Final

This semester has been at times overwhelming but yet insightful, challenging but fun.  Coming from a place where dial up is the only way to get online, I think I have learned a lot in this surrounding.  I focused mainly on learning the cameras for photography and how to write articles this semester so I can learn how to video and edit next semester.  Even though I focused on these two things, I have learned so much that I can take into my future career.  Writing for the yearbook is probably different than writing scripts and other things I am going to learn but that is okay with me.  I am getting the basics.  I know how to set up an interview and how to conduct one.  I know this does not seem like a huge accomplishment but for me it is.  I grew up in a small town where I knew everyone by their middle names.  It was not hard to set up things like this there.  I am able to write without putting myself in the articles; I can if need be but I am learning how to write objectively.  I know now that you need to ask permission to record the voices of whoever you are interviewing.  Finally, I have learned how to format the writing the way it needs to be for the yearbook.

As for photography, I have learned so much!  I know how to set up the camera's ISO levels based on the lighting I am in.  If it is dark and little light is available, the camera needs to be on a setting of 1600.  If not usually setting it on AUTO is fine.  Since the midterm I have learned how to set up for portraits.  Its not exactly the camera but I know how to lay out the wires (and Bob taught me a really cool trick with rolling the wires) and connect them to the cameras.  I know how to set up the lighting, the umbrellas, and the hair light.  I actually had to set up by myself because Jess grabbed the wrong tripod and had to go back to the office.  Patrick is teaching me how to edit photos and how to know which pictures are what we want to have in the yearbook.  There can be a great picture and it not go into the yearbook because the people are not engaged.  I have edited many albums for him and after him.  Since moving out in the middle of no where to this tiny, personal college I have had more hands on experience doing things than I would ever get anywhere else.

Nov. 19, 2010

Monday night was by far the hardest photoshoot I think I will ever do.  I'm not trying to be racisit but all the models were black or dark skinned in dark clothes.  The camera was throwing such a hissy fit focusing that I wanted to quit but the other photographer that was there kept encouraging me and was telling me her secrets for her camera in these circumstances.  He secrets didn't work but her flash helped me.  When it went off I could focus and take a picture.  The lighting is so terrible in Thrift Alumni.  Our last day of portraits Wednesday didn't go to well, we didn't get a lot of people to take pictures.  I decded to focus on the writing I need to do for Interlachen.

For Wellness TV, we did the Christmas shoot Monday.  It was funny trying to get that to work and I enjoyed being with the Wellness TV crew one more time.  I'll have to wait til next semester to do that again.

Hours: 3 hours
Total: 43 hours, 45 minutes

Nov. 11, 2010

Happy Veterans' Day!!!!  Things have been so busy here lately but I am getting so many hours.  Yesterday I set up the portraits all by myself.  Jess grabbed the wrong camera so I had to set up  by myself because Austin and the other girl there had never seen it but they caught on fast.  I mean I knew Austin would, he does the video stuff for Interlachen.  I was really happy to do it though.  Before that I had to reshoot the anchor scenes for Wellness TV because the script needed to be redone.  I was not nervous this time, I think this came out better.  I already watched it on Facebook and I liked how it came out.  Portraits were good, we got 73 people to take them yesterday!  Today we were going to take pictures but we didn't have a camera to take them so it didn't happen.  Instead I helped edit pictures and got Interlachen blocked Facebook by accident.  Its been a really productive time though I think.  Things are becoming more instinctual now that I don't have to think about the processes to go through and how to do things, I just do them now.  It makes me happy that I can do that.

Hours: 8 hours
Total hours: 40 hours, 45 minutes

Nov. 4, 2010

I really need to blog my hours right after everything but I just don't have time.  Tuesday I helped with portraits again.  It wasn't the best day for pictures with the rain but we got 30+ pictures taken.  I learned how to breakdown the equipment from Bob.  He also showed me this neat little trick with the wire and how to roll it so it lays down flat.  Its really neat and I have been practicing.  Yesterday were pictures yet again.  We had our yearbook meeting then packed up Bob's car.  As a test of what I remembered, Bob had me set up and show Haley, the new girl.  And I did it almost perfectly!  I was very surprised at how easy it is to set up for pictures.  Takes a while but its not hard.  I came back later and started roping people in and taking their pictures.  While I was gone for class there had only been two people who came in.  I thought I was timid, Haley was really shy at first but got into the swing of things by the end.  I also did my first thing for Wellness TV, an anchor shoot.  I was so nervous but Dakota and Mehgan helped me out so much.  And I know the technical name for Hot Yoga now.  I came back in time to breakdown the portraits and Bob Drake was no where to be found.  So it was our chance to show him what we knew and us girls (Cynthia, Jess, Haley, and I) broke it down completely and somehow fit it into Cynthia's tiny car.  All in all a good last few days.

