My Junior

Olivia on her first day...

Back to School

for me today! I started Introduction to Digital Photography today. It is a lecture only class that lasts 8 weeks. I'll learn what I want in my next camera, a digital SLR, in this class! :)

Junior

Today is Olivia's school registration. I cannot believe she is a junior! Where on earth has that time gone?

What a Day!!

Today started like any other day, but certainly did not end that way! There was a STABBING at Olivia's school. It boggles my mind to think that something like that can happen here, but we all know deep down it can happen anywhere.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions. I am sure as the day goes on we will hear more.

View Camera

View camera class started today! This class is going to be fun, but it is going to be a beast. The camera is WAY different than an SLR, the teacher is TOUGH, and we have to do BOOK REPORTS on each week's assigned reading from the text books.

Wish me luck -- I think I will need it! :)

Time Flies

Today was the last day of the first semester of Olivia's sophomore year. I cannot believe she is half way through the year already. Some days I don't feel much older than a sophomore! Then there are other days...lol!!

Even sophomores aren't too old for art projects. Well, not when they have an art class any way...lol!!

One of the Last

My last post about Photo 101 until I get my slide scanner that will allow me to share my best images taken for the class with you all.

My final grade...

A

Grr!

Why did we wait to sign up for view camera? As of about 10:00 last night, there were three spots remaining. This morning there was only one! My friend got the final spot & I am on #1 on the waiting list crossing my fingers someone will drop! And really hoping they drop before classes start. I will be checking my school email daily now since we have 48 hours to respond or it goes to the next person. Guess how many times that account had been checked before today. If you said ZERO, you are correct!

Final Exam

My photography final exam was today -- I think I did very well! Only two more classes to go...

Signing up for the next one tomorrow. I'll be taking a view camera class. Not so much to learn about the view camera as to learn to develop & to fulfill a requirement so I can take the Composition class that really interests me!

Grade A Pictures

Aside from the week that I studied the wrong notes & ended up with an 82, my quizzes & tests have been in the A+ to A- range. However, the A in the assignment had alluded me until now that is...

I got an A on my studio lighting assignment -- woohoo!! That's the one I used this as the inspiration.

Need...err...I Mean Want

I want a slide scanner. I have taken quite a few shots for my photography class, and some of them are really great. The problem is right now I have no way of getting those slides onto my computer so I can share them with you.

So far our assignments have been...

• People, Places, and Things (at least 36 images of whatever you want -- at least 10 images had to contain people)
• Shutter Speed (at least 36 images -- 18 of them blurring action & 18 of them stopping action)
• Aperture (at least 36 images -- 18 with limited depth of field (subject in focus background not) & 18 with extended depth of field (entire image in focus)
• Graphic Images & Abstract Color (at least 64 images -- extreme close ups, intentionally out of focus, moving camera, moving zoom as you take picture, etc -- the FUN stuff)

Shutter Speed was my least favorite. I think my favorite images are from the Aperture assignment, but there are some GREAT ones in the Graphic Images & Abstract Color as well.

My quiz average so far is 101% (yes, we get a couple extra credit questions on them). We have our mid-term exam this week which I think I will do well on. We have only turned in the first two assignments at this point, and only have the first back graded. I got a B+.

I am enjoying this class and learning a lot in it. I plan to take another next semester!!

Not Much Better

I have not been much better about blogging this week. It's a freakin' 5 hour class! Why does it feel like my life revolves around it right now? Don't get me wrong I LOVE it, but it's a lot of "work".

Hopefully, I got a good grade on my first quiz. I know I blew one question as I totally blanked. I had the right answer, but didn't write it because I thought it was wrong. I could kick myself for that -- never leave a question blank -- guess if you don't know! GRR! I need to remind myself that I am learning how to use an SLR camera, and what matters. Not whether or not I can recall the name of a part of the camera when it's on a piece of paper with no other hint around.

Photo 101

It was really weird to be back in the classroom after being out for nearly 20 years. Of course, we will be learning the how to use an SLR camera. The class is not only to teach about how to use the camera, but how to look at things more creatively. We won't be learning developing and we don't use the film you would think we would (negative film). We use slide film. Our slides are put into a slide projector after they are graded for a group critique -- YIKES. Hopefully, my classmates aren't too brutal...LOL!!

There are only two places in the area who develop slide film in house, and since we need them back quickly we have to use local. The nearest place is about 40 minutes from my house & a little further from my friend's house. We are carpooling to school & we will also take turns running films out & picking up. No sense on both of us driving out there.

