LIS5313

Spring 2024

“Be Kind” when you enter Hayfields Market

“Be Kind” when you enter Hayfields Market © 2018 by Georgios Argyratos is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International 

This is what you see when you enter my favorite coffee place in NY. The picture was taken while I was looking at the register and my focus directly went to the “be kind” sign. It is positioned correctly based on the rule of thirds, and it is also a nice word with a meaning and a purpose. Unconsciously, the surroundings become less important and you feel good just looking at it.

In hindsight, my practice (Alexander technique) kicked in and while I started softening my eyes, allowing them to rest in my eye sockets, I noticed that my breathing started changing, my ribs and vision expanded, I felt more supported by the ground and I could now see the whole picture, like a soup with many ingredients and one flavorful taste. Now I was able to look “through” and receive information from the whole- then a smile came as I realized that there was a hidden, honest, and definitely rewarding (for horses) message hidden in plain sight. Focusing at the basket on the counter… a. crunchy. free. carrot! Yup. I thought “this is amusing and it’s happening at my favorite coffee shop Hayfields in a small town in NY, where you can park your horse, grab your flowers and an ice latte, snatch a carrot and chat with locals about walk, trot, center and gallop”.

“Free for Horses” at Hayfields by Georgios Argyratos is licensed by CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED

The point of this post, except from the assignment, is also that a shift in perception leads to a delightful discovery — the basket of free carrots for horses is a wonderful reflection of how a change in focus and mindfulness can transform an ordinary moment into a richer, surprising, more fulfilling experience.

PS. To make sure that I can use my pictures of a public place, I did some research and found that “According to the law, in public places, you have the right to take photographs of anything that’s in plain view.” with the restriction that photos taken in a public space are permissible for non-commercial purposes. This is why I chose the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED license.

Photo was taken from my LG- G6 phone with Image Metadata specs:

  • File Size: 1.25 MB
  • Dimensions: 1280×2560 pixels
  • Resolution: 3 Megapixels
  • ISO: 800
  • Focal Length: 2.01mm
  • Aperture: F2.4
  • Shutter Speed: 1/20s
January 28, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 5

Focus on the Ball

“Watching teammates battle” by Megan Holkup

“Battle for the Ball” by Megan Holkup

In the original image, the player in the lower left was the dominant figure that was drawing attention, followed by the others on the right side. After noticing those individuals, the eye could then see the actual dramatic story that was unfolding on the floor. In order to highlight the jump ball that was happening on the floor, I needed to crop out the player on the left. By cropping out most of the portions of the bodies of the players on the right, they are no longer the focus, and instead the eye is drawn to the players on the floor. Additionally, they take up the center third of the image. This image would have been much more dramatic if the players on the right were not in the way, however, I wanted to highlight the fact that you can use cropping to draw focus to figures that might be slightly hidden as well by using cropping. As a bonus editing step I would likely bring up the highlights in the photo so that the white in the player’s jersey on the floor would stand out more. This would draw even more attention to that area.

January 28, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 3

Sherlock

Garry Knight – Outside Hudson’s is licensed under is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

OutHud Remix – A Stephens is cropped from Outside Hudson’s by Garry Knight, licensed under CC BY 2.0. OutHud Remix is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Title of the original photo is Outside Hudson’s. Hudson’s Old English Restaurant, as I’ve learned, is a restaurant located next to the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London. The storefront is the focal point of the original image, but the range of emotions of the seated people is more interesting to me. I chose the couple looking at their phone as the focal point of my image for two reasons. First, the storefront windows and shelving created interesting shapes – kind of a makeshift grid for people. Also, making the couple the focal point allows you to see books in the storefront about Sherlock Holmes. In a way, this image shares a better understanding of Hudson’s association with the museum. The seated patron’s pleasant demeanor is also a bonus. With that in mind, I cropped the image following the rule of thirds and played with the coloring a little. None of the auto color features did anything, but it didn’t really matter because the colors were already very vivid.

Note: If I had any actual skill in this software, I would have LOVED to edit in such a way merged the seated individuals together. If I could cut the person on the left of the original and position her to the right of the girl dressed in yellow… I think THAT would have been a fun image. You’d have two people happy looking at the phone and the other completely disinterested and unamused.

January 27, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 5

New Orleans: A State of Mind

“Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans” -Louis Armstrong
This photo by Filipe Fortes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
“Brass Band at Cafe du Monde” by Shelf-Employed is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED

As a native New Orleanian, it’s easy to praise the place. New Orleans is saturated with rich culture and cuisine. The parties and festivals are endless; the jazz is, well, it’s where jazz is. The Big Easy, the Crescent City, whatever you call it, the place is truly one of a kind. Anthropologists study New Orleans for its unique blend of French, Spanish, African, and Native American heritage. In my unbiased opinion, it is perhaps the most unique city in, not just the United States, but the world. And while New Orleans is no stranger to hardship – a sinking city with a bleak future in many ways – it remains a magical place.

