Final Exam

4. I chose this photo to be my transformative photo because it revolutionized the way I view photography. Initially, I viewed photography as a distant art form that attempts to capture the present. However in attempts to obtain this particular photo I learned a deeper implication behind photography. Superficially, photography is appeasing to the eye; photos provide viewers with a diorama of feelings such as happiness or even sadness. Although I'm just beginning to photograph I can already feel the life changing elements that photography possesses. The maxim, "A picture is worth a thousand words" relays the complex journey behind each photo. In retrospect, this photo is the sole reason why I've begun pondering the so called world of 'photography'.

5. In photography shape is defined as a combination of different elements of design. In my year of photography I was able to photography some of the following including: line and space. It's characterized by a two-dimensional space. Form on the other hand is a three-dimensional space. While shapes include circles and squares, form would include spheres and cubes. Form depends on perspective and the depth of the photo. This is the difference behind form and shape.

 Elements of Art - Shape - (http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/03/elements-of-art-shape.html)

Elements of Art - Form - (http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/03/elements-of-art-form.html)

*I took these photos at Mission Peak*

6. When a certain aspect is repeated it means that it is positively enhanced. This means that a certain stimulus such as color or shape is added to embolden the photo and deliver a stronger message to the viewer. It addition to strength photos that exhibit repetition are proven to pique the interest of viewers more. Photos with patterns exhibit repetition but with a deeper subtle meaning. In a world that is ravaged by hunger, death, and ultimately chaos, photos with pattern establish a sense of order. For example the two photos that I have provided below provide contrasting effects with a similar technique. My repetition photo is a picture of pedals of flower that radiate out towards from a base, this relays and interesting and inquisitive feeling into the viewer. The photo of pattern provides a sense of control and peace, as there is a vastly different foreground and background. The hills and the patch of flowers are both repeating patterns that are found anywhere, but the way that they are position in this photo provide relief and a refuge from the chaotic forces that govern this world.

     Principles of Design - Pattern - (http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/03/principles-of-design-pattern.html)

Principles of Design - Repetition - (http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/03/principle-of-design-repetition.html)

*I took these photos at Mission Peak*

7. http://isaachong.weebly.com/

8. Among the three projects I was assigned to do, I felt that I resonated with my inner photographer most when I did the "About a bunch of things - About Me, Shadow, and Light". I had a fantastic time photographing other people and having to work with them to get particular shots. Again, there is much more to photography than what meets the eye. It's hard to believe that I had so much fun while working so hard. I define work as a successful endeavor that maximizes the amount of fun for the smallest amount of work. All my projects were fun, but I remember my Spring Expo as the time where I put a bike in a tree - sadly, however, I couldn't get any good shots. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with my brother, which I don't get to too often. It was a time of brotherly bonding, something that I will cherish till the day I leave this world. I definitely changed as an individual, because for the first time in my life I wasn't working for a grade; I was working for my own enjoyment and satisfaction. As a junior, I've come to grown skeptical and cynical of the things that events unraveling around me. My pessimism reached a point where there would be abrasive encounters both at home and at school. Usual 'stress-venting activities' such as running and cycling weren't working, because of school work and AP testing. Photography helped me to overcome the hardships at school, it helped me clearly envision what I wanted and how I could come about obtaining that goal. Photographers have a keen ability to predict and orchestrate events so that a particular memory can be captured. I applied this ability to my life and things gradually took a turn for the better. Honestly, if it wasn't for photography I would have remained steadfast in my stubborn and impatient ways but the world of photography has opened doors that I myself couldn't have opened. I've become a person of greater patience and acceptance. After I graduate college, I want to continue to carry out the lessons I learned in photography; I want to make collaborative efforts with the people around me for a greater cause and just have a good time. 

http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/06/about-bunch-of-things-about-me-shadow.html

http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/05/presentation-projects-spring-expo.html

http://hongover.blogspot.com/2015/05/first-commercial-shoot.html

About A Bunch of Things - About Me, Shadow and Light

Student Weebly Reviews

First Period - Sze Photos
The simple photo of a divide within a school cafeteria struck me as an intriguing way to take a photo. There is a sense of balance and symmetry which draws in the viewer. Furthermore I've never seen this particular divide on school campus and it's fancy seeing it so fully erect in place that is soon to be bustling with energy.

