Spring 2026

Parfumerie-Distillerie

“Ministry of Magic” by Kayla Cardenas, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Divine Magic” by Kayla Cardenas, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

While visiting Epic Universe with my family last December, I took this photo of the phoenix gate alleyway upon entering The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic. I was immediately struck by the dazzling mural on the wall and had to snap a photo. In cropping the the full image on the left, I was able to emphasize the magical artwork by zooming in on the mural and removing unnecessary background details. The woman’s face then became the focal point, and is placed in the top-right intersection point of the frame, following the rule of thirds. The derivative image on the right shows the details of the mural more clearly, and makes the text easier to read. “Libre comme l’air charme par Leviosa!”

January 29, 2026 by Kayla Cardenas Spring 2026 3

Just Off the Main Road…

“Wuhan / 武汉 | Qianjin rd urban village / 前进路小区” by toehk is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

“Jazz Bar People Ambience (La Fontaine, Copenhagen)” by MSXP is marked with CC0 1.0.

The image I chose was of a street in an urban village within Wuhan, in China. The painting hanging immediately caught my eye because of the contrast between the warm red-brown frame and the blue and white painting of the birds. This photo reminds me of a lot of photos of side streets in big cities, with the worn concrete and the stripped paint showing the age of the area and the crate and cleaning supplies marking that this area, while run-down, is very much alive and not abandoned. I included the audio clip of ambient talking at a jazz cafe because the sound of jazz and faint conversation always reminds me of urban landscapes–the hustle and bustle and music and people faintly filling the background silence is comforting and warm. You might hear the sounds of the cafe from around the corner from the quiet side street of the image, especially in a big city like Wuhan, where the streets and people are all interconnected.

“Just Off the Main Road” by Aedan Bennett is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

New Day Rising

“Twilight” By Frank Charles Peyraud (1900). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

“Acoustic Guitar Interlude” By graham_makes. Licensed under CC BY 4.0

This image is a landscape painting of trees by a small body of water. This image stood out to me because the colors are very warm and it reminded me of a creek near my aunts house in North Carolina. In the image you can see the sun peeping over the horizon in a way that could indicate either sunset or sunrise. The audio I paired it with is of an acoustic guitar that sounds like a song you’d start your day off with. I think the audio enhances the image by setting the mood and bringing the image to life. With the audio playing, it feels like the sun is rising and a new day is beginning.

“New Day Rising” By Nyabi Benjamin. Licensed under CC BY 4.0

January 27, 2026 by Nyabi Benjamin Spring 2026 Student Posts 3

Rule of Thirds Saves the Birthday Girl

For this assignment, I created a derivative image by cropping an original photo that I took of my dog. The original image included extra background space and distracting elements that competed with her. In the cropped version, I used the Rule of Thirds by positioning her on the right third of the frame and keeping the birthday gift bag on the left third, creating a more balanced composition. The tighter crop also simplifies the background and strengthens the focal point, drawing attention to her expression and the birthday girl theme.

Original image: Birthday Girl (Original) by Viviana Mendiola, original photo (personal photo).

Derivative image: Birthday Girl Spotlight (Derivative) by Viviana Mendiola, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

Resource: Cropping Photos Guide

January 27, 2026 by Viviana Mendiola Spring 2026 Student Posts 2

There’s something magical about water

By Giuseppe Milo – Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71318816

Erhu sample by irzirgpznj — https://freesound.org/s/477169/ — License: Creative Commons 0

A calm lake or a quiet stretch of ocean has always been my go‑to place to reset, especially on days when life feels a little heavy. The stillness, the soft ripples, the way the light dances on the surface—it all brings a kind of peace I can’t find anywhere else.

Growing up in the city meant being surrounded by noise and motion nonstop, so maybe that’s why nature feels extra special to me. Whenever I’m near water, it’s like the world slows down just enough for me to breathe again.

Lately I’ve been dreaming about visiting beautiful spots like this one in Korea. The photos alone feel like a deep breath. One day, I hope I’ll get to stand there in person—taking in the view, feeling the breeze, and letting the calm sink in. And honestly, I’d love to explore any place in the world that carries this same quiet beauty.

Until then, I’ll keep chasing moments of peace wherever I can find them.

January 27, 2026 by Oi Kwan Lui Spring 2026 Student Posts 3

To Boldly Go…

I was drawn to this image because I have always loved science fiction, especially Star Trek, and the space shuttle program meant a lot to me growing up. When I look at the shuttle being carried on its own, there is a sense of calm and inspiration. It represents adventure and the excitement of exploring something bigger than ourselves. There is also a peaceful feeling to the image, almost like the moment before a journey begins, as the shuttle is being carried by the airplane.

The music I chose has a very different feeling on its own. It feels tense and a little dangerous, almost as if something could go wrong at any moment. When the audio is paired with the image, it changes how I see the shuttle being carried. Instead of just feeling adventurous, the image starts to feel risky. I have very vivid memories of the space shuttle Challenger explosion from when I was a kid, watching it live in class. Pairing these two together highlights how dangerous space travel really is and reminds me that becoming an astronaut means putting yourself in a potentially very dangerous situation where your life can be at risk.

