Michelle & Brenda @pphoto450-blog - Tumblr Blog

Some of my best work for the semester

By Brenda Mendez

My portfolio which consists of photographs i took over the semester includes a wide variety of wide, medium, and tight shots. They were all taken with my DSLR. As Chapnick recommended in his book, i included photographs that conveyed my strengths and included photographs that showed variety of emotions. For example i have some pictures of Katie Coert, who i documented for my personal project smiling, while on the other hand an environmental portrait of Giovanna Miranda gives a serious stare into the camera. One of my favorite shoots i did this semester was our second project on Dia De Los Muertos. I was able to get wide, medium and tight shots. Overall keeping in mind that i want to tell a story as i shoot pictures helped out a lot this semester. So did trying to take sequence shots, they work very well if you’re trying to make a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X39MdxA3k-A

this is the link to my favorite multimedia video i worked on with Michelle for J450.

The images chosen for my portfolio are an extension of my work and portray my style of photography. There is a variety of angles that were used that make this portfolio strong. There are wide, medium and tight shots along with some over the shoulder and other different angles that were used. I mainly used my stock lens that came with my Nikon D3200 camera but I also used a Micro lens to get more detailed shots. Some of the photos were taken with my iPhone 6s Plus as well. The strongest photos came from the personal project because I spent the most time taking pictures as oppose to the other projects that had a time crunch. I started the personal project since the beginning of the semester and took my time as oppose to rushing. Some of the other photos, like the Day of the Dead pictures, were included in my portfolio because they show some of my interests. My Latin culture is what makes me who I am today and I love to photograph anything that has to do with that. My partner, Brenda and I had the opportunity to create a feature video and since the Day of the Dead holiday was right around the corner, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to showcase something that is a part of our culture. (There is a link on this post that takes you to the multimedia project about the Day of the Dead.) Another project that I worked on this semester was about a 31-year-old student from Iran who was in the process of completing her Master's degree at CSUN. She was trying to get her M.F.A in painting and she is really talented. She invited me to her art studio at the Art and Design Center building and she started to paint a portrait. It was really interesting to see an artist work and the photos that I took of her came out nicely. There is one photo from the athlete that I took pictures of named Rachel Nauman that captures her practicing for an upcoming race. I think it was a strong photo because she often runs with her friend and she is in her natural element. The sun was rising and there is a hint of light in the background and she is right beside the camera. There are a couple of photos from the first multimedia project that my partner and I did that are included in my portfolio as well. The project was about the gentrification that is occurring in Highland Park and I think I documented that well. Although I didn't include more photos, the majority of my work from that project was done on video, so there wasn't that many photos.Overall, my portfolio showcases the work that I have accumulated over the semester for the J450 class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X39MdxA3k-A - Link to Project 2: Multimedia video on a Feature story. By Michelle Moran and Brenda Mendez

Chapter 7 & 19

By Brenda Mendez

Chapter 7 talks a lot about a photographer’s portfolio. I agree with Chapnick that a portfolio should have some cinematic effect. It should contain a beginning, climax, middle, and impactful ending. There is also a difference between a student and working photographer, Chapnick recommends that when it comes to student portfolios, you should include photographs you have shop on the job. This way you can show to others how well you perform on the job, if it looks like you have thought about your composition and what not. I would like to include all the great photographs I’ve taken during this semester. I plan on including tight shots, wide angle, and medium shots like Chapnick recommends.

In chapter 19, Chapnick advises that students should attend workshops, and enter contests to expand their experience. For example, as a photojournalism student I would look into workshops that are offered in that area. I’ve been doing some research online and I’ve come across a couple of workshops that would benefit me. There are some workshops being offered in street photography, I think this would be great for me as a journalist because I can use what I learn when I’m out on a photojournalism job.

Ch.7 & Ch.19 Blog

By Michelle Moran

Ch. 7 - According to Chapnick, “Portfolios should not be static, unalterable presentations; they should be cumulative and expanding and may even include pictures from yesterday’s assignment.” Portfolios represent a photographer’s best work and a student’s portfolio is different than a working photographer’s portfolio. I agree with Chapnick that most of the photos in the portfolio of a working photographer should be ones shot on assignment. They show the person’s ability to fill a publication’s needs and to get the job done -- well and on time. As you read the chapter, it seems like Chapnick is saying that your portfolio should be like a movie, have a beginning, climax, a middle, and an end with varied long shots, medium, and closeups. Personal appearance matters, and I agree. I like to show my personality with my work, but I believe that being minimal is good. You can still show personality, but you don’t your portfolio to be too much and unpleasing to the eye. Like Chapnick says, let your photos speak for themselves and be yourself. I want my portfolio to include all of my good work that I have done over the fall semester.