Hours: 7 hours
Total: 32 hours, 45 minutes

Oct. 28, 2010

I finally did my first outdoors photoshoot! I was so nervous but then I just had fun.  I wasn't too sure how to set the camera up so I put it on the shutter speed I thought appropriate, 1/160, and the ISO on auto and had a field day.  I got to take pictures of the watermelon twister game.  It was really fun to be out there watching the Greek life people.  I stayed for an hour because I wanted to get pictures of the final people twisted together.  It was really hard to take pictures and not get somebody's butt in it.  I think Patrick will make an exception this time since it was twister.  I also did my first interview for Interlachen with Pete Meyer about the upcoming women's lacrosse team.  I worked on this interview hoping it would take at least 15 minutes but it only took 10.  I came back to the room and wrote about it though as soon as it was over so that it was still fresh on my mind.  I learned how to work the voice recorder that day too.  At the Interlachen meeting we had a slow day, just assigning different things to people.  If I have any free time I want to help Jess and Patrick with editing pictures since I know I take so many.  But I have a lot of research to do for my classes and I really need to focus on these classes.  I can slow down a little because I'm doing really well on my hours.

Hours: 2 hours
Total: 25 hours, 45 minutes

Oct. 26, 2010

Well I finally had my first mess up for yearbook.  At least it wasn't my fault though.  I was supposed to take pictures of the Foam Party ACE was putting on and I did take some pictures.  It got darker though as night does and the camera couldn't focus. I got about 20 pictures, mostly of the workers before I called Cynthia and talked to her about it.  She told me to put it up and go have fun, so I did.  Don't argue with your boss right?  Sunday I went to work a little early so I could stop by the Interlachen lab.  Since security had to open the door and it takes them foever, I went and helped Patrick edit photos.  Wasn't much but he was telling me about the different filters and how to work them.  Yesterday I went to the Wellness TV meeting and we just threw around ideas for the show coming out right before Thanksgiving break.  Conseulo still is out and with her being out, the show still hasn't aired.  She needs an assistant or something to learn her stuff so if anything like this were to have happened.  I just wanted Conseulo to be proud of us when she came back but she's still working on it.  Its a little upsetting.  So now tonight I have another yearbook assignment and I have to write and interview for Pete Meyer for women's lacrosse.  I still need to set up 2 more interviews also.  I'm glad to finally get these skills worked on because its essential to my future in broadcast.

Hours: 1 hour
Total: 23 hours, 45 minutes

Oct. 20, 2010

Yesterday I helped out with the portrait pictures.  I didn't realize how much manual labor it is to set up the portraits back drop and the umbrellas for the flash.  It took an hour to set up, an hour to test out different lighting techniques, then we were pulling people off the sidewalk to take pictures.  Ok, for set up there was this cloth we set on the floor with lines drawn out for us with tape.  I thought that was very convient.  We set upi the back drop then messed with the flash.  Bob taught me how to do a white background and why we needed it.  You take a picture out of focus of the backdrop, go to the menu, and set it as the white background.  He had me take a picture of him after that to see difference.  The background colors were consistent after that and people stood out against the background better.  We had to set up another light above the head of each subject so the hair of each wasn't dark.  Also after trying to figure out glasses with Jess we just decided to ask people to take them off.  Jess left for class so Bob and I started the portraits. He had me take the pictures until Jess came back.  When Jess came back he left us girls to experiment with the gowns for seniors and which would look better so for another 30 minutes or so we did. I had to go to class and then came back.  Patrick was there and he was taking pictures so I became the "roper" trying to get people to come take pictures.  We had one time when a button got turned on that wasn't supposed to and it did a multi-flash when it finally went off.  We stayed until 7:30 at which we broke down and carried it back to the Interlachen lab.  It was a good experience and really helpful.
Today was the Interlachen meeting in which we just did assignments.  I am going to write about volleyball, men's golf, and women's lacrosse.  I have called to set up an interview for the article but I haven't heard back from the secretary.  Later today I am supposed to shoot some b-roll with Dalton.  I am so glad he letting me help because I really want to get involved with Wellness TV.  I didn't get to do the interview today because being a freshman I had to go to my mentor meeting.

