Life in the Valley

A crucifix that is hung up in the church San Martin de Porres in Alton.

The Granados family enjoying a botana at Juanchos in McAllen.

A deer head put up to dry after that days hunting in La Joya.

A cat meowing in Mission.

Jasmine Granados setting her face on the table at Delia's Tamales in Mission.

Ricardo Rosales whipping out his lasso in La Joya.

Peter Chivington petting the dogs at his grandpa's ranch in La Joya.

 Jasmine Granados feeding her dad, Juan Granados Jr, some cake on his birthday.

Statue of two angles at a alter to the Virgin Mary in Mission.

Statue of the Virgin Mary in Mission.

Two cockatoos.

A rose blooming in the sunshine in Mission.

Looking Closely at Photographs

1. What feeling does this photograph create in you, the viewer?

It makes me laugh inside.
2. What story do you think this photograph tells the viewer? Does it capture something that would be hard to convey in words?

Capturing the very scary situation in which these people are in.

3.  Who or what is the subject of this photograph?

The three men in the army uniform.
4. Is the lighting natural or artificial? What time of day is it?

The lighting is natural and its like early morning.
5. What colors stand out?  

The red shirt  and pink shorts to the first man is wearing.
6. What part or parts are out of focus, if any?

The landscape is in the background are out of focus.
7. What is the distance between the subject and the camera/viewer? What is the effect of this?

He is close and makes a very effect of closeness.
8. How is the picture composed? Is the subject centered? Is the "rule of thirds" followed?

It is well composed and follows the rule of thirds.
9. How personal/impersonal is this photo? What elements make it this way?

It is personal.  The boxers make it personal.
10. What strikes you most about the photo? Why do you think that is?

The guy in his boxers strikes me the most because it shows his personality.
11. What is the background for this image?

Its the area in which they are shooting in the mountains.
12. Why do you think this photograph was taken?

To tell the story of what is happening their.
13. Does this qualify as photojournalism? As commercial, casual or art photography, or some other category? Why?

Yes, casual because it tells a story of what is happening.
14. Is the photo timely? Does it have a timeless quality? Both? Might it become iconic? Why or why not?

I think its both and can be iconic because it marks a time in history.
15. What else do you notice about the photograph?

It is very interesting.

Critical Lenses

Mads Nissen/Berlingske

1. What feeling does this photograph create in you, the viewer?

It makes me laugh inside.
2. What story do you think this photograph tells the viewer? Does it capture something that would be hard to convey in words?

Captures the story of the man.

3.  Who or what is the subject of this photograph?

The man's teeth.
4. Is the lighting natural or artificial? What time of day is it?

The lighting looks artificial and you can't really tell the time of day.
5. What colors stand out?  

The teeth's shading.
6. What part or parts are out of focus, if any?

The background.
7. What is the distance between the subject and the camera/viewer? What is the effect of this?

He is close and makes a very effect of closeness.
8. How is the picture composed? Is the subject centered? Is the "rule of thirds" followed?

It is well composed, centered, and can possible follow the rule of thirds.
9. How personal/impersonal is this photo? What elements make it this way?

It is personal.  The boxers closeness makes it this way.
10. What strikes you most about the photo? Why do you think that is?

The teeth.
11. What is the background for this image?

Its just a black background.
12. Why do you think this photograph was taken?

To tell the story of the man's false teeth.
13. Does this qualify as photojournalism? As commercial, casual or art photography, or some other category? Why?

Yes, casual because it tells a story of what is happening and it can be art photography.
14. Is the photo timely? Does it have a timeless quality? Both? Might it become iconic? Why or why not?

I don't think it is timeless and iconic cause it dose not strike that a national issue.
15. What else do you notice about the photograph?

It is very interesting.

Andrew Lichtenstein/MediaStorm

1. What feeling does this photograph create in you, the viewer?

It creates a sense of national pride.
2. What story do you think this photograph tells the viewer? Does it capture something that would be hard to convey in words?

It tell the story of a US special national day.  It does capture something that is hard to convey in words.
3.  Who or what is the subject of this photograph?

The flags are the subject.
4. Is the lighting natural or artificial? What time of day is it?

The lighting is natural and it is like noon time.
5. What colors stand out?  

The reds and blues.
6. What part or parts are out of focus, if any?

The background.
7. What is the distance between the subject and the camera/viewer? What is the effect of this?

Its pretty close and a creates an effect of vastness.
8. How is the picture composed? Is the subject centered? Is the "rule of thirds" followed?

It has a lot of repetition and everything is the center of interest.
9. How personal/impersonal is this photo? What elements make it this way?

Its is personal cause of use of national pride.
10. What strikes you most about the photo? Why do you think that is?

The repetition of the flags strikes me the most because it is visually appealing.
11. What is the background for this image?

A typical neighborhood.
12. Why do you think this photograph was taken?

The express the pride felt on this day.
13. Does this qualify as photojournalism? As commercial, casual or art photography, or some other category? Why?

Yes, because it tells a story.  It is art photography because of the composition.
14. Is the photo timely? Does it have a timeless quality? Both? Might it become iconic? Why or why not?

Yes because it depicts a national icon.
15. What else do you notice about the photograph?

I would like to recreate this.

1. What feeling does this photograph create in you, the viewer?

It gives a fun and kind of scary feeling.
2. What story do you think this photograph tells the viewer? Does it capture something that would be hard to convey in words?

