Slideshow Reject

Today we worked on our slideshows. Some of my pictures did not make the cut. This one is of my future roommate Jamie Becker. I think it has great character, but it did not really fit into the theme for my slideshow. I also did not quite get her body as close to the third line as I would have liked.

Becker was working on writing a paper for her American Catholicism class with Doctor Janus. It was on the Mass for Palm Sunday on April 5, 2009. She said, "I'm glad not to have classes on Student Symposium Day; it gives me an opportunity to catch up on some homework."

Capturing the Symposium

Tomorrow is Student Symposium. Our assignment for Journalism Workshop is to take pictures of a specific topic. My topic is studying inside. Some spots that I plan on scoping out is the library, the Armstrong-Douglas lobby, and various dorm rooms. I hope that there are people studying and not everyone is just drinking all day.

I do not personally own a digital camera but my friend let me borrow hers. I have experimented with the settings on the digital camera. I think I have a good understanding of the features of the camera. Some of the things I am focusing on are lighting, the thirds rule and getting tight, close-up shots.

I am currently trying to make a map for the technology portion of my article. I am planning on making it of some local area churches in Cedar Rapids. I am using the quikmaps site.

I am having a hard time with it. I can’t figure out how to import locations. It seems like a good site, but I am not technology savvy at all. This is a skill I really need to work on.

My Shed is on Fire!

Today I was browsing through the Gazette Online. I was attracted to a story about my hometown. I read it, and it was about a hay shed catching on fire.

Later that day I was talking to my mom. She told me that was our hay shed that caught on fire. The article said that a grass fire got out of control. That was incorrect. My parents and the fire department suspect it was arsen.

Click here to read the article.

Photojournalism

Today in Jouralism Workshop Jane talked about taking good photographs. The most interesting thing I learned was the thirds rule. Basically, a subject should not be in the center but rather on one of the thirds lines.

Emphasis was also placed on vary shots between tight and far away.

Action Shots were another great way to get a killer photograph.

Photography

Technology is great! History can be preserved in many new and exciting ways now. Digital cameras allow the photographer to make sure they picture they took is the picture they want or need.

Photographs are an important part of journalism. They add depth and dimension to any story. The cliché says, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

One other great new advance in the world of photography is photo-editing software. Some funs sites are Picnik and Fotoflexer. These sites offer basic tools for free and some advanced tools for a charge. They can do everything from fixing red eye to designing.

My meeting with Jane went very well today. She told me I chose an interesting topic, which makes me happy. I still am struggling with a hooking lead. I also need to schedule a meeting with Kristen Hudson. She is a Presbyterian minister, Coe College Chaplain and Director of Religious Life. I have a very good start to my article. I have interviews with three priests and some students. I am sticking to my schedule for this week so far. We will see how long this lasts.