Artist Statement

My portfolio constant of many different things. This semester in class we learned how to take group photos to see how the picture would work out, we also learned about the asymmetrical and symmetrical. Symmetrical balance is when a picture has the same thing on both sides. Asymmetrical balance is when the eyes balance out but the sides doesn’t have the same things. My portfolio has work from the effects we learned, the emphasis effect shows the main point in the picture, the glow effect makes a blurry looking shadow and the cross process effect gives more of an odd color. My portfolio has some of our best projects. We made the graduation invitations for our class and we made the academic excellence letter program. Our difficult projects are the surrealism and the metaphor projects. The surrealism project we had to add different things from our dreams, to make odd things come together. Our personal metaphor project we had to pick a metaphor that describes us or how we feel. To help us with our surrealism project we had surreal practice tutorial, the practice showed us how to put things together into a complete picture. I have projects that enhance our camera skills, my favorite thing we learned on the camera was the shutter speed which we use a little light in a dark area but when we see the picture it has a neon lighting bright light, the picture comes out nice. We learn about the iso, metering, and the fill in flash.
I think my portfolio is well put together, my projects aren’t all that creative but I explain each project very well. My favorite thing learning on the camera was the shutter speed; I liked how all the pictures came out when we used that function. There was a lot of projects I enjoyed working on this semester. I was happy with how my graduation and academic excellence letter program projects came out. I think I could of did a lot better on my surrealism and metaphor project but I still enjoyed working on them, I like the point of those projects. Before this semester I didn’t know about the camera functions like the metering, iso and the fill in flash. Now I know what each of those function does and I know when to use them if I have to. I think I was most successful with my effects project. I knew how to use each of those effects; my favorite effect is the glow effect. I don’t think I struggled with any of my projects,I just don’t take a lot of time to think about what I want to do in a project. My projects is never creative,my ideas don’t click like I want them too. In the future if I take my time to think about the projects then I would be good.
Most of my influences come from Miss Cook, she has the best work I seen from a person. I don’t really like the art we seen from the famous artist.I have seen a lot of growth in my photoshop skills,I know how to use most of the tools. I also improved on my camera skills,I take better pictures,I know when to use certain functions.

Personal Metaphor

"I AM THE SUN,I SHINE BRIGHT"

I chose the metaphor I am the sun, I shine bright because I like the saying. The metaphor was just an idea but when I made the explosion which forms the sun, I decided to keep it. I feel I shine because of my accomplishments, for a person my age I think I got some good things going for myself. Some of the things I have accomplished have been the highlights of my life; I know in the future success is ahead of me.

I like the picture by itself without the Photoshop extra’s, I had to form a sun and I think that came out good. The project would have been better if I added more to the picture. The difficult part was just to come up with an idea on how to make you a metaphor. It was difficult to add things because Photoshop has so many tools to make your picture better but we didn’t have that much time to use all the tools we wanted to. In my project I kept changing things, I would spend the whole period working on something and if it didn’t look right to me, I would get rid of it. Doing things then erasing them took a lot of my time which I feel was wasted. I feel my final project is all right, I feel I could have did better.

Shutter Speed

In our first photo,we out lined our partner Latoya body with our cell phones.In out perfect picture we just got together,it was a group picture.Everyone got in a place where they felt comfortable.In the last photo that looks like a wind of light,we had our phones out waving them around then we timed the picture,we all jumped out.The picture didnt have anyone in it,it just had the light.The setting for all our pictures was in the front of the classroom in the corner by the door.We had to set the ISO to 400 but the aprture was set to the lowest it could go.We set the shutter speed to about 8 seconds.Doing this project was fun because the pictures always come out cool with the lights.Only thing that was difficult was we couldnt really tell when the photo was took so he had to keep doing the same thing over and over to get the picture the way we want it.ISO and Aperture interact with one another to let light in and give us how much light we want.

ISO:Film Speed

The ISO controls the light that gets into the camera when the picture is about to be taken, it’s the film speed. When using the flash, it makes the picture very bright and shiny looking. It seem like just the flash brighten up one area which is the middle area. When using ISO flash the colors look better, the ISO flash makes the colors look simple. The ISO flash makes things lighter but it has a dim light, it doesn’t make it too bright. I rather use ISO flash rather than regular flash because it makes the picture look more realistic. A fast ISO is going to make a picture too bright, it will be hard to see or you would be able to understand the point of the picture.

Fill in Flash Experiment

When dealing with the fill in flash,the flash will go off eventho its light.We use the fill in flash to eliminate shadows.In one of my photos you can barely see me because its so dark but in the other one you can see my face,skin color and shirt a little.The flash brighten up the picture more so now you can see me.In the second set of pictures,my partner hands was in her face so you can only see it a little bit.In the fist picture you cant see her eye,nose or mouth but with the flash it gives it a lighter gray color so you can see that she wears glasses and you can now see the nose and mouth.

