My First Interview

I interviewed Jonah Warner
Do you feel like you deserve student of the month?

Yes, Because not many guys get nominated student of the month.
What motivates you to be successful?

Knowing I'll be successful motivates me.
What are your hobbies?

BMX, motorcross, the outdoors.
What is your favorite class in school?

Lunch. Or my off period because I can study.
What extra curricular activities do you have if any?

BMX and going to Housepark downtown.
How do you prepare for a big test?

I study hard, look at paper.
What do you want to be when you are older?

Professional Biker.
How would your friends describe you?

They would describe me as energetic.
What is your favorite fruit?

Apples, because they make you smarter.
What is your method of transportation to school?

My car. It is a Honda.
Who or what inspires you to succeed?

Bill Gates inspires me daily.
How does it feel to be student of the month?

Feels great, takes the weight off my shoulders.
Do you know why you were chosen for student of the month?

Yes, because I am the smartest.
What are your goals for the future? 

To become the smartest person in the world like Bill Gates.
What is your favorite television show?

Agents Of Shield.
What is your favorite book?

I don't read. Reading is for dumb people. Why read when you can study?
What is you favorite subject in school?

U.S history because it is interesting.
Do you plan to go to college?

Yes, Texas University.
If you could say something to your younger self what would it be?

"Do your homework."
What are your weaknesses and your strengths?

No weaknesses. My strength is studying. 

School uniforms

Topic: School Uniforms

The school board has decided to create a district wide policy of enforcing school uniforms. Who would you need to interview to find out more information about this topic? What are some good questions to ask? (This is theoretical)

1. List three different sources you could interview for this topic.
You could interview a teacher or member of the school board (Mr. Reeves), a student pro school uniforms (Jasmine), and a student against the idea (Bianca).

2. Create 20 questions you could ask each source and post them on your blog. It will be the same 20 questions for each, so you only have to think of 20 total questions.

• How do you feel about the school uniforms?
• Would the school enforcing school uniforms affect you personally?
• If you could design your own school uniform what would it look like?
• What do you psychically not like or like about the uniforms the school board has proposed?
• Do you know the number of uniforms students would receive?
• How much would new uniforms cost?
• Would having new uniforms effect your learning? 
• Do you know is the uniforms are casual or formal?
• If you have tried on the uniforms, are they comfortable?
• Do you feel school uniforms take away student's self expression?
• Would the uniforms have the school colors on them?
• How do you think others in the school will react to the new uniforms? 
• What do you feel would be a better for the schools: enforcing dress code or uniforms?
• What material are the uniforms made of?
• Do you think enforcing school uniforms would prevent gangs? 
• Would having uniforms distract you from teaching/learning?
• Would every school in the district have the same uniforms?
• Would certain shoes be apart of the school uniform?
• Do you feel personally that students dress inappropriately without the uniforms?
• Would having uniforms misrepresent you?

Architecture Shoot

Light  

Angles

Details

Shapes

Surroundings 

Patterns 

Patterns

Details

Portfolio Analysis how judges pick winning portfolios and sports photos

a. Name of photographer -Alyssa Schukar
b. General focus of portfolio (photoj, sports, stories, etc.)- An eating disorder.
c. List three problems that the judges noted with the portfolio - The pictures felt the same, not enough strong symbols were shown, pictures were captured from a far away distance. 
d. List two things the judges like- They liked the background with the man in Haiti and the photograph of the fallen track star. 
e. What is your overall impression of the photographer? What did you like or not like?
Overall, I liked the photographer's photos. I did not get a feel of her style very well, and her collection seemed to have a couple photos that felt out of place to me. This collection needed a common theme in every photo. A positive, was I liked the locations and the composition of all of her photographs.

a. Name of photographer - Nick Adams 
b. General focus of portfolio (photoj, sports, stories, etc.)- Humans in action
c. List three problems that the judges noted with the portfolio - The centering was off, photos badly cropped, too many kids, and composition was tight.
d. List two things the judges like- The subjects of the photos and the originality of some images.
e. What is your overall impression of the photographer? What did you like or not like?
I actually really liked this person's photos. I loved how he candidly captured his subjects. I felt like all the pictures told stories about their subjects. I feel like the photographer could do a better job on composition, but overall I enjoyed his collection.

a. Name of photographer - Jordan Murph
b. General focus of portfolio (photoj, sports, stories, etc.)- sports 
c. List three problems that the judges noted with the portfolio - unoriginal, lighting lacked later on, photos became boring, posed pictures.
d. List two things the judges like- colors and the composition. 
e. What is your overall impression of the photographer? What did you like or not like?
I liked the first group of photos in the portfolio, the other ones were a little bit boring. The photographer has mastered capturing action and his composition is really good. 

a. What did the judges note as strengths as they were critiquing it? they liked the angle, action occurring, creativity, and how the photographer was in with the action.
b. What do you see as strengths? Do you see any weaknesses? I think the angles the photographer used to capture his sports images was excellent. Also his subject material was interesting and the colors were nice. I guess  personally the blur was strange in some places in some of his photos, but overall this photographer's photos were really good.


