Photo Manipulation and Ethics

A. The article I read over described a few examples and cases where a photographer went too far in manipulating journalism photos. It explained the consequences the photographers faced for going through with that action.

B. First of all, I never try to use photoshop when I can. If it's a must then I will edit my photos, but manipulating photos has always felt like cheating to me. It isn't, I do understand that, but in my book I've never really been in favor of doing it. Now, if it was to create a more artist feel or add an artistic element then that's fine. But, over all, these journalist taking photos and manipulating them is beyond being unethical. It's lying in a way, cheating out the photography. If you publish a photo and do not state it as photoshopped, then it's completely not right- especially to the public who is there reading your story and seeing your photo which isn't the actual thing that was going on.

Most Unethical

Faking two important men meeting with photoshop? This one really struck me as being just really wrong. Many of these unethical, manipulated photos are not correct in anyway, but this one seemed the most ridiculous. When I look at this photo, I think about why would you do that in the first place if they themselves know there were no cameras? And this photo does look fake- the public doesn't always fall for photographers' tricks. 

Least Unethical

This one has only been changed by shifting the pyramids over slightly so it could fit the cover. I don't think this such a huge deal, even though it is not ethical to do so and show it out publicly. Is it really going to effect the people, the story, or the readers? I think not which means it doesn't have such a HUGE unethical response. 

Current Events Quiz

1. Who became the 48th governor of Texas yesterday?

Greg Abbott

2. What was served at the luncheon yesterday after the inauguration parade? Page A7 "First Parade..."

Barbecue

3. President Obama gave his annual "state of the union" address yesterday night. He covered 12 main points. List them please. Page A10 "Tax Hikes..."

Tax hikes, tax breaks, Education, Paid Leave, Homeownership, Retirement Savings, Middle East, Cuba, Iran, Trade, Cybersecurity, No going back

4. Why are the New England Patriots under investigation by the NFL regarding their win over the Colts on Sunday evening? Page C6 "Report: footballs..."

The footballs didn't seem to be inflated correctly.

5. What were five of the top 10 recipe searches in 2014? Page SA4 "Tracking the arc...(sidebar)"

1. Chicken

   2. Meatloaf

   3. Banana bread

   4. Pancakes

   5. Chili

Short Answer:

Read the story on page 1 "Abbott says Texas 'Must take the lead'" and then answer the following questions?

1. In his address to the general public after he was sworn in as the 48th governor of Texas, Greg Abbott committed to the people of Texas 5 MAJOR points. What were those 5 things?

Advancing education, improving roads, expanding water resources, securing the border and “keeping Texas the economic engine of the United States of America.”

2. What are some of the things he will be doing in his first week in office. Please be specific and give me at least 2 items he will address, according to the story?

He is expected to announce a few appointments on Wednesday as well as receive his first death penalty as governor to a man who was convicted of a shooting.

3. How many people were estimated to have attended the event?

4,000

First Prompt Shoot

Metal: Leading Lines

Happy: Cropping

Square: Viewpoint

Bowie: Rule of Thirds

Composition Quiz

1. Viewpoint
2. Rule of Thirds
3. Leading Lines
4. Depth of Field
5. Rule of Thirds
6. Non Mergers/ Avoiding Mergers
7. Leading Lines
8. Balance
9. Framing
10. Viewpoint, Rule of Thirds

Great 9/11 Photos and Their Rules

Simplicity

In this photograph, the background is all the same color with not much distractions and the women is also covered in ashes, except for her face. I find this very simple while also using contrast with the color of her skin to the yellow ashes everywhere. It points you to the subject which is her and her expression- what she is feeling and going through.

Rule of Thirds

Even though it's a terribly sad photo, I find the colors and contrast beautiful. The Rule of Thirds is the damaged building and the rubble shooting out in different directions while being positioned at that bottom line of the Rule of Thirds graph.

Lines

There are lines everywhere in this photograph. Even though the subject is the building, the building has lines as well! The smoke makes your eyes draw along them until you find the subject of the photo- the building.

Balance

The first thing I think of when I come to Balance is color. If you have tons of contrasting colors and off-colors everywhere, it wouldn't be as balanced as it could be. With the blacks, greys, and whites in this photograph it gives the whole picture a very balanced feel. Balance can also create a mood in your photographs- and this one crafted an eery, depressing feel with its balance.

Framing

This is one of my favorite photographs out of the ones I chose (besides the balance photo below) but the framing in this is the portraits of people. The subject of the photo is the people- mainly the man closest to the camera. He is framed and your eyes draw straight to him being the subject.

Avoiding Mergers

Unlike Balance, I believe contrast is a big role in Avoiding Mergers. The subject of the photo is the piece of evidence of the plane that crashed into the Twin Towers on that terrible day. It is right in the middle and your eye goes straight to it. But if you notice how the background contrasts. The green and brown sort of clash, causing the subject to brighten and be more eye-catching.

Cropping

To focus on the two subjects (the former President and the Fireman), Cropping is used to only make these two the most clear and focused point of the photograph.