Second Period - Ryen Teo
Ryen is a good acquaintance that I met last year during P.E. Yet I never knew that he owned such a great looking dog. Not only that but the dog seems to be happy and it seems that even the photographer had trouble capturing all that energy in one photo. It's a great series of photos but I feel that he could have taken photos when Juno was a little bit more active.

Third Period - Barry Liu
Barry never struck me as a a good photographer, let alone someone who took photos in his free time. The photograph of the two flags with the stars and stripes alone wouldn't have been an outstanding photo. However, the edits that were undertaken in order to produce the final result is pretty extraordinary. This photo came both as a surprise and as a treat to the eye.

Presentation Projects (Spring Expo)

I decided to take a series of pictures regarding bikes. My passion for riding the bicycle developed at the beginning of junior year when I tried to find difference outlets for my stress. Riding the bicycle makes me free and I have decided to commemorate this project to the happiness and the relief that stems from such a simple piece of workmanship. I've decided to take simple shots and capture the elegant nature of the bicycle. When people think of the work bicycle they would not think

Add caption

Add caption

Add caption

Add caption

First Commercial Shoot

Trip Tych

Photoshop Edit

Camera Raw Edit

Original 

And the Winner for Best Picture....

Omkaar Kotedia
Tom Hull
Cocoon Studio
Mareen Fischinger
Hardy Klahold

Photo Story MCW

The part that I most enjoyed about MCW was the assembly. I'm able to look forward to this part ever year. I especially enjoyed the boll wood dancers. I can only imagine the time and the effort that was poured into all these performances. I also liked the idea of how each culture at Mission was represented, or at least a great effort was made. Even for the faculty,I can't imagine the sacrifice and the management that went to make MCW what it was. The following are a couple photos that capture the fervor excitement and the endless enjoyment. It is in the order that I thought was the most entertaining.

There was a lot of skill and finesse that the ballerinas displayed during MCW assembly. They didn't perform just one act, instead they incorporated different styles throughout history. Although these ballerinas only employed 'four forms' they put on a marvelous performance that was greatly appreciated by the entire school. 

Growing up I thought that wushu was for the elderly as a method to help the muscles and the bones grow. Upon seeing the multicultural performance I was appalled by the fast lightening reflexes of the martial artists. It is definitely something that I look forward to the coming year.

Mr. Huei has been performing in Multicultural Assembly for as long as I have attended this school, three measly years, and each year he is able to deliver an outstanding performance. He's still involved in the school in other ways than teaching and that's something that I really admire about him. It just goes to prove that age is just a number!

Bollywood is a part of the Mission identity. During the time of multicultural week all the animosity and the lines between the classes disappear. In order to produce such a marvelous performance as the Bollywood crew did there is a need for cooperation and perseverance. It was very fun and enjoyable experience. 

Although the majority of Mission students are passive and prefer to stick to Bach or Beethoven these group of students set themselves apart by performing a beat-box coalition. I was taken aback by the display of skill and the unique sounds that originated from each member. It was a little difficult to hear because of the inferior sound system and the endless chattering of the students. 

Story with a Photo - One Trip, Two Friends, Three Messages

During Spring break, Sean, a good friend of mine, and I decided to go up Mission Peak on bikes. We went up purely for recreational purposes, but with the stunning views and the beautiful scenery I couldn't help but take a couple of photographs. The bike trail was extremely technical but entertaining. My favorite experience was going down; the adrenaline rush from the speed and the maneuvering was addictive. We stupidly decided to go during the dead of the day which resulted in unnecessary pain. Nevertheless, it was a fun day and I'm glad that I did something fun over break besides studying, of course. I hope that Sean will stumble upon this blog sometime in the near future and reminisce on the memories of his eventful high school life.    

