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shinyroxmysox
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Name: Meg
Birthday: 12/7/1986
Gender: Female
Interests: hanging out with friends, photography, music, movies, acting, drawing, basketball, and talking!
Expertise: ummm...honestly, I don't think I'm and expert at anything. I do take a lot of pictures, but i wouldn't call myself an expert!
Occupation: Student
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
6/15/2005
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| I've been thinking a lot about one of my passions recently: taking pictures.
I'm taking yet another photo class, this one is digital photography. Not like i've never taken a digital shot before, but it's more about concept and how to alter photos to make them better, including photoshop. The final project in the course is due tomorrow, and though most of the assignments this summer session have come easily, this one has stumped me. I do have concepts and photos, but i'm not about to reveal my plans and explanations for them yet - it's not important.
I've been relating photography on a very personal level recently, what the intrinsic values of the process of taking a shot is and what it all means. For one, I'm not the most trusting person with things in general. I've seen too many bad things happen when trust goes too deep. On that note, i keep secrets well. But, since i don't trust people easily, how is that reflected in my frames? I think it affects how i take my pictures too. I love candid shots - but candid shots in today's hyper-sensitive world are nearly impossible. I think when i get a candid shot, i treasure it because it is a gem - a true piece of the person in front of the lens. I grasp it firmer than a "say cheese" shot.
Zoom is an element on a camera that helps you get closer to the subject. I use zoom a lot, and i'm always wanting more with it. The new digital camera i just got (not dslr unfortunately, but still rockin) has an excellent 12x optical zoom - something that most point-and-shoots do not have. Do i use zoom because i'm too afraid to get close to my subjects, whether it be a snoozing vagrant or a mountain? Robert Capa once said, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough." One of my professors used an example about seizing opportunity recently, and told a story about a student of hers who took stunning pictures. She was encouraged to contact National Geographic and have them look at her pictures. She felt her pictures were not up to the standard of NG. Long story short, she ended up submitting photos and getting an internship with NG. Am i saying my pictures are that good? Heavens no! But i take the lesson of "grabbing the brass ring" from this illustration.
And another thought i'm not completely convinced of, but still pops up from time to time, is that perhaps i'm so drawn to photography because i never felt sufficient in front of the lens. Unless it's a baby picture of me younger than 4 or select recent photographs from the past few years, I'm completely unsatisfied with how i look on film. I always wanted to be prettier. Now i'm on the other side, and i'm drawn to things that are beautiful or interesting, as we all are. Think about it.
I pursue photography like few other things in my life. Many people would call my attempts and passion worthless, something that anyone can do. It's true that anyone can take pictures, but i want to take photographs - real, living frames with substance and a story, filled with love and sorrow and surprise. I hope that my pictures are never futile.
I hope that some of my close friends and family notice a quote by Dorothea Lange, one of the greatest women photographers, in me one day if they if they do not feel i have truly developed it yet:
"...really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind."
for your consideration, i have attached this photo i entitle "Self Portrait, 2007"
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| *written Wednesday night*
i got in a car accident today.
and it was a really great day.
Despite 3 finals and the fender bender, i got two wonderful meals with friends and an hour of DDR. how fun is that!
I started out the day with my Media Ethics final, which was painfully boring - my word, the professor made us GRADE OUR OWN FINALS. wtf. i'm not a 5th grader. After that, i had breakfast at Jims with some of my classmates, and it was sweet. Later on, i headed to my Cultural Studies final, which was freaking long, and kinda difficult, but i think i did well.
Then it happened. I wanted to move my truck closer to campus (i park off campus because i can't afford the $75 per semester parking fee). So, i go to drop off some books and pick up my advertising project for my next final in Writing for the Media. I get in my truck and prepare to get a better spot. At the end of the street, there's a bush to the left, blocking the view of oncoming traffic. Now i'm inching forward to see my best and cars keep coming and coming and suddenly, this little old man in a red ranger stops. right before he gets to my street. I take this as a sign to proceed - like he's letting me cut ahead of him. I put on the gas and CRACK. i hit an SUV as i turn.It turns out, all that traffic had backed up from a light and i had assumed traffic was flowing.
stupid. stupid. stupid. STUPID!
The guy i hit spoke. no. english. greaaaaaaat. Anyway, we were both fine, and the AH police came and made a report. I was calm and smiling the whole time, but i wanted to cry so bad the whole time. The damage: my bronco's a tank, and i didn't hit him hard to begin with since i came off a stop, so, my license plate came off and i have a small dent and scratches on the bumper. As for him, he had (if even) a small dent on his back right fender and a little bit of scratches.
*le sigh* but, i'm safe, little damage, all is well, but man.....i was (kinda still am) so upset....
Last final went well though. Did my best on my advertisement and got a few compliments which was very nice, and i think i did well on the final itself. Afterward, i met up with Ben, Amanda, Jon, and Sean for a "going away" dinner - since Sean is going to Costa Rica for awhile. He generously picked up the dinner at Chili's and then we all went to Gameworks for some Dance Dance Revolution. I gotta say, Maddox has some MAD SKILLS on that machine - indeed i'm jealous.
