Service Spring Break Program: Hunger Relief 

Through a Different Lens~A Photographer I Admire

        I was browsing through calendars at the local book shop when a stunning image caught my eye. Splashed across the cover of one was a women extended in a perfect jete holding a red umbrella and wearing a matching rain coat. I flipped through the calendar's other months to find similarly beautiful pictures of dancers performing in a variety of public places. The series was called "Dancers Among Us," and led me to the work of New York City photographer John Matters. I discovered I was not alone in my admiration for his dancers series, blogs had spread his striking work. I also found his other galleries of work captured art, artists, and the human body in a beautiful way. His series "Uncovered" captured women who proudly went topless on the public streets to raise awareness for body appreciation. Ten percent of the profits go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Photo Credit: John Matters 

In the image above from his "Dancers Among Us" series, the use of the natural environment in a fun way is what caught my attention. Each bird is sharp and in focus reflecting a quick shutter speed. Through the chaos of the flying birds, the dancer is still the focal subject because of her bright attire and form. The diffuse lighting of the cloudy day eliminates shadows, but it appears that fill flash or another form of lighting may have been used to highlight the two dancers. Overall the composition is balanced and follows the rule of thirds as the dancers are not in the exact center of the photo.

Quito Mission Trip

If you're visiting this blog to see updates on my trip to Ecuador please go to http://jujyfruits2quito.wordpress.com/ for daily updates December 30- January 7. Thank you!

Thanksgiving at the My House

This Thanksgiving, I went to my family's home in Ardmore, Oklahoma. My family moved into the house in these pictures this summer. It is a smaller temporary home as they prepare to move back closer to my extended family in Iowa. After we moved away from my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Iowa when I was 13, Thanksgiving has been a smaller occasion where we've tried to establish our own traditions.

Maria Greufe lights a candle on the family's table in Ardmore, Oklahoma on Thursday Nov. 28, 2013. The thank you card shown is set out for the family members to write down their Thanksgiving blessings. 

Holly prepares potatoes for the family's Thanksgiving meal. 

Katie Greufe sets the table for the Thanksgiving meal. 

Holly Greufe smiles as she sets the prepared food out.

Holly, Josh and Katie Greufe line up to fill their plates for the Thanksgiving meal. 

The Greufe family prays before eating their meal.

Turkey, cranberry sauce, corn pudding, pumpkin bread, stuffing and rolls are served for the Thanksgiving meal.

Candy, the Greufe family's West Highland Terrier, tries to steal some food from Katie Greufe's plate. 

Maria Greufe writes down a few things she is thankful for on the family's thank you card. 

Maria and Holly Greufe play a game of charades on the family's back porch. 

Baby it's Cold Outside~Weather Photo Week 14

This week we were challenged once again to take a photo which captures the weather conditions. While I had a hard time finding people outside during the sleet and rain (cold weather makes Texans hibernate), campus was still full of people. Unlike rain, hard weather is a less obvious climate to translate. Aside from people wearing warmer clothing and cloudy skies, the environment tends to look the same. For this picture I decided to find a place where the trees were changing colors to emphasize the fall season. As for my subject, I tried to capture her while she was rubbing her hands for warmth.  It wasn't quite cold enough to see your breath, so I figured the hands were the most visible way to display the chill environment.  

Sophie Smith, a senior Theatre major, waits for her ride outside of the Tom Brown Pete Wright Apartment Complex on Monday Nov. 25, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Disaster in Your Backyard: Photo J Analysis Week 13

This week, instead of taking a photo we were told to explore publications for a photo depicting the effects of the recent typhoon in the Philippines. The photo I chose is from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's website. It is not only appealing compositionally, but tells an interesting story. Children are playing outside, but instead of being surrounded by green grass, soft sand, or any sort of natural structure, there are piles of rubble. Their parents watch from a make shift shelter instead of a back porch. The bright colors of the clothing and blue sky are juxtaposed with the drab and harsh tones of the tin shacks, wood and tarp. The destruction has become part of the Filipino's new existence, yet they have found a way to settle amidst the chaos. The picture captures the capacity for humanity to continue on even after great devastation.

Children walk amongst the rubble in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines on Nov. 13, 2013. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)  

Flashy: Photo J week 12

This week we finally got to use the flash-but not in the typical dark situation. I used "fill flash" to combat the shadows cast by the sun on a bright sunny day. When I turned on the flash, the shutter speed automatically dropped and so I had to turn up the aperture in order to stop the photo from washing out. Luckily I had a fair skinned model, so it was easy to light.  

Amber Flores sits outside Erma Lowe Hall on Monday Nov. 12, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas.