"Earth Day Photo Contest"

What did you on April 20, 2012? Do you actually know what day it is?

It was the Earth day! It was on last Friday, and some of you may have noticed that there were a few exciting thing going on campus. (I saw a big metal wheel-shaped thing in front of the HUB, did you?) Well other than the exciting performances, there was one event for Earth Day that caught my attention.

Photographers and filmmakers, the EPA wants you! As part of its Earth Day activities, the Environmental Protection Agency is launching an interactive film and photography project: Submit your own videos and photographs documenting what your doing to protect the water you drink, what steps your taking to reduce air pollution, and how you're contributing to the overall health of your community: Video on You Tube, Photos on FlickrVideo entries should be submitted via YouTube, in the following categories: Reducing your carbon footprint, conserving and protecting water, protecting the environment, and reduce reuse recycle.

Photo entries should be submitted via Flickr, in the following categories: People and the environment, the beauty of nature, wildlife.

Submissions are open between now and the end of April.

You may think, oh there is no need for me to try this out. However, it is a great way to try out taking pictures. These people are giving out opportunities to actually take pictures related to a theme. You do not have to be a professional to actually take good pictures. The freshest starter's mind is actually the greatest asset in anything! You beginners are the ones who have the ability to give your own taste in taking pictures. You might bring something new to the world of photography! So, why not give it a shot? Of course, you might not get a prize on your first entry, but you might find it actually fun and enjoyable to take pictures. Just try out, and it will be more than you expected.

"Light Trail Shots"

When I was fooling around with my camera, I tried to capture the light trails created from the lights in my room. It was great training to know how to use the camera manually and to experiment with shooting in low light at longer exposures. You do not need a particular type of camera but just a camera that allows for the controlling of the exposure shutter speed. There are no perfect aperture and shutter speed settings to capture a light trail because the result will be different every time. However, I’ve found that usually shooting at shutter speeds between 5 seconds to 10 seconds and 1600-2400 ISO work most of the times. If it does not work, try a few test shots to see how the exposure works. You will figure it out easily. Also, do not worry about the blurriness and the lack of focus because you are not taking a picture of a specific object so it does not matter whether the exposure is long or short. The next thing you have to consider is the timing. There is no right or wrong way to time your shot. Hitting the shutter and releasing it can create a lovely unbroken line – but sometimes shooting with shorter exposure times while the camera is in the frame can be effective also. Once again it’s about experimenting with different timings and seeing what effects it produces. It is not difficult to take it unless you know the timing of the light and the setting. Once you know how to take the light trail pictures, try creative perspectives, angles, and locations. You may feel that I am being vague with my words, but in the end, personal experience will be the best teacher.

The next few pictures are my highschool house party pictures.

"Photographer Kim Jung-Man"

Photos: from Kim's website

     Kim Jung-Man is a famous photographer from South Korea. He has been taking pictures since he was in his late 20s. He worked as a commercial photographer. Throughout most of his highly successful 30-year career, he still wants to push himself, and decided to challenge himself in sharing the beauty of Africa and started a project called “Africa! Africa!”

     Before we talk about his project, I want to talk about a short introduction of this photographer. He was born in 1954, and was raised for a large part of his youth in the rural outskirts of Burkina Faso, West Africa. He then moved to France to study art and photography.

From:potforlio "African! Africa!"

“I grew up in Africa,” Kim says. “And I’ve been all around the world, trekking through deserts and places I never dreamed of. Kim chose to explore his roots a little deeper. All those years outside his boundary had taken its toll and stirred in him a restless need to find inner peace and get to the heart of who he was. He continually pushes the boundaries of his art and it seems every personal project he takes on is pursued with overwhelming respect.

From: "Africa! Africa!"

     Finally, he started the project “Africa! Africa” with many Korean celebrities and a volunteer organization called KOICA (KOICA stands for the Korea International Cooperation Agency, a state-run relief organization that sends some 1,000 skilled volunteers around the world annually to help improve education and health conditions in third-world countries - KOICA website) The 56-year old photographer is currently traveling South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Botswana, and Zambia with KOICA volunteers to capture the everyday lives of the local residents.
     “From time to time, I will travel to two to three of those countries for about 20 days,” Kim said.
     He learned that there is much more in life to capture and tell other people after witnessing environmental destruction and poverty in Africa.

"Are you having fun taking picture?"

     Pictures, some might take them to treasure a moment. Some might take pictures to cherish memories that they want to tell others later on, one scene after another.

     As much as I do now as I have ever since I was young, I loved carrying a small camera with me. Looking here and there, browsing the world around me for pictures that I may later find to be pleasing and extravagant. The fact that anything I see and notice can be saved with a push of a small button thrilled and excited me.

     However, it is not exactly the same anymore. My love and curiosity for photography has been replaced with expectations and goals, always comparing the pictures that once brought me personal pleasure with that of others, seeing if mine were better or worse, regardless of personal preference. I slowly began to lose the pure enthusiasm that I had. I was stressed.

     Photography is highly subjective as well as objective, so there is no need to worry about other people's opinions. However, as having been a school photographer and school yearbook editor, I came to know that sending a message to a person by objectifying the photo is not as easy as it seems. To influence others without words nor letters but one rectangular picture is challenging indeed… For people who have been raised in different environments they have different values and ideas, making it much harder to share feelings with others through one photograph.

     While it is true that as long as you feel pleased and satisfied with your pictures, there is no need to consider others' thoughts, the fact that there is more meaning when you can share the same message with others does it make the subject of your picture and the photo itself more valuable.

     Looking back at my photos and my hobby of photography, I notice that I become the most honest and even at my most expressive when I took pictures. I don't overdo my actions nor do I fake my feelings. I just follow my instincts, looking at objects as I feel like seeing them. However, despite numerous tries, most of the pictures I take do not satisfy me.

     The thing is, when I look into my photos I see me. The way I see life and the world; a perspective that I have forgotten while being thrown into the busy life of a college student.

Maybe, it’s the reason that I could become myself again, and maybe that’s why I love photography.