Monica

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Breakfast in Tempe ☀️

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Dust storm in downtown Phoenix

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The Power of Latinx Twitter

Latinx Twitter is known for memes like “cries in Spanish,” which comes from a popular Mexican telenovela (soap opera) titled María la del Barrio. It is also the source of hashtags like #GrowingUpMexican, #Tejana, #VoteLatino and #BrownAndProud.  Besides creating creative, humorous and relatable content for Latinos, Latinx Twitter also helps their racial community unite and draw attention to problems affecting groups in their community. Latinx Twitter got the mainstream media’s attention in 2018 with DACA and the issue of families being separated. 

During the midterm elections that year, #SomosMás (”we are more than that) was trending as Latinos in the U.S. expressed the importance of their community being treated fairly. Immigration is a hot topic since most Latinos hate seeing members of their community being treated poorly. Much like Black Twitter’s creation of hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter as a way of fighting for justice, Latinx Twitter also unites during important cultural moments and political situations. 

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Two guests on the Steve Harvey Show described how posting a racist comment on social media in a moment of frustration changed their lives. When it comes to social media, this type of content can spread rapidly throughout various platforms. 

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Trolls can be found all over social media. They are regular people who crave online attention and like to make themselves seem intimidating. Some trolling can be harmless but sometimes it includes things like violent threats, “doxxing” and even “swatting.”

Monica Urriola

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In the twenty-first century, information is power. The truth cannot be hidden....Such open discourse is important even if what is said does not square with our worldview.

Barack Obama 

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Trayvon Martin, Racism and Social Media -

TweetRacism and the struggle for civil rights are happening online. This is a central point that I made in an earlier book and in talks I’ve given around the country. The Trayvon Martin case illustrates …

When 17-year-old African-American teen Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in 2012, many people learned about the incident through social media and voiced their opinions on various platforms. Decades ago, people from all over the country and world could not come together in one place to fight for justice. This event demonstrates how social media helps communities unite and allows their voices to be heard in moments like these.

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Howl-o-ween in Downtown Phoenix

Phoenix’s first Halloween dog parade took place on Sunday, Oct. 28 at Margaret T. Hence Park. The Howl-O-Ween parade was inspired by the Barkus dog parade, an annual Mardi Gras tradition in New Orleans where dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes get the opportunity to display their costumes. 

Besides the excitement of seeing dogs in costume, attendees were offered food, drinks and the chance to participate in other activities. Read more about the event here!

Monica Urriola

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Tastes from Different Cultures

Downtown Phoenix’s Food Truck Friday attracts office workers, college students and tourists every week. Food truck workers park their trucks at Civic Space Park in front of Arizona State University’s Downtown campus and prepare to serve all sorts of food.

On November 2, I walked across the street to learn more about it. That day, the event offered Cambodian food, South American food, barbecue and Belgian waffles.

I had the chance to interview a food truck worker who was working at Food Truck Friday for the first time, an ASU student who was visiting for the first time and returning customers.

Monica Urriola

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The Perfect Holiday Drink

I thought pouring eggnog into my Christmas mug would be appropriate for my cinemagraph. Honestly, grocery stores should sell it all year long but it’s one of those holiday beverages that’s worth the wait. I made the cinemagraph at my house over Thanksgiving break, which was perfect because eggnog reminds me of chilling by my cozy fireplace back home in Texas. 

Monica Urriola

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Boomer being Boomer

Boomer, my pug, is one of the most playful dogs I’ve come across. When he’s not running around or chewing on toys, he’s usually curled up sleeping. He’s very spoiled and receives a toy every time I go home for breaks. Watch my video to learn more about him.

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#IGShowcase Day 10: Reflections

Some of my favorite types of photos are the ones where you can turn your device upside down and see the same image. Water makes a great mirror which adds a touch of uniqueness to these types of photos.

Monica Urriola

Photo Credits 📸: 

Top left: zackkcore                         Top right: es.photo9

Bottom left: jordanevaans          Bottom right: samyuktha_malekar 

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#IGShowcase Day 9: Illusions

Illusion photography is quite fascinating to look at. It’s all about the subject(s), timing and angle. It takes a lot of creativity to create a good illusion. Photoshop is a great tool used for illusions. It keeps the viewer wondering how the picture was taken. 

Monica Urriola

Photo credits📸: 

Top left: yellowtravelsblog                 Top right: alanda_05

Bottom left: ohgen                              Bottom right: michael_wo92

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#IGShowcase Day 8: Cities

Images of a city’s skyline are often used to attract tourists or simply to show people the city’s uniqueness and architecture. The background is an important aspect because it demonstrates what a normal day in the city may seem like. Seeing how a city lights up at night is quite fascinating. Although many skylines are similar, each location’s appearance is unique in its own way. 

(From left to right: Singapore, San Francisco, Chicago, Puerto Madera)

Monica Urriola

Photo Credits 📸:

Top left: aaronisgone                       Top right: paulclark

Bottom left: sophia.welser            Bottom right: lachicadeloscielos

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#IGShowcase Day 7: Macrophotography

Macrophotography takes skill as well as the right camera. Phones usually have a hard time focusing on small objects and the image often turns out blurry. Details can teach us new things. For example, not everyone will think of ladybugs as adorable insects after seeing the picture on the top left. 

Monica Urriola

Photo Credits 📸: 

Top left: chambers35th                        Top right: sphantasy_art

Bottom left: luciano_richino               Bottom right: spotmeter

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#IGShowcase Day 6: Sports

I admire sports photography because the photographers must be skilled in capturing quick movements. For example, snowboarders jump in mid air, football players get tackled, etc. Background also plays a big role because certain sports are associated with certain locations. Capturing the athletes’ facial expressions is also important so the viewers understands what they’re feeling at that moment. 

Monica Urriola

Photo credit 📸: 

Top left: skosh23                      Top right: picturebilly

Bottom left: filipefoto                 Bottom right: krisvang

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#IGShowcase Day 4: Food

Foodies love this one. Some food photographers are responsible for helping restaurants gain customers. By using the right angles and even focus while capturing images of food, they attract people to the restaurant advertised in a website, billboard or magazine. When a burger not only sounds delicious but looks delicious, more customers are guaranteed.

Monica Urriola

Photo Credits 📸:

Top left: maneet_16                         Top right: bealubas

Bottom left: bealubas                   Bottom right: rainbowplantlife