Ch. 19 - This chapter talks about workshops, contests, awards and grants. It mentions if you are interested in nature photography, that you need to find nature workshops. I love nature photography so it would be interesting to find some in the area. Also, I would like to find photojournalism workshops as well to improve my knowledge. Chapnick explains that if a photographer is entering their photos, to survive, the photos presented must be simple and direct. They must have striking, instantly grasped content plus strong graphic elements. And they must have a few, if any, distracting elements that dilute the main message. Chapnick also talks about grants, how they can be very helpful to photojournalists wishing to complete personal projects or produce a specific body or work. I think grants, like scholarships, would be hard to get. I could imagine all of the applicants that are wishing to get one of these grants. I think as a student, I will focus more on workshops and contests.

Daniel Avila, who goes by Danny, is a 21-year-old film student from North Hollywood, CA. He is passionate about baking and wants to graduate from college. Although he is still trying to figure out himself, he tries to be the best employee and student that he can be. He currently works at Tender Greens in Burbank as one of the lead pastry chefs and takes classes at Los Angeles Valley College. He has a brother and a sister, both of which are away at universities. His father is from Mexico and his mother is from Argentina. When he is not working or going to class, he likes to hang out with his uncle, 19-year-old Tony Pernisco in North Hollywood, where they both live. They have a lot of similar qualities, they love to joke around and be outgoing with anyone that they meet. Danny recently began to date a co worker, Lisa Rodriguez, after months of talking and hanging out. Lisa is 23-years-old and she is currently living in Pacoima with her two sisters. She was hesitant to jump into a relationship with Danny because he is younger then her, a couple of years apart. Danny says that the moment he saw Lisa on her first day of work, he was in love with her immediately. Today, they are still trying to get to know each other and they say they are happy that they are in each other's lives.

Personal Project

By Brenda Mendez

Katherine Coert, who goes by the name Katie is 22 years old and grew up in Ventura, California. Her father was in the Navy and her mother works for the teacher’s union. Coert also has a dog named Sammy who is 15 years old. She recently graduated from Cal State Northridge as a graphic designer. She now works as a freelance graphic designer and does work for non profit organization “Mission without Boarders” that’s a Christian organization serving children, families and elderly people suffering poverty and oppression. Coert also does freelance work for a start up headphone company called “Spider USA.” Coert steers away from working at coffee shops or her home and instead goes to a local park that provides free wifi. Aside from graphic designing, Coert also has a passion for dancing and sports. She began doing gymnastics at the age of 6 and continued her training in ballet and other forms of dance. Overall Coert still dances and volunteers at an after school program to teach cheerleading, which she did from the age of 10 through 16. Coert hopes to move out to Los Angeles, somewhere near the Silverlake area by the end of this year. She believes work for her field is more in demand in the city. Overall just a small-town girl hoping to make it in the city.

Katie Coert starting her day at home in Ventura, California.

Katie Coert starts off her morning routine by choosing her clothes for the day.

Katie Coert has lived in Ventura all her life.

Katie Coert started doing sports and dace at the age of 6.

Gymnastics and ballet were Katie’s two favorite sports growing up.

Katie Coert started doing ballet at the age of 8.

Katie Coert still practices ballet at least one day a week.

Katie Coert volunteers at an elementary school and teaches cheerleading.

Katie Coert graduated from Cal State Northridge in 2014, and now works as a freelance graphic designer.

Katie Coert has been working as a freelance graphic designer for about a year.

Katie Coert does freelance graphic design for non profit organization “Mission without Boarders.”

Ads created by Katie Coert for non profit organization “Mission without Boarders.”

Katie Coert works on a layout for her job.

Katie Coert plans to move out of Ventura to Los Angeles, where her work of field is more in demand.

Katie Coert dedicates 5-7 hours, four days a week to her job as a freelance graphic designer.

Katie Coert does freelance work for start up headphone company “Spider USA.”

Katie Coert grew up with her dog Sammy, who is now 15 years old.

