The Finish

This is the final day of my challenge. It came without celebration, but I am very glad for my challenge to be over. Some days really sucked. I had to force myself to get a shot in some days. Other days, photos came like pouring rain and managing those were quite a task (not really). I was very good about making post in a timely matter, but towards the end, laziness piled up and doing a post became a chore!
Over the year, I have grown quite a bit. My writing style has improved, my shooting has changed, my lens collection has changed dramatically, I have matured more, and I have grown more into what I am now: me. I cannot label myself really, but I am sort of many things: a photographer, a journalist, an artist, an athlete, and so much more, but it is imperative that I stay true to who I am: me. However, on with the blog
As far as this blog is concerned and what my readers will be aware of are the changes. I will continue to post shots, but there will be no daily post (or some facsimile of that,) rather, I will have a top five. My top five can be from any given time of the week and I can have multiple shots in a day. This will last until I leave for my mission (date of departure yet to be determined.)  For the time being, simply enjoy my work while you can.
My last shot of the challenge may not be the most interesting, however, I have not done a shot like this before (or at least none I can think of.) I am changing my style, and whatever I find to be different in a good way will be pursued.
As much as I have grown as a photographer and journalist this year,I still have a lot to learn. Someday I aspire to do great things with my profession, but to get there requires a lot of work. I am working as hard as I can to get ahead in this line of work. Some may not think it, but being a photographer can be just  as hard work as any other profession. And like any other profession, it is difficult to get to the top.
Thank you for reading my posts this year.I assure you, I still have much more to offer.
-Simply Complicated

The Canyoneering

I went canyoneering with my sister and her friend. Her friend brought along her little girl who was absolutely adorable! She liked me but was a little camera shy or visa verse. One or the other works, but I still got a good shot.
-Simply Complicated

The Non-Constructive

Construction is happening all over campus! I have to change my walking route in order get from point "A" to point "B."  It is really annoying!
-Simply Complicated

The Windy Night

I've been trying to get a night shot. Stars show up here at campus better than at home, so I figured to give it a shot. With all of the wind we get around here, it is hard to get a good shot of the scenery, but I still need to work on my night shots.
-Simply Complicated

The Watering

Sprinklers are on all the time around campus! I swear someone is trying to flood campus, but I did like the detail of what's going on here.
-Simply Complicated

The Re-Invented

I am breaking away from my usual style and will learn new ways to add on to it (like a muscle!) I decided to try and re-invent my style of shooting to aspire up to my goal: a journalist  for the National Geographic. I watched documentaries on photographers and read articles about the photographers and am going to be more like them. So, I need to change my style of shooting while keeping my personal style at the same time. Achieving a style change that still makes me unique will be difficult, but I can do it. Wait and see.
-Simply Complicated

The Anger

I am very upset! When meeting with the client, we realized there was some miscommunication between us. He only wanted to pay for an hour of my time: I thought he wanted me to shoot the whole party. Needless to say: "the customer is always right." I wrote up a contract to avoid further miscommunication and I get paid a rightful amount. I have learned.
-Simply Complicated

The Children Shoot

I got the luxury of doing a shoot for a family. I only was shooting the kids and they were really great to work with. I am so lucky that kids love me without having to try. Some photographers have a really hard time working with kids and when they hear that I will be shooting kids, they feel really bad for me. Too bad they have no reason to.

The Paid Party

Shooting a party is easy work in the shooting aspect, editing sucks. Since I was signed up to do the entire party I showed up exactly when the party started, shot until the police shut the party down and helped clean up until curfew. It took a while overall but I think it will be totally worth it.
-Simply Complicated

The Pre-Shoots

I have two shoots lined up for this weekend. It is wonderful to know you are getting paid I will be extremely busy, but it will be worth it to finally make some money. I am stoked!
-Simply Complicated

The Street Lights

I walk by these light all the time on my way to and from my dorm. However, when I shot the lights before, I never got a good shot, but I like this shot and hope you do too.
-Simply Complicated

The Green Summer

After some rain from the weekend, a heat wave has struck here in Idaho. Many have fled to the garden at school to be in a cooler and shadier place. It is very calming and a great place for meditation. Macro photography is very easy here too. Go to a garden and have some fun.
-Simply Complicated.

