Friday, February 29, 2008

Final Set of Photos - My Best Five

This might seem like a really simple picture to some, however, to me this is one of the most fascinating ones I took in this course. Why? Well I am really proud of how I was able to take the mixture of vertical and horizontal lines that occur with something as mundane as a kitchen table and chairs and create a quality composition out of it. I think that it wouldn't be near as good if it weren't for the sharp contrast of light and dark that using black and white provides. For my students this picture would be ideal to show how something you take for granted can be a source for further study, you just have to look at it in a new way. This concept can apply to almost anything, but especially to literary studies.


This is one of my favorites simply because of the motion effect I achieved. It took several tries with a delayed exposure time to get this to work. I was trying to show the idea of "shaking off sleep," as quoted from Macbeth. I could use this in learning directly in our study of Macbeth, when Macduff has just discovered King Duncan's body. Perhaps if the students had a unique visual for Shakespeare's language ("Shake off this downy sleep") then they might be apt to engage it thoughtfully, for it is largely the rich use of the possibilities of the English language that remains the appeal of his works. Additionally, I would be able to use this as a model for their own pictures as part of their study of Macbeth motifs. This is also a good way to illustrate what you can do with a tripod and a REALLY long exposure time.


I like this photo a lot, even if it makes me look crazy. Primarily, I think it's because I shot this outside at night using a tripod and the camera's timer. I was able to get just enough light from lighting an old newspaper on fire and able to hold my "pose" and stay still enough not to blur the picture. I really like how the flames just lit my face and left everything else in darkness. Additionally, I think that I did a decent job of creating a visual that communicates a message, that message being that this guy is, at the very least, a borderline pyromaniac. It's just an interesting composition to me overall. For my teaching I think this is a great visual to use to understand characterization, someone being manic, perhaps something great for Edgar Allen Poe works or other "darker" selections.

This photo has a lot going for it I think. I love how I was able to catch the detail of the water in mid-air (it looks like it's frozen in time) and how the streams act as columns running vertically, while the tops of the buildings provide a terraced line through the upper half of the photo. To me, the complimentary colors and various geometric shapes all throughout create a lot visual interest, not to mention the lighting is great. For teaching and learning I think this would a great way to show students how you can take something that is imperceptible to the naked eye, but using the camera correctly, you can wind up with a surreal effect.


What can I say? My daughter is quite the ham and she served a great subject for many of my photos in this course. She loved helping me out and did whatever I asked her to do even better than I expected. I like this photo in particular because it shows her being "mysterious" (or at least as much as a toddler can be) I think the fact that it is black and white adds a great deal of interest and the perspective and framing also turned out well. The day was mostly overcast, so using black and white helped to enhance the available light. And the fact that only her eyes are showing adds a lot to the appeal, "the eyes are the windows to the soul," right? At any rate, when working with students on how character traits are sometimes slowly revealed by authors, this might be a great photo to use. Is she good or evil? I guess her actions will show. I think ambiguity is often far more interesting. Hmmm, yet the picture is in black and white, intriguing paradox I think.




Thursday, February 21, 2008

Imaging Poems - Justin Lang (Lesson Plan by Karen Pardy)

All of these images were inspired by lines from Walt Whitman's poem "A Song of Joys."
Being a rather long poem I won't reprint all of it here, but I will include the selected lines with the photos.



O to make the most jubilant song!





(Obviously, this is my daughter doing just that, though, here I'm using Whitman's reference in the purely literal sense.)


To emerge and be of the sky, of the sun
and moon and flying clouds, as one with
them.


(A picture of the full moon and the wispy clouds surrounding it) .







To dance, clap hands, exult, shout, skip, leap, roll on, float on!



(Me just being goofy and acting out some of the actions Whitman describes.)





O the mother's joys!

(Self-explanatory)


The sight of the flames
maddens me with pleasure.





(Yeah, I'm really not this odd,
but this seemed to work for
me. It's very literal).

Taking Pictures of Geometric Shapes - Justin Lang (Lesson by Annette Painter)

















TRIANGLE: A three-sided polygon.
The sum of the angles of a
triangle is 180 degrees.
This is a picture of a speed-square
used for carpentry, it is a triangle-
shaped object.



RECTANGLE: A four-sided polygon
having all right angles. The sum of the
angles of a rectangle is 360 degrees.
This screen window shows a perfect
rectangle.











SQUARE: A four-sided polygon having equal-length
sides meeting at right angles.
The sum of the angles of a square is 360 degrees.
This is a picture of floor tile. This is to show
the square shape.
















CIRCLE: A circle is the collection of
points in a plane that are all the
same distance from a fixed point.
This is a picture of a ceiling fan (duh).
I am focusing on the circle shape,
of which the light fixture has three.
They're concentric, in fact.


HEXAGON: A six-sided polygon.
The sum of the angles of a hexagon
is 720 degrees.
This is a picture of a socket
wrench attachment. I am
using it to show the hexagon
shape it has inside.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Introduction Through Pictures

A picture taken in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, just outside of Bryson City, NC. I love the natural world, which never ceases to fascinate me, but the mountains of the Eastern U.S. is among my favorite places in the world (that I've seen so far). There is just something about the combination of the tree canopy, rocks, streams and falls. To me it's the most calm, tranquil place. Ever since I was a kid I've loved places where I can just sit and enjoy silent meditation and the sounds of nature. I'd love to have a cabin in the mountains post-retirement, or sooner if possible.






My daughter...Riley. She was Peter Pan for Halloween. She loves Peter Pan, which I think is great... even if its borderline obsessive. Being a father has changed my world for the better in every way. I try to just make sure that she knows that she is unconditionally loved and supported, stays curious and sees life as fun and endlessly magical. I am a very realistic and logical person, but really wish I could recapture the magic I felt about the possibilities of EVERYTHING when I was younger. I want to make sure it lasts as long as possible for her.





I'm definitely no Groucho Marx, but I chose this picture because it represents my commitment to humor (not that this is particularly funny or original). I think is too short to not have a good laugh. I try not to take myself too seriously and wish that more people would do the same. Humor is a big part of my teaching...I try to be lame on purpose...even if my students ridicule me, at least they're paying attention.


My father. He died of metastatic colon cancer in 2001. He was a pharmacist, as the picture indicates...My biggest hero and my inspiration on how to live life enjoying simple pleasures, being a good-hearted, giving person and a deep thinker...He was a true gentleman with a great sense of humor, and I try to emulate his greatness everyday. He taught me how to not live with ill-will and to be the better person in all you do.










This is a picture of me an my wife on our wedding day (duh!) 5 1/2 years ago. My wife is both my biggest fan (though I think it's secret sometimes) and the one who challenges me most. She's a great mom and is always doing whatever it takes to make sure her kids understand that they are loved and have what they need...Also, a very competent person and a big fan of physical humor...definitely a stabilizing force in my life.











My best friend Steve and me at Gator Growl this year. I am a big believer in having a few great friends in life and this is one of mine...He's like my brother really...friends since third grade...Also, this picture represents that I love the Gators. I'm a second-generation UF grad and proud of it. I was raised in the Gator Nation like it was a religion.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Site's Reason for Being

This site was created to display and share work for a Master's course, however, I may use it in the future for personal/professional purposes. Thanks.