Katie Coert’s only chore is to walk Sammy.

Katie Coert’s next big plan is to move out to the city by next year.

Katie Coert plans on enjoying her last months with Sammy, she hopes to find more work in the city.

Chap. 24

By Michelle Moran

In the beginning of the chapter, the author speaks about a test that I have never heard of, called The Thematic Apperception Test. It is a psychological test that is administered by presenting photographs for interpretation. He also states that photos are ambiguous. I find this interesting, not only because I have never heard of this test, but because I also agree that photos are ambiguous. Every one interprets a picture differently, not everyone has the same state of mind. If I am looking at a photo of a dog and cat sleeping next to one another, I would think that it is very cute and that they most likely love each other. But another person could argue that they just fell asleep next to each other and when they wake up, they are going to growl at each other.

The author says that everybody wants to work for National Geographic, and I agree because I am one of those people that would love to work for this magazine. But, there are rarely ever any positions open and those who work for them, don’t leave. He says, “work five times harder than the next photographer.”

He goes on to say that it is important for everybody to have a sense of self, to be confident about their abilities and to communicate that confidence in dealing with clients, and for photographers it is more important. I agree because I think employers like to hire people that are confident in themselves, if someone is doubtful and negative about themselves then that reflects the type of employee that they will be.

There is a section about overshooting, and I think that I fall in that category. Although I’ll admit to overshooting with my dslr, I don’t think I over do it when it comes to shooting film. He says that the guinness book of records that the record for the number of frames that a photographer shot in one day. He shot 15 rolls of color film to produce one photo, which to me is a little excessive.

I believe that photojournalism means to photograph the truth, to photograph reality and not to fabricate that. I love to take photos of something that is occurring right then and there, because they are not staged and real. I do love studio portraits but photojournalism is so different that I can’t get enough of it. Photos that are staged are not considered photojournalism, and if someone tries to pass a photo along and call it photojournalism and it is staged, then that is wrong.

Chapter 24

By Brenda Mendez

In this Chapter Chapnick starts off by stating everybody wants to work for National Geographic, which I agree with. He goes on to elaborate that not many go on to get that job, or something similar to it, and to make things more challenging not everyone becomes a staff photographer. He gives tips on how to make yourself stand out, which I agree. If I follow the tips recommended in the chapter I would be able to distinct myself from the next photographer. He elaborates that a photographer must be confident when presenting their work. And if any insecurities are in you, make sure you hide them, according to Chapnick it comes off mediocre and no one wants to work with someone who isn’t confident. At the same time there is a difference between self-assurance and self-importance. This can be used by myself when meeting/interviewing for a job. In this chapter Chapnick also suggests to never donate any photographs to non profit organizations. If the editor, or any other staff member part of the non profit is getting paid, why shouldn’t you? Unless everyone isn’t getting paid, it would be okay to give away your photographs. Something like this would have never crossed my mind. I would have given away a photograph if asked by a non profit and never think if it’s a fair game. He gives tips on overshooting. For example he shares the story of a photographer shooting 15 rolls of pictures to only publish/print 1 photo. This is great advice because i find myself overshooting at times, more is less and the less a photographer thinks the better. Chapnick also explains that no one should ever bash a persons religion, other photographers, or someone’s way of living. He gives tips on black and white photography, and “getting close.” He goes on to quote Robert Capa, a famous war photographer who would put himself in the middle of battles to capture photos ‘if your pictures aren't good enough, it means you're not close enough,” is something to always keep in mind. All of the tips given in this chapter can apply whenever a photographer is shooting. You just have to be smart about it, and I plan on doing so.

Personal Project Rough Draft (Brenda Mendez)

Katie Coert graduated from Cal State Northridge in 2014, and now works as a freelance graphic designer.

Katie Coert has been working as a freelance graphic designer for about a year.

Katie Coert does freelance graphic design for non profit organization “Mission without Boarders.”

Ads created by Katie Coert for non profit organization “Mission without Boarders.”

Katie Coert works on a layout for her job.

Katie Coert works on her freelance graphic design projects on a local park that offers free wifi.

Katie Coert dedicates 5-7 hours, four days a week to her job as a freelance graphic designer.

Katie Coert started doing ballet at the age of 8.

Katie Coert still practices ballet at least one day a week.

Katie Coert hopes to get a job as a ballet instructor soon.

