Warm Ups

Describe the photo. This photo has interesting perspective, and no Photoshop was used. How was it created? What elements do you see and where?

- This is a risky photo to take, but the payoff is evident. It was likely created as the subject sticks his head out of the window of a moving train, and the photographer takes a photo holding his camera out of the next window. A clear element here is line, as diagonals direct our line of sight to our subject's head. The train tracks, the treeline and the electrical wires all do this. This photo has a lot of depth to it, which I like.

A lot of magazines are trying to use more realistic and natural photos, however many magazines still use extreme Photoshopping for their ads and covers. What do you think of this practice? What do you think it says to consumers?

-I consider the process of over-editing models to be unnecessary, and misleading to consumers. I could understand touching up a skin blemish or fixing a model's posture, but making them look like they weight eighty-five pounds is a waste of time from a management standpoint. It can create an intangible standard of beauty among the public as well. I don't think photoshopping the models make them more attractive. This is especially true when I know that they are photoshopped.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

-I would love to travel to Spain. European art and culture fascinates me, as does language. I would need to brush up my Spanish a bit before I went, but it would be worth it. Seeing the Classical and Baroque architecture would thrill me. Watching a professional soccer game would also be a fun activity. I would surely check out every art museum that I could.

Which (light painting) images do you like (choose 5) and how do you think they were created?

-I particularly enjoy the orangey swirl in the tunnel. I believe this is done by lighting steel wool on fire and whipping it around on a string. I also like the ones that look like domes. From what I can tell these ise some special tool to achieve that shape.The one that looks like light is being poured from a wine bottle, the kid under the "christmas tree" of lights, and the cards surrounded by green lights are also favorites of mine. This lighting is likely done by hand with small, simple lights.

What did you do over the long weekend?

-I participated in a swim meet over the long weekend. Fun. Some races I managed to get good times, others I didn't quite reach the times I wanted. Aside from this meet, I also watched the PL v. Coronado basketball game, which we won. Our side and Coronado's side was involved in much heckling but I suppose that's just part of the game. I hung out with some friends on Saturday.

What is your favorite thing about living in San Diego?

-First off, the weather. I grew up for the most part in Ann Arbor which, while being a beautiful and awesome college town, tends to reach a bitter cold in the winter with a lot of unwelcome precipitation. Wearing a T-Shirt in February was a foreign thought until 2014 for me. The beach is pretty nice, even though I don't go there very often. Believe it or not, I still prefer the indoor swimming of Michigan, as when it gets cold on pool decks here, it tends to mess up your races.

Choose 5 Social Issue ideas and brainstorm how you might go about taking or creating photos.

-The first I would choose is insufficient pollution control, for which I would photograph sources of pollution such as traffic congestion and factories. I would also consider the unequal distribution of funding towards schools, for which I would take photos to juxtapose the quality of various high schools around the county. Another issue which I take issue with is the neglect for natural habitats when it comes to building roads and other infrastructure. I would take photos of highways that subdivide animal habitats and industry centers which are built on previously undeveloped land. Another interesting topic for me is internet addiction. I would stage some photos of my friends on my phones for this.

What is this project about?

-This project honors the greatest living photographers and their work. It is interesting to see this famous photos and the faces behind the camera. One of my favorites is Jeff Widener and "Tank Man." This is an inspirational image, and without Widener it would not exist. This photo resonates culturally with anyone who wants to stand up to an oppressive authority and should be an awe-inspiring image for anyone else. I also like Nick Ut and "Terror of War."

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

-I'd love to be a bird. Any kind of bird would be cool, but especially a larger bird like a hawk or eagle. The ability to fly and fly at great speeds is enviable. Their stoicism and calm are something I admire. They are also quite beautiful. Yes, being a bird would be quite nice.

Write down ten things you think might be helpful when trying to photograph your subject’s emotions.

-Playing with perspective will make your photos unique.

-Have variation in where the subject is looking.

-Play with composition.

-Play with lighting.

-Test your subject's comfort zone.

-Candid is key.

-Use props, possibly.

-Focus on a certain body part.

-Obscure your subject, partly.

-Get a lot of images.

Choose three bloggers who you feel showcased a variety of emotions well.

-I enjoyed Brandon Mendoza's photos. Not only are they beautiful photos, but his subject is able to express very natural yet intense emotions. Kailani William's photos were also good. I like the dynamism of the subject here. Kyle Miller's photos I also enjoyed, the photos are of good quality and I like the color depth.

(P17) Emotions

The main challenge I faced was my own acting skills. I am both the subject and photographer here, so that's twice the burden on me. I needed to find out how to properly express the emotions that I wanted and make each photo unique. I incorporated some props to assist with my expression in sending the correct message. I set my camera up on a tripod and used a phone app to allow me to take pictures with a live view of myself. I wanted to make these pictures dynamic and interesting, and different from the rest of the projects you are receiving.

