This is (a semester of) My Life

These last couple of months have been quite interesting for me. A wealth of new experiences and events occurred in my life.















The winter of the new year was one of the worst I've ever experienced. Nearly constant snowfall and cold temperatures caused lots of snow days, late starts and early outs.




















Early in the year, I participated in speech. While I didn't advance on, my friends' choral reading group made it to All-State, which is a great honor.















One of the big experiences of this semester was getting a job. I began working at Grassroots Cafe, Price Lab/Northern University High's cafeteria.















I participated in drama for the first time this year. I was a chorus member in the musical "Once Upon a Mattress." It was a lot of fun dressing up, singing, and dancing.















Strike night was very entertaining as well. It was sad to take down the set we worked so hard to build, but the party made up for it.















Spring finally came, and I spent much of spring break outside, taking pictures of my one-acre yard.


I always had a companion with me. Our outdoor cats loved to follow me around.











I participated in the Cyber Defense Competition in Ames. It involved a lot of computer knowledge, hacking, and free food. Our school won first place!


























I went to Northern University High's prom with my boyfriend Mason, and a group of us ate dinner at the lamppost beforehand.















I also went to prom with my friends in my old town, Urbandale. It was very good to see my old friends again, and all get our hair done together.

My Photos

The main subject in the photo is the small creek near my house. I took this picture because I love outdoor and water scenes. This photo reminds me of the beauty in the nature around me. I have drawn the eye to the creek by putting it in the dead center. This photo uses the concepts of leading lines to let the viewer's eye span the entire length of the creek. If I could, I would improve the photo by moving the cat out of it, or changing the position it is in.

The main subject in this photo is the person whom the portrait is of; Kyle. I like this photo because it reminds me of the bus ride to the speech competition: cold and quiet, but very serene and pleasant. This photo uses the concepts of leading lines (The window slat) and rule of thirds to draw attention to the subject.

The main subject in this photo is the rightmost statue. I took this picture because I found it very interesting, the ceramic heads in a row. The photo focuses attention on the subject by being very close to the subject. There is an example of the leading lines concept, and the long, harsh lighting adds to the effect of the "all in a row" look. To improve this photo, I would have eliminated the clutter in the left bottom corner and perhaps changed the lighting on the subject head to be less dark and undefined on the left and less washed-out on the right.

Magazine 2

Front Lighting














Copyright Photography magazine

Side Lighting












Copyright Time magazine

Background Lighting



















Copyright Time magazine

Flash Lighting













Copyright http://www.photo.school.nz/flash/chapter6.htm

Colored Lighting



















Copyright http://www.photography-13.com/soft-photo-coloring

Soft Lighting














Copyright Time magazine

Hard Lighting












Copyright Time magazine

A Day At My Job

I work as a server at Northern University High's Grassroots Cafe every B day during fifth period. The following is a photojournal giving you some insight into the behind-the-scenes of being a server here.

Our first task is to wash our hands with warm water and soap- long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Then we put on our gloves and get the food ready, taking it out of the "hot hold" and putting it in the serving containers.



Charlie croons his unique rendition of "Happy Birthday" while Phillip checks for food in the hot-hold.

The middle-schoolers we serve usually come in around 12:10, and we spend the next 25 minutes serving them and waiting for some students to come back for seconds. We often eat during this time, sampling the dishes and getting several servings. When the kids are nearly finished, we begin cleanup.



Charlie savors a roast-beef sandwich during a lull in activity


During cleanup, Phillip and I work in the serving room while Charlie cleans up in the cafeteria. Phillip and I compost, save, or throw away excess food, put food containers and other dishes on a cart to take to the washroom, and wipe down the counters and serving area.



Phillip throws away excess beef (Unfortunately, we can't compost meat)


Charlie usually works alongside our bosses, Rob and Jacque, in the cafeteria. Charlie sweeps the floors in the cafeteria, wipes down the tables, brings in the dirty trays and silverware, and collects the compost bins.



Charlie sweeps lunchtime debris off the floor

After we've finished our work, we sign out in the office. This will help our hours be tallied up, and determine how much we make.



Phillip records his amount of time worked

Magazine 1

All pictures copyright National Geographic

#1 No Background


















Snake hatching, National Geographic. I selected it because it has a plain black background.

#2 Background Simplified













Bird being fed, National Geographic. This has a great example of a background that is unfocused and simplified.

#3 Background Included














Man rowing, National Geographic. This has a clearly visible background, adding to image visually with the impression given by the open water.

#4 Rule of Thirds














Man near river, National Geographic. The man being off to one side allows the river to be seen better.

#5 Leading Lines















Winding road, National Geographic. The road leads your eye through the photograph.

#6 Frame













Man in van, National Geographic. The panels frame the subject and focus attention on him.

#7 Center of Interest Dead Center



















Gardeners on hill, National Geographic. The gardeners are the subjects of interest, having them in the center makes the background look bigger, adding to the visual effect of the huge sky and stretching landscape.

Lighting 2

Architecture