I plan on expanding her talents as a dancer, she use to do gymnastics for a could of years as a child as well. I can photograph her hold up some pictures of her as a gymnast. I also could document her working on her own a couple of more times.

Man Infringes Copyright to Profit from Boston Bombing http://pdnpulse.com/2013/04/man-infringes-copyright-to-profit-from-boston-bombing.html

The Boston Marathon bombing was a terrorist attack, followed by subsequent related shootings, that occurred when two pressure cooker bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. The bombs exploded about 12 seconds and 210 yards apart near the marathon's finish line on Boylston Street. They killed 3 people and injured an estimated 264 others. The images following the Boston Marathon bombing were difficult to look at, but vitally important in telling the story of death and disability as well as heroes who raced into danger. Intent on making a quick buck from the Boston Marathon bombing, a self-publisher allegedly offered an e-book full of stolen news photos for sale on Amazon.com, titled “The Boston Bombings First Photos.

The eBook, "Boston Bombing (First Photos)," claimed to be a compilation of the images from the tragedy. The book description was correct; it included more than 60 images from the Associated Press, Getty, and The New York Times. Unfortunately, the author, Steve Goldstein, didn't license any of the images and he was charging $7.99 for a digital Kindle download. The poorly done layout and lack of any copy other than Goldstein's copyright page for the book confirmed the infringement. Goldstein was obviously looking to make money on photos from a tragedy with no regard for the photographers’ rights. Copyright infringement is the use of works protected by copyright law without permission, infringing certain exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder, such as the right to reproduce, distribute, display or perform the protected work, or to make derivative works. According to the NPPA report, a New York Times attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Goldstein. In his response, Goldstein wrote, “We will stop using the photos that you mention. Sorry for the use without permission.”

For their part, Amazon pulled the book from its catalog within an hour, and Goldstein responded with a significantly inadequate “We will stop the use of the photos that you mention. Sorry for the use without permission.” Goldstein apparently has developed this publishing model just recently. His Amazon author page lists digital books covering Reagan and Thatcher, the Mafia, Obama and the Budget, and Vargas Pinups. Several of the books appear to have photographs that may also be copyright violations.

If you infringe upon someone else's intellectual property rights by using the author's copyright without his permission, you may be guilty of copyright infringement. Typically, claiming that you did not know of the existence of someone else's copyrighted material does not excuse you from using his copyrighted material without his consent. you could receive a polite letter or email from the author asking you to remove the material from your website or otherwise stop use of the work. You could get a notice demanding you cease and desist using and distributing the copyrighted work, or you might discover that your Internet service provider has already removed infringing content. You could face penalties of more than $100,000 for each infringed work, and you could go to jail. It all depends on the extent of the infringement.

One of the most shared photos on social media from the Nepal earthquake was actually taken in Vietnam, the photographer tells the BBC's Nga Pham.

On April 2015 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit Nepal, in South Asia. It killed over 9,000 people and injured more than 23,000. The media quickly rushed to covered the natural disaster. Pictures and footage of the earthquake surfaced in the web immediately, with one going viral instantly.this photo had gone viral on Facebook and Twitter, credited as "Two-year-old sister protected by four-year-old brother in Nepal". There have been attempts to look for the brother and sister among the earthquake's victims, even calls for donations. Only, the photo was taken nearly a decade ago in northern Vietnam.

Its real author, Vietnamese photographer Na Son Nguyen, told the BBC: "I took this picture in October 2007 in Can Ty, a remote village in Ha Giang province". Na Son published the photo on his personal blog and was surprised to discover three years ago that it had been shared among Vietnamese Facebook users as a photo of "abandoned orphans". It didn't stop there. He later found the photo with credits such as "two Burmese orphans" and even "victims of the civil war in Syria".

He has been trying to claim copyrights to the photos, but has not found much success. he tried to assert his copyright on the image But in the internet age, once something has gone viral, it can be very difficult to undo The Hanoi-based freelance photographer, who has worked for major newspapers in Vietnam and worldwide and is now the main photographer for AP in Vietnam, said he has tried to clarify about the photo and obtain a copyright but in vain. “This is perhaps my most shared photo but unfortunately in the wrong context,” he said. Some things you can do so this wont happen to you is copyright your photographs, or add a watermark.

After nearly 20 years of award-winning reporting around the world, Ami Vitale came to the brink of leaving photojournalism over a tweet. Through her experience corralling a misappropriated image gone viral, Ami reminds us that today's photographer must be business savvy, ethical and legally informed.

