Nichole

This is my favorite shot of Nichole. It was taken outdoors, in front of Peggy's, which is her favorite hangout. She is there at least four times a week, and often drags me there on weekends even though I'm not much of a fan of it. She is happiest here. It is where she goes wild, laughs and cavorts with her friends. I like the slant of the photo, as well as the bright red of the door in the background. I also like the way her hair is a tad bit messy, just like she is. 

This is the "outdoor" shot of Nichole. She is hugging the side of Peggy's her favorite hangout. I like the cute, somewhat goofy look on her face. I also like the shallow depth of field and the mostly natural hues of the photograph. Finally, her pink nail polish, which is a classic Nichole accessory creates a bright, although tiny contrast to the other hues.

This is our "indoor" shot. Nichole is leaning over the pasta and salad selections at Gateway Market, which is our favorite spot to eat together. She claims vegetarianism, but sometimes eats meat when she is here. We can spend hours in this store, perusing the items, and eating from the sample trays until they are completely empty before deciding to just get sushi. I like this photo because she is laughing, which is what she is doing most often when I see her, and because she is with food...a HUGE part of our friendship.

My Favorite Des Moines Treasure

What I love most about this photo is the way the lines attract focus to the center of the photo, where the subjects are. Also, I love the way the lines the diminish into the distance, and also the balance of tans and blue hues throughout the photo. Plus, I just think elderly couples taking walks are cute.

This is another great photo because of the lines, and because the places where the lines fall complement the photo based on the rule of thirds. Other attractive elements of the photo are the reflection of the water,  and the contrast of the twigs against the water.

I like this photo because it shows a young couple jogging together while in conversation, in contrast with the old couple they are passing, who spoke not a word the whole walk. It looks like two snapshots of time colliding with each other. 

This photo is beautiful for the lighting, the mother walking with her little girls, one of which who is running hurriedly towards the swingset, and also the curve of the sidewalk in the bottom portion of the photo which provides an interesting place for the eye to go, as well as some balance.

In this photo, I like how the girls are matching, and how they are in focus while the background is blurry. Also, I think the way the light falls on the little girl's hair is pretty.

This photo really hasn't had anything done to it, yet I think it has the look of a painting. I like the position of the ducks, the blurry rock in the foreground which emphasizes the depth of field,  and the reflection and ripples.

I just like this shot of two parents walking with their little boy. I realized soon after that this is actually two of my English professors. It's also neat that their steps are in sync.

In this photo, I just think the subjects are interesting, and the reflection further emphasizes their presence in the frame.

I like this because of the expression of the littlest girl, who seems intrigued with what the older girl is going. I also think the warm, happy expression on the mother's face really makes the photo.

In this photo, I like the placement of the trees in the frame, the placement of the sun behind the trees, and the overall lighting and reflections.

This photo reminds me of "The Giving Tree," which was one of my favorite books as a child. But what I liked most about this photo was the contrast of the different blues in the water, and then the contrast of the water with the tree.

It's always fun to catch another photographer in the act. I like the way his jeans match the water, and the way in which he is poised to get a perfect shot of the swooping bald eagles.

I like this picture because I was just trying to get a shot of the eagle in general, and ended up catching it in action right after it had caught a fish in its mouth. 

I like this one for the same reasons I liked the other duck photo. It is almost perfectly framed, and looks like a painting.

Although I know these stone things in the background are just empty silos, they give off an image of imposing, industrial structures, which provides an interesting contrast to the thin, bright innocence of the playground. If smoke were coming out of the silos, it would be the perfect cover for an environmentalist magazine.

What is...my favorite color?

Campus Life

CAMPUS ACADEMIC LIFE...

The red accents really make this photo...the coat, shoe, bag. They carry the eye to varying points. Also, The line of the sidewalk traveling diagonally left all the way up the photo gives the subjects a "place to move." We can see where they are going.

This girl is reading from the Bible. She was actually narrating it out loud to another girl sitting across from her. I like the natural lighting, and the way it falls on her face and the book page. I also like the slightly blurry, foreground edge at the bottom, and the diagonal line from the window that incidentally leads the eye to her speaking mouth.

