I was proud of my photos because I tried out a lot of different techniques that we learned and had a lot of fun doing so. One thing I felt was a missed opportunity was getting a cool picture of Mr. Coon using more of the shop equipment. The biggest hurdle was scheduling conflicts and also thinking of the different ideas for the photos. I address this problem by asking others for their ideas and getting inspiration from them.

One thing that I learned was how to interview people. This is important because knowing how to interview people can add a lot of context to pictures and also show a side to somebody that you didn’t know before. My favorite shot that I took was the one of Mr. Coon teaching the kids. I like the picture because I think it perfectly encapsulates the experience of being in Mr. Coon’s class. He teaches you a lot of new things, you get to use all this cool equipment, and he makes the class fun.

When I started out I wasn’t very interested in photography and just chose that class because it sounded like an easy elective. The first time I held a camera and took a picture it came out horrible and It was at that moment that I realized that photography wasn’t as easy as I thought. However, as I held a camera more and learned about all the different techniques I came to really enjoy taking pictures.

Mastering composition:

When I started out my pictures were very basic and there weren’t any techniques being used and therefore they looked bland and ordinary. But, as I implemented these different techniques throughout the many photo challenges we had this semester my pictures gained a unique look to them that made them more appealing and interesting.

Seeing the World Differently:

After taking photography class I came to see the world differently. I now realize all the small things such as the leading lines or lighting. I think my favorite project was the one where we had to emulate an important photographer and in doing so I was able to feel like I could see the world through someone else’s eyes. This opened my mind to understanding others better and how we all have our own perceptions of the world that can have a massive impact on our creative ability and the way we take pictures.

Favorite Work:

My favorite work was in my final project, It was the culmination of everything I learned during my first semester and allowed me to change the way I view things so close to me in an entirely different light. I really enjoyed taking the pictures and finding creative ways to make my pictures more appealing.

Looking Ahead:

This class has taught me a lot of things not only about photography but about life too. I’m looking forward to next semester and all that’s to come.