“When you see the sort of irreverence … it’s just, it’s bizarre. I mean, that part is scary, just how people are so disconnected. They get on their computer and just don’t have any empathy. For anyone, you know?”

-Ami Vitale

Ami Vitale is a well known photographer who is mostly known for her work in National Geographic, particularly her work of the #bringbackourgirls campaign. But she wasn't the person to start this campaign, her images were used to show how the victims looked like.

Her images are becoming so popular, that she deals with companies or people taking her photos without permission on a constant basis.

“In the end, she acquired survival skills every photographer should learn: Monitor your photos. Know your legal rights and use them. Involve the media. Speak your piece. Work to educate the public. And at some point, let go.”

This image is one of her popular works that has been seen all over the world. This young girl is named Jenabu, 13, and she is waiting for her teacher to arrive at school at a small village in Guinea Bissau. Vitale visited this weekend three times, and photographed young Jenabu because she was staying with her family there. She documented the beauty of this place and the people during grim circumstances.

The person who started the campaign, Emmanuel Hephzibah, a Nigerian creative director, found Ami’s photo on the website of The Alexia Foundation, a charitable organization that supports photographers as agents for social change. He changed the photo above to black and white, put in a tear and started the hashtag #bringbackourgirls.

“#BringBackOurGirls was delivering a galvanizing message under a false banner. I was conflicted,” said Ami Vitale.

Mickey H. Osterreicher, attorney for the National Press Photographers Association, explained... “There is a broad mentality of entitlement on the Internet,” he said. “If it’s there, then it’s free, and I can use whatever I want without permission, credit or compensation.”

People don’t seem to understand that taking a person’s photo is stealing because the internet makes it so easy for someone to take anything that they want to use. She said that photographers need to monitor their photos and she took to the internet to find out where the photo originated from. Not only did they take the photo, they changed it to seem like something different, they took it our of context.

Now Ami hired an assistant to upload all of her images and registering her copyright as soon as possible. She also uses Google’s reverse image search ritually so she can track where her photos are being used without her consent.

When some users ignored her request to have her images removed from their sites, she relied on the DMCA takedown. Another way to save images from being distributed without consent is watermarking images. Ami hated using watermarks, but now she does with all of her photos.

Ami has also registered with PLUS, or Picture Licensing Universal System, Registry—a database connecting images, rights holders and rights information around the world.

Ultimately, she knew she “could spend the rest of my life now, today, sitting there trying to take down images.” She now allows people to use her images within context as long as they keep the original caption and link to the original story.

“At some point I think you need to let go. Do everything you can and not let it eat you alive,” said Ami Vitale.

Most copyright holders are individuals; most infringers are businesses. Things are broken.

Alex Wild is an insect photographer who dedicates his life to these small creatures. He talks about going through forests to get these bugs and how this exciting profession pays his bills. But what also pays his bills is the copyright infringement that brings in more income for his business, about thousands of dollars each year.

When the internet arrived, Wild was able to publish his work on a broader scale than just having a portfolio in hand. But what also came with this new technology was the possibility of businesses taking photos without permission. This is where the copyright law comes in because these are Wild’s photos and lots of advertisements have taken his photos and he dedicates a vast amount of time taking these people down.

“If a polite request doesn't work, however, the only other option is to escalate things to the lawyers. Leaving aside the logistics of assembling five lawsuits per day, in most cases the risks of a lawsuit for a small rights-holder far outweigh the benefits. Many infringers don’t have the cash on hand to even cover my own legal costs, leaving me on the hook. If they did have that much cash, they’re liable to be able to outspend me anyway.”

It’s so easy for people to take photos on Google, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. Wild talks about most of the commercial interests that have taken his pictures without permission: “Billboards, YouTube commercials, pesticide spray labels, website banners, exterminator trucks, t-shirts, iPhone cases, stickers, company logos, eBook covers, trading cards, board games, video game graphics, children’s books, novel covers, app graphics, alt-med dietary supplement labels, press releases, pest control advertisements, crowdfunding promo videos, coupons, fliers, newspaper articles, postage stamps, advertisements for pet ants (yes, that’s a thing), canned food packaging, ant bait product labels, stock photography libraries, and greeting cards.”

