My name is Karen Baltimore. I am currently a junior pursuing a major in graphic design along with a web design minor. Because my last semester was spent mainly in the darkroom instead of at the computer, I took this class to ramp back up on my Adobe skills in preparation for design courses next year. I also wanted a chance to improve my Photoshop skills beyond their current level.
The most valuable part of this course for me has been an improvement in the skills needed to judge a good photograph. I am much more comfortable evaluating a color photograph than when I began. In Photo I, I learned to judge a black and white image. This class has been a natural extension of that. I tend to work mostly in black and white, so this has been a needed step out of my comfort zone. I feel much more confident in working with color images than I did when we began.
I did not expect to be as affected by the animals as I have been. When I began taking photos, I would just gown up and get started. But a couple of weeks ago, I started my visit with a walk through the shelter to see who was there. Inevitably I would see a dog that I knew who knew me too, so I would stop for a minute or so for a visit. As I said yesterday about London and Cam, I became involved in their stories. Much like people that we meet, our lives become intertwined for a small moment. In seeing a name on the adopted list, I would revel in their new found happiness. For those not on the list, I would grieve. You cannot take this course and not be impacted by these animals. They find their way into your heart.
"A picture is worth a thousand words." That saying is true here. We are bombarded with thousands of images each day, but some stay with us more than others. A picture can say more in a second than any word said or printed. Awareness begins with images. Images move us in ways that words can't. That is how photography can help with overpopulation. It can say more in a split second than I could ever hope to write in this space.
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| Dogs, dogs, and more dogs! |
Thanks everyone! Happy shooting!
I just have to say that you are a really impressive writer! The way you write is so well worded and heart felt. I especially like how you talk about our lives constantly intertwining. Then there is this grid of all your amazing photographs! That's crazy impressive as well. That could really be a great start to an art project for your senior show!
ReplyDeleteKaren you are what they call an inspirational student. Your determination, knowledge, and passion catches my attention every time I read and view your work. In your fourth paragraph you explained how over time you didn't just dive into shooting, instead you searched and hoped to see the same animals you did the day before. I can not emphasize this enough but I knowingly did the same thing. This course was so emotionally powerful. Congratulations to you.
ReplyDelete@ Allycat...wow, thank you for your words. They really do mean a lot. I had not even thought about having this for my senior show. Thanks for that idea! I will definitely keep that in mind. :)
ReplyDelete@ AnnMarie...you have said some of the nicest things. Thank you for it all. I was definitely not the emotionally detached student in this course. That's not me. I go all in!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! Well written and engaging. I am so glad you took this course, and got so much out of it. You put a lot of hard work into it!
ReplyDelete@ Professor Johnstone...Thank you for all your support. I loved the class and got so much out of it, not just in skills. It went deeper. Thank you for all you gave to make it work.
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