Updates

   So I had my AP Bio exam on Monday so I missed class but I have the assignment that is due on Monday so that is good. I have yet to have my mentor meeting this week I think I will be meeting Mrs. G on Friday so that is planned. I am now starting to print all of my photos. I haven't figured out exact payment with Judy yet but that will happen eventually. There is a special good quality paper that the photo classes print on and a gorgeous amazing printer and that is what I'll be using.  After all the photos are printed I will be matting them ( I'll have  another entry devoted to printing and matting). And then its the show. Wow this semester has gone by quickly. Only about four weeks till the show.  I still need to:

  -Print all 71 photos
  - Matt all 71 photos
  - Figure out how I'm going to hang all 71 photos (some will be on the same mat or next to each other)
  -Buy all the needed hanging materials
  -Get the show publicized!!!


 

  

    I think I'm pretty much done taking pictures for the show. I'll definitely continue taking pictures for WISE and my project itself but I'm pretty much done for the show. I'm happy with what I've created for the show and I really hope it goes well and we raise a ton of money for Japan.

   Also I really need to get together with Avalon soon so that we can discuss the logistics of the show.

These are a couple of the photos going in the show.


    Ooooh I just remembered!! I went to Judy's art opening a little while back and she had these cards there that were of dog noses (they're really cute my mom and I liked them alot!) and my mom suggested that I make something similar with horse faces and heads. She said I could do little post cards or cards and each would have horse faces on them. We'll see if it works out, maybe I would do it separate from the show because I don't know if I'll have time before then but I might try this after the show is finished, as another little project.

"Out of the Rut"

       So here is the list I promised. I think that I am going to do one of these lists per week for the rest of the year well at least I'll try.
  
Planning: 7 Things I want to accomplish in the next week.

1. Fully plan the healing series for the art show
2. Start printing and matting photos from ones I already have taken (won't get alot of these done because of break next week)
3. One entry per day
4. Start photographing for the healing series. Lots over break!
5. Start the poetry for my healing series
6. Finish/Confirm dates and info for show with Avalon
7. Get Judy's input on my photos (why didn't I think of this earlier? oh well)

Recording: 4 ways my project has changed thus far.

1. I will no longer be doing the collage. I'm a little disappointed because I was so excited about this at the beginning of my project but I have decided to focus on the healing series.
2. I am going to do a public art show! This will get my photos out to the general public instead of just people I know
3. I'm going to try taking equine therapy photos if I'm allowed to
4. I'm adding words to a lot of my photos

Ideas and a Community Contact

     So I have finally nailed down my series idea: Healing. It works with the whole Japan earthquake, hope in the aftermath theme that Avalon has and it also works with my project because horses are able help us heal in so many different ways. Therapeutic Riding is a growing occupation that is helping more and more people in need each year. Here is a list of some of the conditions and challenges that NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) helps with. 

• ADD or other Hyperactivity Disorder
• Amputation
• At risk-youth
• Attention deficit disorder
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delay
• Down syndrome
• Emotional, behavioral difficulties
• Family counselling
• Grief counselling
• Learning disabilities
• Muscular dystrophy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Paralysis
• Reactive attachment disorder
• Spina bifida
• Spinal cord injury
• Strokes
• Substance addiction and abuse
• Terminal illness
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Visual and auditory impairment
• Weight Control Disorders

(www.narha.org)


    Horses are also able to just listen. Somehow they know exactly how and when to make you smile. No matter what. And a good ear that can never tell your secrets is always better than a gossip.
   I got an email address of a woman my mom works with whose daughter goes to a therapeutic riding center near Cortland. I am going to email her to ask about the center as well as how her daughter likes it. I'll also ask for the contact information of this center to see if I could come and take pictures for my project.

Class Notes 4/11/11

       So today we were given an assignment in class which was to read a classmate's journal and respond to it. We also had to write a list of things to improve upon in this last bit of school. I will be posting this in a little while. I am reading Paul's blog for the partner share. I really like his blog. I sing and do musicals but I've never really learned all the chords and keys and stuff like that so to read a blog that is about music and explains it for people who don't know the structures. The only thing I think he could add is maybe putting up a copy of the music he is writing. I think it would be really cool if the people reading his blog could see the actual music he is creating.  Overall his blog is really good.