He relies on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that requires Web hosts to remove infringing content when informed. He sends around 5 DMCA requests a day and devotes at least 10 hours per week on infringements. Sometimes he can’t keep up with all of the infringements that he lets some slide because he can’t devote all of his time.

Some of the people who have taken his images end up paying him for more images, which is benefiting for him to take the time to catch everyone who steals his photos.

He has been asked to remove his images off the web if he doesn’t want them to be taken, but he finds that option to be appalling. He has also been told to watermark his images, which he does, but there’s the power of photoshop, so watermarks could be removed with a good amount of skill.

Chapter 23

In chapter 23 of Chapnicks book, the main theme was the capability for a photographer to have creativity. There were many elements thrown in with that. For example, in order for a photographer to have creativity they must be able to “see” and have a eye for the potential photograph. Chapnick describes meeting a young photographer who lacked that, his way of making him see was taking him to the beach without his camera and observe what people were doing, the beach, and overall his surrounding. With that came patience. He explains how being on the beach the young man saw something capable of being photographed and explained it wasn’t going to be that easy. He wanted him to keep an eye on his potential subject, watch it and wait for the perfect time to release his shutter speed. This derived from Henry Cartier Bresson’s “Decisive Moment.” Chapnick explains that a photographer must have creativity, if they had to photograph nails and bolts that meant they need to find a way to make it interesting. Whether it was lighting it interestingly, using depth of field, different angles, or lenses the “creative” photographer would have it in them. One important element to creativity is perceptiveness. It implies and instinct, intuitive insight and understanding based on sensory responses. One must be able to interpret the world. I would be able to apply these techniques in my work, every time I photograph. I’m aware that I must be patient to get the photograph I want, my creativity is there, where I can make a boring object seem interesting. I can also learn to apply perceptiveness in my work by learning something everyday and keeping an open mind.

-Brenda Mendez

I think in order for to have creativity you do have to have ‘an eye’ to capture a good photo. Each photographer has a different perspective to doing photography and I think everyone is unique. I agree with Chapnick, that photographers need to find a way to make their photos more interesting. For me, I try to find a way to make the photo stand out by just looking at my subject, and I love to make my photos more contrasty because I love the look. The subjects that I like to photograph more are nature and animals, but I am learning how to take portraits and I am starting to like that too. Chap nick explains that a if a photographer needed to shoot nuts and bolts that they needed to find a way to make it more interesting, and I think every photographer finds a way to do that.

-Michelle Moran

Personal Project revised

By Michelle Moran

1) Student/mother: I have spoken to female in one of my classes who has a child and she loves photography. I thought it would be cool to document her everyday life with her child and when she's at school. She is comfortable being in front of the camera and is willing to meet up whenever our schedules aren't conflicting. What's changed since I first introduced this idea is that I actually found a student who has a child and she is willing to participate in my project if I choose to pursue her story. This is probably the best personal project idea that I would want to do because I love the idea of a mother taking the time out of her busy schedule to go to school and get a degree.

2) Unemployed with a bachelor's degree: I know someone who lives in South Central who used to go to CSUN. He graduated with a bachelor's degree and had a good job, but is now unemployed and trying to find another job. He is in a band and sometimes they practice at his home when they are going to have a show. He is willing to be documented whenever he is not busy and I think he might be hired soon because he is applying to a lot of places. I want to document the struggle of trying to find a job with a bachelor's degree.

3) I have an old acquaintance who is really into parkour and he is living here in Los Angeles. He is also acting and getting small roles here and there. He is interesting because you would never guess that he is into acting or parkour. He is also a good theater singer so I would need to contact him to see if he is doing theater as well. I am sure if I contact him he wouldn't mind being photographed.

Personal Project by Brenda Mendez

My first idea was to document a regular at my job job to collect cans who has a very interesting way of dressing. He wears a paper boy hat with a colorful long sleeve button up. He pushes around a cart with pinwheels all around it, he's in his late 60s and is Caucasian. For a living he collects cans all around Los Feliz and every Sunday plays the bass at a Korean church. he also happens to take care of his mom. I approached him a couple of days ago, he asked if he could get money out of it, and responded by explaining that it would be unethical of me to do so. So im pretty much stuck on this idea.

