Principles of Design

"Balance" - the symmetry of the structural elements and the many horizontal lines make the photo feel very balanced despite the slightly noisy and unbalanced background.

"Movement" - The walkways and stairs in the photo give a direction for the eyes to move, along with the angled lines heading off into the distance. All the lines point towards the building in the center, which draws the eyes to it when starting at the bottom left or at the distant end of the E wing.

"Repetition" - The tables, the repeated pattern, create a sense of calm rather than pure form as pattern normally gives. The imbalance of bags on the left side help give the photo a more active feel.

"Pattern" - The square tile motif is repeated here, with the lighting and the drain as breaking effects to make the photo appear less plain.

"Emphasis" - Although not part of the building, the architect planned out this section, and placing a tree in the middle of an open field without bushes, against a red-white background, gives the tree a lot of emphasis as the one tall green object against a background of tan buildings.

"Proportion" - The positioning of the sinks relative to one another, and the high placement of the fire alarm, give the structure a sense of proportion in relation to the human body and its typical height.

"Variety" - The architect's use of organic and inorganic objects in designing this area not only give a variety in shapes and form, but also in the lighting, both natural and artificial.

"Rhythm" - The repeated use of square/rectangular shapes along the wall and in the foreground objects move the viewer towards the left at a "regular" pace, when first viewed from the right. The repeated forms act like commas in a sentence, causing the viewer to pause at each object for a split second, rather than just skim over.

"Unity" - The organic and inorganic structures complement each other, giving the entire scene a good balance between rounded and rough flora and smooth and linear buildings. Instead of fighting each other for space, the two kinds of forms complement each other, adding warmth and cold to each other.

Shutter Speed & Other

1. Fast shutter speed - The moving trucks on the right aren't blurry. The picture is overall not very bright, another indication of fast shutter speed.
2. Rule of Thirds
3. Space - There's space between the objects, enforced by the divider
4. Emphasis - The overturned truck is the only major horizontal line in the photo

Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec

F-Stop: 1/5

ISO: 400

Motion Photography

Taking pictures of Mr. Farley's son, Mason, running alongside Michael!

Original:

Edited: 

Lens Blog: Documenting the Blues in the Mississippi Delta

"T-Model Ford and Gentle"

I picked this image for the family emotions it displayed, bringing a kind of unity to the scene. The general condition of all the components of the picture (father, son, trailer, bucket, chair, background building) all have a rustic quality to them, another unifying quality. The happy demeanor of both characters stand out and mirror each other - both in position and feeling.

Half Past Autumn Part 3 and 4

1. What is your definition of successful?
1. Being both self-sufficient and satisfied, if not happy, with one's social and financial standing.
2. What have you given up to become successful?
1. I had to give up my previous grade-school friends when my family moved to Fremont to attend this school (chosen for its high success rate of its students)
3. What did Parks give up to become successful?
1. He gave up his family life for his work.
4. Who was Genevieve Young's father?
1. Claurence Kuangson Young
5. How much was Parks advanced to write his first book (and eventual best-selling autobiography)?
1. $10,000
6. How much money did Elijah Muhammad offer Parks to do a story on The Nation of Islam?
1. Elijah Muhammad offered Parks half a million dollars
7. Why did Parks refuse the money?
1. He didn't believe he could do a good job - their thoughts didn't align, and he would have to be influenced by Muhammad.
8. What was significant about the movie The Learning Tree?
1. First movie directed by a black director
9. What was significant about the character Shaft?
1. He was a black hero - the first of its kind.
10. What reason did Genevieve Young give for the divorce?
1. sudden divorce - "it was like living in a washing machine" => never knew what was going to happen day to day
11. In 1984, Parks directed Solomon Northrup's Odyssey. What recent feature film told the same story?
1. 12 Years a Slave
12. Who was Gordon Parks, Jr?
1. Very good film maker - directed Super Fly. Died at 44, plane crash
13. What is your favorite Gordon Parks photo?
1. Toward Infinity, 1995
14. What will you remember about Gordon Parks in ten years?
1. He was an enormously successful black photographer, author, and filmmaker while still having a strong moral character despite personal issues. He took the picture American Gothic, and directed Shaft.

Elements of Art - Line, Shape, Form, Space, Color, Texture

Following the definitions from Getty.edu's "Elements of Art", I took pictures that exemplify each artistic element:  Line, Shape, Form, Space, Color, and Texture.

Line

Color

Form

Shape

Texture

Space

Half Past Autumn: Movie Notes #1 and #2

1. On the day Gordon Parks was born, how did the doctor save Gordon's life?
1. He put Gordon in an ice bath, and Gordon soon started crying afterwards.
2. Where was Gordon born? (what state?)
1. Kansas
3. What did Gordon's college adviser, Ms. McClintock tell him about college?
1. He was told it would be pointless and a waste of money - "you'll end up as a porter"
4. How old was Gordon when his mother died?
1. 14 to 15
5. Where did Gordon move after his father die?
1. His sister's household, in Minnesota
6. Did Gordon graduate from college?
1. Yes, much later in life.
7. How did Gordon begin his fashion photography career?
1. He walked into a big-name fashion studio and asked for an opportunity. He was given it.
8. What is a "double exposure?"
1. Overexposed; the images came out too bright
9. Who was boxer Joe Louis?
1. He was a heavyweight boxing champion, whose wife Martha Louis suggested to Gordon to move to Chicago after seeing his fashion photography.
10. What instrument did Gordon play?
1. Piano
11. What was the purpose of the Farm Security Agency?
1. Educate Americans on the American public's state.
12. When Roy Stryker hired Gordon for the FSA, what was Stryker's first assignment for Gordon in Washington, D.C.?
1. Go around and visit three places and ask for service: a top coat, a seat at a restaurant, and a movie ticket. At all three he was turned down or stopped at the door.
13. Who was Ella Watson?
1. She was the janitor in Gordon Park's "American Gothic"
14. What was the inspiration for Grant Wood's American Gothic?
1. Gordon Park's photo "American Gothic," of Ella Watson was inspired by Grant Wood's painting titled with the same name. Grant Wood's painting was inspired by Carpenter Gothic architecture and Flemish Renaissance styles.
15. What did Gordon learn from Stryker about photography?
1. He learned how to approach people and take a photograph that was true to the people depicted.
16. When did the FSA shut down?
1. 
   
17. After Gordon moved to New York, what magazine did he shoot for?
1. 
   
18. Who was the picture editor of Life Magazine when Gordon walked into the Life Magazine office?
1. 
   
19. What was the first major story Parks covered for Life Magazine?
1. 
   
20. Who were some of the artists that Gordon Parks mentioned influenced his work after he moved to the Paris Life Magazine bureau? 
1. 
   
21. How did Parks shoot fashion when he lived in France?
1. 
   
22. Where was Parks' concerto performed?
1. 
   
23. Who was Parks' second wife? (Who was her father? What did she do?)
1. 
   
24. How old was Flavio de Silva when Parks met him?
1. 
   
25. When did Parks meet Flavio?
1. 
   
26. Where did Flavio live when Parks first met Flavio and his family?
1. 
   
27. Who is Gloria Vanderbilt? Who is her famous son? Who are her ancestors?
1. She is 
28. How did Vanderbilt describe their relationship?
1.