From the city to the country

 

I've been doing photography on the side for quite some time now. I absolutely love doing senior sessions because it allows me to portray each individual's personality. So let me tell you all about my shoot from this past weekend!

 

Saturday was a perfect day for photos!

 

This girl is a HUGE Cardinals fan (who isn't?) so we met at Busch Stadium, of course. I'm clearly such a great driver and managed to take the scenic route over the bridge and into Illinois since I missed my exit off Hwy 40.... whoops! At least I was still on time!

 

After our time in the city, we stopped by this area I found recently that has multiple barns so we could show off her country side! Barns, hay, leaves, and cowgirl boots. Perfect!

 

   I am soooo glad she was willing to get a little dirty and throw around some hay because I love the shot above!!

 

 

Overall, it was a fun experience, and I am glad she and her mom liked her preview so far!!

 

Uncommon Places by Stephen Shore

Stephen Shore's book called "Uncommon Places" is filled with such spontaneous photos.







They are all so different and unique, but yet the same in the sense that they are of places and experiences that not every one may be seeing at that exact time or place, but that they have seen before at one point or another.

http://aperture.org/shop/uncommon-places

Robert Capa

We did our artist presentations today in class. Our group did Sally Mann while the other group did Robert Capa. I was not familiar with Robert Capa prior to this presentation, and it was really interesting to learn about this photographer that was new to me.

Robert Capa was a famous war photographer who shot in black and white film. He actually died while taking photos of a war in 1954.

This was one of the main photographs talked about in the presentation. Robert Capa captured this picture of a man falling after being shot in war. It's such a unique photograph because, unlike with other photos, you cannot redo this image. You either get it or you don't. 

This photo wasn't in the presentation, but I really liked it when I was researching Robert Capa myself. Everyone is dressed the same in such thick and heavy material while running through water which would be awful to do because everything would weigh you down. Robert Capa did a great job capturing this photograph of the soldiers. 

Sally Mann

Sally Mann is a very interesting photographer. A lot of her work done in the early years of her career seem to have been influenced by her father's work. Her father, a doctor, used to photograph her in the nude. Sally Mann also spent a lot of time photographing her own children.

In her book titled "Immediate Family," Sally writes that “many of these pictures are intimate, but most are of ordinary things every mother has seen. I take pictures when they are bloodied or sick or naked or angry.” This made me feel like she was photographing them in their most vulnerable moments. Kids are so pure and honest, and I think that her photographs of her own children in that specific book definitely portray their innocence.

National Geographic

For whatever reason, I have always loved the pictures National Geographic posts. Maybe it's because I love photography, or because I love traveling, or maybe it's because they are just down right amazing a lot of the time. I think it would be amazing to not only be able to see all of the unique places they go to but to be able to photograph and share those experiences with those who may not be able to do so themselves.

Here are just a few of the photos I've seen that were great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View more incredible photos at: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/

 

 

Ferguson

The photos below feature some of the most unique signs I've seen across the media.

 

This kid should be in school not protesting on the streets.

Photo by Jimmy Bernhard, KSDK

 



There will never be any peace if we don't stop the violence.

Photo by Scott Olson, KSDK

 

What happens if we find out Mike was the guilty one?

Photo by Scott Olson, KSDK

 

The officer would have acted the same way regardless of skin color.

Photo by Scott Olson, KSDK

 

The attention Ferguson is getting on the media.

 

 

I think that these photos could all be arranged in a circle. Without people protesting, there would be nothing for the media to report on. Once the protestors see they are getting the attention they want, they will continue to protest with the hopes of being featured on TV, the Internet, and other forms of social media. It's a chain, and until someone breaks it by ending the violence, it's going to continue going.

The Ferguson Frenzy

We all have seen and heard about the recent events that have taken place in Ferguson, MO. This city seems so far away from those who live in the suburbs, like myself, but they are actually much closer to us than one may think.

I find it interesting how those who have been rioting, looting, and destroying the city of Ferguson are also some of the people who are saying there needs to be an end to police brutality. It is hard for me to understand how those who committing such acts of violence can expect police to NOT step in. Breaking into stores, such as QT, and stealing their merchandise and setting the store on fire is a crime. Assaulting officers is a crime. Shooting innocent people is a crime. So tell me again, how is the police's involvement in Ferguson being viewed as "police brutality" to some? If people in Ferguson weren't acting out violently then there would be no reason for the police to even be involved. Do people really think police officers are wanting to face the protests and riots for their own pleasure? Do people really think the officers want to potentially risk their own lives to the hate and violence that is going on in Ferguson at night? The police are trying to END the violence and PROTECT the innocent.

With that being said, there are people who are protesting peacefully, and bravo to those people because that is a step towards the justice they may feel they deserve. Violence is not, and never will be, the answer to our problems. It saddens me to see the media showing pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. related to this event because his protests were not like this one has been. His had a purpose to help the people as a whole.

The protests in Ferguson are about one man: Michael Brown. Did the people protesting even know Mike? Do they really CARE about this man who died? Personally, I don't think a majority even knew him. I think they think that protesting about this one particular shooting will benefit themselves personally. I think they think they know the whole story when they don't. I think they need to calm down, stop the violence, let the investigations continue, and allow the facts arise.

What happens if the facts show that the officer really did kill Mike in cold blood? Will the violence continue in Ferguson? Will the chaos end once an officer is behind bars? What happens if the facts show that Mike Brown really was assaulting the officer who shot him? Will the protests and violence continue? Will it stop? Will people think they resorted to violence to defend a man who was guilty?

Everyone needs to take a few steps back for a minute and reevaluate the reasons why they are getting involved with this situation. They need to make sure they are being respectful members of society while protesting whatever they are protesting. They also need to know what they are protesting.

Stop the violence. Promote protest for peace.