My second idea was documenting a friends mom of mine. She owns an art gallery in West Hollywood her name is Marsea Goldberg, shes been running New Image art gallery for about 20 years now. I have made contact with her and she is open to the idea. Overall I would shoot her in her office, maybe getting ready for a new exhibit. All the art would be interesting to photograph. Shes very open to me showing up to her gallery whenever I want, so as far as making dates to shoot would be very easy.

My last idea was a student I met at the Student Recreation Center. His name is Adrian Go,22 Kinesiology major. He has two jobs working as a personal trainer at the SRC and Equinox, as well as a full time student at CSUN. I approached him two weeks ago about this project and was more than happy to help out. He needs to get permission from Equinox to photograph there, but aside from that there are no other obstacles. He is also very interested in photography as a hobby. I could photograph him as an employee, student, and during his leisure time. I think everyone in class would relate to Adrian as far as trying to juggle so many things.

Mary Ellen Mark

By Michelle Moran

“I'm trying to please myself; certainly that's a big criterion... though in a sense, I don't take images just for myself. I take images that I think other people will want to see. I don't take pictures to put in a box and hide them. I want as many people to see them as possible.”

- Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark was an American photographer best know for her portraits, photojournalism/documentary photos and advertising photos. Mark had 18 collections of her work published, most notably Streetwise and Ward 81. Her work was exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide and was widely published in magazines like Life, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, New York Times and Vanity Fair. She received numerous awards, including three Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the 2014 Lifetime Achievement in Photography Award from the George Eastman House and the Outstanding Contribution Photography Award from the World Photography Organization. She recently passed away in the beginning of the year.

“I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul, and I think you have to be clear about that.”

- Mary Ellen Mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w2aaO9WYh4

Streetwise:

Streetwise one of her more well known works, gave people a glimpse of the homeless youth. In 1983, reporter Cheryl McCall and Mary Ellen Mark traveled to Seattle, Washington, for a LIFE Magazine assignment about runaway kids. They chose Seattle because, at that time, it was known as America's most livable city.

http://www.maryellenmark.com/films/titles/streetwise/streetwise_home_page.html#sthash.jWcxe3u9.dpuf

“In 1983, Mary Ellen Mark first photographed her poignant document of a fiercely independent group of homeless and troubled youth who made their way on the streets of Seattle as pimps, prostitutes, panhandlers, and small-time drug dealers.”

http://www.aperture.org/traveling-exhibitions/mary-ellen-mark-streetwise/

More photos of “Streetwise” at http://www.maryellenmark.com/books/titles/streetwise/index001_stwise.html

Ward 81:

“These women are patients in Ward 81, the maximum security section of the Oregon State Hospital. For 36 days, Mary Ellen Mark lived with them, sharing and recording their moods. Though Mark is best known as a photojournalist, her aim was not to document the problems of mental illness nor even to tell a story in the usual sense.”

http://www.maryellenmark.com/text/magazines/american%20photographer/911T-000-001.html

"Instead of the 1-2-3-4 of a picture story, I was interested in doing pictures that would stand alone," she recalls. "Looking back now, I feel that the pictures are almost like a scrapbook, a memory of a certain time in my life and in theirs. I wanted to help these women make contact with the outside world by letting them reach out and present themselves. I didn't want to use them. I wanted them to use me."

More photos of “Ward 81″ at http://www.maryellenmark.com/books/titles/ward_81/index001_ward81.html

Indian circus:

“I fell in love with the Indian circus at the same time that I fell in love with India. It was 1969, my first trip there. I was in Bombay with a friend and we went to see a circus at Church Gate. I was immediately struck by the beauty and innocence of the show. I vividly remember seeing a huge hippo in a pink tutu being coached to walk around the ring with his mouth open. At the end, he (or she) was rewarded with an enormous cotton-candy cone that matched the tutu.English is the second language in India. Although all of the circus proprietors and most of the trainers speak English, many of the performers do not. I was lucky to meet a very talented young Indian photographer named Dayanita Singh. The Hindi interviews and quotes were all translated by her and compiled by Dayanita, Martin Bell, and me.”

http://www.maryellenmark.com/text/books/indian_circus/text001_icircus.html#sthash.6xBM4jF3.dpuf

More photos of “Indian Circus” at http://www.maryellenmark.com/books/titles/indian_circus/index001_icircus.html

Celebrity Portraits:

Mark was well known to take portraits of famous celebrities. A few are shown below, starting from the top there’s Marlon Brando, Cindy Crawford, Johnny Depp and Benecio Del Toro.

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