Repetition

'

The people- who are the subjects- are repeating again and again in the photo. This photo expresses this rule very well with how many people there are.

Depth of Field

Because the photograph is focused on the Empire State Building, the background blurs out a bit, causing depth of field.

View Point

This photograph has a unique view point, creating a creative way of showing the memorial, the names, and the buildings of the city. 

The Lone Star Dispatch Review #3

Student Life

This article discusses two seniors opinions and fashion sense on keeping warm, but staying in style, during the winter.

Who was quoted in the story?: Melissa Pittman, Nathan Olson
What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "This may to make sense at first, but the most important necessity for dressing up in the winter is being warm. You want what you're wearing to be comfortable because if it's not the whole day you're going to be regretting your choice. Layer up and stay warm." - Pittman
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

News

The story describes and explains that the student council did to raise canned food for ones who don't have enough to eat and if it was successful or not.

Who was quoted in the story?: Keri Tharpe, Shelby Johnson, Mary Moore, Patricia Maney, Madi Little
What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "Those who don't suffer,t hose who are stable, those who aren't in need don't understand their privileges." - Tharpe
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Quote

In Depth

Oculus Rift is a new system still being tested and will be released in 2015 for gamers and technology-lovers. It's a new gaming experience like no other and the article explains what it is, the history behind it, and the future.

Who was quoted in the story? No one
What quote was the strongest in your opinion? No quotes
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

Sports

The Wrestling team has made it to district championships and the article reports on their wins, loses, and how the matches went.

Who was quoted in the story?: Glen Lewis, Blake Rarus, Stefan Moreno
What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "I'm excited, I basically just want to go out with a bang and give it my all and see where I end up.
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? No
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Quote


Entertainment

The iPhone 6 is out and in the world, gaining money by the second for Apple Co. This article goes over the opinions and news relating to the new phone.

Who was quoted in the story?: Tiffany Maxie, Kylie Wood, Ken Tsang, Nina Tinsley, Kayln Holloway
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?: "The only downside to this phone is the fact that it's so thin. I'm always worried about it falling out of my hand when I hold it with one hand." - Maxie
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

Commentary

This (hilarious) article covers the opinions of the writer on Kim Kardashian and her big photoshoot of her rear.

Who was quoted in the story?: No one
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?: None
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?: Yes
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

Current Events Quiz

1. How many people were killed yesterday in a terrorist attack on a French newsmagazine in Paris? Page A1 "One held in deadly raid..."

12 people

2. Why is the discovery of the tail of Flight 8501in the Indonesian Ocean so important? Page A3 "Tail of AirAsia plane..."

The Jet's important black boxes are in that part.

3. What are two tips homeowners should be doing this week to protect their homes from the bitter cold? Page B6 "Freeze Tips"

Check smoke detectors and cover outdoor plants.

4. What does Xeris Pharmaceuticals  sell that helped them to raise $17.9million from their investors? Page B7 "Austin Xeris..."

a Glucagon Rescue Pen

5. Which of the 5 things to do this weekend interests you the most? WHY? Page D2 "The Long Weekend"

I'd be interested in the Gordon Fowler Gallery because I really love art and visiting the artists' original works.

Short Answer:

Read the story on Page A1 "Fight for 'school choice' likely different this year" and answer the following questions.

A. Why does Dan Patrick think its important for public tax money to be made available to any public school student who wants to attend a private school?

He says he was tired of hearing no from the beginning to the end of session and as well as it's a way to improve public education in the state.

B. Why do opponents of his legislation, like Ken Zarifis president of Education Austin the largest AISD teachers union,  think this use of public tax money is illegal and shouldn't been allowed to happen?

They believe the only way they can use these dollars is to keep them public and when they are private these companies are no longer accountable to the public.

C. Which side of this argument do you think is correct? WHY

Even thoguh I do believe tax money should also go to these private schools, private school is a totally different deal than public so I agree with Zarifis's side. Will public schools still be getting those taxes? Probably not. And public schools are ones anyone can attend unlike ones.

D. If your parents had access to a set amount of money and were able to use that to help pay for a private school education for you, do you think you would want to go to a private school?

Yes, I am more for private schools than public schools for many different reasons.

E. What if your parents only got enough to pay for part of that private school?

Then I simply wouldn't be able to go. I feel as if how things  turn out the way you don't want them to then you shouldn't take things from others just so you can have your wish.

My Look on 2014

Best Photos of 2014

I have a very specific outlook for photography for I find it to be… a personal thing. To me, it's one of the most beautiful, most precious things we have in life.  The way we can capture moments, creating emotion or even thoughts for someone who glances at the photo is a powerful tool. Combined with writing, it can change the world. Here are four of my favorite photos of 2014 taken from the PhotoJournalism world

Both of these photos were taken during the Ferguson protests over the unarmed shooting of Brown. In the top one, the photo uses a slow shutter speed to capture movement of protestors during the night and the bottom is of an injured girl during one of the protests. Judging my these two photos you can probably tell I enjoy the darker, glow looking photography applied here which I do. I enjoy how this aesthetic is combined into Journalism- to tell a story instead of a posed one. Using these darker, surreal-like photo techniques and lighting isn't used a lot in the world of Journalism but these are both very well done. Not to mention the emotion the bottom one conveys is absolutely incredible. I really love both of these.

