Get A Job

For the get a job assignment coach Pat Kelly of the Norco Filly’s offered to hire me as a photographer on a game they were having against an International team from China. He also wanted me take some shots for their team website and just pictures of the team as whole in action. I was thrilled to be asked and jumped on the opportunity. It was a wonderful experience working with the coaches and the team members of the Norco Filly’s. It was such an enjoyable time to be surrounded by people who were as excited as I was to be taking photographs of their team. Taking photographs on the day they were competing against an international team was a fantastic time and an honor.

Mackenzine Maxwell of the Norco Filly’s, takes part in a batting practice meditation with her team before they compete against the China International team representing Shanghai, on Sunday afternoon in Norco. Alex R.(not pictured) a member of the Norco Filly’s states, “Our coach always does something new to warm us up before each game and today we did a meditation where we imagined ourselves stepping into the batter’s box and focusing on hitting the ball. It was a very nice way to relax especially since today we were playing an international team.”

Alex Seward(left) and Ashley DeVaere along with the rest of the Norco Filly's greet and exchange gifts with members of the International team from China on Sunday in Norco.

A FEW OUTTAKES

Picture Story Part 3

Thank you to Nichel for allowing me to step into her world for a short period of time.

Environmental Portrait Redos

Alexandra R., takes a break from work at Dos Lagos in Corona Saturday evening. Alexandra explains her recent visit to Canada and the story behind her shirt. “I went to Canada this summer to visit some family friends. I fell in love with the places and people and especially poutine. I had to buy this shirt as a souvenir and I love to wear it.”

Alexandra R., relaxes at the promenade during a break from work, at Dos Lagos in Corona Saturday evening. Alexandra smiles while sharing her experience of visiting Canada, “I loved going there so much, it was a very exciting place to be. I liked being able to meet people from a different place and learning about their culture and trying new types of food.”

Sports Action Redos

Stanley Chang(top) of the Red Dogs skates for the puck against Ali Zuman of the Bayside Tigers, Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

Ali Zuman (left), of the Bayside Tigers reaches for the puck against a member of the opposing team, the Red Dogs Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

Sports Feature Redo

Ken Huysman, goalie for the Red Dogs, looks onto the game against the Bayside Tigers, Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

Student Life

Taking pictures around my campus and of fellow students was an insightful way to see how people react to the daily routine of school. It was fun to capture images of people I happen to see daily and spark up a conversation with them about their own student life and what it means to them to be a college student. This assignment also made me realize where students like to take breaks and relax in between classes or what types of things help them relieve stress. Overall this assignment I think made me dive deeper into what I see daily as a student.

A student sits outside the Humanities Building Wednesday afternoon waiting for his next class to start. He explains, "This is where I usually chill before classes, it is always shady from all the trees and a good place to kick it. It's cool because out here I seem to always meet new people."

Monica Prather, 22, takes a cigarette and coffee break outside Mihaylo Hall Wednesday afternoon. She states, " It is always nice to have a cup of coffee with my cigarette after a stressful class, it relaxes me and gets me ready for the rest of the day. I love sitting outside of Mihaylo because it is good place to study and meet with friends."

A FEW OUTTAKES

Picture Story Part 2

This was just the beginning I felt on my picture story on an Army wife by the name of Nichel. I almost felt like these were test shots, shots to make her feel more at ease and comfortable; for within the next few days I would be spending time with her and asking her more intimate questions. I wanted to dive into what she went through as an army wife, the struggles and fears she felt daily. What was it like to really be her? What did it feel like to know that a loved one is so far away at times and you are left constantly waiting? Those are some of the things I wanted to understand and know about Nichel. I think this was just the first step of us connecting on a deeper level as friends and I was so grateful to start telling a piece of her story.



Army wife, Nichel Parker Godding, sits amongst a fire pit awaiting a phone call from her husband Albert Godding, Sunday night in Riverside. She states, "Waiting to hear his voice and making sure he arrived to his training alright is a difficult process. Whenever I get a phone call from him I am put at ease and everything becomes okay again."

Army wife, Nichel Parker Godding, gives a look of goodbye towards her husband Albert Godding, Sunday night in Riverside. Nichel explains, "It's so hard saying goodbye to him. We just got to California and he already has to leave for training. I hate when he has to leave."

Second Life

This was my first experience with Second Life, I had heard about it through various people and other classes before, yet never got around to seeing what the excitement was all about. Going into these virtual worlds was quite fascinating and mind boggling at times to think that people all over the world use this and chat as their avatar selves. It was definitely entertaining though to try and take some avatar’s pictures, because as in real life many were shy or did not want their picture to be taken. So even in this virtual world I had to approach avatars as I would people in real life when wanting to take their photograph. I found that to be quite an interesting factor among the whole second life community.



