Photo Essay Idea

The few ideas I have had up to this point are vague at best, I was thinking of shooting at the unemployment department in Corvallis or even in Portland. I would think that this would be a very pertinent focus for our times.

Live Music Critique

Another critique, this time we are going to take a look at this pic. Again it comes from Flickr, and it just happened to catch my eye, this is a picture of the lead singer of a band named Infantry. I have to assume that the photographer focused on the mic in this picture as it is the part of the photo that is most in focus. We can almost feel the texture of it, whereas the background is completely out of focus, there is even a portion of the singers head that is out of focus. This looks like the photographer used zone focusing to capture a specific moment in the action on stage. The lighting I am assuming is all natural, which makes shooting in outdoor festivals like this one a special treat.

Empty Chair Critique

While browsing through Flickr the other day I ran across this pic. The picture itself might be boring for some but I think the idea of why the chair is empty, or who may have sat in it only a few seconds before, were what made it intriguing. The textures that cover this picture draw the eye all over, and they are so clear that you can almost feel them. The lighting is brilliant and shadows are almost non-existent, they seem to only enliven the textures and darken the picture as a whole to make everything seem very grungy. I have to admit that each time I look at the picture my eye keeps getting drawn to the pillar in the corner next to the door, it looks like it is made of pure gold and there seems to be a candle at its base. All in all a great photo, looks to be professionally done with some very good equipment.

My Neighborhood

I think we'll start with a picture taken from my back door, fall is all around us here in Corvallis and this tree was too brilliant on a dreary day to not photograph.

This is a very lovely, though small, park in my neighborhood. Franklin Square is also the first park in the city of Corvallis according to a plaque that was placed on one of its benches.

Last but not least, one of the biggest landmarks in my neighborhood is Corvallis High School, home of the Spartans. This is a very prominent sign near both the baseball stadium and the football field.

Quiz photo

This is a mug shot of a good friend of mine Wil Vaughn, Wil is also an amazing musician, and today we get to see him at his surliest.

Environmental Portrait Assignment

Fry Road Nursery employee Tamara Davidson sits among the flowers that are her business.

Mug Shot Assignment

Paul Wright and his trademark grin.

News Photo

While out in Minnesota I was tipped off to a recent tragedy. A mother and her two small children driving home from visiting relatives drove off of Net Lake Road and into Net lake, none survived and the small community of Strawberry Lake, Minnesota was devastated. The cause of the accident is as of yet unknown, but an investigation is "underway" say local authorities. This is one of many accidents that happen on the treacherous roads in and around White Earth Reservation. Pictured in the photo is local resident Tamara Davidson whom lives not far from the scene of the crash and has "been witness to far too many accidents of this kind."

Assignment #1

As advertised my first photo for class, not very pretty but I am learning. This is Andrew Bowder doing his part at our local campus coffee shop.

My First Blog Post

Well...not actually, I have started a photojournalism class this term and this is where the products of that class will be revealed. Nothing too fancy just some campus photos for the first assignment though keep an eye on this space for some Pulitzer prize winning material in the near future...

Laid Back and Easygoing

I used to tell everyone I knew that, when it came to life, one day at a time was the way to play it. I would never worry about what came next because if it wasn't in front of me it didn't have to do with me. For all intents and purposes my outward exterior exuded that very vibe. Still does for the most part, but I am starting to feel a fray at the edges, big questions and future prospects are charging straight at me and they demand answers. I don't know what to tell them, I wish I did. I wish in some very simple part of my being that I was just like my brother, who knew that he wanted to be a chef before spending one minute in college, then got married had a kid bought a house and a car, figured out his whole life without taking a breath. And for about two seconds that was me, the plan was solid and unshakable, I'm not sure what happened, let's just call it a divergence. The result of which is me at 26 not having a fucking clue where I'm going to be at 46 or even 36. Yes, I hear the voices saying "Don't worry it's all going to work out, you have a ton of support and you will never falter...your too good/smart/adjective". But I also hear the voice that says "YOU ARE A FAILURE AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING, JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER!" I see college as a first step as do most people, but it's also a step that should have been completed by now. I also find myself faltering mid-stride wondering if I'm going to set my foot in quicksand, or on solid ground, and for the most part I like to tell myself that I don't care, but I do because others do, and if there's one credo with which I have lived most my life it's to make others happy.

Look, I know I'm not unique in any of this but I have to say it because otherwise I think there is a part of me that won't see it. I guess I'll just have to see what happens and hope that my best is good enough.