WISE Notes 4/4/11

      So today we finished up the show and tell that we started last week. John played a recording of him playing five of eight parts  to his piece. It sounded so cool and it was kinda weird to think that every part was him playing. Dana also played one of his songs that he created and it was really good. I'm a little surprised, not because I didn't think that Dana could produce a good song but, at the fact that most of the people involved are in high school. I guess I never really realized the talent we have outside of the theatre people. We were then threatened with a lap around K in the pouring rain because we were all so dead to the world.
   Once again I will remind everyone that "The Wiz" is going to be amazing!! And that everyone should come see it!!

Life and Death

    So I went on another college visit today and I think that I am about ready to decide where I want to go for college!! AHHHH crazy!!!
    So on to my project. I am still reading "Chosen by a Horse" and I love it still. Actually scratch that. I just finished it and I bawled my eyes out. The way that Richards was able to convey the loss and love of a horse is amazing. I have worked with three horses that had to be put down.
     Snickers coliced and had to be euthanized, we had sent him to Cornell to see if he could be saved but unfortunately his owner did not want to pay for the surgery bills. This was when I was a camper at Misty Hollow, we lease the horses from April to October and therefore his owner had the final say. For those of you who don't know, colic in a horse is when there is a food blockage or other obstruction in the intestine. Horses are not able to throw up and relieve themselves of the blockage that way so the only thing to do is walk them, the walking helps to move blockage sometimes resulting in passage of the blockage. In extremely bad cases the intestine can twist itself so that even walking does not help. Snickers had a pretty bad case, all riding was canceled that day and our barn staff stayed up the entire night walking him. Unfortunately the next morning he was sent to Cornell and didn't come back. I had been riding him the day before and was really sad to see him go, he was a spirited little horse.
     Then there was Zoe. She was the oldest most decrepit mare in our barn. She had a limp when she walked and we fed her so much food to keep weight on. Zoe was narcoleptic, which means that she falls over when she falls asleep. To be sure that this wouldn't happen we had to watch her constantly while she was being ridden. Sometime during her journey back home she must have had a narcoleptic episode because when her owner had gotten home and opened the trailer she was down. Unfortunately she didn't get up and they presumed her dead and therefore left her in the trailer overnight until a grave could be dug. When her owner went out the next morning she was standing up eating hay that was left in the trailer. Her owner then decided to let her live out the summer at pasture and then would put her down before winter
    Baby was a polo horse that I just met last year. She was so inquisitive and full of life. She had a tick in which she would always play with her bit and flap her lips together. She got an infection in her eye and had to get medication. She went blind in one eye and was moved to a different barn to live out her life. Unfortunately she then went blind in both eyes and had to be put down. A horse can live blind in one eye, we have one at my barn, but being blind in both eyes is a death sentence.
      It sucks to see all these gorgeous horses put down before it was their time to go but  its nice to know that they didn't have to suffer anymore than was necessary.

Class Notes 3/28/11

WISE class meeting 3/28/11

1.     Money?

2.     Self Assessment

3.     Friends help friends research

4.     Show and tell

    So Mrs G had an idea for a a fundraiser that would benefit the WISE program. She wanted to know if we wanted to put on a WISE night for the community that featured all of the WISE student's work. My class didn't really care. I think that we wanted a night but none of us wanted to put in the time needed to pull off an event like this. We were then made to run around K building to wake up. After we all filed back into class we were handed our self assessment. This is due on Friday as that is when the marking period ends. Also as an aside, I am going to try to write every day this week. It might not work because I have rehearsal almost every day but I am going to try.

    Then we started show and tell. Miriam went first and talked a little about the tape that is used in athletic training, Paul went second and showed us a music theory book that not many of us understood. Alexi then shared his journal in which he jots ideas and expands, David brought a book that explored the relationship between eastern mysticism and physics. Now I have no knowledge about physics what so ever but David's WISE project sounded really cool! I don't normally focus on philosophy a lot, but this sounded intriguing. Erin brought in some sketches that are going into her children's book, they looked amazing. I wish I could draw that well! Marley then showed us some of her favorite wire wrapping magazines, Gabe brought his mouth piece to his saxophone and played a few notes for us. Marcel brought his journal that he uses for notes and research, his fact of the day was that one in every two and a half people will die of heart disease. That is so scary! That was about it for class. 

Happiness Revisited

       Sorry I haven't kept you all updated. I was away all weekend on college visits AHHHHH decisions!!!!! So I was unable to work on my project hands on over the weekend. I did, however continue reading a book by Sarah Richards, who wrote "Saddled," called "Chosen by a Horse" I really like it. Richards puts the connection with horses onto paper very well.
      So on to the homework assignment. This week we were supposed to read a story called "Happiness Revisited", hence the title, and answer questions about it.
  1) When do you feel most happy?
   I feel most happy when I am around horses. Whether it is watching, cleaning or riding, if I am in a barn I am happy. The sense of comfort and contentment is amazing. Even if I am frustrated while working with a bratty horse I am still content amazingly. horses have this 6th sense where they know if you are upset or really excited and will act accordingly. I get horses and they get me and honestly thats all that matters sometimes.
  2)  React/respond to the article.
    I agree with a lot of the points of the article. I definitely think that we do things that we think will make us happy. If they don't make us happy we tend to not do them; however, I think we do sometimes do things that may make us unhappy short term but happy long term so overall it makes us happy.
  3) Where are you on the flow chart?
    I think I have almost achieved flow. Because I haven't really pushed myself outside of my comfort zone I don't think I have yet achieved flow however I am not completely bored because I work with animals that have minds of their own.
  4) How has this changed or remained the same throughout your project?
    I would say I was farther from flow at the beginning of my project because I wasn't consciously thinking about pushing myself outside of my comfort zone so I was a little bit bored but I have come closer as my project has progressed.
  5) How can you achieve flow?
    I can achieve flow by challenging myself more. I stay in my comfort zone too much and therefore my project is not enough of a challenge for me. To do this I need to do things I do not normally do such as interview people I don't know and take pictures I haven't taken before.

Collaboration :D

   So one of my friends Avalon, who is also doing WISE, is planning on selling her pottery pieces with all of the proceeds benefitting Japan. I absolutely loved this idea because we get our work seen and we're helping people in need at the same time. So I approached her about the possibility of me also using that idea and selling my photos with the proceeds going to Japan. She agreed and then said that her mentor had suggested she do a joint art show with another person in WISE and asked me if I wanted to do a joint art show. I thought this was an awesome idea because now I can sell my photos to benefit Japan and collaborate with a friend. Avalon also pointed out that we will hopefully get more people there because we will both showing pieces. We will be planning more later so I'll keep you updated.

"Practicing" and "Two Tramps in Mud Time"

     So we had a homework assignment this week in which we had to read "Practicing" which was about getting out of your comfort zone, and "Two Tramps in Mud Time" a poem by Robert Frost. We then had to reflect on how these two works related to each other and our individual projects.
      "Practicing" and "Two Tramps in Mud Time" are related to each other because they both stress the importance of work, whether it seems like work or not. A quote from Practicing that I really liked was "As guitarist, it's safe to say that we play a lot, but rarely do we actually practice." I really like this because it reminded me that even though I may take pictures a lot it doesn't mean that I am trying to take good pictures, I'm just pushing the shutter button. And I think that is ok sometimes but when I want to create something that makes me proud and completely content, I want to be able to do that instead of just pushing the button. To be able to do this I need to practice taking the shot to make the picture I'm happy with instead of expecting it to happen without trying.
     "Two Tramps in Mud Time", a poem by Robert Frost, also relates to my project because the main character chops wood as his avocation, two lumberjacks come out from the surrounding woods and want to chop the wood as it is their jobs. The main character refuses because he doesn't want to give up the thing he loves even though it is their need. My favorite part was:

"My object in living is to unite

My avocation and my vocation"

    I really liked this because I would definitely love to take pictures of horses as a living but I don't think that it would be enough. So I will make do with what I can get. I certainly hope to unite my avocation and vocation but maybe not as soon as I would like.

WISE Class 3/14/11

       So yesterday we had WISE class and Mrs. G kinda yelled at us for being behind in our projects. She said that as we were supposed to be doing at least 3 post minimum per week we should be pretty close to 14 entries if not more. I am feeling semi ok about this. I do have more than 14 entries but not a ton more, just a few. So another goal of this week is to blog more, even if its not a long entry. One of my classmates asked what the minimum length for an entry was and Mrs. G said as much as you would write in one sitting. Now I find this a problem for me because I tend to write a little bit then come back to it and add more thoughts that I have come up with. I think I will stick with the longer entries for now but not be worried about posting shorter entries if that is all I can think of at the moment.
    I will be posting a video of my polo coach speaking about polo (duh) later in the week as well as a progress report on how I am meeting my goals.
    As this is all I can think of at the moment I am ending my post here. Hmm maybe I do like this shorter posts thing.

WISE Notes 3/1/11

       So today we watched a documentary (Barnsong) about a former wise student and his journey to make a barn. The documentary was actually made by another Wise student as his project. I really liked the idea of building a barn and using all of his own lumber and everything. I think that the process itself must have been so hard and time consuming! I like the documentary a lot as well. I think it portrayed the efforts and hardships of of raising a barn very well. However I thought the music was at times too loud and overwhelmed Austin talking. Some of the shots were a little shaky but I think that that added to the character of it. I really liked the original score that accompanied the film. One thing that I didn't was that it didn't seem like a full portrait of the experience. When I think of a documentary I think of a film that shows an experience from all sides. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I thought there was too much editing for what I think of as a documentary. I do Understand however that filming a documentary is a huge undertaking and to get almost a full film done in a semester is an accomplishment.

Hmm New Direction?

   So I was reading one of my fellow WISE classmates most recent entry ( Jackie's What a Project!
@ http://wise-scaping.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-project.html) and it got me thinking. Why can't I incorporate everything I want to as well?
    So here is my semi-formed might actually happen plan. I still want to do equine photography and that would be the focus of my project but I have always loved music and I wanted to incorporate that into my project at the beginning of the semester however I couldn't figure out how it would work. Now that I have been inspired to incorporate anything I want into my project I think I'll try. Basically what I want to do is record a song (perhaps "Wild Horses?" listen to it in 2 posts before "Wild Horses".) and set my powerpoint to that song. I don't have all the details figured out in my head yet; however, I do want to do a cover of that song. Hmmmmm. Lots of details to be figured out. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you updated.

Time to get Inspired!!

       So this past weekend was crazy for me. I had hockey all weekend in Massena and we ended up winning the State Championship  :D for the first time since 2003. Please forgive me for not updating the status of my project sooner.
      So this week I plan to finish reading A Dummy's Guide to the Nikon D3100 I have read through the sections I have thought would be most useful to me but I haven't read through the entire thing yet. I am also hoping to play around with the settings on my camera so that by the polo games on either Friday or Saturday I am able to take shots that I am happy with and that would be useful to me in my project.

  

    One of my Community Contacts,  JC lent me her copy of Spirit Horses by Tony Stromberg. Spirit Horses is a collection of photographs taken and edited by Stromberg. Many of these shots are in sepia tones or black and white JC had said, when I interviewed her that she preferred horse pictures in either black and white or sepia and I have to agree. There is something about the sepia and black and white tones that brings out the majestic qualities in a horse. I am planning on getting this book eventually because I think that it would be an inspiration. Here is one of the pictures from his book.

Thank you to Jenna at Jenna Leigh Teti Photography

    My WISE teacher Mrs. G. had mentioned that people in previous years had started doing questions of the week and suggested that I do a photo of the week. So every week I will choose a different photo that inspires me while working on my project. Hopefully once I start shooting I will do a follow up post that has a that I took that was inspired by my photo of the week. We'll see how well that works out. I decided on this one for my first week. I absolutely love that this shot shows the game of polo as it truly is: an intense sport that can be dangerous but more often than not is fun and exhilarating. I like that this shot is a stop action shot, meaning that there is little or no blur to the picture. It really captures the motion of the horses and the intensity of the game.

So What is WISE?

WISE is a program that was created at Woodlands High School. It is a senior experience program that is desgined to allow seniors the opportunity to pursue a project they are interested in during their second semester. Each senior that participates in the course has to write up a project proposal outlining what they want to do for a project. After the proposals have been approved each senior then gets a WISE mentor. A Wise mentor is someone who is employed by that senior's school district. The purpose of a WISE mentor is to meet weekly with the senior and help to keep them on track and focused on their project. My WISE mentor is going to be my WISE teacher actually. I think that Mrs. G and I work well together and she thinks of things that I would not normally think of. I can't wait to get started!!

Well here it is: My First Post

So here it is. I am starting this blog as a journal for my WISE project. I decided to do equine photography because I love horses and photography. I have been riding western for 8 years and just started polo this winter which I have fallen in love with. I took photography courses last year and loved it, so I decided to combine two things that I love. I am planning to create three pieces total with one being a book or portfolio of all the pictures I have taken over the semester.