(P16) Social Issue

   

     The social issue I have chosen to tackle for this project regards the working world and its effect on our climate and the world's people. Most adults have jobs, that's how we survive. Some are lucky enough to work outdoors, but for the most part we find ourselves confined under a roof, fluorescent lights shining down on us. And with this work comes consequences to our health and that of our environment. Every day, millions drive themselves to work nine to five and traffic congestion from this trek releases pollutants such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which provide a spread of negative affects to human and environmental health. Humans living within 300 meters of major roadways display heightened risk of developing asthma and lung cancer from exposure to particulate matter. The presence of major roadways subdivides animal habitats and restricts their area of activity. This is known as the "edge effect." Working life limits human exposure to nature which can create depression in those affected. Rapid, unchecked urbanization amplifies these adverse effects and can be difficult to control, as corporations behind environmental degradation are difficult to control.
     The causes and effects of these problems are not hard to find. The consequences of our unsustainable practices pervade the world we live in. Any vehicle I photograph is part of the problem. Any body of water I photograph is being adversely impacted by excessive water diversion, or even experiencing acidification due to carbon contents in our atmosphere. I tried capturing a spread of causes and effects of our issues. Most vehicles produce emissions, which is why I captured ships, planes and cars. I took pictures of the animals which suffer from air and water pollution, and of the nature that we miss out on with such a strict work schedule.
     If humans can begin to understand how they directly affect their surroundings, they may be more reluctant to act the way they do towards our environment. The working world must develop solutions to expose workers to nature and physical activities. I believe firmly that this will increase productivity and overall happiness. We must make efforts to expand public transportation to reduce net vehicle miles traveled over all commuting workers, and ensure that other types of vehicles are regulated and monitored for contributions to air quality. Together we can save this planet and secure our happiness.

(P15) Who am I?

 My name is Miles Koupal, and I hope you already know that seeing as I'm in your class. As of the time of my posting this, I am eighteen years old and a senior in high school. You probably know that as well. I am thrilled to be sharing the details of my life with you now, most teachers I've had don't allow for that kind of opportunity. I'm sure you will discover something you never knew about me. Enjoy!

 I should start by saying that my favorite time of year is summer. I come from a place where summer is the only time you can leave your house without a down jacket, so it does hold a special place in my heart. It is a time where I can relax and recover from the school year, and focus my energy on other activities. I can visit my friends and family who live far away, and also visit places I've never been before. Plus it's nice and warm.

 I love both playing and watching sports. I've also recently taken up photographing them. I grew up in in Ann Arbor, Michigan which is a big sports town. It's a fun weekend activity to go see a U of M football game in the big house, or a basketball game in the Chrysler Arena. I still keep up with my favorite teams here in San Diego, and have also gained a few more favorites since the move.

 Experiencing other cultures is something I enjoy and find necessary. I've spent the last few years learning Spanish and have visited Mexico a few times. I would love to go to Spain someday, or other Spanish speaking countries. Learning about the way they do things around the world is worthwhile in my opinion. I would consider it essential.

 For the better half of my life, I have been swimming competitively. I swim for PL, and have swam with several club teams as well. I also plan to continue swimming for Occidental College, which is an NCAA Division 3 school. The picture above was taken at USC's pool, at the Los Angeles Invitational meet. This is my favorite meet of the year because many well known swimmers appear for races. Recently, Olympians Tom Shields and Vladimir Morozov made appearances at this meet.

 I work as a lifeguard currently. The picture above is a bit misleading seeing as I guard at a YMCA and not the beach, however I wanted to use a picture I took for this one. I am responsible for observing the pools and maintaining order among members. I must also be ready to jump in and perform rescues and emergency aid at any given time. We are all highly trained and practice our skills together every month.

 I am a big music lover. I love both listening to and making music. I learned how to play the piano in elementary school. I have become a bit rusty since, but I am practicing more now. I learned how to play the trumpet in middle school, and I am trying to teach myself guitar right now. I really enjoy rock and alternative music, but also listen to some hip hop.

 This fall, I will be attending Occidental College. It is a small, liberal arts college in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. As I mentioned before, I will be a part of Occidental's swim team, and this team is one of the main reasons I chose Oxy, as we call it. It is a beautiful school with strong academics. It boasts many notable alumni, including former president Barack Obama.

 As I mentioned before, I love to travel. I have been all over the United States, but I would like to branch out to other countries as well. A couple times, I have driven across the country and allowed me to see much of our beautiful nation. Some favorite spots of mine are Yosemite, Breckinridge, Flagstaff, and New York City. I have been to Mexico City twice and absolutely loved it.

I have always been interested in creating art, both physically and digitally. I recently have become more interested in photography and editing these photos digitally. I enjoy taking photos with my DSLR and my film point-and-shoot alike. Later altering these photos in Photoshop has proven interesting to me, and I enjoy seeing my photos improve after being edited. I have recently learned to isolate specific colors, which is exhibited in the image you see above.

(P13) Photographic Narrative

A plot summary, for convenience:
Our subject awakes alone on a weekday morning. He cooks breakfast, shaves, and dresses for his day. He drives to work and puts in his eight hours, but is an avid clock-watcher. After he is done working, he finds himself having a drink and playing his piano. He has had a long day and retreats to bed, only to find himself back at the beginning the next morning.

Reflection:
In the brainstorming phase of this project, I envisioned creating some comedy narrative with my friends as "actors" like everyone else. I really realized the potential this project had to create a more meaningful story with an actual message behind it later on. I experimented with telling a story with no words or faces or expressions. Only hands and some other symbols. I feel like the photos I've taken are pretty on their own but are truly unique when they are joined together on this canvas.

(P14) Triptych

    I really enjoy these photos and I think they fit well together. All three are very mellow and introspective. The grey sea is a fine backdrop for my subjects, and their posture is dynamic yet subdued. I've added a bit more of a brown tone to "warm up" these images to create a more comfortable feeling. I've also adjusted the contrast.

Warm Up: What do you do when you are bored?

What do you do when you are bored?

I typically will perform some time wasting activities. If I am feeling a bit more motivated, I will drive to the gym and work out, or buy food. Other times, I will try to sleep or hang out with friends. If I am bored in a class, I will try and get some work done, or another quiet time-wasting activity. I also like to play video games with my friends from Michigan.