Metering

When dealing with metering light you have to focus on light,The light meter captures an amount of light to make a picture brighten up.If the area is dark and has a little light,you can have the camera focus on the light and when the picture snap,the light will flash on the object you're taking a picture of.In the first picture,it was dark.That picture was just supposed to be a regular picture with no light.In the second picture,it didnt come out very good but the computer was supposed to be the light we was trying to reflect the flash on.The spot metering can help us take bright pictures in dark places,if theres a little light to reflect on.

Surrealism:Mountainous Lake

There’s a girl named Elizabeth, she’s smart, focused and determined. The most important thing to her right now is her going to college and having a great future. Her parents always stressed the fact that education is important. Elizabeth is a senior in high school, she getting ready to graduate. One day after school, as Elizabeth was on her way home, she stopped by to grab the mail. She received a letter from Spellman University stating that she been accepted, Elizabeth has always wanted to go to Spellman so she was ecstatic. She immediately called her best friends Rosanna and Charlene so they can meet up at the park while she tells them the good news. At about 4:30 p.m, Rosanna, Charlene and Elizabeth met up at their favorite park, Mountainous Lake. The ladies discussed and celebrated the acceptance of Elizabeth. Rosanna stood on top of the bench and start shooting it out to everyone in the park. A couple of guys running stopped by to congratulate Elizabeth, one of the guys named Raul asked to take her out to celebrate, she excitingly accepted his offer. Raul and Elizabeth went out the next night; the two talked and laughed the whole time. Elizabeth couldn’t stop smiling the whole time they were out, Raul could tell she was enjoying his company so again he asked her out on another date and she accepted. The two begin to hang out often; Elizabeth started getting distracted from school and started focusing more on Raul. Elizabeth started having second thoughts about school. She thought maybe Raul could move to Atlanta with her so he will be closer to her, she thought maybe she could put off school until the winter, or maybe she can go straight into working after school. She tried talking to her friends but they thought she was nuts for trying to change her future just because a guy came into her life and her friends also thinks she’s changed since she start dating him. Her parents found out she was dating a guy and didn’t approve because he was Latino. Every time she goes out with him, she feels like something bad is going to happen or someone is watching them. Elizabeth has a very important decision to make; at the end of the day she’s going to do what’s best for her future. Elizabeth is going to live the dream, she always wanted to live and make her parents proud even if it involves having to break someone heart.

A better understanding of the picture and the story. I thought about the symbols and the meanings as I came up with this story. The girl in the picture is me but the story isn’t about me. When you take a look deep into the picture you will see a large body of water in the center of a park. I wanted to add that to show how the park came about so I said that the ladies met up at the park to talk and that’s where Elizabeth met Raul. Also in my dream it has water in it and one of the books I was reading said that cold water means I could be expecting good news to come about. I was accepted to the University of Kansas so I felt that was good news so I added that to a part of my story just switched it up a little bit; Instead of saying Kansas, I said Spellman. The eye ball symbol indicates that I’m suspicious of someone so I decided to say that every time Elizabeth go out with Raul she feel like someone is watching them. The picture with me covering my eyes could also say that Elizabeth isn’t ready to face the real world or the decision of having to leave Raul. A mountain in a dream indicates that a person is at a high point in their career or heading for a good career. The mountain ties into everything because if she goes to college then she has a good chance of having a good career. I’m sitting on top of the mountain so it could also mean Elizabeth is sitting on top of her career not ready to face the challenges.

Graduation Program

I think my work on the background went well, the silver and purple is our school colors so it looked good. I also liked the picture of the back of our school. I should have had soft edges on my picture of the school and I used of used something other than a pegasus on the back of the cover. Graphic design was easier than I thought it would be, if u have good ideas then you'll be fine. I think the important aspects of graphic design is to make the picture stand out more, its creates a creative feel. I don’t really have any advice, everything was laid out clearly. If students cut back on using the pegasus a lot then the programs wouldn’t look so much alike. The students need to pay attention and listen because it’s very important, everyday they have on this project they need to use their time wisely.

Academic Excellence Letter Program

I think the background came out well, the picture of our school looks nice. I could have had a different color shadow that I put over the picture. My program would of looked better if I had my quote in the middle of the program or if my quote was shorter. I struggled most with just getting an idea because I didn’t know if I wanted to use a Photoshop background or a regular picture. After I saw the picture, that’s when I came up with my idea. I think I did better on the graduation program because I was a little more creative with that program.