Hours: 7 hours, 30 minutes
Total: 22 hours, 45 minutes

Oct. 18, 2010

In today's Wellness TV meeting I learned how to start a package.  Unfortunately, Consuelo got into a car accident before Fall Break and was not able to make it to the meeting.  She did call one of the girls at the meeting and talked to us via speaker phone.  She was going to let us do this package by ourselves before but now she really doesn't have a choice.  I hope she gets better soon.  But our group met up after everyone left and talked about the interview with a coach.  Dalton, Michelle, and I are going to interview students tomorrow at four.  My first interview!  I am really excited.  I think we may shoot some b-roll too.  I understand things better now that I am doing them.  I am really ready to do this, I think I can learn so much from Dalton and Michelle, especially her because she has worked with it before.  We have to come up with our own scripts but I think Dalton is doing that.  Not sure but I want to help if I can.


Hours Today: 45 Minutes
Total: 15 hours 15 minutes

Oct. 6, 2010

Today at the Interlachen meeting we went through the basic stuff, what's going on this week.  Today I felt so excited when the editors named me photographer of the week.  The staff is impressed with how much I want to learn.  I think this is one of those times that it helps to be from such a small town and having no experience because I feel so hungry for this information.  I felt bad after that that I couldn't sign up for something to do this week but I have too much going on that I just can't.  We went to a little cook out the Communication Department was having and ate lunch.  I proposed an idea about taking our staff picture at Interlachen Street and everyone liked the idea.  I liked having that down time get to know each other feel.  Afterwards Patrick and I went through the volleyball pictures I took and he made me choose which ones were good enough to keep.  He taught me to crop the pictures and rotate them so that the lines in the pictures were straight.  Time flew by so fast and I had to leave unfortunately.  I am going to try and go after class and help Partrick out some more.

Hours today : 2 hours
Total: 14 hours 30 minutes

Midterm

The high school I left to come to Florida Southern was very under budgeted. I was very overwhelmed when I first heard the requirements for the News Media Practicum class. But I think me being so sheltered from this technology has made for a better learning experience for me. In just the class itself with the weekly discussions, it is really hard to keep up with everyone because I did not know half the stuff people talked about even existed. I am learning so much with just these conversations like commercials are louder than paid programs or that there are videos in magazines. I even learned how to use a Mac computer. With Wellness TV I have not had any working experience yet but I am learning the lingo of the broadcast world. I have learned the most from the Interlachen. I enjoy it the most and work with it when I can. It took forever to learn to spell the name of it but its basically the yearbook of Florida Southern. I have been a contributing photographer for the Interlachen now for a few events and have shadowed Patrick, the head of photography, at the comedian that was at the Bandshell that graduated from Florida Southern and the House party that same night. I have figured out the angles in the Field House that work best for volleyball. If one stands behind the table where the announcer is, the zoom is not needed as much, allowing more light in. The setting I like to use is 1/320 shutter speed. I find the pictures clearer with that setting and ISO of 1600. Also with volleyball pictures its hard to get good angles at the ends of the court. When standing there the focus of the ball can be lost with the girls bent over. I was so embarrassed when Patrick pointed that out to me, especially since I used to play volleyball and we complained about the same thing when I played. I made sure the next time I did the pictures that I followed the ball more carefully and focused on specific people instead of the whole team. I even looked around to the stands and took pictures of the spectators cheering and yelling. I now understand why nobody likes to take pictures in Branscomb Auditorium too. The lighting looks good to the naked eye but through a camera lens it is terrible! All the pictures I took were too warm. The light literally reflected off these people like a Popsicle. Patrick has shown me the ways to fix the lighting on the computer with the program he uses. I had to choose the pictures to not use which really was hard.  I learned to crop pictures and twist the photos to make them appear more straight.  He wants me to learn the software so when he graduates there will be somebody else to do the editing. I think so far I have learned so much more than most people because I started out with such little information.