MSJMCW Story

As I entered the one peaceful horseshoe I am immediately swamped in a brazen and unruly crowd of food craving students. I could see the desire of food seeping out of their mouths in the form of saliva and smell the enticing aromas of mono-sodium glutamate-ridden food. My ears ring from the bass to the point where my eyes watered. As soon as I stepped into the parking lot I hear the indistinct and loud chatter that reached a level of noise that even the fervor of homecoming couldn't compare. The loud and obnoxious students, mostly underclassmen, with the warm enveloping rays of the sun seemed to be actively sapping my energy as I felt tired almost instantaneously. As I made my way to my designated station I could hear feeble attempts to sell overpriced products. The buzzing chatter, my growling stomach, and the music put an enormous overload on my senses. It seemed like a scene straight out of a simulate firefight, it was hard to believe that a renowned institution of excellence could produce such excitement and activity. After all the pushing and shoving to safely get to booth 15, I was overtaken with the embarrassment that accompanied the loud screaming of our vice president. I trudged over and put on the mandated gloves with so much reluctance and ignorance that I put the gloves on the wrong hand. Like all the idiotic mistakes I make in my life, there is always another person to remember the embarrassing moments in my life. I laughed along and my spirits were quickly uplifted. Looking back I'm thankful for the longer time (twenty minutes) that I get to spend with friends and for the food, that would have been a reachable distance, that is so generously provided by each club. It's a high school experience that I am thankful for and something that I look forward to in the coming years.

Shutter Speed and Everything After

Tuesday with Farley's Kids!
Partners:
Valerie Choung
Nicole Li 
Isaac Hong (Me)

1. In order to capture a scene with so much movement with such accuracy, this photograph was taken with a faster shutter speed. Upon closer inspection of the subjects within the photo there are no blurred lines which also indicates the usage of a relatively fast shutter speed.

2. The rule of depth presents itself in this photo. The highway winds endlessly for as far as the eye can see. 

Nicole - "This photo shows the rule of composition of balancing elements. The bright colors of the trucks really contrast with the clear gray sky. These balanced elements keeps the photo from not being too overpowering to look at."
Val Choung - "The rules of using lines is demonstrated in the photo through the use of the lane lines on the road and the guard rails. These lines all converge (to a single point) and lead to the main focus of the picture, the fallen truck and the passing trucks. This is closely related to the element of art, line, but is different because it the element of art states that there is a usage of line, which the rule of composition of line how it can be use to make the photograph more effective."

3. The element of shape is a repetitive in this photo. The subjects in the photo have a certain depth and width, all based upon the polygonal shape, the rectangular prism.

4. This photo utilized the element of repetition. My eyes were drawn to the repeating patterns of the guardrails. Parallel with the highway the simple pattern of the guardrail extends as far as the eye can see.

Tuesday with Farley's Kids!

Used a shutter speed of 1/250

Principles of Design - Rhythm

Principles of Design - Unity

Add caption

Principles of Design-Variety

We decided on photo 6 from "Documenting the Blues in the Mississippi Delta" because for me it exhibits a lack of balance. Photos derive their "quality" from the presence and absence of several factors. For me this photo emphasizes great amount of movement. The food, the person, the wilderness, the junkyard relays this photo as one that is full of variety.

Principle of Design - Repetition

I turned up the brightness and a higher contrast so that there would be a definite difference between the patch of flowers and the hills in the background. 

Principles of Design - Pattern

Focused at the head of the flower so that the background would be blurred and provide the viewer with a sense of pattern

Principles of Design - Emphasis

Principles of Design - Balance

This fits balance not in the conventional sense but because the rocks are aligned in a particular way. 

