LIS5313

Spring 2026

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 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 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 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 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 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 Spring 2026 Student Posts 4

Rainbow Reminiscence

“Rainbowvega” by Alex Garnik is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY 3.0)
“Windglockenspiel.Koshi.ogg” by Membeth is licensed under  Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0 1.0)

As a child, before my family put a pool in our backyard, my dad would turn the sprinklers on hot, sunny summer days for my sister and me to run through. Barefoot, we would run through the spray of the water, screaming and laughing. When the sun hit the water just right, a rainbow would form through the cold spray, making it feel like magic. Other afternoons in my grandparents’ yard, we would do the same, donning our swimsuits and running through the water as our grandparents looked on, smiling from the back porch. My grandmother had many wind chimes in her backyard garden, and on summer days, such as the one I described, they would always chime, moved by the occasional summer breeze. When I found this picture, it reminded me of childhood and the sounds that come with it, including the sweet wind chimes of my grandma’s garden. Alone, this image is not complicated, but a picture of a child having fun and playing in sprinklers with a beautiful rainbow forming behind. Paired together, this picture of a child playing in the spray of a sprinkler and the nostalgic sound of the wind chimes of my childhood create a bittersweet look at childhood for me. It reminds me of my grandparents’ house, which, after their passing, was sold and is no longer a place I can ever visit again, except in my fond childhood memories. The picture and sound together paint a picture of nostalgia and longing for childhood, something that is long over and only lives in memory. 

January 27, 2026 by Spring 2026 2

Railroad Blues

“Tracks on the River” by Donnie Nunley is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“Matt’s Blues” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Railroads and trains have always felt nostalgic to me, so I gravitated towards images of them for this assignment. Where I grew up, we had to cross a set of railroad tracks to get onto the highway, so crossing them always felt like a sign of an adventure. Now, I see them most often whenever I have to cross through the seemingly-empty middle of Florida to visit my family on the other coast, which are trips filled with both solitude and nice music. Railroads always reminded me of travel, and now I associate them with my long-distance driving playlist of folk, blues, and indie music. So, I decided to combine the picture of railroad tracks with a blues song by Kevin MacLeod (though the song was trimmed in order for it to be uploaded). Now you can feel like you’re along for the ride with me!

For this derivative work use: “Railroad Blues” by Alyssa Mitchinson is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

January 27, 2026 by Spring 2026 3

A somber morning walk

Forest Walk by Mike is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Sad Story Loop by SergeQuadrado is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This image drew me in as it is a walk I think I need to be on today. The sound and the image together are reflecting how I am feeling given the state of my world currently and maybe the world as a whole currently. I understand that this will pass but right now everything feels pretty somber and desolate like this winter forest path.

January 27, 2026 by Spring 2026 Student Posts 4

Life on another planet.

“071224 out of luck” by Dan4th is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Tele-Viaje-Interior by Francisco Pinto is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

While searching for images, I came across this picture of the Lady Luck building taken in Vegas, circa 2007 by Dan4th. The song, created by Francisco Pinto, is titled Tele-Viaje-Interior, which pretty roughly translates to remote inner journey. That building there doesn’t look like that anymore. In fact, the whole block has changed since then, but here it looks not just stuck in time but in space. Not here space, but slightly-over-there space, just out of your reach. The dusky sky makes it look like it spontaneously re-appeared on Mars, with its structure intact and framed by the planet’s blue-gray sunsets. There’s no valet, and the tarped fence leading into the entrance gives you the feeling that it’s the last stop (only stop?) on our far out rock. As you’re treading the moving walkway toward the doorway, this is the music that starts pumping through your spacesuit. Everything looks the same on the inside, but you weren’t there in Nevada, and the picture only shows what it shows, so what can you know? Back here now, it’s called the Downtown Grand Hotel. You can look it up.

Life on another Planet. by Jorge Sanchez is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.

January 27, 2026 by Spring 2026 Student Posts 3