Oct. 5, 2010

Today at the Wellness TV meeting I got assigned to work with Dalton and Kaylie doing the fitness segment next show.  We are going to talk about how to lose the candy pounds during Halloween.  I was ready to give up on Wellness TV because both times I haven't been abl to help.  I volunteered for different packages but the head of them never get ahold of me to do anything so I am like a handicap for these two.  Kaylie is open to me learning.  Consuelo said I could go in Friday and learn how to put the show together and I think I might just do that.  I really want to work with this show so I'm really glad that Dalton and Kaylie are going to teach me.  This is their first year too so its not like they're going to act better than me or leave me out.  Michelle is going to edit for us.  I still haven't heard from Cynthia about this package so I guess I won't be able to help with that one either.

Hours: 30 minutes
Total: 12 hours 30 minutes

Oct. 2, 2010

Before I start about my assignment tonight, I want to give a shout out to the Lady Mocs volleyball team.  They fought a hard battle for an amazing win to a 5 game match that had the crowd roaring and cheering.  It was truly awesome.  And the coach is the most respectable coach I have ever seen.  She never argued with the referees when she disagreed with the call.  Now that I am done with that, I took pictures for the volleyball game tonight. I have my very own press pass! I am so happy.  I wasn't nervous this time when I went to take pictures and knew better what Patrick was looking for.  I got a lot of close up pictures and the lighting looked very much better.  I didn't take near as many pictures as last time.  I think the quality went up so the quantity went down.  I really like some of them I took I just hope Patrick does.  Last time we went through them I was getting compliments from Bob so I know I'm doing something right.  I changed it up some and put the shutter speed faster and liked the results.  I kept it at the for the rest of the match.  I took some pictures of the crowd this time but I didn't like how they came out at all.  I can't wait to hear the feedback from Patrick.

Hours: 3 hours
Total: 12 hours

Oct. 1, 2010

Yet again my assignment didn't go through last night.  I was supposed to take pictures of the Leading Ladies production but without flash Patrick told me it was useless.  It was a little bummed out.  The meeting Wednesday went well although Cynthia wasn't there.  The meeting itself wasn't 30 minutes but Patrick went over the German musical pictures with me adding up to the difference.  I finally know what that black flashing meant on the screen.  It just meant that the areas blinking were too bright and/or the lighting was reflecting.  i am going to sign out a camera to take some pics around campus soon.  I wish I would have had one today for the death burger challenge.  But my other assignment is tomorrow for the volleyball game.  I have talked to Cynthia and I am going to try to help her on her package for Wellness TV.  I haven't got to work on that at all and I missed the meeting Monday because of the volleyball game.  I need to find somebody who has attended the 20/20/20 class.


Hours: 30 minutes
Total time: 9 hours

Sept. 25, 2010

I had an assignment but I had to give it up for unfortunate circumstances.  I was just going to blog about it all at once but I am just going to have to recall the meeting Wednesday for yearbook.  We went over the layout for the yearbook.  Basically we saw what font, colors, and the theme was for the year.  A couple of people are working on templates for it.  It was a simple, basic meeting.  I am really upset I had to give up the assignment that was for last night, but I talked with Cynthia about it and she knows so I'm still in the clear.


hours this week : 30minutes

Total: 8 hours, 30 minutes

Sept. 20, 2010

Today was my first assignment in Branscomb for the yearbook.  I have to say that I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I signed up for the German musical but I loved it.  I have a feeling that this yearbook is going to be my opening to so many things on campus.  Now that that's out of the way, I experimented a bit in the auditorium.  I changed settings and things so that I see how everything worked.  Almost all the pictures are bright.  I think its because the setting on the camera was AV not TV like it was during the volleyball game.  Maybe I should try that there.  I don't think it would work very well because the smallest movement was blurry.  There was one man I kept trying to take a picture of but it never failed, he was blurry.  I think they may not be the best and unfortunately I was the only one there so these are the only pictures we have to work with.  Patrick wants me to take pictures tomorrow around campus so I am going to.  I think it will be fun.  He went over my volleyball pictures with me and he told me that I had a lot of good pictures but since the lighting is so bad he could only use a few.  It made me sad but it also made me happy to hear him say I had great angles and I know what to look for.  I just wish it was brighter.  I am going to play around with it tomorrow and I hope to get something good to use.