Image : “Space Shuttle on Airplane” by New York Air Route Traffic Control Association

Licensed Under : Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyalr/52673609358

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

Audio : “Gothamlicious” by Kevin MacLeod

Licensed Under : Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

https://incompetech.com

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

January 27, 2026 by Edward Konawicz Spring 2026 Student Posts 2

The Finish Line

“Route 66 sign – Santa Monica, Los Angeles – Travel photography” by Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com) is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: KIDN8WMFQBT1PSQT
Artist: Benjamin Tissot

Recently, I met the love of my life. I know, quite cliche as I put it into words. However, I won’t shy away from the hope and excitement that come with such a wonderful happenstance. I sought the above picture, that of the end of Route 66 at Santa Monica pier, because we have been planning a cross-country road trip. We’re starting in Tennessee for a music festival, meeting the iconic Route 66 in Oklahoma, and taking it West to its end so that we can head towards the Pacific Northwest. The accompanying audio represents the feeling of accomplishment that this road trip will bring about as we reach one end only to begin another journey, somewhat representative of meeting a love later on in life. Both the image and the sound reflect a personal journey, while also showcasing a sense of accomplishment which comes with finishing a journey. It’s excitement, adventure, possibility, hope, and wonder all wrapped into one.

Credentials:

Photo

January 27, 2026 by Jaclyne Jones Spring 2026 Student Posts 3

A Sunset of Serenity

Sunset in New Caledonia by Iezalel Williams under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

A Positive And Inspiring Ambient by Muyo5438 is licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

I have always been drawn to taking pictures of the sunsets and admiring the beauty that paints the sky every evening. I was drawn to the Sunset in New Caledonia because it reminded me of how quiet it feels after coming home from a long day at work and school. The colors remind me of a warm, gentle summer evening at Cascades as the sun paints a pretty canvas before telling our side of the world goodnight.

After adding the audio, it felt as though my perspective of the picture changed. I then began to feel as if I was floating in the water on a warm, summer evening, laughing and playing with my friends and family. I could hear the calm movements of the water and the wind blowing everso slightly. The ambient sounds enhance the feeling of the world around the sunset and make me feel as if I were actually there. It began to feel less like a picture and more like a present moment in time.

Both the photograph and the audio tell a simple yet nostalgic story. It feels like the ending of a stressful day, when you are finally able to sit quietly and calm your mind before winding down. The audio then made the image feel more nostalgic and calming, like a shot of dopamine. The sound made the moment feel safer and more powerful rather than letting the image stand alone.

Citations:

Image: Sunset in New Caledonia by Iezalel Williams is licensed under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_in_New_Caledonia.jpg

License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Audio: A Positive And Inspiring Ambient by Muyo5438 is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
Source: https://freesound.org/people/Muyo5438/sounds/714924/

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Derivative Work License: A Sunset of Serenity by Destiny Rogers is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

January 27, 2026 by Destiny Rogers Spring 2026 Student Posts 2

Cosmic Comrades

Coronet Cluster: A region of star formation about 420 light years from Earth by Chandra: NASA/CXC/CfA/J. Forbrich. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Cosmic Sleep by Ryan Andersen. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

While browsing through photos taken by the Chandra x-observatory telescope for Nasa, the group of stars shining so brightly together in this image stuck out to me instantly. It almost seemed as though they were a group, a unit of some sort, that was chatting with one another. I wanted the music accompanying the image to convey a sense of playful banter between companions. Together, I think this image and sound can be seen as a group of stars in joyful communion with one another. Whether they are friends, neighbors, family members, or a group with a common interest meeting for the first time. Or maybe they’re a band! What may be taking place amongst this cluster of stars is open for interpretation, but it is safe to say they’re having a stellar time with one another.

Derivative Work: Cosmic Comrades by Melody Murray. Licensed under CC 4.0.

January 27, 2026 by Melody Murray Spring 2026 Student Posts 3

Melancholy Daydreams

“Stars on the beach” by Redfishingboat (Mick O) is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

“SCP-x6x (Hopes)” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 4.0

When approaching this project, I knew I wanted to find an image that portrayed the stars or the ocean; something that created a sense of vastness. I usually try to find positivity and hope in every situation, so I decided to try to create something that goes somewhat against that. I wanted something that gave the feeling of realizing how we are a tiny part of a huge universe. This image feels like the creator is far off from maybe a place they would rather be, framed by the endless, starry sky.

Adding this specific piece of music does transform the picture. If a more ethereal, upbeat piece was put with it, it could invoke a feeling of potential and reaching for your dreams. The chosen piece is more somber and haunting, as its creator put it, leading to a sense of sadness and being lost.

Melancholy Daydreams by Christina Mumpower is a derivative licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

January 27, 2026 by Christina Mumpower Spring 2026 Student Posts 4