Bitter sweet farms

mission statement for bitter sweet farms 

      My experience there was very informative. I didn't even know this place existed till our class field trip.
      I have worked with autistic people before and have a cousin who is autistic. Bitter sweet farms was enlightening, to have a community dedicated to seeing people with autism belong and find a place they can call home was heart warming.

horse cheyenne posing for the camera 

     This place helps people who have all forms of Autism find a place in the community. They make crafts and help out in the barn. Which is where I found the most benefits. In talking with the worker at the barn, she said they would love to have a therapy riding sessions, but need more volunteers and the budget. This reminded me about Vail meadows, a place where people with disabilities come to therapy ride with the horses. The benefits with working with horses for some who have disability or autism is great. With helping with the horses care, to learning to ride, I have seen many with disabilities light up when their with the horses, its like they come alive and have a spark in them. I can see this happening for bitter sweet farms if only they had the budget,and volunteers.
     Animals can offer all types of healing. When me and Amanda Alywin went to the helping hands nature house we saw several workers and a cat called old man. All these workers loved old man and the cat just layed there with out moving. even when petted or loved upon this cat didn't move. Just layed there on the table and took in the love from others. I also learned they have many cats and animals on the property.

gene cummings an old man sleep at the crafts table in helping hands nature house

A portrait of a Music Major.

Her name is Kearstin Horn and she loves music.

        She started off as a kid playing music with her late grandfather who was a guitar player in a band. In high school she was in concert choir her freshmen year and sophomore through senior year she was in chorale, show choir, and barber shop, Kearstin also received a varsity letter jacket from performing.
       Although she has transferred out of Owens community college to the University of Toledo where she is a Music education major, to be a music theory teacher to college students, she also Minor's in theater. While still at UT she still helps with the Owens choir.
      Kearstin was also apart of one of her favorite musicals Les Miserables several times saying "It's the best musical ever". This musical is how she got interested in theater. Now, she is into Wicked the Musical, and wants to be Elphaba and perform "Defying Gravity".
    While at Owens she learned basic music skills such as theory, aural skills, piano, and voice. Saying Dr Dunn " Really really helped me getting my basics piano skills down, that I had no idea what I was even doing". and Denise Gupp-Verbon"who helped me get the fundamentals down, which is the beginning of knowing how to identify music, because I had no idea. It really benefited me when I got into theory. A huge special thanks goes out to Jodi Jobuck and JoAnne Chyrschoos for making my voice stronger and helping me find my inner opera woman! I couldn't have done it without them, I wouldn't be where I am today."
      Kearstin's plan's on getting her bachelors in Music education and maybe her master's "Feels like I been in school since I was five, it just hasn't stopped. I've been in school for almost 20 years, I'm kinda over it". Wanting to have a bachelors degree, Kearstin plans on getting solid job then maybe return for her master's in Music education.
    As for recommending the music program at Owens to anyone Kearstin says " Way back when in a galaxy far far away, there was a great music program here, there was a lot of dedication, and a lot of people. I have learned everything I needed to know to get started in my career of music. I had the top notch voice teachers, fundamentals and music theory teacher, and piano teacher here at Owens. Despite the low enrollment rate going on, we still have an amazing music staff that works very hard to keep the program going. We just need more people to sign up and keep music alive! Thats how it should be. LET MUSIC LIVE!!"

Learning journalism during CMA 2014 in Philly

Love is the word for Philadelphia.

   I have never been to a big city before, unless you count passing through. 
  When I heard about the 93rd Annual ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in Philadelphia I was extremely interested. I love to learn, and this was a perfect opportunity to learn more about journalism and our Outlook family.

   I am the editor of the Campus Life section, so naturally my focus was on anything involving the arts.  However, there wasn't much about music or the arts. What I have found out about this journalism career of mine is that I would love to travel. I have always wanted to go see the world and share my experience with others by writing about it. 
   The seminars I was interested in wasn't just about writing. I was also curious about overseas journalism and how that could benefit me. There were three seminars that really struck me: Don't just see the world; cover it; Foreign correspondence and the student media; and Why I took my students to Bonnaroo. 

 The Austin Peay State University students show pictures

  about their  experience at Bonnaroo. 

In the See the world workshop, I found out that Italy, France and Spain are some of the places available for student reporters to go overseas to study journalism. You can earn college credit, and they are open to all schools and majors, according to workshop speaker Andrew Ciofalo.  He said that at least two people or more tend to go on to work as journalists abroad. 
 Speakers also emphasize posting photo/video projects on blogs. 
 Language is also very important. While studying abroad, students should take classes of the native language. This can help with interviewing natives, and to make living with the host family easier. 
   Although expensive (assume it could be as high as $5,000), the experience would be invaluable and would set you apart from the rest of your peers. This would be done all through ieimedia.com.

   My favorite workshop

   Music, fun and journalism. That is the lesson I learn from the Bonnaroo session. It's not just about the music and camping out with no shower for days; it's about covering music and all kinds of people. There are media passes for Bonnaroo, however, they are very hard to get and tricky to find. 
   There's also volunteer jobs, where one could spend a few hours at a tent working, then later go watch the music for free. There are comedy tents, cinema tents, and most importantly, media tents where private shows and free wifi are available.
   I've learned that not only can festivals be fun but they are worth covering. To see the blogs and coverage from the people who went to Bonnaroo, go here. http://www.theallstate.org/category/bonaroo-2/  

   What I learned in only a few days in Philly will benefit me forever, and help me, as well as my Outlook family, grow. 