I think it tells a story of a scene at a beach.  It captures the fun and hype of a beach visit.
3.  Who or what is the subject of this photograph?

The group of guys huddling over a fight.
4. Is the lighting natural or artificial? What time of day is it?

The lighting is natural and its like midday.
5. What colors stand out?  

The blue of the sky really stands out.
6. What part or parts are out of focus, if any?

The background is kind of blurred out.
7. What is the distance between the subject and the camera/viewer? What is the effect of this?

It is really close and it causes a sense that your their at the scene.
8. How is the picture composed? Is the subject centered? Is the "rule of thirds" followed?

It is really composed using eye level view and the subject is centered so it dose not follow the rule.
9. How personal/impersonal is this photo? What elements make it this way?

It looks personal and the eye level view makes it this way.
10. What strikes you most about the photo? Why do you think that is?

The scene strikes me the most because its interesting.
11. What is the background for this image?

The background is the by standers at the beach.
12. Why do you think this photograph was taken?

I think it was to capture a typical snapshot or fun picture.
13. Does this qualify as photojournalism? As commercial, casual or art photography, or some other category? Why?

It  can qualify as photo journalism and can be commercial or casual because of the scene.
14. Is the photo timely? Does it have a timeless quality? Both? Might it become iconic? Why or why not?

Not really timeless or iconic because it just kind of there.
15. What else do you notice about the photograph?

It a really fun photo with a lot of action.

Vertically Photo Essay

Mr. Wedde scared?

Mr. Leonardelli

Coach P.

Seniors working on their CIW work in Mrs. Roge's class

Mrs. Pratt OMG

     I think I can take photos of my family and the places I interact with for my assigned photo essay.  I want to try using historical markers.  I have to go around my neighborhood and maybe a few streets away to Bentsen Park, Veteran's Cemetery, La Lomita, the seminary that burned down that is going to be his new chuck, etc.  I think during the sunset would be good time of day.

Cool Photo Composition Techniques

Rule of thirds/Spencer Platt-Getty/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Leading lines/Apichart Weerawong/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Curves/Ali Jarekji/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Repetition/Sakchai Lalit/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Birds Eye View/Getty/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Worms Eye View/Sergio Moraes/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Framing/Sakchai Lalit/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Selective Focus/Nicolas Asfouri/http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Life At BETA

Senior Luis Valencia fixing his tie for the do it ourselves Senior Picture day

Senior Bereniz Salinas in the do it ourselves Senior Picture day

Senior Mario Garcia laughing while being encouraged to smile for the picture

Senior Diana Cedillo is all smiles at the do it ourselves Senior Picture Day

Senior Jon Young strikes a pose for his portrait

Mrs. Wilson fixing Senior Andy Frasier's hair for a portrait

Senior Juliana Salinas smiling while thinking of ideas for her picture pose

Seniors Elizabeth Scoggin and Cassandra Gonzalez taking a picture with Betty Boop when they attended the San Antonio TAJE competition

Seniors Elizabeth Scoggin and Cassandra Gonzalez walk down a spiraling stair case on the San Antonio River Walk with their sponsor Mrs. Wilson

Senior Danika Moran on a row of luggage carts at a San Antonio hotel

Senior Carmen Cisneros working on her assignment

Mr. Pierce helps student Diego Lozano with his assignment

Mr. Garcia lost his voice and had to use a clipboard to speak to everyone

Senior Abigail Cartagenas wearing her samurai hat for red ribbon week's theme "Put a cap on drugs"

Mrs. Camarena explaining a lab procedure to her students

Juniors Elaine Campos and Miguel Martinez dressed as Barbie and Ken for red ribbon week's theme "Scare away Drugs"

Seniors Abigail Cartagenas and Cassandra Gonzales, who is dressed up as an Oompa Loompa for "Scare away drugs", smile for the camera 

Chilean Miners Rescue Photos

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/10/rescued_from_a_chilean_mine.html

      I believe this is a really good picture because it depicts so much emotions going through as she was waiting for her father to be rescued.  This picture is an example an extreme close up.

Photos of the Day

http://old.thecompellingimage.com/image/src/7/8/87/large/Photojournalism_002.jpg

       Photojournalism is telling a story through photos.  Photojournalism is distinct from all other photography because you are telling a story through what you see, so people are seeing the moment your capturing and the emotions.  Photojournalism is very artistic because it uses sets of rules such as rule of thirds, framing, etc..  It serves a purpose by showing us what is happening.  The ability to capture a photo that has great composition and is important if it catches a great moment full of action and emotion.

Memoirs of Bullied Kid

This story is very impacting and reveals the thoughts of a person who went through this cruel torment.  I believe bullying is a very important issue because this leads to things like shooting in schools and suicides.  Because of what these people go through they decide to take it upon themselves to fix the problem through killing sprees and taking their own life.

Senior Moments

Senior Hall banner

      Yes I have so many memories to remember so far during my Senior year.  All the laughs and all the smiles.  I am really going to miss BETA especially since it is like a second family to me.  I will try to make as many memories as I can.  I'll miss all the clubs with all the fun activities.  I'll miss the hanging out with friends to prepare for competition or to just talk about fun stuff.  I have so many memories so far.

Generation of Nincompoops?

http://ammaryasir.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/65150_videos_still_image_9475_small.jpg

     I believe that our generation is just weird and we do strange things.  That is why we are called the Y generation for "why do you do things like that".  We can sometimes be Nincompoops, but this doesn't apply to all of us.