We have our first assignment, and it is due Thursday. I have to get out and get shooting so I can have them developed and back by Wednesday afternoon or evening. Other assignments we get a lot more time for, but this one is only worth 10 point that will go toward our lowest project grade. It is basically for the instructor to see where everyone is and for us to get a feel for how he wants the assignments done.

I plan to have my film scanned to CD or purchase a slide scanner so I will post some of my assignment photos from time to time so you guys can see my progress (hopefully...lol).

I am a bit nervous, but really excited to learn new things at the same time.

I'm Tired

Today was my first photography class, and I am pooped! I will tell you all more about it tomorrow.

Photography for Two

Olivia hasn't gotten her "official" schedule yet, but her school uses a program where parents and students can check their grades. Olivia logged into that site yesterday and noticed her classes for the first term were listed. She got Photography. When she signed up we figured she wouldn't get it. There is only one class per year, the number of students are limited. They pick who gets into class seniors first, then juniors, and so on. It also goes by the date you registered for the class, but your grade comes first. Being a sophomore & signing up near the end of the registration period we figured Olivia wouldn't get it, but it was worth a try.

Looks like Olivia & I will be learning the same things this fall! :)

The school provides the cameras so we don't have to go on the hunt for another one. Thank goodness!

Two Steps Closer

Two steps closer to being all set for my photography class. Wednesday I picked up a camera bag & today I paid the tuition! The last step (unless I decide I deserve some back-to-school clothes -- hehehe) is the book. I have found several options to purchase it new at lower than bookstore used prices and a couple low priced used options as well. I will decide which one to go with next week.

Back 2 Skool

Come August it won't be back to school for just Olivia. I am going back too. Just one fun class. :) This morning I signed up for a photography class at the technical college in our area. I will be taking the class with a friend -- we are both photography nuts and are really looking forward to this.

That means I have to get to work on finding an SLR. I need to email the instructor to find out if the camera is required to be film or if a digital would be OK. I really don't want to go back to film. However, if I have to get a film SLR for the class I will get an older used one, and then get a DSLR down the road. Ooh, just had a thought. Maybe my crazy brother has an older SLR that he isn't using! Off to call Joshie!

Another One Down

Olivia is done with her freshman year! I can't believe I am the parent of a sophomore! YIKES!

There was a schedule change for the end of the year due to the flooding in the area. The exams that were to be taken on Monday were canceled. Tuesday's & Wednesday's exams were held as scheduled. Today was to be the last day of school, but with high water still near some schools the last day was changed to yesterday.

Students were able to Monday's canceled exams to try to improve their grades, but a poor grade on the exam would not hurt them. One of Olivia's canceled exams was for a class in which she had been struggling and the other she was close to an A so she took them both. She did well on those exams and improved those grades. For one class she was the only one to take the exam and one of three in the other. Yes, it took some nagging from mom & dad to get her to take those exams, but she is glad she did.

To celebrate Olivia & I went out to lunch. Then we went off to McDonald's & Cousins where she put in job applications. I think she has a pretty good shot at the McDonald's job because of her "connections". As most of you know Bob & I both worked there, and I still do two weeks per year to do those bunny parties.

Teaching Moments (Adult Topic)

Sometimes teaching moments hit a little bit too close to home.

An 18-year-old student at Olivia's school is under investigation for having unprotected sex with one of his classmates and not telling her he is HIV positive.

He has not been criminally charged, but his medical records have been subpoenaed by investigators. According to those documents, he has been HIV positive since at least 2006.

According to two former girlfriends of the student, he had sex with one three times last year and had sexual contact another in December. Neither knew he was HIV positive until the aunt of the student told them after she found out last month.

Even though we believe (and teach Olivia) abstinence is best, we use these moments to talk about how situations such as these can be avoided.

I can't even imagine how distracted the kids have been the last couple school days with all the cameras & reporters around.

Frenchy Bag: Pic & Grade

I'm so proud of Olivia! She got her graded purse back today! Her teacher wrote "very impressive work" on her project evaluation sheet. Olivia scored 98 out of 100 possible points. She lost a point each on cut edges lined up & notches, seams and other markings lined up. I suspect that is because of the one tiny spot on the side seam where the red contrasting band & the main panel don't line up perfectly, but heck I have seen worse in ready made items.

Here's a crop of the fabric so you can see the cute little buttons & dots. The lining is the opposite of the button fabric.

Not bad for a first timer, hey?