Anyway, i have one last final - the hardest one - American Literature Survey tomorrow. Meh, i'm so glad school is almost over (for a week for me at least). It was an icky semester. so, until we meet again, many hearts 
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| I got all my wisdom teeth pulled today.
I love how when God made me, He was like, "Hey, lets make her a bit off and give her only 3 wisdom teeth!"
First of all, thank you for that Lord!
Second of all - no dumb jokes!
Story time - since saturday, the right side of my mouth in the back, was very agitated. I couldn't close my teeth, and i was getting swollen and pinching my cheek/gums when i did close my mouth. I've been told i have a fairly high tolerance for pain, but i dunno, i think i'm average. Anyway, my teeth were giving me quite a bit of trouble, so i got an appointment this morning to see what the problem was.
I had planned to get my wisdom teeth out in a couple of weeks, but the doctor said it would probably be best to just go for the gold now, so my situation wouldn't get worse. Turns out, the problem was my lower right wisdom tooth that was impacting my teeth by growing in sideways.
So, with a, "let's just do it" i was prepped for surgery and in i went. I was a little nervous, but everything went fine. I was put under, which felt like i closed my eyes for two minutes. I opened them and thought, are they gonna start yet? Then i realized there was gauze in my mouth - the procedure was complete! i felt no pain, which was such a blessing!!! I did throw up a little before i left, and threw up some blood when i got home, but i've been fine ever since, the pain seems minimal to me :o)
I am getting pretty tired though, this vicadin crap is kicking in and its awesome, i've gotten some good sleep.!!! Hopefully i can get a good night's rest though and not wake up with pain during the middle of the night. Please pray for a speedy recovery! I do have a final on Monday, and i think i'll be okay! Thanks for all the well wishes - you guys are the best. If ya need me, facebook is probably the best means to get me, or text - i'd rather not do a lot of talking just yet (i can, but yeah...)
many hearts to all!
(and the semester's almost over - YAAAAY!)
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| So i got a new camera.
Oh my goodness, it's fantastic - just the upgrade i needed. Micah got it for me and shipped it down to me last week. It's the Kodak EasyShare Z612 (i think easyshares are lame, but the features on the camera itself, like the 12x optical zoom, are good). I told him if he wanted to get me a nice Canon Rebel D-SLR with a lens, i would accept that as a proposal for marriage. He is amazing.
So the registration schedule just came out for next semester, and you know what that means. Life is about to change. Seriously, my schedule changes a lot, and this time, it should be good rather than lackluster. I'm super excited, because so many things are just unbearable right now.
Had a great weekend, it was like the spring break i didn't actually get. Saw my friends, relaxed, and now i'm going to pay for t in catching up. Classic.
Right then, enough for now. many hearts!
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|  | Currently Listening
Swagger
By Flogging Molly
Salty Dog (hooray for St. Patty's Day)
see related |
Right then.
So, on the eve of the end of Spring Break, i say for every negative, there should be some positive. Besides,
though I wrote about the negative, I love the positives.
This
year has been absolutely flying by. I can’t believe it’s already March. This is
a wonderful thing because Micah will be back at the end of May! His apartment
shopping seems to be going well, and looks like he’s got a job lined up! He’s
doing well, and I know he can’t wait to be back in the Lone Star State.
The
weather has been nice. I don't like sweltering heat, but i'm ready for the summertime. It makes me want to really get at making my room
the way I want it. I kinda got left behind when the house got fixed up after
the flood. Pretty much every room is finished…except mine. So, I took it upon
myself to change it. I painted my walls, all my furniture, and sanded and
repainted my door and closet trim. I’m planning on painting the ceiling and
making curtains (instead of doors) for my closet as soon as possible. Next
step, which is something I can’t do on my own yet and is vital to completing my
room is the shelving project. I want shelving around the perimeter of my room,
near the ceiling. All my knick knacks and odds and ends will go up there, while
the majority of my walls will remain pristine – filled only with my framed
black and white photography – very art gallery feel. I’m excited about it.
Summer
got married. I’m happy for her because, even though it came on pretty quickly,
I think it’s something she really wanted. The wedding was beautiful, and all of
us girls had the best time preparing for it and being in it! Erica and Debra
and Ben and I went to go visit Sam at HPU for a day – that was fun stuff. She
was spectacular in her play, and I’ll always take her line, "Ever since I
was a child, I’ve sweated like a stallion!" as one of my all-time favorite
quotes. HPU made me want to go away to college. It was the first "road
trip" I’d driven too, so that was exciting as well! Oh! And my short trip
to Virginia over Christmas Break was a blast! Though it was short, we to see
the Trans Siberian Orchestra, and went hiking in the Shenanndoah River Valley!
So fun!
In addition:
I'm excited about the summertime for the first time in awhile - i really can't wait for it.
Though it may not seem like it, i really am making more decisions for myself. I'm going to start gardening again this spring I'm reading several good books in my spare time. It helps keep me sane I've caught up with several of my friends. :)
So. i've been gone from my post for quite some time, but i hope to return to normal posts now. maybe that's why i was out of sorts, eh? anyway, until next time, many hearts
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