While I think that this was created with good intentions, I feel that it was somewhat unecessary. While I agree that it was a good way to expose us to some of the available opportunities for us after we graduate, I feel like the class was too long, and did not benefit all of the majors. I did find it interesting to learn about more about the work that our professors do, but we didn’t learn that until the end of the course. I feel like the class took away a good amount of time that we could be using to work on something else. It wasn’t an unpleasant course, and I enjoyed it, but I do think it was a bit of a waste of time.

Part 1: In class Monday we had visiting speakers who work in the local video game industry. Write a short response to our visiting speaker presentations. Who were they? What do they do? Did you learn anything new through their talk?

The video game developers try to create games that will catch the attention of users. The more players the get, the more likely they are to  get players to make in app purchases and make money. I learned more about the game character creation process, which was interesting.

Part 2: Next class we will have some faculty presenters. This is your chance to ask them anything, no matter how absurd. Post at least one question on your blog. You can post more if you like. I will collate and choose some of the common questions that come up.

What is the most important experience or opportunity you had that ultimately made you successful/launched your career?

I found the two links quite different and contrasting. Those who were interviewed in the podcast were being faced with the fact that life is not forever, and we will be outlasted by so many other things. On the other hand, I found that the man in the TED talk was utterly reckless with the decisions in his life. While I admire his decision to follow his passion, the feats he was daring to complete were so life threatening. He is very lucky that he survived his experiments and did not sustain any permanent brain damage in his endeavors.

Part 1: 

While I wasn’t present for all of the presentations, the one that my brain took note of was Matt Lankes’s presentation. Since I’m a PHOCO major, his work was particularly intriguing. His work on the filmset of “Boyhood” was fascinating since I’ve never met anyone who’s worked on set before, and this is something I’d definitely be interested in doing.

 

Part 2: 

Here are some internships I’d love to have.

http://www.altpress.com/internships

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/about-nikon/careers/internships.page

INTERNSHIPS

Watch the following selection surrounding ideas of Synergy and Harmony, write a reflective essay.

The roles of synergy and harmony on a scientific level had never truly impacted me until I viewed this film. Something as simple yet so complex as short term memory loss hadn’t really occurred as a harmony problem. Yet, without being capable of holding a memory,  there is a lack of synergy and harmony because there is no way to connect between past memories and the new ones that you won’t be able to keep. Harmony can exist if the person with memory loss is unaware and oblivious to their situation, but in Leonard’s case, this isn’t true. He also has a disconnect with harmony and synergy because he can’t rest until he avenges his wife’s death. This serves as a big reason that he can’t reach solace.

1. How planned is your future / how is it customized to you?

My future is very customized to my plans and goals.

2. If you could travel abroad where would you go and why?

Though I want to travel all over the world, I would travel to Europe first because I think the architecture and culture of Europe are beautiful.

3. Are you part of a student group? what kinds of extra-curricular activities would you like to see?
I am a part of a student group. I’d be interested in more field trips and opportunities based on my major.

Lee Friedlander was an American photographer and artist who started small and made a name for himself after moving to New York. His initial focus was the urban way of life of the Ameican people. He made a living by shooting portraits for jazz record album covers. Later, a series of his photos were featured in Playboy magazine of none other than Madonna, pre-fame. He was awarded 2 grants from the Guggenheim Foundation so he could continue working on his art, and has now had solo exhibitions featured all over the country. As he grew older, his subjects and focus in his photos began to change. He began to focus on photographing his personal surroundings. This led to a book titled, “Stem”. Today, he continues to work with medium format Hasselblad Cameras.

http://www.galeriezander.com/en/artist/lee_friedlander/exhibitions

https://fraenkelgallery.com/portfolios/category/friedlander-lee

 

 

Part 1: Complete the skills inventory & action plan questions below, and post to your blog.

SKILLS INVENTORY

For each class ask yourself the following:

My greatest strengths in ____photo_____include: good eye; good perspective; good understanding of the camera; passion for photography
For greater success in this course, I need to: get more sleep so I can focus better; stop getting distracted with friends
Computer skills: basic knowledge of Bridge, Lightroom, and Photoshop; very good understanding of Mac user preferences

My computer skills include: Bridge, Lightroom, and Photoshop
I still need to learn: further usage and features of Photoshop
Research & writing skills: my research skills are adequate; writing skills are very good

My greatest strengths as a researcher/writer include: wording and explaining of situations
I need to work on these aspects of research and writing: I need to take more time researching to find better sources
I learn best & accomplish most when: I am completely focused and putting in all my effort
ACTION PLAN

Choose one class that you are struggling with or are not doing as well as you could. Photo 1
Now make a list of 10 ways you could improve your performance in this class.

-ask around for help

-google how to effectively produce results

-set aside more time to complete projects

– take more time executing ideas for better results

-spend more time in the darkroom

-practice developing film

-practice making prints

-be more creative with ideas

-be confident in my work and ideas

-believe in myself

 

Though I was initially not interested in the assigned video, after listening to Keith Richard speaking about guitar, I was enthralled. When he speaks about guitar, you can really hear his passion and love for the instrument. I can relate to this because I also have a passion for music. In the video, he speaks about the connection between the two parts of the guitar, the neck and the body. He goes on to explain that they have to work together in harmony to create the beautiful sound that a guitar produces. The right and left hands must create good synergy to be effective. He believes that if you’re going to learn to the guitar, you should learn to play the acoustic, as its sound is more pure.

      

1. What was the goal of the assignment? Or what was the question posed by this assignment?
2. How did you go about reaching this goal or answering this question?

-The goal was to represent Gestalt principles through photography. The point of this assignment was to understand what makes a good photo, and Gestalt principles play a big part in this.

-When I shot, I tried to implement and use those principles in my photos.

1. What is the strongest aspect of this work?
2. What is the weakest aspect?
3. How can the project be strengthened conceptually?
4. How can the project be strengthened technically?
5. Additional notes.

-The strongest aspect are the perspectives and moods that the photos give off.

-The weakest aspect is that the subject of the photos are somewhat common and overdone.

-This project can be strengthened by providing more meaning behind each photo.

-The project could be strengthened by finding a better subject matter and angle.

-I really enjoyed this project but wished we’d been able to take pictures in places other than South Congress.