Answer 1

1.The answer to my essential question (What is most important to create a visually appealing nature photograph?) is made up of all the different aspects of a photograph, I believe that the most important thing would be the photo's composition. In order to create a visually appealing photograph it must be appealing to the eye and must 'communicate' well, in order for this to be accomplished it must have the proper amount of lighting, the lines and shapes must be located accordingly, the color and tones must enhance the picture, it must contain symmetry, and the depth and perspective must enhance the message that the photographer is aiming to convey so that the image is brought to life so that the viewer is willing to take a second look to completely understand the message. The subject must be in focus, should follow the rule of thirds and the background should support and complement the subject without any clutter.

2.Some evidence is are all from the articles. A lot of them state things like "The rule of thirds: composition guideline suggests that placing your subject on or near one of the power will help produce a visually pleasing, spatially interesting photograph." and "If a background supports and complements the main subject, is visually pleasing, and works well with the composition then it has done its job." also things like "Nature photographs are successful when the message is clear, when they convey a powerful message it compels the viewer to take a second look in order to soak in the beauty and meaning of the image."

3.The sources that I found this answer from was from the articles that I find for my research checks, some of them being:  http://photoinf.com/General/Cub_Kahn/Beginner%27s_Guide_To_Nature_Photography.html

http://www.naturephotographers.net/np101/gt0804-1.html

http://photoinf.com/General/Gloria_Hopkins/Composition_in_Nature_Photography_and_the_Elements_of_a_Photograph_2.htm

Service Learning

I am doing my service learning in my Digital Photography ROP class, and my contact would be Jack Bohlka, his Phone number is: (909) 228-4824 and his Email is: jack@cbcphoto.com . The service that I have completed so far would be learning everything from making a pinhole camera out of a can of pringles, to learning how to use a camera properly and setting the ISO and Shutter speed, photo composition, exposure, using the rule of thirds, lighting, taking headshots, portrait retouching, taking still shots, and being able to use Photoshop. I have been doing this since the first week of September for twice a week for 3 hours each day, I have completed a total of about 85 hours.

ESLRs

The aspects of the eslrs that I am focusing on are Life Long Learner and Effective Communicator. I have become a life long learner because I have been doing alot of the learning that I will be majoring in and what will become my future career. I am also applying effective communicator during the whole senior project, since we have to interview people. This will help me become better educationally because it will all help me prepare for my future career.

Third Interview questions

1. (EQ) What is the most important in creating a visually appealing nature photograph?
2. What do you believe has helped you become a successful nature photographer?
3. What sources have you most learned from about nature photography?
4. Are there any specific kind of photographs that have seem to be more appealing to people more than others photographs?
5. What specific equipment do you use to capture your nature photographs?
6. What kind of classes did you take in college that were most helpful in what you do now?
7. Is there a certain technique that you apply to your pictures?
8. How do you like to compose your photos?
9. How do you like to capture your subjects?
10. Do you believe that color in a photograph is essential?

Self Reflection.

1Q. How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why?  AE, P, AP, CR, or NC
A. I think that I am doing okay on my senior project. However I know that I can do better, because even though I got a P+ on my 5 min presentation, my last couple of research checks have not been to at a proficient level. I know that if I try a little bit harder my research checks can be at a proficient level. My service learning is also also going very well in helping me understand and learn about my topic. I believe that so far I deserve a P- on my senior project.

2Q.What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?
A. I think that I am doing well on my service learning I have learned so much since the time I began. I have learned about all different types and styles of photography, how to use the styles in my own photography,  how a camera works, and many, many other things. I have already done about 70 hours of service learning.

3Q What is one thing you would like to improve on and why?
A. One thing that I would like to improve on would be my research checks, because like I said they have not all been at the proficient level that I am capable of doing.

Science Fair Proposal

Hypotheses: If a person is exposed to a certain kind of photograph their level of relaxation will change accordingly to each photo.

In my Science Fair Project the Dependent is the chart that I will create to show the rates of each person for each photo, the Independent would be the pictures that I will show each person and the control variables are the amount of time that the person will have to look at the photograph and the amount of time the pulse rate will be checked for.

My Science Fair experiment connects to my EQ (What is the most important in creating a visually appealing Nature Photograph?) because in order to create a visually appealing Nature Photograph, I believe that it shall also be emotionally pleasing. With my experiment I will keep track of how a person's level of relaxation and calmness is affected by the photographs that they be seeing.

For my experiment I plan on having 20 different people each sit in a room on their own, while I have them observe different Photographs that I have taken for a minute per photo. After observing each photo I will check their pulse rate, to see if there is a difference according to the kinds of photos shown. The materials I will use to conduct my experiment are; A camera, different photos that I will take, a timer, and a lonely room. 

What I've learned so far

•  Since I began working on my senior project, I have learned how to take an actual photograph using the rule of thirds and focusing on the object, compared to a random snap shot that wouldn't consist either of those.
• I am using photos of flowers I took a couple of weeks ago as my evidence of how I have learned to focus on the object.
• The research that has helped me is the service learning I am doing in ROP. I learn so much from Jack everyday, and being able to use that knowledge right when I learn it is also a great form of research for me.