Entrance exam portfolio

The Golden Mean is one of the most classic rules of composition, used by great Greek sculptors as well as painters and architects of the Middle Ages. The proportional construction of the human body is in a relationship between parts of 1/3 to 2/3. When we divide a two-dimensional thing, we do it in such a way that the larger part is related to the smaller part as the whole is related to the larger part.(6.181 is to 3.819 as 10 is to 6.181)(p.21).

This is a photo I shot in the Badlands. I thought the main focal point of the picture should be centered, so I stood in front of the sign. According to my text, however, “…it is definitely wrong for a line to cut the picture in the middle…” apparently ever (p.37). I decided to employ the Golden Mean and at the same time eliminate the shadow from where my lens doesn’t open all the way. In cropping according to the Golden Mean, should I assume the line is the sign post or the wider sign itself? I chose the post since it is ‘background’ and the sign itself is what I attempted to capture.

We are conditioned to read left to right, so action beginning on the left and proceeding to the right follows our natural inclinations and seem “correct.” I started with the sign on the left because that seemed to be the way the rule would follow. Since the sign is a ‘call to action,’ it should begin where the eye is subconsciously drawn to the photo. It looked kinda flat and two dimensional, though, from that angle so I decided to defy the authority and put the sign on the right and allow the action to be leaving the image rather than enter and found out the sign was not the action in the photo at all.

 When the sign is on the right of the image, the ridge behind it cuts away like a doorway.  This is the feeling I was trying to capture: the sign was not an entrance to an other-world experience but a title. The viewer can imagine the edge of the ridge as a doorway and enter on the left, creating an action point and proceeding to the sign on the right to describe it.

The lines move diagonally upward towards the right, creating a natural eye-movement towards the sign in the right and mimicking the reason street signs and banner ads are typically on the right (37). We tend to look for confirmation to the right since traffic signs are on the right. When the internet became popular, design ads became crucial to the retail industry and their research told them to place their ads on the right side of the screen. People focus on their task, center screen or on the left, and subconsciously absorb the ads on the right the same way they absorb billboard ads while driving. The viewer of this photograph is now drawn into the doorway created by the ridge and absorbs the name of the trail in passing.  I was able to make a cool thing I saw into a good picture by following the rules of composition. I learned that what I thought was the main focal point of the image (the sign) was more of an accent and the ridge behind it is what entices a second glance. Ultimately I also went with b&w because the colors were a bit distracting from the overall feeling of curiosity and invitation I decided the image should convey.

By the same principle of lines and action beginning on the left, the above picture became the below with the help of photoshop’s flip on vertical axis. I liked the way the boardwalk entered the frame to entice the viewer into the Badlands.

The photo on the left was a lucky shot for me as a beginner. The clouds covered the sun in just such a way as to creat the shadows needed for good definition. The lines rise from the lower left hand corner to the Golden Mean above and to the right and the shadows effectively show off the Golden Mean.

I took this picture of myself because I liked the way the tree bark curled away from the trunk, similar to the way the wind blew my hair. I didn’t like the shadow created by my camera, however, so I cropped heavily. While reading the rules for lines, I decided to flip what was left of the photo after I cropped it to make the angle of the tree begin at the bottom left and rise to the right.

  

This photo demonstrates  repitition. I flipped the image so the rocks would begin on the left to demonstrate the rules outlined in the first three chapters of my text.  I later decided it looked sorta alien when upright and I liked the confusion it caused. My mentor said it reminded him of a totem pole. I'm reminded of the Sound Track, a featured component of Disney's Fantasia.

Stay tuned for more images on my quest to be a photographer!!!

my horoscope told me to!

May 06, 2010

1. 
   

   Virgo (8/23-9/22)

   Sure, you're good at your job, but you also pride yourself at being an expert at some personal hobby. whether it's sewing, photography, poetry or something more esoteric, you should know that you're plenty good enough at it to make at least a little part-time cash. Earning from what you love doesn't lessen its value! Don't pass up any chance now to share your skill with others.
   
   
   
   
   
   I've been playing with the idea of submitting some of the pictures I've been taking while I explore the Black Hills. My sister sent me a link to a site that pays for stock photos. Yesterday, I asked my boss to introduce me to her father, a professional photographer, for some brush-up tips on lighting and framing. I'm bringing him dinner on Tuesday so I can pick his brain a little, and he's excited to be able to talk about the only true love of his life. 
   This morning, my horoscope sorta reiterated that I'm on the right track! I love my job.
   