Effects

I like all three effects,my favorite one is the emphasis effect.The emphasis effect shows people the main point of the picture and everything else is irrelevant.The glow effect is nice because it makes a person stand out more,the glow makes it looks slighty blurry but not too much because a person could still understand the picture.The cross process effect just give the picture a little more color.The color makes the background look better.

Frames

The picture with my head coming out of the frame is better because it’s funny. In that picture I was looking like I was enjoying my time with the frame. In the other photo I was just trying to get a picture with a shadow, the picture was a little boring. I did that picture like that because I didn’t think many people would have a photo like this so that makes it artistic. This picture would have been more artistic if I would have had a different background and a different setting.

Color

I dont really like my color shots because I just hurry up and took them.I basically just rushed and took pictures,I didnt give it any thought.In the future I could be more creative with the picture and pick a better setting.If I think about my pictures more then they will come out great.

Balance:Asymetrical vs Symmetrical

Symmetrical balance is when a picture has the same thing on both sides.Asymmetrical balance is when the eyes balance out but the sides doesnt have the same things. Visual balance is important in art because It draws a person eyes to the overall picture.If a photo has alot of nice things on one side then the person wont pay much attention to the other side.

Group Collaboration

While taking these photos, I think the most challenging part was to get everyone in order. We had a little bit of time so everyone was trying to hurry up and put ideas together. At the time of taking the picture everyone just wanted to run and jump in wherever they could. I think if we had a better setting and more time the picture would have come out better. If I could do this all over again, I would make sure everyone feels comfortable with their place and I would make sure we have a point for the picture.

Artist Statement

Photo has been an interesting class this year. Its one of my favorite classes to learn something’s in. Every time a person misses a day, they will miss something interesting and fun. When I first selected this class, I was thinking like this would be an easy class. Photo isn’t easy, you would learn things you never knew existed.

One my portfolio you would find the compositional tricks of the rule of thirds, leading lines, macro, and extreme angles, cropping and I also have a contact sheets showing all the compositional tricks. I have a feature of self portraits, my interpretation of the scream photo, and a critique of Parkeharrison’s photo. You would be able to see my photoshop skills by looking at the adjustment layers, creative me, scary expressions, and haunted Chavez post. My favorite two projects would be the lyrics and social issue post. My artist statement would give you my thoughts on the class overall. My portfolio is average, I know it’s not the best but I’m not disappointed with it. I think I have progressed a lot over the months. I have never used photoshop before coming to this class so I learned a lot about that. I learned the correct meanings for camera symbols and I learn how to use them when using that feature. Out of all the projects we had, I think I was most successful with the macro and extreme angles project. I was successful with the macro project because that’s one of the projects I had patients for. I had to keep taking the photo over and over before I could get it right. When I finally did capture the shallow background, the picture looked beautiful. It was easy to see that the flower on the tree was the main point of the picture. I was successful with the extreme angles picture because my partner cooperated correctly. I think I take good photos when I’m taking pictures of a person. The angles were great and the setting of the picture went well with my partner’s position on the fence.

I struggled with the rule of thirds project. Taking a picture for the rule of thirds, you would see a grid, you have to get your main point in a far corner or anywhere but in the middle. When you look through the grid, you would be able to take a picture in the corner but when you see the picture on the computer it would be large and the main point of the picture would be out of place. I also struggled with my haunted Chavez project. I struggled with that project because my ideals didn’t go into place like I wanted them to. I think the haunted Chavez project was the most complicated project of the semester. I have improved on my photoshop skills. Before coming into photo, I didn’t know anything about photoshop. I know how to make a picture look better and I know how to design a photo. I improved on my portfolio, I like writing and I think my post is what keeps my grade good.
I could improve on paying attention more and remembering things. Sometime I forget what the teacher say when she just said it 5 minutes ago. I could improve on taking my time when I do a project sometimes I don’t have the patients for it. I think if I turn it in, at lease I get some points. It’s better to turn in a project when you feel you did a good job.

All the things I have learned in photo would help me when I take pictures. I will remember my artistic skills for school projects or any event flyers. I recommend this class to anyone that wants to master photoshop skills.

Lyrics

The Lyrics I chose for this project are Welcome Me,Adulthood by Christina Cooper.