Regardless of where you stand on New Orleans, denying its strong hold on those who visit is impossible. It leaves an indelible mark on Mardi Gras revelers, Jazz Fest attendees, Bourbon Street miscreants, and the like. As someone born and raised in the city, I always carry a piece of it. From my taste in music, food, and many subtle quirks, there’s no denying it. Come to think of it, that’s undoubtedly the reason the place is still so special: the people, the culture bearers that still reside there, and those who’ve left and still sing its praises. Next time you visit, remember to take a piece with you too!

“Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

January 23, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 4

Rolling hills

四季彩の丘（Flower garden hill of SHIKISAI) by t-konno

License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Wooden Ball rolling down a hall with ceramic floors by Jack_Freedom5712

License: CC BY 3.0 Deed

I started this assignment by searching for photos of flower gardens, as I wanted some beauty to brighten up my day. I love this photo of a flower garden hill as it’s so vibrant and I can practically smell the flowers and the outdoor air. After finding this lovely photo, I thought of creative ways to connect sound to the image. At first, I thought literally of sounds of things found within the photo such as the sound of cars passing by. Then I thought about references I could make, such as including the sound of talking to reference the talking flowers in Alice in Wonderland. Finally, I focused on what the photo made me feel. My strongest feeling was that I wanted to roll down a hill like a carefree child.

While realistically rolling down this hill would be a pretty short journey as I’d immediately crash into the first row of flowers on my way down, I can’t help but imagine what it would feel like to bounce over and on top of the garden I as rolled down the hill. This audio represents my strong urge to feel like a kid, tuck my arms in, and let gravity take over. I felt the texture of the audio matched the curved texture of the landscape. When you roll down a steep hill, it can feel violent. Your bones and teeth rattle around like a wooden ball bouncing on ceramic floors. Eventually, you reach the bottom of the hill, and your bouncing and rolling comes to an end.

January 23, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 5

It was a dark & stormy…

Photo by Max LaRochelle on Unsplash. Free to use under the Unsplash license.
Darkling by Kevin McLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons license. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Selection

I started working on plotting this last week after class — and after some of the bad weather — where I was thinking about the thunderstorm we had had that morning. However, my brother was sending me photos of the hiking spots we used to go to. Vickery Creek Mill was completely frozen over, the Sweetwater Creek ruins were iced up, and even Amicolola Falls were partially frozen! This was always my favorite time of year to go hiking with my wife, brother, and sister-in-law when I still lived in that area, and these were all our favorite spots, just as we liked to go up and view them.

While this image wasn’t exactly what I was seeing out my office window during the storm, it was relatively close to the way I was feeling at the time.

Enhancement

The music enhances the image, giving it a sense of dread and foreboding. The crashing booms in the music can almost be the thunder of the storm. The music is as capricious as a thunderstorm can be and at times as finicky as any dark mood.

January 23, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 4

“Rejuvenile”: Managing Adulthood Through Pokémon Cards

“Pokémon Center” by Othree

Author: @othree
Creative Commons License: Some Rights Reserved
License URL

Nostalgic Piano by Serge Quadrado, Free Music Archive (CC BY-NC)

Almost immediately upon graduating, I was submerged in a world of 401ks, mortgages, and imposter syndrome. While my coworkers were complaining about their children and retirement, I was still struggling to make a doctor’s appointment without my mom’s help. Living 4 hours away from home, with my nearest friend being a quick 45-minute drive in South Florida traffic, I felt out of place and alone. Desperate for relief from the stresses of adulthood, I found myself grasping at passions from my childhood, but nothing seemed sustainable.

Fast-forward to Christmas of last year, I was experiencing the whirlwind of emotions that come with living out of a suitcase in your childhood home. Nostalgia hit hard and I began looking through boxes in the closet filled with our family pictures and memories. After shuffling through thousands of pictures, I moved to the back of the closet and picked up what felt like a box without many pictures in it. To my surprise, it contained my brother and my Pokémon collection from the ’90s. I was immediately transported to my childhood and an influx of memories began to flood my mind. Finally, something that would be sustainable.

Pokémon means more to me than a piece of cardboard. It represents my dad rewarding me with a trip to the comic store for going to Costco with him or being on A Honor Roll for school. Pokémon cards symbolize happy family times, something I was so desperately yearning for as I began to go off on my own path and attempt to forge my own way. I selected the image above because it illustrates my realistic experience of going to the store for Pokémon cards. In the world of Amazon, a lot of Pokémon collectors buy their cards online. Through my own consumer behavior, I learned that I like the process or ritualistic characteristics of going to the store in person more than I like the cards. I believe it is this aspect that brings me back to the security of my childhood than the actual cards themselves. I enjoy seeing children there with their parents eagerly waiting for the latest Pokémon drop. I smile at children begging their parents for the latest Pikachu plushie and promising to “be good” until the end of time. Although it is not always peaceful in the store, such chaos brings peace to me. Ultimately, I think this photo is a great depiction of how I manage the stresses of adulthood through my childhood vice.