I'm the Alt of... Persephone Belavidorico watches fellow visitors at the Canadian Club Tera, Giggles Beach & Shops dance Saturday night. She explains, "I love to come here to socialize and watch people having fun."

Leonidas Xaris takes a breather on the sidelines of the dance party that took place at the Canadian Club Tera, Giggles Beach & Shops on Saturday night. He states, "This is a cool place to party and show off my moves."

Midterm

I have been watching my younger sister compete on a softball field since she was 4 years old. As time has gone on and the stakes of the game have gotten higher and more intense, she has truely showed me what it is like to be a leader and a teacher. She shows strength and compassion for what she is doing in life and what she strives to achieve on and off the field everyday. She humbly walks through life and faces her fears head on. When I recieved this quote for my midterm she immediately came to mind because most of the time teachers are looked upon as being older in age and life experiences, yet sometimes the students can be the teachers, or the players can teach the coaches...or the younger sisters can teach the older sisters. I think whether it be on a sports field or in the game of live the best teachers are the ones that push you to be better and create questions that open your mind to new possibilites. My sister is someone I believe who does that and I am proud to be her sister.

"Since no one can learn unless ready, the best teacher does not give answers. The best teacher facilitates questions."

General News

While shooting for the general news assignment I almost felt like a spy because I would try and take pictures of people around me at this softball tournament in San Diego without them knowing so I could capture authentic feeling expressions and moments. It was quite an interesting experience trying to look as stealth as one could walking around with a telephoto lens, yet that is what kept it fun and pushed me to try and capture pictures in new and creative ways. It also become a exciting assignment because after I took the pictures I shared them with my subjects and heard about their stories as to why they were at the tournament in San Diego and learned more about the people behind the photos.





A young boy returns from a snack shack to watch the rest of his sister's softball team. The Norco Filly's competed against the San Diego Running Rebels Sunday at the America's Finest Showcase in San Diego.

An umpire working a softball game on Sunday in San Diego, between the Norco Filly's and the San Diego Running Rebels.

SOME OUTTAKES

Sports Feature

I returned to Anaheim to shoot my sports feature assignment and watched the same teams compete once again. It was a blast to see the same teams again I started to feel like a long term fan (even in the two games I attended). It was nice to be back in this space and I felt I had a better feel for my surroundings and the game as a whole.




Ali Zaman (left) and Ryan Kulek of the Bayside Tigers watch the game against the Red Dogs, from the bench Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

Ken Huysman, goalie for the Red Dogs, waves to a fan on the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Bayside Tigers, Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

SOME OUTTAKES

Sports Action

When it came to shooting for my sports action assignment I figured what would be better than what can be seen and known as the obvious famous Canadian sport....none other than HOCKEYYY!!! I personally had never shot a hockey game before and had only watched one live Ducks game up to this point. I however found that I genuinely enjoyed and loved watching hockey. It is such a fast paced sport with intense hits and non stop action, the rhythm of the game is constantly flowing. I went to an adult league hockey game in Anaheim one evening and ended up learning that to create a captivating sports action photograph it entails much more than an eye and skill, but a knowledge of the game and much practice. It was definitely an eye opening experience, yet I enjoyed myself and had fun shootin away.


Red Dogs', Stanley Chang works hard on the ice during an adult league hockey game against the Bayside Tigers, Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

Bayside Tigers', Colin Biggers competes in an adult league hockey game Sunday night at Anaheim Ice in Anaheim.

Environmental Portrait

This was the first assignment I did for my visual reporting class. I was given a country at the beginning of the semester in which I had to base various photography assignments around. My country I began to dive into with this first assignment was Canada. At first I was reluctant to have recieved this country because I felt it was very similar to the United States in many ways, yet as the semester went on I began to find new ways in which to incorporate this country into my assignments. This was an environmental portrait, which was taken of a French Canadian woman by the name of Monica. She took me to a cafe in Redondo Beach, which was owned by Canadians. This was the first time in which I tasted real Canadian food. The dish that they are known for is called Poutine, which is french fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy. It was a treat to try this new food and go to a cafe that truly showed a love for Canada. The Redondo Beach Cafe served imported Canadian beer, which Monica is holding the label of below, true canadian food, and had memorabilia scatted across the walls. This cafe shouted Canada! I throughly enjoyed this place and capturing Monica's picture within this space.



French Canadian, Monica Prather holds a Canadian beer label Thursday at Redondo Beach Cafe in Redondo Beach. "My family and I come to this cafe because they have the best poutine, and since I am older now I can drink their beer imported from Canada."

French Canadian, Monica Prather sits under the display of national flags on Thursday while enjoying the clear day outside the Redondo Beach Cafe in Redondo Beach. "One of the reasons why my family and I love this cafe so much is the fact that this place is so strongly influenced by both Canadian and American cuisine, which is something that is difficult to come across in Southern California."

POUTINE