Elements of Art - Color

Vibrance: +4
Clarity: +0.2

Elements of Art - Space

Highlights +2
Clarity:-0.2

Elements of Art - Texture

Highlights: +13
Clarity: +0.2

Elements of Art - Shape

Vibrance:+4 

Elements of Art - Form

Highlights:+13
Vibrance:+12

Half Past Autumn - Gordon Parks pt 1

1. On the day Gordon Parks was born, how did the doctor save Gordon's life?
   Gordon Parks was saved by the assistant of the head doctor. He was actually pronounced dead but a young white doctor plunged his blood-soaked remains into a tub of icy water and miraculously gave him life.
2. Where was Gordon born? (what state?)
   Gordon Parks was born in Fort Scott, Kansas. 
3. What did Gordon's class adviser, Ms. McClintock, tell him about college?
   Ms. McClintock discouraged Gordon from developing any aspirations for high education. He attended a segregated elementary school where the high school wasn't segregated because the town was too small to afford to build another one. His teacher also told him that going to college would just waste his parents' money; additionally, she said that black were reserved for menial labor such as accountants or clerks. 
4. How old was Gordon when his mother died?
   Gordon's mother unfortunately died when he was fourteen years old. It was a tragic event and at the night of her death he spent his sleeping beside his mother's coffin. 
5. Where did Gordon move after his mother died?
   After the tragic passing of his mother Gordon was sent to live with his relatives. The particular situation ended when Parks was thrown out into the subzero streets of St. Paul, Minnesota. His sister's husband threw him out of the house just before Christmas and Parks was forced to take a variety of jobs to support himself. 
6. Did Gordon graduate from college?
   Unfortunately Gordon's academic career was cut short when he was thrown out. 
7. How did Gordon begin his fashion photography career?
   Gordon started his photography career by a complete accident. 
8. What is a "double exposure?"
   Double exposure is the repeated exposure of a photographic or film to light. The effects of double exposure is characterized by a ghostly image. 
9. Who was boxer Joe Louis?
   Joe Louis was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. More importantly, he was a man that defied the social norm and the stereotypes. He carried the hopes and dreams of the 'black race'. 
10. What instrument did Gordon play?
    Although Gordon was never taught music theory he was able to compose music for the piano. He was a phenomenal pianist and he performed as a jazz pianist. 
11. What was the purpose of the Farm Security Administration?
    The purpose of the Farm Security Administration was to combat the pervasive nature of American rural poverty during the Great Depression. They strove to improve the lifestyle of sharecroppers, tenants, farmers through resettling them on more suitable plots of land. 
12. When Roy Stryker hired Gordon for the FSA, what was Stryker's first assignment for Gordon in Washington, D.C.?
    Roy Stryker 
13. Who was Ella Watson?
14. What was the inspiration for Grant Wood's American Gothic?
15. What did Gordon learn from Stryker about photography?

Multimedia Fest Poster 2015 #2

Why is this poster good?

This poster is an outstanding improvement from our original multimedia poster, because first of all it provides the audience with corrected information. That is an essential aspect of the poster and a flaw that we didn't notice with the first poster. Although there are added effects it doesn't detract from the aesthetics of the poster and it provides an insight into the multimedia fest.

Why is it better than the last one?

In the initial poster there was a difficulty perceiving the intended message as the color-play of pink and white was hard on the eyes. With this new improved poster there is black outlining the letters and so it's much easier for the audience to see the message. For the location and the date of the event we altered the font so that the audience won't exert that much of an effort to read the message.

What did we do to create it?

We focused more on the actual message instead of the entire poster. There was a difficulty with the first version in reading it. The font was carefully picked in order to "jump" at the audience. As you can see we outlined each letter with black. The bubbles were created using the polygon tool in Photoshop. The circle outlines were used with the same tool. Picking the background was done in accordance to the content. It was after we finished that we picked the background, contrary to the popular method.

