A Study of Light with Krappy Kameras

For my Alternative class, our assignment was to pick a subject from her list and take pictures with three "krappy kameras". We were required to use a Holga Camera and then two others of out choice. I chose to use my cell phone camera and a disposable camera. These are the final, blown up, matted pictures that I turned in. I think you can tell, but I chose light as my subject. What do you guys think? Can you tell which cameras were used for which ones? These are all sunrise except for the last one. That is a sunset.

Studio Portraits

This week in Studio, our assignment was to do portraits. I thought that this would be a good time to do Sarah Lauritzen's missionary pictures that she has been asking me to do. However, I also asked my other friend Sarah, from work, to come too just in case.

Sarah L. ended up forgetting about it, so it was a good thing I asked Sarah G. too. I think that they turned out really good!!

Sarah G. and I had a lot of fun. We played around and tried a lot of different things. We did some ANTM stuff and other really crazy things. These are just my favorites, but I post some of the other ones if you guys want to see them.

This is the one that I turned in for my class. The requirement was that the picture only be the head and shoulders, so I cropped into this one a little more. I got a 9 on it! My teacher just said that the shadow on the nose was a little too much.

Thanks Sarah!! I really appreciate your help with my assignment!!

Since my camera was on a tripod, and I already had the light set up, I had Sarah take a couple pictures of me too. :) What do you guys think?

Kennedy

For over the last month, Kennedy has started acting really weird. We all went out to dinner for Eddy's birthday on the first Thursday of October. After dinner we went to a haunted house. I had a ton of fun! It has been a long time since all of us have hung out together. Everything seemed fine to me. I talked to my friends about throwing a Halloween party, and they said that all I had to do was tell them what day, and they would be there.

A little over a week later, Where the Wild Things Are came out. I knew Kennedy had really wanted to see that, and I thought maybe we could go together. I tried to call him to see when he was free and he didn't answer. Not completely uncommon. Kennedy and I usually work completely different schedules. So, I got on facebook and asked him about it. That is when I started noticing that something was wrong. I could tell that he was getting on everyday because he would update his statis, but he wouldn't ever answer me. I would call him and he wouldn't answer, he wouldn't answer my texts, return my messages or write me back on facebook. I kept trying to find out if my friends were going to come to my party. None of them did. Eddy was out of town, Will lives in Logan, Ben had to work, Jay had a date and Kennedy never even answered me.

Later, I asked my friend Jay over texts if Kennedy was mad at me. He said, "You will have to talk to Kennedy about that." I kind of freaked out. That meant to me that something really was wrong because if he didn't know anything, he woulod have just said so. I called Kennedy back (he didn't answer) and left him a message. I said, "I guess you really are mad at me, and I have no idea why you would be. If you want to actually let me know what is going on, then please call me back and let me know." Instead of calling me back, he got onto facebook and wrote me this:

"Sorry Chelsee, I'm not mad at you, and I'm doing all right. I just need some time to work out a few things in my life which has caused me to be somewhat neglectful. I hope I haven't caused you too much grief and I hope I can explain better later. Sorry again."

I said, "I don't understand... I'll leave you alone and give you time or whatever it is that you need, but I don't understand why you are cutting me out. I was really upset that none of you guys came to my party when I tried so hard to make sure that you could. You are one of my best friends and I miss you. I hope that you figure out whatever it is that you are going through. If you need someone just to listen, please call me. I know I have been busy, but I will always make time for you if you need me."

All he said was "Thanks Chelsee." Then I said, "One more question... Does any of this have to do with me?" He never answered.

I then tried Jay again. I told him that Kennedy said he needed spaced and asked him if this had to do with me or if it was something else completely. He said, "He seems fine to me. He will talk to you about it when he is ready." Whatever that means!

I tried to leave him alone and give him the space that he asked for, but I couldn't completely do it. First of, Kennedy is one of my BEST friends. I would talk to him about everything, and I probably hang out with him more than any of my other friends. We do everything together! We go see movies, try to figure out soundtracks, get dinner, talk for hours, we even run around and take pictures with all the different blow up things in people's yards for fun. We have so many inside jokes. I love being around him. Especially with how hard school has been and how much I have been working, when I have the time, I really try to do something fun. I liked hanging out with Kennedy because he usually made me really happy.

Anyways, Natalie wanted to go to lunch with me and she wanted to go to Nelson's. We ran into him there. He was nice to me, but talked more to her than to me. I went in again later with Kjersti, and it was completely awkward. I rna into his brother, who didn't know anything about it. I asked how Kennedy was doing and he said, "Good. You should know. You talk to him every other day."

I called Kennedy again and left another message asking him if he was ever going to talk to me again and if he was still planning on being my date to New Moon. (I asked him about a month ago.) Kjersti and I ran into him again at Nelson's and he told me that he was still planning on going. I tried to make a plan for us to talk, but he said that he couldn't that weekend, but he would call me the next. I was so excited that he was talking to me again! I knew things weren't fixed, but I thought they were at least going better.