The Daily News room in Philadelphia. 

The Daily News tour in Philadelphia. 

The Liberty bell. 

The printing press and Benjamin Franklin statue. 

Philadelphia cityscape. 

Taking a tour of the city. 

The outlook family on Halloween.

Outlook news editor Janelle Smith takes a picture of a tunnel. 

Outlook sports editor Amanda Aylwin demands "We have to go take this picture! Come on!"  

Hard Rock Cafe.

Why I now dislike shooting sports

I'm bored and terrified already, weird, because I used to play basketball.
     This isn't against the players. I just don't enjoy sports anymore. Let me correct myself... I don't enjoy certain sports anymore, gymnastics and horseback riding those I enjoy.

     When I was young I played all kinds of sports, soccer, basketball, softball and track. To this day I wonder why I was ever involved in them. I am not a competitive person because I was never aggressive enough. I joined to make friends, or just to fit in with the others. Around junior high school I realized that I am more artist than jock. 

      When I was about 11 I stood on the side of a basketball court watching others play. I looked away for a moment and bam! I was on the floor and in really bad pain. I learned about two days later I broke my ankle. Ever since then I refuse to go on a court or even partake in basketball or any sport that involves running, sprinting, or playing with others. Which is why I wasn't on the side lines of the women's basketball game for Owens. 

      Also, At the age of 11 or 12 I road horseback and fell in love with the sport. Most people think it's not a sport because you sit on a horse's back. However, it is a sport because you're putting your complete trust in a animal that's 1,100 pounds and can kill you. You use every muscle in your body particularly your center of balance. 

      It's part grace and strength to work with something so powerful yet so gentle. Unfortunately I had to stop riding a while ago due to knee surgery, but I'm dying to get back to riding. Injuries are one of the many hazards to riding. 

     Now days when I watch sports I easily get bored. It doesn't make sense to shoot a ball into a net and run line to line or passing it around to each other. What are you really learning.. how to put your elbow into someones side. The women are really aggressive and almost violent at times. Which just makes me want to go to a single sport like horseback riding or gymnastics. 

coach isn't happy with that play 

87-59 owens wins 

Biscuit is in the basket for the Owens women's basketball team.

Owens halloween alternative

children trick or treat in the SHAC while a Dj plays music

Candy candy and more candy, that is the thing kids love right.

The halloween alternative was held in the SHAC for families.  When halloween can be a worry to some parents its great to have a safe place for kids to and trick or treat.

The SHAC was buzzing with kids to get candy and snow cones a DJ played music. Even Tigger showed. The kids loved him parents could not stop taking pictures.

Then Owens new mascot showed Big E arrived and the kids loved him,too. Even the tooth fairy's danced with him. The tooth fairy also won best dressed while GSA (gay straight alliance) won best decorated table.

The halloween alternative, held by the Student activities. Also sponsored candy for all the clubs to give out. The student government also held a food table where there was popcorn, cookie making, and snow cones.

The tooth fairy and Big E pose for a picture in the SHAC

Tigger and Big E pose for the camera in the SHAC  for halloween alternative 

The many different languages of an image

For the many different type of images that can be taken I choose wide depth of field, shallow depth of field  and rule of thirds. These for me are the easiest to demonstrate.

The top photo is of a cat outside shot at 46mm ISO 400,  f5.6, at 1/125. There are many other ways to achieve this, However, this is what worked for me. 

The second photo is 18mm at ISO 800, f5.6 at 1/400. For this effect you want your f/stop to be around f5.6 to get the shallow depth of field for the background.

 The third photo is 52mm ISO 800, f11 at 1/200. For the rule of thirds it is great because the cat is looking off to the side with open space. If I were to put the cat in the middle, the rule of thirds wouldn't be as effective. 

Digital cameras allow the use of different ISO for shooting under almost any lighting conditions. This helps with noise, which can be  noticeable at 800 ISO or higher.

The time of day is also critical for lighting. Early morning or at dusk is the best time of day. If you shoot at noon the sun will be high, causing bad shadows and severe contrast.

benefits of cell phone photography

The evolution of camera phones and the digital world is changing every day.

I just got a new phone the iPhone four it has a better camera attached and I use it everyday. Before I had a basic phone one that some call the Obama phone. It had a camera attached but could not link to social media and the quality was horrible. I really never thought I would use my phone to take pictures or be so important. As a photographer and aspiring photojournalist a cell Im still surprised when i see some photos and ask "what camera did you use"? most of the time I get the answer "with cell phone camera." What happen to those hand held cameras the DSLR's? 

Now days I fine more and more people using the camera phones as a regular camera, most don't even own a real hand held one. With new advances with cell phone cameras more and more people are opting to use them. Personally the Samsung 5s does have a great camera but with an iPhone 4 I fine the quality not matching. However, the iPhone has tons of photo apps that you can play with, instagram seem to be the most popular one for people to use when it come to posting photos. They have filters, and other photo editing tools that can help improve a photo for the amateur photographer.

by lacie hayek taken with iPhone 4
Owens concert band and toledo school for the arts directed 
by Mr. Welence perform at the owens performing arts center

owens photo club fire painting at performing arts center parking lot