This made our trip easy because we didn't have to carried the groceries home! (I know your jealous.) On the way back to the dorms everyone was hungry and this is where the trip got even better!! The parents had heard about an Italian fair so we decided to go and get lunch. I LOVE fairs! They are always so alive! There were opera singers, chalk artists, and amazing food which was free due to the parents incredible generosity. (We even got gelato for dessert. I planning on sending them a thank you note for the great experience.) I took these pictures on my cell phone while walking around enjoying the company.

9/11/2010

This was just a quick cell phone pic to remember the Rockies game. It didn't look so blurry when I saw it on my phone. I would have taken another...sorry :)

9/10/2010

I love this kind of light! The light right before sunset is so pretty. In my photo class we called this magic hour.

Things to know about Tracy:

1. she is half Mexican and half white with a polish back round

2. green and purple are her favorite colors

3. she LOVES frozen yogurt

4. she came to DU because of the campus and environment

5. she is Jewish

6. she has 2 older sisters

7. in high school she experimented with soccer, lax, and track

8. she is now a media studies major and art minor

(Please note this was in no specific order.)

Tracy and I both love playing sports, looking at the color purple, and eating fro-yo!!

9/9/2010

I took this picture at our trip to the museum. I like the shadows and the texture added by the out of focus first letters. The contrast between the black ink and white paper is also very appealing. I took a lot of picture on our journey to the museum.

I really focused on shadows this trip even though is was not intentional. I t is weird how you can get in modes like that. For example there are some days I would rather shoot people and others I would rather shoot scenery.

again shadows, I don't even know how this shadow was created! It was like a big mystery.

SHADOWS AGAIN!!