I sent Kennedy a text a few days later asking if he would be able to get work off before the movie so that we could all go to dinner. He didn't answer. When I saw him again at Nelson's, he didn't even acknowledge me. I called him again the next day and asked him if he even wantd to go with me. I said that I had tried to ask him, he didn't answer, and he clearly still didn't want to talk to me. He sent me a text yesterday saying, "Yeah, I should be able to go to dinner. I can't really explain what's going on, I just need a major change. Sorry but I mostly only spend time with family now." I said, "For good or just for now? Are we not god friends like we were before?" He said, "To be honest, for good. At least for a long while. But I don't want you to feel like I'm shunning you." I said, "Even though you are? I am trying really really hard not to take this personally but I am. You are one of my best friends and I have told you a lot of personal things. I don't understand why you can't tell me what you are going through now." He said, "I am really sorry that I've hurt your feelings but I don't know what more I can say right now." I said, "Please just tell me why. Even if you can't explain fully, at least let me know what it has to do with."

After that, I just started crying. I am losing my best friend and I don't even know why! I don't felt like I have done anything wrong. Out of all of my friends, Kennedy was always the one that has never treated me like this before, so I don't know how to handle it. Later, I sent him another text telling him that I had been crying a lot and that I needed some sort of explaination. He said, "I feel like you've invested more in our friendship than I have and it makes me feel guilty so now that I need to change my life I've found it harder to tell you." I said, "Why can't I be a part of your new life? I have never held you back from anything that you have wanted to do." He said, "This conversation is a perfect example. I asked for space and you haven't respected that. You're not the only one I haven't seen for about a month." I said, "I just didn't understand. Out of all of my friends you are the only one who hasn't ever treated me this way before. Forget about dinner and the movie. I would hate to guilt you into spending time with me when you need space. I thought things were going better. You even said you would starte talking to me again this week so I thought that it was okay. But fine. You never have to see me again. Goodbye Kennedy. I love you. You were my best friend. I hope you figure everything out."

Now I feel like I might have over reacted, but I'm really hurt and it is too late to take it back now. I didn't want to make him come to the movie with me if it was just going to be weird the whole time. And I would probably just be crying since it would probably be the last time that I saw him. I really want him to go though, so now I wish I could take that back. I really hope that if I actually just give him the space that he says he needs that he will eventually come back to his senses and I will get my friend back. I am so sad though. Does it say something really bad about me if my best friends even stop talking to me? Kennedy and I have been friends forever. I don't know what I am going to do or why he is acting this way.

What do you guys think? Did I do the right thing? Is there any other better way for me to fix this without even knowing what's wrong? I feel like the more I tried to fix it, the worse I made it. Am I overreacting? Would you still have gone to the movie with him? I don't know what I am doing. One thing I have decided, I won't be making a friend calender for Christmas this year. I don't know that we are all still friends so what is the point?

Light Painting

This is a portrait I did in my Studio class of Matthew Warren. He is the amazing painter that I have told you guys about. Since the assignment was to do light painting, I thought that it might be cool to show the creative genius that comes from him and what he is able to create with his paintbrush. Matt is one of the best painters I have ever met. To see his work, go to www.mattwarrenart.com!

Colored Gels Studio Assignment

The hardest assignment for me so far this year in studio is this multicolored gel assignment. We had to have three different lights with different colored gels on each of them. All three colors had to show up in out final prints. I shot white roses on a white cloth. I had other flowers too in some of them. What do you guys think? Which one is your favorite?

30 Random Things About Me

1- I always mix up my house keys with my work keys. It usually takes me a minute to remember which one is which.

2- I can't eat food that I think is old. This usually tanslates into that I never eat leftovers. I don't like to eat the same thing twice in a row, so by the time I remember that I have leftovers, I think it is "old" whether it is or not, so I just throw it out.

3- I HATE having anything written/draw on my skin. I can't handle it. It is my biggest pet peeve. Don't draw on me! This becomes a problem when I use food coloring while cake decorating. If I dye my hands, I try to wash it off right away and if I can't, I try not to look at my hands so it won't drive me crazy.

4- When I am working and people are pounding on the glass, I always flash back to Free Willy and empathize with him. How annoying.

5- Stupid people drive me crazy. People that ask for everything instead of trying to figure things out for themselves first, or talk before they speak. Amazingly most of the most irritating people I have ever met have been at work. No I don't have a lid for you ice cream cone! And yes, there is only one scoop in a single scoop. JUST THINK ABOUT IT!!

6- I am usually reading at least two books at a time. I am almost always listening to a book on cd in my car, and I also read a book before I go to bed. I usually have one more in my car too to read while I wait in line at the bank, etc...

7- Buying movies makes me happy. If I have a really bad day, that is usually my cure all. I sometimes want to buy movies that I already own, and sometimes I have to talk myself out of buying a movie I hated if it has a really cool cover or if the trailer was really good.