Movie Monday - The Photo League

Ordinary Miracles - The Photo League

1. The incentive was to photography and teach more people photography. They really believed that human kindness and such associated emotions can be forever immortalized in photos. They believed that photos can convey different feelings, despite the fact that the entire audience is presented with a single photo. 
2. The Photo League broke off from The Film and Photo League
3. A photo class offered by the Photo League. The Photo League taught basic photography techniques to ordinary individuals and transformed their lives forever. These people are living testaments of positive benefits of photography.
4. Sid Grossman taught "the Workshop"
5. I would really want to devote my life to capturing nature and its inhabitants. The Human species is the most violent and explosive of the millions of species that exist on planet Earth. I am curious and I want to show others how different organisms and ecosystems get by with our presence. 
6. It was a project to document life in Harlem during the depression and to raise awareness for it. They took photos of the desolate living conditions that ordinary people had to go through on a daily basis. 
7. The Harlem Document was started by Aaron Siskind.
8."The children looked like they came out of a Caravaggio painting."
9. The photo looked like it was painted by Caravaggio because the boy in the photograph was illuminated by the sunshine and looked unique. Many of Caravaggio's works are dark but have the main focus of the painting very well lit. He was able to masterfully use this technique in order to illuminate ordinary scenes within a city.
10. Lewis Hine was a photographer who worked tirelessly to end the cruel nature of child labor. He photographed American Red Cross relief efforts during World War 1. Although his intent was to raise awareness for the war, I was able to take away a completely different meaning from the photo. I saw the importance of the role that women had in the war and the bravery and valor that went into the fighting.
11. Arthur Fellig, also known as Weegee, was a photographer and photojournalist that was known for his sharp black and white street photography. He photographed crime and brought the stark reality of urban life.
12. When the Nazis took power, the Photo League was joined by talented photographers who had escaped from Europe. Since they were directly exposed to the horrors of war, they were able to divert these melodramatic feelings into their work which instilled emotion into the audience.
13. Photo league members used cameras to support the war effort in America. Many female members of the League took over operations of the effort at home while many of the Photo League's men photographers went overseas with armed forces.
14. Aaron Siskind brought the concept of abstract expressionism to photography, different from the sociological realism from the Harlem document.
15. The Saturday Evening Post was a bimonthly American magazine that was published weekly. Most of the photographs used in the articles were taken by members of the Photo League.
16. Barbara Morgan was an American photographer famous for her depictions of modern dancers. She was a co-founder of the photo magazine, Aperture.
17. The League's intimate connection to Communism and Soviets soon undermined the photo league.
18. The "Growing Menace" was a nickname for the Soviet Union
19. Eugene Smith agreed to serve as President when the League was under investigation.
20. The league continued their efforts to raise awareness about issues such as child labor but they soon disbanded in 1951.

Multimedia Fest 2015

Poster Assignment

Period 4 - Semester Final

Part 1
1. My favorite photo from this Lens slideshow was the last photo, the silhouette of a bird standing atop a deer. I like this photo because not only does it provide the viewer with a sense of mystery is also provides a story. The hazy feel and the rough edges of the surrounding shrubbery and overhanging branches provides a natural and unique frame. As a photographer, I've always had a difficult time with framing and this photo is an embodiment of something I would very much want to emulate. Lastly, I like this photo for it's contrasting fields of depth. More of the woodland can be observed at the middle of the photo. It's very intriguing how a single photo, a two-dimensional medium, can relay two fields of depth.

2. The best photo from the slideshow was the sixth photo, where a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190D is observed crossing the Hakskeen Pan. Like all great photos, it captures the vastness and beauty of this world. Although the shot only captures a car,  a bare lake led, and the sky the contrasting colors of blue and brown is pleasing to look at. Although I'm sure the car is moving at a high speed, the photograph masterfully utilizes the rule of thirds creating more energy and interest in the composition. Lastly, this photo deserves to be crowned the greatest photo because of the discrete but masterful cropping. The photographer cut out all unnecessary details and the attention of the viewer is focused fully on the moving car.

3. My best work this semester has to be this photo, because I enjoyed working with such a cohesive and awesome group. The group was very patient and obedient to my directions as I was taking the photo. In photography, most subjects rarely listen to the photographer, which is why I liked taking this photo. I also liked this photo, because it captured a range of emotions. Like many photos, I wanted to convey a story and a tone to the viewer. I think that I captured happiness, distress, and confusion very well in this photo; this type of shot reels in the viewer and provides a stronger tension. Lastly, I think this is my best work, because I of the numerous technical edits I made. Before the photo, the ground was riddled with gum, but takes to my skills in Photoshop CS6 I was able to remove them. This photo was taken in September, a month that was known to be relatively poorly lit for the likes of a good photo. I was able to turn that around in Camera Raw and provide viewers with an outstanding light-shadow gradient. Although this is considered my best work, I believe that a better background could have been used. There are many things cluttering the background and it detracts from the overall tone of the photo. In addition, I feel that the photo would have been better if I had contacted my group members earlier and coordinate matching apparel. This would have discerned the subjects from the background by providing a sharp contrast of color.

