Two steps back

Not quite CNN, but i am quoted in the Voice, WCC's student newspaper. The article outlines why i didn't sleep much over Labor Day Weekend, a nice way to start off the new semester.

Unfortunately the web version of the article doesn't have the photos that are in the paper version, so here are some poor photographic copies of the paper articles:





Let's keep these copies close to the realm of fair use; here's a critique of the originals.

The first photograph is taken with a wide angle lens, creating the rounded effect with my face and making my fingers look smaller. Note i recognized that i would look like some funhouse mirror effect, hence my uncharacteristic smile. I might suspect that the photographer was trying to caricaturize my hispanic features, but the wide angle was the easiest way for him to get the shot - there isn't much space in front of that rack. The composition is pretty good - on the one hand, my hand draws eyes away from the photograph, but my eyes are more focused and closer to the viewer, bringing the viewer's eyes back to the photograph. Finally, my arm is a good frame for the lower portion of the photo.

The second action shot is an attempt to make the job seem more active than it is (99% of my work is typing and watching text scroll by, not as exciting to shoot). The photographer tries to convey the sleep-deprived nature of the emergency work by shooting at an angle; i try to reinforce this by copying the newspaper slightly bent, curving the bottom portion of the original. Compositionally, the keyboards almost succeed at framing the photograph, but unfortunately it doesn't quite work - instead they appear to be trying to cop a feel.

Both photographs show a young photographer applying basic techniques to create decent enough shots. If he continues to approach his photography with thought and mindfully evaluates his work for simple mistakes, he will eventually make a good photographer.

Edit: one photo has been added to the online story. Additionally, a different photo was added to a separate story about the incident.

On the Nature of the Universe

A friend of mine said she never saw turtles in Gallup Park, so while going to work over the past few days i've taken photos of turtles i've spotted in order to form a turtle-spotting tutorial.







Sometimes turtles like to sunbathe on a log, looking much like an odd-shaped stump raised off the main trunk, and with a little branch sticking up. Sometimes they float or swim in the river, sticking just their head out and looking like a very shiny broken branch of a submerged trunk. They are a little skittish in the water and are likely to dive if approached; keep your eyes on them as you walk towards them so you can watch them scurry into the water.

The smallest turtle i've seen in Gallup had a shell length of 1.5" (3.8cm), the largest had a shell length of 15" (38cm). I've seen one soft-shelled snout-nosed turtle, but the majority look like what i consider a "standard" turtle. I have yet to see any turtles wielding hammers in Gallup.




The above photograph is a test; the turtle should be fairly easy to spot.




This bird is included because it recently started chillin' by the side of the bike path through Gallup.

Business Continuity

I'm not yet skilled enough to downshift my right-side shifter with my left hand while talking on the phone and cycling over slick sidewalk. The other party was unaware i took a spill; the phone conversation continued uninterrupted.