Because I knew the topic of my blog post was about utilizing my childhood interests to help navigate the reality of adulthood, I wanted to select a nostalgic audio clip that embodied the characteristics of childhood and Pokémon, without sounding like a videogame. I think the song through its composition as well as the title enhances the meaning of the photo. It’s not just about the cards; it’s the excitement of going to the store, uncertain if they even have the cards in stock. I’d like to continue the same traditions that my father established and I hope to carry it on with my own kids. I cannot wait for the day one of my children asks me if I can take them to the store to get Pokémon cards. Although I never would have thought I would manage the stresses of adulthood through my childhood vice, buying Pokémon cards with adult money has allowed me to heal both my inner child and my present adult self.

January 23, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 3

Gentle Giant

Panda Gaze by popofatticus licensed under CC BY 2.0 DEED
Solstice Udu & Softer Sounds by texasradiofish. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED

I have always been fascinated with pandas because of their black and white fur, size, and playful demeanor. As a child I remember going to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. and being able to see the Giant Pandas. They were always my favorite. I recently learned that the pandas were sent back to live in China. To show my appreciation for the joy that the Giant Pandas brought me, I decided on the image of a panda.

I was drawn to the audio because of the peace and tranquil feeling it offers. Also, because of the bamboo flute that can be heard in the background. As pandas’ diets are made mostly of bamboo, I thought it was a fun way to find a common ground between the chosen audio and image.

When the image and audio are combined, I believe they are enhanced. The audio enhances the calmness of the panda.

January 23, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 4

We practice gratitude, twice a day

Trey Ratcliff, flickr, http://Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend”, as per one of my favorite authors, Melody Beattie, in her book “The language of letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency.”

I consciously choose to focus on “it can turn a meal into a feast”. As a family, we sit together around the table at least twice a day- this can be an easy way to create a new habit, a ritual that involves myself, my soul partner and our 6 year old. This can be an opportunity to pause when the food is ready and at the table, to inhale the smell, herbs, and the warmth that surrounds it, to thank everyone who helped provide it, including the farmers who planted it, the soil and its ingredients, the sun and the rain, and the trucks that carried it throughout the country and oftentimes from another country.

This is our chance to give our blessings and love to the actual colorful, nutritious energy in front of us that we call food. I invite you to join us in this “feast”, and to give thanks to all who participated in preparing this “feast”- through this process you will also feel the connection to all beings on earth. If you wish, when you choose to turn your meal into a feast, accompany your meal with the song “Majestic Earth” by Joystock. It is a beautiful background to enjoy your meal!

And let me know if something feels or tastes different compared to the previous meals you have had…

Song: “Majestic Earth” Credit: Music by Joystock – https://www.joystock.org

P.S. In order to use my MP3 file as it was heavier than 10MB, i used the Free Convert and I compressed my file down to 4.66MB.

January 22, 2024 by Spring 2024 Student Posts 6

Origin Story

Subway by Eric Parker Licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Hurricane by Misterbates Licensed under Creative Commons CC0 1.0

Children are so honest with their emotions. That level of honesty always resonates and is impressive.  On the left, you see her mother (probably) and a sibling (likely) in a carrier. To the right, you see the subway doors with a sign.  Her mother’s hand suggests consoling or taming unwelcomed behavior. I cannot help but feel she wanted to stand and enjoy the train ride unbridled by safety concerns. Whatever emotion catalyzed her expression, she is not happy with her autonomy being restricted.

Now, there are so many permutations when reading the emotions of a young child. Let’s be honest here – children’s thoughts have no bounds. There could be a WIDE array of reasons why she’s pouting. That level of possibility forced an obligation to craft the story behind the expression.

The audio created an origin story.  The sound starts slowly, then builds — perfect sound to accompany the beginning of an adventure. I imagined the child’s expression becoming the focus of the image… a slow-paced zoom that matches the tempo of the music. At the moment where her eyes and frown are tightly framed, I imagined her verbalized thoughts, rebuking the restricted autonomy and a vow of action recited. She vows to never (blank) again. This is how heroes (or villains) are born.

Without the music, my emotions and thoughts were a bit humorous and tamed. I chuckled to myself, reflecting on the energy levels of parents with young children and was provided nostalgic entertainment.  The image coupled with the audio, was transformative. My imagination was given permission to mirror the boundless possibilities of a young child. My affinity for fantasy fiction likely carved a path to villains and superheroes. Standalone, these two thought paths do not cross. As I write, glancing at the photo without the music, I no longer view the child avenging her stifled train ride, but see a child, doing what children do – experiencing unfettered emotions.  The audio, heard in isolation, takes me somewhere else, no longer associated with the familiar, but to a space more technical and bland. I’m wondering how the person who created the sound did it.  There’s nothing exciting or interesting about that. Cheers to the age of technology where we can easily combine the two.

January 18, 2024 by Spring 2024 4