Hours Today: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Total Hours: 8 hours

Sept. 15, 2010

On September 15 I went to the Interlachean meeting and signed up for my first two assignments.  While we were in the meeting we got our media passes made.  Actually we only had our pictures taken.  We talked about the different assignments and then we broke off into small groups and talked about writing, taking pictures, or video taping.  I figured since that since I had heard the same stuff with photograpy I would listen to the writing instead.  I got a handout that just goes over the basic rules for writing.  The meeting only took 30 minutes this time.  But my first assignment was that night at the volleyball game.  Patrick help me set upi the camera so that the lighting quality would be good (it wasn't still but that's because the gym is evil).  I took over 300 pictures and only a few had good lighting.  I really enjoyed it and I am learning the spots in the gym that are best.  There is a corner when you walk in that has the perfect lighting when you zoom in.  I didn't want to only take pictures there though so I walked around and explored the gym.  Mocsie didn't show up until later and didn't stay long so I didn't get really any good pictures of him.  His tail fell off and I thought about a picture of that but I didn't take it.  I feel that I learned how to handle the gym.  My next assignment is Monday in Branscomb for a German musical.  Nobody know what it is so I think it will be interresting to see.


Hours today: 2 hours
Total hours: 6 hours, 40 minutes

Sept. 13, 2010

Today was a really short meeting for Wellness TV.  We talked in our small groups and in our group the girl in charge wasn't there.  We are supposed to get a text telling us when we can start shooting and editing video.  I haven't had any hands on experience yet because the pictures were cancelled last week and it rain friday.  I am hoping tomorrow to get a chance to maybe work with the yearbook for the blood drive.  Its supposed to be tomorrow I think.  We really didn't go over much today.



Hours today: 30 min
Total: 4 hours 40 min

Sept. 8, 2010

Today I went to the meeting for the year book.  I still can't spell its name.  But anyways, got my first assignments today for it.  I am really ready for it.  Tomorrow I am helping during the portraits from 5 to 6 in the room next to the cafe.  Because I have such a full day tomorrow it was the only time I could get.  Also since not many, if anyone, wants to do the blood drive I may get to take photos of that on the 14th. Friday night I may be shadowing Patrick bacause other people volunteered.  Then again those people haven't been through his little training session so I may get to actually take pictures.  Next Saturday I will be helping with the volleyball game.  It will be Patrick showing me how difficult it is to take pictures in the gym and Branscomb.  Last thing in the meeting was that there is a writing workshop next wednesday at 5:30 or 6 depending on the sports guys and how long their meeting is after the praticum class.  Today I got a review on the camera stuff from last week but I got to go out and take pictures using the different lighting.  We learned how to adjust the shutter speed, the zoom, and how to make the shutter bigger and smaller depending on the light.  Tomorrow is my first day actually helping!!!

Total hours today: 1 hour 40 min
Total time : 4 hours, 10 min.

Sept. 6, 2010

Today I went to the Wellness TV meeting.  The subjects that we are being assigned for next week are sweet alternatives, get organized, and swimming area activities.  Consello wants us new people to work with more experienced people so I am working with Michelle.  She's super nice and helpful and I think that I can learn a lot from her.  We are covering getting organized for the student living section of the show.  I need to research getting organized.  I think that I could really profit from doing this topic with personal benefits along with learning how to shoot and edit video.  I am really excited to do this!


Hours today: 30mins
Total hours: 2 hour 30 min.

As of September 1

Monday I went to the Wellness TV meeting and earned 30 minutes for just going to the meeting.  I am really excited to get to learn about video editing!  I can't wait to get some hands on experience.  The topics right now are Zumba, teeth whitening, and healthier choices from the different places on campus, specifically the Terrance (AKA Undercafe).  We didn't get much of chance to do anything because it was mostly an information meeting.

Today at noon I went to the meeting for the yearbook here.  The Interchalen or something like that.  The information part of it only lasted 30 minutes.  The next hour was spent with Patrick learning about the cameras.  It was like heaven to touch a camera like that.  Anyways, he went over how to use it and what everything meant on it.  I personally learned how to get the glare off of some one's glasses on my first day.  I am truly excited to finally get a chance to work on a yearbook!  Next week we are assigning projects to do.

Total time this week: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours