Saturday, November 28, 2020

Photo Story Assignment: The Process of Walmart Online Pickup

 So during my Fall term. It has been quite difficult to take pictures due to my schedule with work. So I decided to take pictures of my work! IT'S THE PERFECT REVENGE! So let's begin on how the process for us who work for the Walmart Online Pickup service.


In picking, we go around the store to grab the items the customer ordered.
In order to find the location, we use a device as you can see in Jorge's right hand.



With certain items such as produce, we have to weigh them before putting them 
in the assigned tote. 




After picking is done, the totes are taken to the backroom
 to be organized by time and order number.






Once the person who made the order arrives, we take the specified order
and grab other items from the cooler and freezer to prepare it for dispense.
(This is Chase by the way)



Once the order is prepped the associate takes the order to the car
and puts the groceries into it. It's a pretty easy process.
(This is Jonah)








Friday, November 27, 2020

Hometown: Lebanon

 Well, Thanksgiving is officially over which means Christmas is on our way. Let's take a look at my hometown photos in Lebanon?


As I was heading to Ralston Park.
There were three stray cats just lying near our house.
 (The one happened to run away though)



Every year, there are these beautiful lights at Ralston Park.
But unfortunately, they didn't turn on when I came at night
so I had to stick with what I took in the morning.



As I was taking photos, I noticed the Grinch stealing a bike.
So I decided to visit him and asked if I may take a photo.
He said it was fine as long as I don't disturb his work so I took it.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

"It's What I Do" by Lynsey Addario Book Report

There was a line from Sonic Adventure 2 that really stood out to me. When Sonic the Hedgehog was asked who he was, he simply replied, “What you see is what you get, just a guy who loves adventure.” This simple line perfectly describes the character of Sonic and what kind of person he is. He loves adventure. It’s what he does. This is why the whole premise of Lynsey Addario’s book is interesting. It can be summarized by a very brief story mentioned at the end. As Addario was photographing many Syrian refugees, she would smile at them and say “Salaam!” to them. They would smile back and call her “Sahafiya” meaning “journalist.” In the book, after she mentions that, she says “Journalist. It is who I am. It’s what I do.” This brief detail at the ending of the book reminded me of that memorable scene from the Sonic franchise.

Now if I was going to be honest, I found Addario’s techniques in this book...questionable. While she did take some very good pictures, she often uses means such as lying or illegally entering places to get said photos. I am one of those people who typically prefer to follow the law and honesty. There is also the fact that I can’t relate to her situations in war zones. I’m fully aware that what she was doing was indeed important but I still don’t understand the purpose of this book for my photojournalism class. We weren’t doing pictures from foreign countries and I most certainly don’t plan on doing it anytime soon. And a lot of her strategies when talking to people involved with people who were experiencing trauma like a comrade dying. That being said, what I can relate to are her struggles in balancing both her career and personal life. As someone who plays two separate lives (one being in the real world and the other with a whole different persona online), I can relate to her struggle to juggle different lives. In fact, despite not enjoying it at first, I think I much preferred reading her discuss her personal life rather than what she was doing as a photographer. During those times when she gets personal, I forget that I’m reading this for a class and I am enjoying it. But once I get to the photographing parts, I immediately remember that this is indeed for a class and I’m thinking “why am I reading this in the first place?” It’s important, don’t get me wrong, but...it just was not interesting to me. As a book for my photojournalism class, it really was not helpful.


The photos were interesting but one of the photos that I really liked by Addario was not present in this
book (or at least I don’t think it was). It’s a picture of a man walking in the woods with a black horse. There’s just something about this picture that I really like. Perhaps the mystery of what lies in the woods? Or maybe it’s the sun shining on the left while the darkness of the woods on the right?




To conclude, would I recommend this to anyone? Eh, unless they plan on taking war pictures or pictures in foreign countries, probably not. It was a pretty meh book in my opinion. While her personal life did get interesting, the main focus, being photography, did not capture my interest.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Free Shoot: Hiking "Salamander Trail"

Just about every Sunday, my family and I go hiking somewhere. This week was no exception and we went to a place we call "Salamander Trail" because it has salamanders in it. I decided to take some pictures along the way. I was HOPING I would be able to take pictures of those salamanders but unfortunately, none appeared so I had to improvise. LET'S GO!

Samuel Messing Around













John Deere Machine We Saw at Our Hike










Burning Wood



Friday, November 13, 2020

Free Shoot

 I really did not feel like taking photos last week. 

Ever since that environmental portrait and how jarring of an experience that was, I just have lost a lot of my confidence in taking pictures. Last week was probably my lowest point in Photography. Not because of depression or anything but rather a lack of motivation. 

Anyway, let's on to the photos! 



An Overall Shot of St. John's Lutheran Church



From Left to Right: Nolan, Paul, and Samuel. Medium Image



Closeup Image of a Stained Glass Image of Jesus

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Same Old Spooky Halloween

 Way back in February when Covid hit, I had a conversation with someone online about how long it will stick around. She was worried that Halloween would be canceled. I dismissed the thought saying that it will be over by June. 

How naive I was...

For this assignment, I was worried that Trick or Treating would be canceled. Fortunately, I went with my younger siblings and donned the costume of an assassin to investigate. And trick or treating....

was exactly like last year. 

Okay, MAYBE there were slightly fewer people than normal but other than that it was great. Now then, let's begin the pictures shall we?


Luke Wearing a Gas Mask (Closeup Image)



Darkness falls across the land...the midnight hour is close at hand...

Creatures crawl in search of blood...to terrorize yall's neighborhood...

And whomsoever shall be found...without the soul for getting down...

Must stand and face the hounds of the grave...where there is no one to save...

Man Giving Jonah, Dressing Up as Black Panther, Candy (Medium)

The foulest stench is in the air...the funk of forty thousand years...

And grisly ghouls from every tomb...are closing in to seal your doom...

And though you may try to stay alive...your body starts to shiver...

For no mere mortal can resist...the evil of the THRILLER.





Hope you all had a THRILLING Halloween! 

Overall Image

Photo Story Assignment: The Process of Walmart Online Pickup

 So during my Fall term. It has been quite difficult to take pictures due to my schedule with work. So I decided to take pictures of my work...