   
   
   Lighting and angles and frames. I remember the name of the game is fill the frame. I think if I practice enough with my little point-n-shoot, well, by the time I get my SLRs, I may be able to take a half-way decent photograph again. I wish I had a digital SLR. The site my sister sent me only accepts stuff digitally. And they must approve at least 10 photos before they'll even let me post a single one. Please do not send ten photos of your dog. We already have lots of nature photos. Hmmm....starting to get challenging. Then I noticed a category for signs! And remembered the cool pic of the sign for the trails in the Badlands. A guy on the plane from Seattle told me to get Picasa. I've been using Gimp and Windows Live, which is the default program for pictures on this computer. I miss my photoshop!!! I think I may be able to acquire a copy for this computer but I need my old laptop to find the key for CS2. I used CS4 my last semester at Clemson, but I simply could not afford it even at student prices. Maybe my student ID will still be good when I get back there in June and I'll snatch it up then. I'll have to remember to do that. I've got to go feed Lucy's fish, Clyde, now, though, and get to work.
   
   

Peanut butter and chocolate chips

just need a little butter, brown sugar and flour. Shortbread is equal parts butter and sugar, twice as much flour. Cook long and low. I subbed peanut butter for part of the butter and used brown sugar. Added some chocolate chips and then the flour. And some vanilla. 
Pressed out little rounded button-shapes and baked for an hour at 250. 
Finally found Black Hills Milk and they deliver in Rapid City on Saturdays. Delicious raw ice cold milk and fresh warm peanut butter chocolate chip cookies! Local growers meet commodities from the food bank, food stamps fill in the rest. 
My car broke down in Rapid Friday night so I walked to church this morning. Sassi followed me and attended mass in the foyer in my lap. I'm 3.2 miles from Our Lady of the Black Hills but during coffee hour after mass, some people had seen me walking and I told them about my car. They gave me a ride home. I talked to Karlie today. She said she doesn't go outside any more; it's too hot, she's due in two months and sweats rivers. I just think wow. I'm wearing gloves, scarf, three layers of shirts, boots, two socks, jeans and hat when I walk today. When it's cold, the chickens don't lay eggs. I only have one. 

a chicken from the food bank

What can you make with a whole chicken from the food bank? Well that depends on what else you got, and what you have lying around the house. I put it in a large pot and covered it with water and bay leaves and some other herbs. I simmered my chicken for several hours, until the meat was falling off the bone and melting on my tongue.
I separated the meat from the bone and tossed the bone scraps. Dogs ate the skin, and I put the broth in the fridge to cool. I got a little over a pint of broth which I used to flavor rice all week (and to entice my dogs to eat the dog food that was on sale). Using a quarter of a cup for the dog food and about half a cup each time I made rice, the broth really did last all week.
The meat I split into two bowls. One was used for Chicken Salad Sandwiches, and I got enough for 4 sandwiches with just the pulled chicken and mayonnaise.
So far, I haven't really used much besides the chicken, and gotten several lunches and a few side dishes. Here's where we get a little creative: Chicken Divan, my favorite comfort food of all time, and oh so needed right now. 
I had a can of butternut squash soup so I used that instead of condensed Cream of Chicken soup, but I added some cream and simmered it to thicken before assembling the casserole. While that was simmering, I steamed three heads of broccoli and trimmed the florets off, tossed the stalks. Broccoli in the bottom of a casserole dish, spread the pulled chicken over that because everyone loves layers. 
Since I was cooking the soup, I had to wait till it cooled to add the mayonnaise. Mayonnaise acts as a binder, like eggs do. In a casserole, mayonnaise makes the finished meal creamier than if you added eggs. I added the curry powder to the soup while it was cooking to get the best flavor out of it, and then let it cool. Mix with mayo and squeeze half a lime or lemon. The soup mixture becomes the next layer and it will sink during baking to surround the chicken and broccoli in creamy curried yumminess. I shredded some sharp cheddar on top and put it in the oven at 350. 
Next--the breadcrumbs. Melted some butter, just enough to moisten the panko, and spread over the shredded cheese. If you put the Divan in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese together, I find it easier to spread the breadcrumbs than loose shreds of cheese. 
Bake an hour or so and enjoy over rice! Which is why I was making rice all week. 
I got nine servings of the casserole, 4 sandwiches, and broth for several servings of rice out of one food bank frozen whole pullet. 

Relocation is Go!

One of the reasons, ok the main reason, I applied to become a VISTA was the relocation package. About half of the relocation expenses were deposited into my account yesterday. I spent some time looking up air fares home to pick up my Max and couldn't find anything under $180. That might be a good price, Rapid City, SD, to Atlanta, GA, but I decided to wait. I haven't secured a ride to Anderson from Atlanta just yet.
I have a cousin in Denver who just invited me to go see Conan O'Brien next weekend, on Mother's Day, actually. I can't wait; I haven't seen this cousin in close to 10 years! 
So things are looking up for me! I got all excited and forgot to check my oil and *pow* my car checked my exuberance. My air conditioning compressor seized up and melted my serpentine belt which caused it to separate. When I called AAA to request a tow truck, they told me I hadn't paid my dues so they couldn't send one unless I could pay cash. They were incorrect; my dues have indeed been paid. So this morning I called back and got a truck, really frustrated that their computers don't seem to register my payments. I believe this happened last year, too. I mean, driving across the country like I did would've been folly without AAA. The serpentine belt kind of keeps everything running in sync I think, and the guys at Goodyear said it would be at the very least around $1500. Ups and downs. So it goes.
There go all my plans for the next month or so. It'd be cheaper to buy a moped at this point, but I called a few other mechanics who seemed to think they could fix my car for much less if they bypass the air conditioner. Maybe it won't be so bad in the end, but I really didn't want to spend any money this week.


