Where to get help with your chemisty!

Laura Norden solves a chemistry problem during her session on Oct. 17.

In class this week we talked about environmental portraits.

When shooting an environmental portrait, you may have to pose your subject. The best way to get an effective environmental portrait is to get to know the person you are photographing. By talking to your subject, they will be more likely to open up to you. Once you make them comfortable, it will be easier to capture their personality through your images.                                   

Laura Norden, Supplemental instructor

This week’s assignment was not as hard as last week’s. The hardest part was finding an interesting subject to photograph. I decided to photograph a supplemental instruction session in College Hall 154 at Owens Community College. Laura Norden was tutoring a student for his chemistry class. I was not able to shoot a lot of photos during the session because the supplemental instructor did not want to jeopardize the student’s learning time. I quickly shot my assignment so I would not bother the instructor or student from getting the help he wanted. I had 15 minutes to finish my assignment, but I think I got a few good shots. 

We also had to shoot a head and shoulder portrait of our subject. Posing your subject in a professional head and shoulder portrait simply allows the reader to see what a person looks like. Head shots are good for later usage in the newspaper.

Supplemental instructor Laura Norden, of Oregon, Ohio, assists Toledoan Adam Jeffery with his chemistry class at Owen Community College on Oct. 17. Norden holds these sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.- 5 p.m.

What caused me to have a panic attack?

We just finished talking about feature photographs in class. This week’s assignment was to go out and find a rover to photograph. A rover is when you drive around to find something interesting to  photograph. I chose the Levis Commons Fall Fun Fest on Oct. 8. Levis Commons put a fun spin on Halloween. There were hayrides and an art station for the little kids.

When we started talking about feature photography, I thought this was going to be an easy assignment. I was mistaken. 

Feature photography is a lot harder than it looks. I was so nervous to walk up to people and ask them for their caption information, I actually had a panic attack.  I am getting used to taking pictures of people, but the hardest part of this assignment for me was gaining the courage to walk up to a complete stranger to ask if I can take their photograph and get the caption information.

I realized that I am not cut out to be a photojournalist at this time. Maybe with a lot of practice I can abandon my shyness and become a great photojournalist some day. 

Perrysburg resident Inge Johnson, left, and South Toledo resident Ruth Summers take a break from there long walk at Side Cut Metro Park on Oct. 11. They said they usually have a picnic after their 4-mile walk.

Riley Wolfe, 10, of Curtice, Ohio, pets Bonnie while waiting for the hayride at Levis Commons' Fall Fun Fest on Oct. 8.