The Prime Lighting

Sunsets give the best lighting. That is common knowledge amongst photographers. Most amateurs shoot the sunset, however, the real photographers will turn away from the sun. I was to the side for this shot, but the point is: the sun is the greatest source of light. Try it out, you will see what I mean.
-Simply Complicated

The Double Rainbow

I saw a double rainbow today at sunset. The lighting was pristine and the scenery could be better said about, but when you don't have a car, it's hard to get to a location of choice.
-Simply Complicated

The Flash Experiments

I have been experimenting with shooting events at night. Normally with my flash, it seems as though I shoot in the day, but I have looked into photography forums and it seems that the fastest shutter speed possible is not preferable. I have found through reading and experience that with a big flash anything can look good with a slower shutter speed. The sweet spot of shutter speed is around 1/50 sec. Give it a shot. Literally.
-Simply Complicated

The Pro Bono

Another charity dance, another pro bono shoot. I probably have used the word "pro bono" in the wrong context, however that is all my work at parties have been feeling like lately, mainly because the D.J.'s who ask me to work claim it is to build on my portfolio and networking. The reality is, I already have a portfolio now and I have not booked many gigs. So why is it I continue with my work? I don't know. Maybe I am stubborn, maybe I am lying to myself to think a D.J. will actually hire and pay me as a photographer. It is just frustrating. I need some real paying gigs.
-Simply Complicated

The Not-So-Rehearsal

Show choir rehearsal was a bust; nobody came. For the people who were at the rehearsal, I took a creative picture of them. It was fun ... until we actually had to start rehearsing.
-Simply Complicated

The Squirrel!

I was walking around campus with my camera and I saw a squirrel digging in the trash. I took a ton of shots and the squirrel was not afraid of me. I had another animal moment, and for once, I had my camera.
-Simply Complicated

The Off-Comedy

I went back to improv practice after being sick for some time (I'm still sick!) I was off my game, but the best thing about the improv group here is how accepting they are. I could be (probably am) the worst person there is to comedy or improvising, but my friends there don't care as long as I am there. It is a great feeling of acceptance and we hung out for a little bit afterward as well. I really like my improv friends.
-Simply Complicated

The Stairs

I am still sore from running and the thing that really makes my soreness known are stairs! Stairs suck! This school needs more elevators.
-Simply Complicated

The Wall

After the marathon was when I hit the wall and I have been in an excruciating amount of pain since. I want the pain to go away! Even when I am laying in bed, I am in pain. What am I to do?
-Simply Complicated

The Marathon

I ran my first official marathon! I was so excited that I did not have to walk once nor did I hit "the wall." I made great time considering I was sick and also doing my first marathon. I am so excited, I cannot wait to do another. First, I need to recover from this one!
-Simply Complicated

The (Not So) Farmer's Market

I went to the farmer's market in town today and was very disappointed with the turnout. There were only three produce booths at the entire place. All of the other booths related to apparel, dessert items, and soaps. One would assume that being in a town surrounded by farms, the farmer's markets would be amazing. Needless to say, I was very disappointed.
-Simply Complicated

The Crafty Flashing (part 2)

I experimented more with my new diffuser. It is good to use in some circumstances, but not all. That is what I have concluded.
-Simply Complicated

The Crafty Flashing (part 1)

I felt a little better today, so I went to the store and finished making a diffuser to my flash unit. It is interesting, but I need to experiment with this some more.
-Simply Complicated

The Sickly Sleeping

I felt really sick today! Rooms were spinning, so I just stayed in my room so only one room was spinning. I will be running a marathon on Saturday, I don't want to have to skip that.
-Simply Complicated

The Dehydrated

I went running with my English teacher's husband today. The run was slow but fine, that is, until he passed out from dehydration. After he passed out, my day got really stressful. Trying to figure out what to do with a unconscious body is one thing I wish I never had to deal with. At least dealing with someone who passed out is better than dealing with a dead body, that would be really hard to explain to my teacher.
-Simply Complicated

The Beautiful Day

It was a great day outside. The air was warm, birds were singing, and walking around was fantastic. I loved enjoying the little bit of summer this place gets. It is summer. Enjoy it!
-Simply Complicated

The Giving Up

My buddy has been telling me for quite some time that he wants to go rock climbing with me. However, each time we have the opportunity to go, he bails. I am quite sick of this because I have to reschedule my Saturday because of this. I've got to find someone else to go climbing with, hopefully, they won't bail on me.
-Simply Complicated

The Place

Sammy's is a great place to go on the weekends to just hang out. You can kick back and listen to some good music, hang with friends, or get some good food. Either way, one cannot go wrong with Sammy's.
-Simply Complicated

The Singers

Show choir practice was fun, just another theatre experience, but I'm fine with that. I am just a terrible dancer, so I tend to get lost and confused during a dance number. I'm positive I will figure out the routines ... after I don't have two left feet anymore.
-Simply Complicated

The Invisible

Being invisible can be great and also suck at the same time. It is great for me because I can shoot random people without them noticing. However, I felt more social than normal and there was nobody around. It was sad, but I used the time to study some more. So it was not too bad.
-Simply Complicated