This photo is busy, yet organized. It is an overwhelming view of what appears to be infinite rows of books. It feels quiet, and I can almost smell the musty fragrance of the library. I also like the way the row of books that is the closest is blurry, and the way the lighting falls on the row just ahead of it.

The set-up of this photo was just perfect, although completely unplanned. You have the notebook on the left with the paper 3-dimensionally perched there, the hard-at-work student buried in a book, and (of course), the cliche apple.

This is the cliche apple. I like the warm colors in this photo, and the simplicity of the apple by itself, being completely ignored by the person who brought it along. The image reminds me of a desk in an old schoolhouse, and I like the shallow depth of field emphasized by the chair.

My favorite thing about this photo are the slanting computer screens drawing attention to Allison's face. I also like that although you can tell it is late, and we are working on a project, she appears to be enjoying herself. The lighting works well too.

CAMPUS NIGHT LIFE...

I like this photo because the blur shows the movement of this hardworking bartender, a student at Drake, as well as what you could interpret as a sort of "drunk blur." The picture gives a feeling of activity, noise and busy-ness. Also, I like the warmth of the colors without the flash.

In this photo, I like the framing. It has not been cropped. It shows the pride of a man chugging a beer. It also gives an essence of careless, frivolous binge drinking without abandon.

I love the reflection on this photo. These are two freshly made beverages, and the bartender and waitress in the background are exchanging cash and a receipt with one another.

This picture is framed well, with the "weight" being drawn toward the center. It shows the typical phenomenon of girls at the bar photographing EVERYTHING and then checking to make sure they look good in the photo before putting the camera away again. I also like the pink and black color occurrences.

This photo, I love. It was supposed to be candid, but she caught me. She has had a decent amount to drink at this point. I also like the pink/ black, the beer in the left hand corner, the messy, straggling hair, and the random flipping of the bird in the background...which happens a lot in bar photos.

Musings at the Museum

This is a collection created entirely due to my tendency to people-watch instead of get overly involved in the artwork. People, I believe, are the greatest forms of art from which we can learn more than if we were to be observing anything else at all. Photos by Sarah Bush.

(Above) This is the gentleman who works at the information desk. Everything was organizde into perfect, neat piles. The gray/ blank lighting and expression offers a feeling of boredom and duty. He is, at this moment, listening to the inquiry of a visitor.

(Above) My photographer friend, Piotr, admiring a piece or artwork in one of the stairwells.

(Above) Woman lost in thought. I wonder what she is thinking about. I like that she is not looking at the artwork, but musing about something else entirely as she gazes at the floor.

(Above) These two did not say two words within the span of ten minutes. I guess they know each other too well, which I suppose is far from a negative thing. They were people watching too.

(Above) Admirers of this stature. I like the way their heads are all bent towards each other. It looks balanced and thoughtful, and the statue appears as if it is annoyed by their gaze, which I find adds a bit of comic relief to this elegant photo.

Chicago Art Museum Pieces

After the morning with the cats, we spent an afternoon on an excursion throughout downtown Chicago, which included the art museum. Here are a few interesting snapshots of the museum's pieces of work and architecture. Photos by Sarah Bush.

(Above) Staircase in one of the lobbies. I like the contrast emphasized by the black and white color filter I used, as well as the aesthetic lines that curve at pleasant ratios throughout the photograph.

(Above) I love the way the lines of the hallway converge at a place just beyond the vase, as well as the character enhanced by the lighting.

(Above) A very Lladro-esque miniature statue. I like the sculpted movement of the cloth garment, as well as the expression of the face, blurred, just beyond that. The lighting also enhances the grooves carved into the piece.

(Above) This is actually a roughly 3' by 3' box/ diorama display of a room. This particular gallery was filled with miniature scenes and rooms from houses with decor ranging from the 17th to the 20th century. Photographs snapped up close appear as if they are of an actual, life-size room. It was amazing. The way the artists re-created natural lighting was incredible.

Lazy Day for the Felines

Spending a lazy morning with a friend's roommates' cats in their apartment in Chicago. It was a very snowy, cold day. We all curled up in the gray light pouring in from outside, pretending there was absolutely nothing better to do. Photos by Sarah Bush.