Contrast and Balance lab assignments

Contrast

The following images are photos I took a few years ago that I feel fall into the categories of contrast and balance.



This first image was taken with a 35 mm camera with black and white film. The first noticeable principle is the texture. It is easy to see the texture in the fur and whiskers of the cat. The audience can see the cat's face since there is a narrow depth of field, which makes it easy to see the shape of the facial features. I don't feel I did a good job with the position of the face. Maybe if it was shot with the rule of thirds in mind it would have turned out more interesting. Another aspect created by the shallow depth of field is shadow. The audience can see the shadow along the eyelids, the natural shadowing of the pattern in the fur, and also the shadowing underneath the chin and face from taking the photo from above. I couldn't determine any psychological, cultural or social contrasts of this image.

Balance



The second image was also taken on a 35 mm camera with black and white film, and displays balance and contrast in a very organic way. The position of the shot follows the rule of thirds better than the first image. I felt my eyes were drawn from the bottom of the shot and follow the natural curve of the shore. What I really like about this photo is everything in the shot is a complete organic shape. Nothing is the same size, shape or texture as anything else. This is a very asymmetrical shot, and what I like is it creates a vertical (and almost a 90 degree angle) by looking straight forward. If I would have shot this facing the water, it wouldn't have had as much impact as it did from taking the frame at this angle.

New classes with a touch of Club Rush

The spring semester has officially started so let the stress begin!

My schedule has been really hectic this week, bouncing back and forth trying to get into the new rhythm of my life. However, I have had a few chances this week to enjoy the ride and take a chance to branch out.

First, I have come to the realization that, yes, this is it. This is THE final semester. No more jokes, no more procrastination, just good ol' nose to the grindstone. You know, I never understood that saying. It's more like getting a weary mind to the textbook.

Second, I got a chance to meet students at Club Rush. I was really surprised to see how many outgoing students we have on campus. As one who's always been worried about self-image, I had a chance to realize it's OK to just let go and dance every once in a while. Here are a few photos of Dixie Sun staff members and some students on campus at the Diagnol at Club Rush.

Christmas Day photos

Roxie kept eyeballing the turkey, and was waiting for Taylor to drop a piece in her direction. She kept licking her lips. Haha.



Roxie wanted to make sure no one forgot about her on Christmas.



Part of dinner.



Taylor completely mutilated the turkey. LOL. I can't give him too hard of a time because it was his first time carving a turkey, and he did it to help me out.





He kept asking me not to take photos. That's just like telling a child not to eat candy. It just wasn't going to happen.

Supposedly, it's the happiest time of the year, but...

With the holidays comes good cheer; well, at least that's how it's supposed to work. It never fails to shock me how the marketing of Christmas and holidays can make people go crazy! I'm not talking about cute crazy where it's like, OK I can understand where he/she is coming from. No, I'm talking about the OMG what in the heck is going on with that woman over there!

I recently went to my local Old Navy to switch out a product I had just bought. I was standing in line, which happened to be rather large since it's two days after Christmas. The cashier did exactly what she is supposed to do, in my opinion. She was pleasant (despite the amount of unhappy customers complaining about their recent Christmas woes). She called up an additional cashier over her radio, and the second cashier came up. The second cashier said the all-time famous phrase: "I can help the next person over here." Just as the Earth orbits the sun, the third person in line runs to the newly opened register like a shotgun went off at the start of a race. As a cashier, myself, I really could care less because I know how uncomfortable it is to point out the frustration. The amazing part wasn't the woman sprinting for the register, rather, it was the woman who was actually next in line that started swearing up a storm! I couldn't believe the words and phrases coming out of this woman's mouth as she vented to every customer in line. She was making a point to make sure the register thief could hear her. Then, on top of that, she starts yelling at the clerk.

"If I was in your spot, I would have yelled at her to get back in line because she's really not the 'next' person," the woman yelled. Well, lady, let's face it: you're not the one behind the register. Any cashier will tell you that unfortunately, it is more customer service friendly to not point out the rude gesture. Also, it is not only very uncomfortable to have you yelling at us, but it is just as rude to do what you're doing as it was to steal the spot in line.

I have a very short fuse when it comes to people telling me how to do my job. I've been a cashier for over eight years, and not a day goes by that someone has the ingenious answer to fix all of my apparent shortcomings. If people would just take a second to say thank you instead of yelling at the clerk, since that seems to be the convenient thing to do, then it would be a happier season. Please realize we aren't paid enough to deal with it.

My kids

I'm blessed every day to come home to my loving husband and my two kids. These two girls keep my life entertaining, and they always seem to remind me how humorous life is. Here's a few pictures so you can share in the laughs.


My oldest baby girl, Callie. I raised her since she was itty bitty. :)




My youngest baby girl, Roxie. She was Taylor's wedding gift.




I bought her a jacket before she went to the groomers.




She really does have the Royal Attitude, just like the jacket said. :)




She finally got groomed! I love how she sticks all her legs straight out.




These two hardly ever get along, but they do take a very cute picture together.




My mom bought her a hoodie. I know it's kind of a guy-ish one, but she looks super cute in it either way.

2 down, 1 to go

I've found the perfect remedy for those boring nights since all the season finales are starting to add up: actually studying for my finals. :)

I'm excited to say that I have successfully completed two different finals, and I just have one more to go...Even though I feel like I might go crazy if I cram anything else into my head. You know that point where your eyes start to water, your head starts to ache, and all the words start to blur on the page? That's where I'm at. And I still have a 250 question final. (That's the only time I can truly say I'm glad it's on a scantron and not short answer.)

In the end I am keeping my head up. After all, it is just Monday.

Dixie Sun newspaper white elephant party

It never fails to impress me at the end of the semester when I see the camaraderie and professionalism of the campus newspaper. I've served on staff for five years now and I've loved every minute of it.

At the end of the semester we always have an end-of-the-semester white elephant party. Everyone gets gifts to give during this 'generous' occasion. Every year it seems to get worse and worse. Let's just say a few of us veteran staffers have an agenda to out-do the other every semester. There seems to be a general theme.

Despite the embarrassment and humiliation, everyone bands together and has a good time. You never have to worry about what one person is going to think of you because you've worked hard right next to that person all semester. You've shared good times and bad. You've learned the real reason of why they're called "dead"-lines. And you've gotten a few steps closer to realizing your full potential. I wouldn't change any of the five years if I had the choice.

The great thing about Dixie State College is that I've had the opportunity to work with these great students and staff. At any other university, it wouldn't be surprising if you stayed as a staff member and never had the opportunity to move up. As a high school senior I was drafted on as a volunteer staff writer, hired as the opinion editor my freshman year at DSC, was editor-in-chief my sophomore and junior year, and also ran the online newspaper for a year and a half. Who can really go out into the field after graduation and have that on their resume? Not many people.

I also never thought I would stay at DSC. I was wrong! All I heard my senior year of high school was DSC is a bad school. You don't get as good an education at DSC. No one ever stays in St. George after graduating in Washington County. Well, I have to say I disagree with every one of those statements. Sure, DSC is a smaller school compared to most, but that's the benefit of it. DSC's marketing always uses the phrase: "Best education under the sun." That's because you can actually get counted as a person, and not a number, at DSC. Plus the teachers actually know your name...well, most of them. :)

Overall, I've had a great experience. Now I have no clue what I'm going to do after I graduate. I don't think I'll ever leave.