Ah, another photo that has photography lighting and techniques that I real enjoy- and usually don't see in Journalism. The simplistic features are really nice in this photo an the contrast of the book and woman helps turn your focus on the main subject. Really I love every little thing about this photo… It's quiet, gives off a very moody, sad tone as the subject prays in her religious book. I just love it overall.

I think I starred at this photo for a good ten minutes straight. The story behind it is empowering- this sixteen year old girl holds her baby that she was forced to have and has run away from her abusive husband, now living with her own family. But this photo captures something more than just her story. The photograph shows her strength and bravery. How the photographer captured the light into her eyes and the way everything else around them subject is dark is… really a beautiful technique. The mood is deep but hopeful as the little light shines on the only part of her body you can see. It's a powerful photo to say the least and probably one of my favorites ever.

Music

Next to Stevie Nicks, the goddess that is Marina Diamandis has come out with a spectacular three new songs, leading up to her third album FROOT which comes out in early April. She's an indie pop singer with a fiery passion in her voice. With electronic, piano, and old techniques and sounds to her music, it's the lyrics are what make Marina such an attraction- how she'll create a character and put them in her own place as an artist. She creates a story form them through her music instead of using prose. It only came out at the beginning of December but it made me overlook all other songs that had come out this year. This single of her's was a personal one, not created for a character of her's and one that reached out to many listeners. I really believe this song was what got me back on the track of being… well, Happy. My experience was being unhappy myself and finding comfort in music and the arts, specifically Marina, and having her as someone I look up to so much and finally telling me and the world they have found the happiness they've been looking for all their life- and that they want to share it with you. And it's surely a song that will touch those who believable they are untouchable. In, my opinion, what music is all about. That is Happy by Marina and the Diamonds.

Movie

Is this arguable? Like, come on- Guardians rocked. I've asked many people their opinions on the movie- it being totally different from the rest of Marvels movies- and I've gotten all sorts of feedback. But one of the most interesting things was how most people weren't even action movie or Marvel fans. This movie had a little something for everyone- the humor, the bit of family troubles, the power of friendship, and then just overall kicking butt in the celestial galaxy with some of THE BEST songs ever. I mean… how can you not enjoy two hours? Being my favorite movie of all time I continued resist with putting it as 2014's movie of the year. Besides- have you seen the soundtrack and fandom? But that's another story.

News

Ferguson is easily the news story of 2014. Still going on in the United States, this historical protest has gone down in the books already- having supporters from all over America and controversial opinions in everyone's minds about what should and shouldn't have been decided about Michael Brown's case. This story has effected many people, being a very touchy subject for most and raised racial concerns in the United States that had been hidden and on the low for quiet a while now. As of fresh and new 2015 is here, it is still lingering and occurring- easily taking the title of 2014's New Story.

PEOPLE

Ask any adolescent form the ages of ten to twenty and they'll tell you they've most likely played or heard of the game Minecraft. Originally being a game for PC's, this video game has taken over the world with its peaceful and ambient tones to a world where you can build anything and explore anywhere. Using tools like mining and construction, your character is open to a world of pixelated adventure. The vide game has expanded over the years to consoles like XBOX and PS4. But it's not the game that has taken 2014 by storm but the people behind the game. As creators of Minecraft, 33 year olds Markus Persson and Jens Bergensten take my title of People of 2014.

ENTERTAINMENT

This one was up to me and I gotta say memes are the big thing of 2014. Like, let's be real here. Can you go on the internet, a blog, or any sort of social media without seeing at least three memes? They're everywhere! And they definitely having an impact on the media and entertainment world from the way they've expanded in the '14 year. It's a meme takeover but am I complaining? Heck no, this is probably one of my favorite things from the past year. This is one of the few things that could be controversial but not depressing at the same time. And they're hilarious. 

My Break (if you care enough to read)

1. Tell me what is the one thing that happened on your holiday that you will remember? It can be a trip, a family visit, a present, something fun.

I didn't really do anything exciting or different for I'm an introverted person who just writes and explores people interests but I will say I got photoshop finally! I also got some Doc Marten Mary Janes which I'm always looking for. Thanks Mommy!

2. What are your resolutions for the 2015 year?

To not worry. Just… find a content balance. I've struggled so, so much in 2014 and it's gotten so tiring. It's time for some happy.

3. What are you looking forward to in 2015?

Just all the new space and time to make new memories and experience different moments in the 365 days given to us. At the end of a year I feel so… crowded. I get so clustered and rush around, trying to make those last few moments of the year count. And, usually, the end of the year is a depressing time for me as well. So this new start is a breather and a good thought to have- knowing I've got 365 new days to fulfill and make my wishes come true.