4. My three rules of composition is as follows: Rule of Depth, Rules of Thirds, and Rule of Perspective.

5.

 

Master of Photography Project Photo Recreation#1
In this photo I am simultaneously utilizing the Rule of Thirds and the Rule of Depth.

6. Your first rule was to "get close". This rule is a very excellent rule, because this is what needs to happen when you're trying to capture the full extent of a story. Getting close captures the most detail and with the most detail there is a greater story. 

7. Working in a group entails a lot of benefits. For starters since there are five people, there's five times the amount of amazing ideas. I was only able to get these awesome shots because my group members helped me decide on a plethora of options such as background, setting, depth, etc. Next, a group is supportive and helpful. Although some of the photos I took weren't the best, my group members supported me and provided me with invaluable constructive criticism. I'm a better photographer I am now than I was at the beginning of the year thanks to them. Working in a group can also help strengthen communication skills. I'm not the type of person to talk a lot, but because of this class I was able to develop stronger communications skills. Working in a group also refined my understanding of the concept behind photography through discussion. Usually, when I work along I miss a lot of key concepts and points, but my group members were able to help me learn editing photos through saturation, hue, opacity. Lastly, working in a group increased the productivity and performance. There is a broader range of skills that can be applied to each individual photo and sharing ideas play a crucial role in understanding such complicated rules in photography. 

8. Working in a group can be beneficial but there can also be a lot of complications. When working as a collaborative group there is always bound to be conflict, as it is in human nature. There was a great contrast in personal styles which led to a clash of ideals. Unequal participation can also be commonly observed in a group. There's usually a tendency for some group members to sit back and let the others do all the work for them, or there is a case when a single group member hogs all the work for him or herself. Groups also may take more time to complete an objective than an individual. Since there are so many ideas being circulated, group members can be tasked with the meticulous job of choosing an idea. Even more so everyone in a group do things at different speeds. It takes time for the entire group to understand a concept and that can detract valuable time needed in order to complete a task by a certain deadline. lastly, different personalities entail people not being comfortable. Some students are naturally shy and are less inclined to talk to people, as they feel extremely uncomfortable when working with others. 

9. This photo is my favorite photo produced by Karthik Ramesh Period 4.

A little history

10. I studied and reproduce the work of Julia Margaret Cameron. Julia Margaret Cameron was ahead of her time, she purposely avoided perfect resolution in favor of soft focus, carefully directed light, and long exposures that allowed the sitters' slight movement to be registered in her photos.Julia Margaret Cameron was known for her portraits of contemporary celebrities, and for photographs with deep heroic themes. She contributed a new perspective regarding photographs. She showed the photographers of her time that photos can still be beautiful with a luminous, dreamlike soft focus instead of the favored meticulously detailed photos.  

11. Dorothea's Lange most popular photo was called the "Migrant Mother". She was able to get this amazing shot in Nipomo, California during the February/March 1936. She took this photo for the Resettlement Administration. 

12. The creator/founder of Life Magazine Henry R, Luce. Life Magazine was founded January 4, 1883, but it began publication on November 23, 1936.

13. Robert Capa was responsible with the founding of Magnum Photos. This (phtojournalism) magazine began to start publishing in the year 1947. 

14. Robert Capa took the photo known as "Falling Soldier" in September 5, 1936. The photographer claimed that the photo was taken at the battle site of Cerro Muriano, but modern research actually proves that it was taken in the town of Espejo, which was about thirty miles away. 

Album Cover Recreation

Parallel Lines "Blondie" Recreation ISAAC HONG #10