An Iceburg Named "Journalism"

This is probably one of my favorites shots of today. Contrary to the previous photographs I've taken of Alan, he actually looks his age! (Thank you, Photoshop!)

Now to the main part of the this entry, which has nothing whatsoever to do with Alan!

Up until today, I was on an Alaskan Cruise of Photography. However, on the way to Juneau, I met an iceburg named Journalism. At Boeing's Paper Airplane event at the Delridge Community Library, I found myself in the middle of a swarm of little kids (most of whom I didn't have the permission to take & publish photographs of), and was astoundedly overwhelmed. There was so much going on! We had to take pictures of the kids, interview and photograph adults, and simultaneously try to figure out the 5 W's + H (Who, What, When etc). Perhaps I wasn't mentally prepared for all the commotion.

Fortunately enough, we returned to the quiet and peaceful RecTech Room at the Community Center. It was so nice to be back home. Or so I thought. In the last 15 minutes, Gen and I were furiously trying to coalesce all of our writings into a single article to be sent to the West Seattle Blog. Though it felt much like the iceberg I hit in Juneau, it was that much more familiar. It was then and there that I again realized that being an editor may be just be my thing.The second Gen and I finished, was the second that we completed our first official mission at RecTech and I was surprised how oddly smooth it went despite all the iceburgs.

The Beginnings- summarizing the first few weeks

The first week consisted of so many introductions. Introductions to Rafael, our teacher. To our cameras. To the art of taking photos. Introductions to the park at which we took our first photographs. (Where many of us also discovered how novice of artists we were) To Photoshop. To guest speakers.

If introductions was a pet peeve of mine, I probably would have killed myself.
(Not to be taken seriously at any point.)

However I fell in love with every person I met the first day. Demeno, Johanna, Gen, Evangelina, Alan, Tam, Max, Tyree, Rafael (& later Fizan).

Okay, so I take it back. I didn't fall in love with all of them the first day. It might have taken a few days to warm up. Nevertheless, everyday I was given a new chance to learn something new about each and every one of them. If watching Inception hadn't demolished my beliefs on time/reality I would have definitely said that the first week felt something a year.

(The picture shown above was taken when all of us went to a nearby creek and practiced using our newly learned photo-taking skills. Ever since Rafael had shown us the slideshow about how there were so many departments within Photography, I was intrigued by commercial & food photography in particular.)

Photography in the Past Few Weeks

Here is a photograph a friend of mine, Alan, took of me at Alki Beach when were practicing taking portraits. Though I did not take the picture myself, I do remember militantly suggesting for Alan to take a shot as I posed as sleeping on some driftwood. Together, we created a great of example of beautiful framing.



















After a few minutes you may notice that the leaf is Africa and the trees in the back pose as South America on a world map. They fit like puzzle pieces. This was not my intention at all.

















Taken at the Seattle Art Museum, this is probably one of my favorite shots taken so far.
We have contrast, repetition, shape, rule of thirds, and most of all, Tyree's photogenia.

Seattle's Bon Odori Festival

Bon Odori is a Buddhist custom where the deceased are honored. In Seattle, it is more casually known as the Japanese Summer Festival. Every year, the public is invited to join in traditional Japanese folk dances done infront of the Seattle Buddhist Temple and indulge in various snacks and foods, including "Kori" (shaved ice) and "yaki nigiri" (grilled riceball.) But the fun does not stop there! Preformances like Taiko drumming engage the multi-cultural audience.

I interviewed a friend, Timothy Locke, who despite living in West Seattle, comes to Bon Odori every year. He says that even though a part of him does wish there was a Bon Odori in West Seattle, he also thinks that "having one in Seattle, in a central place, where everyone can get together is really nice."

Farmers Market at Seattle Center & SAM

So "who is this?" you may be asking. It is no one other than Seattle's gnome lady! (More formally known as Diane Macrae.) While Diane admits her gnome has been frequently mistaken for the Travelocity gnome, she assures me that her gnome is special; coming from [insert location].

The Seattle gnome can be found on shirts, postcards and other accessories around souvenier stores in Seattle, including her own store in Ballard.
I asked her "Why a gnome?" and she enthusiastically explained that she was truly inspired by the popular French movie, Amelie, which is about a gnome who travels the world.

Explore her creations at http://www.dianemacrae.com/

Week Numero Uno

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Sorry for the confusing relocation! ;P