"I have ventured
through childhood with all the wonders and dangers in it.
I have placed my childhood fantasies aside,
and picked up hopes of becoming who I want to be.
Embrace me knowledge,
I am ready to know more and add to what I know already.
I have conquered my fear of the night,
now I only fear of becoming nothing.
I have stopped pretending to be what I thought I was going to be,
and realized that I am only what I make of myself.
I have come down from the land of make-believe,
and I have found the strength to believe in me.
So when I come upon you, open your arms,
and welcome me, Adulthood,
for I am headed your way. "

I chose the lyrics by Christina Cooper because I’m on my way to adulthood. Once I graduate high school, I'm going to be in college on my own. As I'm getting older, I'm seeing new things and learning. I have to grow up and take responsibility for my actions, I have to stay away from the childish things that could get me in trouble. I believe I will grow up and live a successful life. To me the lyrics means that I have already seen everything there is to see as a child now I’m ready for the real world and experience the life of an adult. As I grow up the only fear I should have is, the fear of becoming nothing, the fear of becoming a failure. When I was young I always knew what I wanted to become now I have grew up and changed my mind. Instead of saying I want to be something, I just have to go out there and strive for the best. All the childhood memoirs is left behind, its time to set forth a new journey.

Social Issue

My social issue is about knowledge. A person wouldn’t think I was smart because of my appearance. The way I act and look doesn’t describe what I have learned or how I do in school. The issue doesn’t affect anyone around me because if you know me personally then you would know what kind of person I am. The issue doesn’t affect me, I just find the words "You’re smart?" amusing when someone ask me.
I chose the statement because a person can be smart no matter how they look, dress or act. I chose this picture because a lot of people would think someone that has bad life conditions, isn’t smart. If someone sees a poor person on the streets asking for money, they will think they are stupid because they can’t get a job. If someone is in prison people may think they’re not smart because they’re behind bars. People that has bad conditions isn’t stupid, they just chose to do the wrong things. The words "Don’t judge a book by its cover" came to my mind while doing this project.

Haunted Chavez

The Haunted Chavez projects had to be the hardest project I have done in class this year, most people may think it was easy but not for me. The project was based on idea’s, we had to make any part of our school Chavez a setting of our project. The project had to consist of all of our own ideas. We had to make sure we took all the pictures, we had to have a empathis , and the leading line was suppose to lead to the main point of the picture. The project had to deal with everything we have learned about Photoshop. Recently we learned a lot of things like how to make things in invisible and how to merge things and make them completely different, we had to use those techniques. When I first heard of the project I was excited because I thought I had proper ideas, I had already knew what I wanted to do like in the next five minutes. While I was taking the pictures my idea’s was still going good but as I got in class things just wasn’t working. When I begin to work on the photo in class things didn’t fall into place. My idea was to take a picture on the playground and have little killer babies coming for me and my partner Ashley. As I begin to work on Photoshop I ended up changing the whole picture. The way I took the picture made me think of something different. I changed it so that my partner was the one turning into some weird kind of monster and I was afraid of her. I don’t think the project would have been so difficult for me if things would of fall into place like I wanted them to. My knowledge on Photoshop is average so I don’t think that had nothing to do with the project, I was just trying to meet all the requirements. I wanted to change my whole project but when I thought of that it was already too late. The most difficult thing was to think about what you wanted to use in Photoshop to make it better, I didn’t know weather I wanted to make the babies ghost or did I want them to be a zombie. The problems I faced was should I turn it in how it is, should I try to make them a little better or just don’t turn it in at all?? I decided to make it a little better then turn it in how it is. I was trying to get help on how could I make my picture better but it was not our teacher assignment it was mine so if she would of gave me a lot of ideas then it would have been like she done the whole thing for me. She did help me with something’s and I thank her for that. Only thing I really think I did well was take the picture, my Photoshop extras in the picture wouldn’t have made a big difference. Overall, I think the project was difficult but great at the same time. Some people got really creative on theirs and it was nice to see what they came up with.

Critique:Parkeharrison's "Guardian"

Standing in a tall skinny tree, holds a dangerous crazy business man, looking down at the ground while he’s thinking about jumping.His feet tangled while his arms out wide.He looks like he’s tired of life and cant take it no more.The guy is clearly the emphasis.After noticing the guy hanging,you'll see the branches thats holding him up.A raspy wind of dust block out the background with sharp tree branches laying below.The picture has a great illustration of a man in a very sad weakened emotion.

Scary Expressions

The zombie picture was my favorite picture to create.This picture looks like a person in a nasty place,the black-greenish background make it look like the place smells weird.It look like the zombie just ate someone or something,you could see the objects blood running down.By looking at the hair you could see that the zombie had a wild night and it looks like she's ready to attack the next thing she see.If I seen a person like this in real life I would run and scream HELLLLLLLLLLP!!!

This picture looks like it was taking in the evening time close to the mountains. The setting would be a very scary place to be, you’re already in a graveyard while its almost night time and you have spirits behind you .I’m pretty sure if a person that has spirits behind them will hear raspy laughs, low whispers, and feel wind blowing. I would never want to be in a place like this because you could easily get locked in so where would you go??? Either just get torched by the ghost or run and jump off a mountain...either way you're going to DIE!!!!