Landscape & Nature Assignment

11-13-12
St. Helens dock
ISO 400, Aperture F 4.5, SS 1/125

This photo was actually a very small part of a much larger picture
I took. It didn't seem very special when I had it in color, because the colors
weren't very diverse or eye catching. Turning it to black and white was my
last attempt at making it work, and it turned out well.

11-3-12
St. Helens Dock
ISO 200, Aperture F 5.6, SS 1/125


I really love this photo, but I am worried that the boat would distract some from the
rest of the picture.

11-3-12
St. Helen's Dock
ISO 400, Aperture F 4.5, SS 1/500

 The colors in this are really vibrant, but there are some things that might be
considered distracting.                                                                 

12-9-12
Scappoose Creek
ISO 400,  Aperture F 4.5 SS 1/250

I like how it is very clear at the bottom,  and gets blurry as it goes up.

11-3-12
St. Helens Dock
ISO 800, Aperture F 5.6, SS 1/320

This is my favorite photo. I had a really hard time with
it because it kept mysteriously changing back to original settings
and I didn't know if I was over exposing it or if it was fine.

12-9-12
Near Scappoose Creek
ISO 1600, Aperture F /18, SS 1/5

The tree in this picture is so beautiful and mysterious looking to me
that I had to use it in my project. Risking the chance that it wouldn't be
considered "nature and landscape".

12-9-12
Scappoose Creek
ISO 1600, Aperture F /10, SS 1/10

The Scappoose creek is so pretty in some places, and
I wondered if this counted as reflection, but there is some in the
stump so I say it counts.

11-3-12
St. Helens Dock

I came in after school to finish this blog post, and when I went to
lightroom so I could write my ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed.
But when I tried to open it up, none of my pictures were there!
I don't know what to do about it but that is my dilema. 

11-3-12
St. Helens Dock

I had the same problem here as with my last photo,
but at least I got a picture of some really pretty trees.

The Weekend

 

The moment when you realize someone is in danger is the moment to act. It's not the time to hesitate or tell someone else to go. It is your responsibility to do everything you can to save them.

For lifeguards, this moment is limited to 20 seconds. Once we see that someone needs us it is our job to react, in that short 20 seconds we must get to them and start to do what we can to help them. What we have trained to do.

We know that at any moment this could be required of us, and any good lifeguard is constantly searching the water and land for any threat to the patrons in our care. With this thought in mind, I hope you can understand why we take offense when people say that we are "only sitting" and "not doing anything". We are constantly working on our skills and many of us go through rescues in our mind while on the stand, so that when you need us we will be able to help you in the best way we can.

This weekend I was put in multiple high-stress situations with people that were covered in blood, or could not breath due to a lung dysfunction or over exertion. It's strange how time slows down and speeds up at the same time when people are in a panic. In the past I never thought I would be able to keep calm and think with something so crazy going on. But I managed, and even though I'd like to never have to do it alone again I know I will be ready if it happens.

A Photographers Responsibility

There are some things that I just don't understand about people. How can anyone see another person in mortal danger, and not have the urge to run and help? Had I been at the scene in this photograph, I would have been doing everything I could to get to him and pull him out. Even if that meant risking not being fast enough and him dying right infront of me. The natural instinct to help is wired into my brain and I thought others felt that way too.

This is no way for a man to die. In a crowed place with an audience and what appears to be very little effort to help. This assignment is supposed to be about a photographers responsibility, but what I think in this specific case it is the responsibility of any human being to do what's right and help.

Maybe I am more disturbed by this than average because as a lifeguard I am required to help someone in need and I am trained to do so.

There may be a plausible excuse to why this photographer put an image before a life, but I can not fathom what that would be. 

Assignment Update

This is the status of my landcape and nature assignment, which is due on December 13 at 5 pm...

I have not taken any photos, I just got a camera to shoot this weekend and SURPRISE! I wasn't home until Sunday night at 8:15. I am hopefully going to have time to go to the park under the Saint John's Bridge to shoot soon. And I have to re-think where my second location is because I wasn't given a camera when I went to the beach. If only I always had a camera, like I always have my phone....

This would be a piece of cake.

Well this week...

This week I learned about google reader in photography class. I didn't know anything about it but Joseph explained it, and it seems like a news feed on facebook but with blogs you subscribe to.

Also this week I learned about how you can meet someone and instantly feel like they are your closest friend. You can relax and be yourself, tell them how you feel and they really care. do whatever silly thing and they don't judge you and you can have a great time. It's a wonderful feeling.