I've asked two friends to pick me up from the airport so I can surprise Max. I want to surprise him that night if possible. I haven't seen my son since February 11 and I've got a month left to go before I get to hold him in my arms again!

Childcare at Western Dakota Tech

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_27a14016-3142-11df-90ff-001cc4c002e0.html
I'm sure I can use this somehow...

Just what does it mean to be poor? How are the poor measured?

Washington Post: 

US Supplemental Poverty measure according to the Commerce Department will now take into account a wider range of expenses and income to create a truer portrait of which Americans are financially fragile. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030202316_pf.html)

The old definition was based on the cost of food and a family’s cash income. The new measure acknowledges that food has become a smaller share of poor families’ costs and will consider expenses such as housing, utilities, child care and medical treatment. It will also include financial help from housing and food subsidies and money from jobs as well as cash assistance programs (TANF and other welfare aid?).

Two years ago, New York initiated these new measures and their poverty rate was 22% by the new formula, 18% under the old.

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/us/03poverty.html?scp=1&sq=poverty&st=cse

The old standard is anachronistic as it was based on the Agriculture Department’s cheapest meal plan and on the assumption that the average family spends 1/3 of total income on food.

Federal officials describe the supplemental measure as experimental and a work in progress. It establishes a poverty threshold that depends on the cost of food, shelter, clothing and utilities “plus a little more” for “a population that is not poor but is somewhat below the median.”

The threshold would be adjusted to calculate the value of in-kind benefits, like food stamps, and whether homeowners have a mortgage. Tax credits would be added to the total income and benefits; taxes, work expenses (including commuting and child care), and out-of-pocket medical costs would be deducted.

VISTA Carrie:

I will earn this year $10296 in disposable income. My rent is $500, paid by Section 8 through Meade County Housing Authority which adds up to $6000 annually. My childcare will be covered up to $300/month at $3600 annually if I use all of it. I’m not sure what insurance costs per month, but it’s provided for myself and my son. My Food Stamps are (for myself) $200/month and including my son for a family of two $367/month so annually between $2400-4404.

My outgoing expenses are transportation and utilities, mostly. My car takes about $35 to fill up once a week, so $1820 annually. I just moved in to my place, but my utilities were estimated at $55/month for natural gas and $40/month for electricity. Since I have not yet received a bill for these services, I will use those numbers for my calculations. Gas to cook with, heat my home and water, will be around $660/year; electricity for that same year should be around $480.  I have to pay a pet rent monthly for $30/pet and I have three. So $360/year/pet for a grand total of $1080, and we must add a $300 deposit per pet in addition to the monthly privilege fee: $900.  My outgoing for this year will be: $4940 (deposit + monthlies). That doesn't leave me a whole heck of a lot of income to play with.

By “play with” I must include my membership to the YMCA and my cell phone bill. I received a sponsorship for the gym which means I pay $16.85/month for a single-parent family membership. The membership includes my son, so I feel that it’s worth the expense for both of us to be members: $202.2 for the year is quite a bargain when it concerns our physical health and well-being (now we're up to$5142 annual expenses).  So my annual disposable will now be $5154. 

My cell phone bill is $107/month. Because Verizon generously offers a discount to government employees, my bill will be $60! Which comes out to $720 for the year and brings me down to $4434.

This means that to eat out, to visit a national park, go to a movie or even rent one at the Red Box, toilet paper and Saran Wrap, toothbrushes and paste, shampoo and conditioner, razors, deodorant, toilet cleaner and other consumable products not covered by my Food Stamps, must come from a monthly income, after the bare essentials, cell phone and gym membership, of $369.5.   In a four week month, that’s about $92.375 per week and $11.92 per day for a 31-day month.  True, that’s more than I’d get if I were one of those kids in an undeveloped country, but I’m making $4.95/hour!  If I add in my total Food Stamp benefits, I still only come out to $7.05/hour.

So am I poor? The 2008 threshold for one individual under age 65 is $11,201 according to http://www.irp.wisc.edu/faqs/faq1.htm and my family consists of two. Since my total income is below the poverty threshold for one, I must look further to find the threshold appropriate for my family size. Two people are living below the poverty line if the total annual household income is below $14,051. If I include my Food Stamps as income, and my annual for Food Stamps is $4404  for the two of us (we’re at a total of $14,700 right now, FS + my cash award) and my rental assistance which will be $6000 by the end of the year which brings me up to $20,700 for my family of two if we include my supplemental housing and food assistance.

So I must not be poor.
Fancy that. 
My VISTA, though a Vow of Poverty, will keep my head above the water while I work in service to those who are involuntarily poor.