The Studying

 Studying is not the most enjoyable thing to do, but it is very crucial to my education. I have a long night of studying ahead. I just hope I won't have to study as much as my roommate.
-Simply Complicated

The Graffiti

There is a building I always anticipate shooting when returning to school. It is very interesting because there is graffiti all over this deserted building and it really has a lot of character. The biggest challenge I have faced shooting this building is how I almost always miss the photo opp. One day, I will take the time and do a long exposure of this. Hopefully, that will turn out well.
-Simply Complicated

The Test Flash

I had a lot of fun today. Fun with family and fun with my flash. My flash can fire at the press of a button and I have more freedom with ghosties. I think now, ghosties will be much more fun.
-Simply Complicated

The Hike

I got my aunt's family to go with me on a hike. We had a great time! Also, the kids go as slow as me, but I stop to take pictures, so they just get time to catch up. I also learned that a photo of mine is published on big website! Hopefully I can get some money out of that (I could really use it!) It was a good day and I got to play with my new flash as well.
-Simply Complicated

The Quick Decision

I made a last-minute decision to go to Utah for the weekend. I spent my night in Salt Lake hanging with my best friend from California and then I went to my aunt's to go sleep. The day was weird, but at least the old buildings in Salt Lake were not.
-Simply Complicated

The Assembly

There was a choir rehearsal today and a small group of us decided to do some numbers together. Hopefully it will turn out well. Other than that, my day was ... jumbled....
-Simply Complicated

The Nightmare

Last night I had a nightmare. I do not know what triggered it, but there was something in my closet. Glowing from the inside. Fortunately, I woke up before anything came out, but the image was ingrained in my mind and I had to make a replica. As you can see: I did.
-Simply Complicated

The Surprise

I was informed last minute that I had completed some assignments incorrectly. To my surprise, I was able to complete all of them before the deadline and now I can chill for tomorrow for I have no classes!
-Simply Complicated

The Flustered

I may be complaining, but for an audition, I was given a part that I was not trying out for. I was not too excited about it, but I took it anyway. I believe the part was given to me because I look the part. I hate how my size limits peoples' view on my abilities. It is flustering, but this is something completely out of my power. One day, my size is going to work to my advantage and it will be awesome!
-Simply Complicated

The Web

The more I get involved into party shoots, the larger my web of "friends" get. Sometimes, I feel as though I am so caught up in this web, I am trapped. I don't know if I am trapped or I am having fun. I would like to go visit family sometime soon, but I need to earn some money first.
-Simply Complicated

The Complimentary

Sammy's Sounds finally got some decent lighting for tonight's concerts. I happened to get a shot of one of the musicians when the lights happened to have one color on half of his face and the color's compliment on the other side of his face. I was lucky to get the shot! Also the editing for the event took very little time. Thank you auto tone!
-Simply Complicated

The Grind

This photo shoot took a lot of time to edit. Many of the shots were underexposed, but I improved them quite a bit. Composition-wise I love this shot there is a definite focal point, it is not an ideal posing of the subject, but most lines point tend to the focal point, and at a party, this is quite rare!
-Simply Complicated

The Composition

I spoke with my sister today. We had another normal argumentative conversation, but one thing she mentioned was my poor composition. Today is probably a poor example of that, but I am using the rule of thirds. But if shooting at sunset time, do not follow the example of this shot at shoot toward the sun. Rather, shoot away from the sun and get the shots of what it lights up.
-Simply Complicated

The Lounge

At the dorm lounge, many people come and go; it is a social place for interaction and an easy place to get some great shots! However, some people are shy. (Don't worry, he approved of the shot!)
-Simply Complicated

The Comedy

After another "Dia del Diablo," I needed to have some fun. So I went to my school's improv practice. Going to improv ends a bad or stressful day on a high note. I had more work to do, but this was my temporary reprieve. If you ever have a stressful or bad day, go to your temporary reprieve (find one if you don't) and make your day better.
-Simply Complicated

The Un-Family-ar

I do not know my family home evening group. They are not interesting, and quite boring. Some Toms shoes enthusiasts, but so far, not very interesting. Hopefully they do become more interesting the more I know them. I do hope I find them more interesting than I find them nice (and they are very nice people.)
-Simply Complicated

The Annoyed

I have been annoyed today by being asked to do menial things at the very last moment. For instance: I was about to go to dinner at my awesome Idaho family's house. However, when I was about to leave, I was called on the phone to go to some meeting that began immediately (I was not informed beforehand). Obviously, I was not going to drop everything and go, but this has happened to be five times in the past two days. It is bothersome, and I have a life. I hate those type of people who schedule meetings last-minute and I try to avoid them, but that brews a storm. Spontaneous people, on the other hand, are different and exciting. Those people I would prefer to be around.
-Simply Complicated