8- I LOVE caffeine. I always try to give it up because I know it is bad for me, but I am a much more pleasant person when I drink caffeine. It is like asking a little kid to give up their bottle. It is my comfort. I can live without it, but I really don't like to.

9- I love spending money on other people. I am more likely to spend a big amount of money on someone else than on myself. $20 going to someone else is nothing, spending that much on myself is just wasteful.

10- I hate to go shopping. I think I got that from my mom, but I can't stand it. It takes too long and I can't afford half the things that I want. When I go shopping, I usually buy a ton of things so that I can put off going again for as long as possible.

11- I don't think that I will ever get married or have kids. I don't know why. It is just a feeling that I have always had. I can't see it ever happening.

12- I always feel like I luck into a good picture. Even though I am going to school for photography, I feel that when I have actually taken a good picture it was by accident and that someone is going to realize I am just faking it. That is part of the reason I get SO nervous before my photo shoots.

13- Besides the plot and acting in a movie, one of the first things I notice is the music. It can make or break a movie for me. I love listening to movie soundtracks and I can almost always p[ick out my favorite composers even if I don't know what movie the music is from.

14- I take a lot of things personally that I shouldn't. When people quit at work, I take it personally. If I invite people to parties, etc... and they don't show up, I take that personally. And when people back out at the last minute it really, really makes me angry even if I say it is okay.

15- Ever since I was falsely accused of liking a friend's husband, I try not to talk to my friend's boyfriends/ husbands much. Even if they are just trying to be polite, I usually brush them off so there can be no further misunderstandings.

16- I want to write a book. If I ever have time, I have a great idea. I can see how the whole thing should be played out and have the soundtrack ready to go if I can ever find the time and the write words to tell the story I want. If I ever did publish a book though, I wouldn't use my real name.

17- I like paying bills. I hate spending the money on them, but I always find it very satisfying that I live on my own and can pay off all of my bills. I love feeling that independent and knowing I don't have to count on anyone else to be okay.

18- My family is extremely close. We get together as often as we can. Birthdays are a big deal and we celebrate all together for everyone in the family. Parents, children, in-laws, the babies and all major holidays. We all blog to keep in closer contact when we are too busy to get together. Some people think it is weird, but I love that my family is so close. I love my nieces and nephew. They are some of the smartest kids I know. I love spending time with them and seeing how fast they change.

19- Text Twist is the most addicting game for me. If my sister has it up, I can play it forever. When I have to stop, while I am driving and reading road signs, I twist the words to see what other ones I can make out of it.

20- I hate talking about politics or religion because I feel like everyone already has their own ideas about what is right and wrong. I have never met anyone that can be talked out of their beliefs, so why bring up something that we are just going to fight about? I'm not going to try and change you, so please don't try to change me. We can agree to disagree and still be friends anyway.

21- I think that dreams hold meaning. There have been several times when I figure things out in my dreams that I have been working on, or have notions of things that I wouldn't know otherwise. I remember a lot of what I hear while I sleep too. Such as, if I am listening to a book on tape, I still pick up on a lot of what was going on even though I was sleeping.

22- I am scared of spiders. I don't even like touching fake ones just in case...

23- I am a big baby. If I get hurt, I like to show everyone so they can sympathize. I get scared really easily. I don't like watching scary movies because of that. However, I love reading murder mystery books. Sometimes they scare me so bad I can't sleep, but I love trying to figure out who did it. Either by good writing, or good filming, I can usually figure it out even when there aren't very many clues.

24- I am naturally really curious. I want to know why people do what they do, what they are thinking, who is calling, everything... I just like knowing things. That is why I know a lot about the registers at work too. I am curious to see how it works, so if I have time, I try and figure things out.

25- I don't keep a diary. When I was in 4th grade a friend stole mine, so I don't write down anything that I wouldn't want people to know. My blog is as close to a diary/journal as I have.

26- If I start watching a movie, I have to finish watching it. Even if it scares me to death, I will keep thinking about it until I know how it resolves. There are a few from my childhood that someone else turned off because it was too scary, and I still think about them sometimes. I don't believe in ghosts or anything supernatural, but psychotic murderers REALLY scare me!

27- I have to get A's in my classes! In the few times I haven't, it really upsets me. I do the best possible job I can, so if I don't get an A, I don't think that I was graded fairly.

28- I have to have my cell phone on me or it drives me crazy! If I accidently leave it home, there have been occasions when I ask other people to bring it to me because I feel like I need it. Even if I don't use it all day, and no one calls me, I like to have it. Except I hate it when people bug me while I am at school.

29- When I read, or listen to music, I visualize things. If it is music, I think up dances that I think would go with it. If it is a book or something, somewhere between actually reading the words, I just see the story play out.

30- I am a problem solver. If something is wrong, I do everything I can to try and fix it, even if it is not my problem. I visualize different solutions in my head to see how they will play out and run different scenarios to see what the best possible solution can be. I am also a people pleaser. I hate it whenever I think that someone is mad at me and do whatever I can to try and fix it.

Your turn! Write 15-20 random things about you that maybe other people wouldn't know about you!