Watch the contest recap video at the very bottom.

a. Briefly describe the process the judges went through in deciding the winner.
The judges wen through the process of judging the subject matter, while also taking account of the composition and rules of photography present in the images. They look for originality and photos that tell a story,

1. Describe one photo that you agree with the judges on. Explain why you and the judges do or do not like it.
I agreed that the photo with the swimmers was nicely shot.
2. Describe one photo that you do NOT agree with the judges on. Explain why you think the judges are wrong. I did not agree with the judge's criticism on the photographs with the kids as the subjects.

Architecture Preview

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? Matti Suuronen.
2. When was it built? Construction started 1978.
3. Where is it located? Sanzhi district, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it? No because the UFO houses have been demolished.
5. Is there information on how much it cost to build? From what I've found there is no information on how much it costs to build.
6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself? These houses were built to be futuristic vacation homes for U.S military officers coming from their East Asian posts.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question) 
I chose to research these building because I thought the name UFO was interesting. The creepy futuristic run-down buildings make me think of the future and the past. I was intrigued by the shape of the structure as well as the faded colors.  

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? Many of Kansas's best architects designed and built this building.
2. When was it built? The library was established in 1873.
3. Where is it located? Central Library, Kansas City, Missouri.
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it? Yes, this building is open to the public to check out books.
5. Is there information on how much it cost to build? It does not mention. 
6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself? The building was made for checking out books, and is one of the oldest and third largest public library system in the metropolitan Kansas city area.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
I picked this building because I like libraries, and I wanted to see what was special about this one. I can see now that the huge books on the side walls of the library really make this a great building architecture wise. The book titles are classics that people can recognize easily, are bold and colorful. I would definitely check out books and take pictures of this building if given the chance.

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? Javier Semosiain.
2. When was it built? Construction started in 2006.
3. Where is it located?Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico.
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it? Yes, people can visit this stunning building. 
5. Is there information on how much it cost to build? I don't know if this is how much it costed to build, but the price of the house is 218,000 dollars.
6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself? This ambitious building was created to look like a nautilus seashell. The house was created to inspire people about history, nature, and culture, all through nature.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
I picked this building because I've heard of it before, and I was interested to see what it would look like. This building uses stunning stained glass to create the windows and the seashell overall. Websites I browsed through didn't really mention whether or not this house is in use. Either way it is a major agricultural accomplishment. 

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? This building was built by Santiago Calatrava.
2. When was it built? The building was completed on August 27, 2005.
3. Where is it located? This building is located in Malmo Sweden. 
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it? A person can only visit this building on scheduled days.
5. Is there information on how much it cost to build? There is no information that I found about how much the tower costed to build.
6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself? The building was created for apartments, housing in Sweden.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question)
I picked The Turning Torso to research because of the funny name. The name is accurate, because the building is shaped with twisting pentagons, looking like a turning torso. I think it would be interesting to see what the residents of these apartments feel about living in the tallest twisting building in Sweden.

1. Who is the architect (the person who built it)? Does not mention the architect.
2. When was it built? This structure was completed in 1974.
3. Where is it located? Northern Portugal. 
4. Is it a private building or can you visit it? Yes, you can visit this building.
5. Is there information on how much it cost to build?
6. Is there a reason the building was created or the history of the building itself? It was initially supposed to be a holiday home, but is currently a small museum of Portugal history.
7. Why did you pick this building? (write at least a paragraph on this question) 
I picked this rock structure because the idea of a house made out of boulders appealed to me. This house architecturally confuses and amazes me. It makes me wonder how this was built.

Action Shoot

Subject Running Across the Plane

Panning

Blur 

Subject Running Directly

Sensory Overload

"I believe that more and more, we are defining our environments not as the spaces themselves, in terms of the buildings or architecture, but rather by the objects and devices that we buy and surround ourselves with. ... I would like that message to carry through universally," Seymour said.

What do you think about this statement? I think this statement is true, because the objects create the environment. Do you agree or disagree?
As an aspiring photographer how does this make you feel about your photography?
These pictures made me feel a bit overwhelmed because of the crazy and colorful environment. My photographs seem bland in comparison to the ones I saw.
2. When you looked through the images, did you want to visit this place and take your camera?
I think personally, interesting subjects and places inspire me to take photographs. So I would definitely be willing to take a camera and visit the places shown in the photographs.
3. What do you think it would be like to be the child of someone who worked at this place?
I think as a child in the places, I would feel really overwhelmed and claustrophobic. Simplicity helps me think straight and I would feel lost without it. But the Crazy colors are cool and I would enjoy visiting.
4. Describe your favorite photo to me.

I agree.
My favorite photo from the series would have to be the one with the young girl surrounded by what I can't tell are fake or real flowers. I particularly liked this photo because of all the extreme colors and how the girl's desk was in the middle of it all. It made me think about my desk in comparison, and how someone could work in such a chaotic place.

Terrors Of Growing Up (absent)

       (please Do submit if good enough)