Gabrielle Truax - Final Photo Essay

Rita and Jonita: a Friendship

I met Rita Zoumbatlis and Jonita Wilson in my Communication in Culture class this semester at Cornerstone University where they are both freshmen. Jonita is majoring in Christian Ministry, and Rita is majoring in Journalism. They are international students; Jonita is from Aiyura, in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea where her parents are missionaries, and Rita is from Cairo, Egypt. They were assigned as roommates and met each other the day of international orientation when they moved into their dorm. They also have a third roommate, Stefanie Sherman, who they are good friends with too. All three of them have many of the same friends and hang out a lot. Being around Rita and Jonita, it’s clear to see their love and care for each other as friends, and it draws people to them and inspires others.

Chasing each other across one of Cornerstone's lawns, Jonita, right, and Rita, left, take time to enjoy the warm weather on a Sunday afternoon near the end of April.

Rita, left, and Jonita, right, share a picnic dinner together with their friends on Cornerstone's campus.

In the cafeteria at Cornerstone, Rita and Jonita share laughs and a meal together at dinner time.

Rita and Jonita show their silly side, spontaneously making funny faces for the camera.

In Communication in Culture 112, Rita and Jonita prepare to take notes on the next speech that is about to be given by a classmate.

In their dorm room, the two girls do some work on their laptops.

Rita, left, and Jonita, right, smile for the camera in front of Rita's map of the world where every person who comes into the girls' dorm can draw on heart on their homeland.

Shylia Fletcher- Photo Essay #2 Final

            In this photo essay, I allowed Kitra Cahana and Thomas Leuthard, who also inspired my street photography, inspire the way I photographed for this assignment. I literally wanted candid photos of couples. I wanted to get a variety of familiar faces to me with a hint of street photographing of couples as well because I enjoyed it so much. I wasn’t subjected to follow a specific couple and learn how they react with each other I was able to capture moments and people doing things on the streets. I used the photo from my street photography assignment because I plan on going to the same location and taking photos there again and wanted to incorporate my favorite of this couple who had no idea I was snapping photos of them. I was hoping to get more PDA from people in homosexual relationships, but they weren’t as touching feely as straight couples. I wanted to capture love and companionship; they looked more like friends than people who are dating. I only knew they were dating because they were verbal about it. If I would have taking a photo of them then it would have been confusing, so I didn’t. I am very aware of ups and down in relationships, but I like to focus on the good instead of the bad. This is just me as a photographer. I like that there is that makeup in relationship after a fight so that is what this essay consist of: a hug, kiss and a simple holding of hands.

            The people I photographed was my best friend who is more like sister to me, her best friend and (our) mom and papa Randy. We were at a festival and there was this older couple sitting there with their grandchildren. I also got pictures of strangers.

While I was taking photos for my street photography assignment I was keeping in mind the photos I wanted to visit again and take photos of. I know this essay was to go revisit places which I did but I feel pretty god about this work. I capture what I wanted and it turned out like I wanted. The really dark photo was taken in the dark of course but I like that it was dark and her blonde her popped in the picture. The picture is sort of mysterious because I didn’t know the couple, but as they were walking by they were being so cute and I had to add them in this essay. 

Michaila Cohen- Final Photo Essay

My photo essay subject is of my very own little brother, Jeffrey Cohen. As I was watching him throughout his day to day activities, I kept being reminded of innocence. It was intriguing to see this 11 year old do normal activities that even adults do, but make it into something light-hearted and innocent. Even when he was asked to do work in the garden, he did it with all of his effort and when he finished, he took a step back and admired the work he accomplished. In another instance, as he is fishing up north I was astonished to see just how patient he was at such a young age. Usually you would think that a young boy would become bored or impatient, however, Jeffrey stood there until the sun set and waited until he was able to catch a fish. 

He kept showing me over and over again the difference between adulthood and childhood. As adults, we see everything in a realistic manner and forget to appreciate the pure beauty of life. As a young boy, Jeffrey appreciates life in everything he does and never takes anything too seriously. He shows innocence and joy in simple every day tasks in which adults would see as simply “childish.” However, if adults began to think to live in this very same way, with light-heartedness and innocence, every day tasks would begin to be appreciated and life would have a much deeper meaning.

Jeffrey Cohen, 11 years old, works hard to make sure he has picked all of the dead leaves off the tree in the garden like he was asked to by his mother.

While working in the garden, Jeffrey finds a small snail and takes a break to take a closer look as well as talk to his new friend.

After a lot of hard work, Jeffrey has some fun playing hockey in the street by himself since one day he wants to be able to play on a team.

While up north, one of Jeffrey's favorite things to do is look for interesting rocks in the water, especially petoskey stones.

Jeffrey braves the cold beach water so that he can use his new scuba set to discover what's underwater.

As the sun is setting, Jeffrey continues to fish on the dock determined to catch something before he has to go to bed.

Final Photo Essay--Allison Blair

For my final photo essay, I wanted to do it on something that related to my passion for film. I decided to follow around the director of my final production for Video Production 3. Betsy Neis both wrote and directed our production entitled The Skeptical Suspicion (later renamed Shattered). The film showcased a deranged father and his desperate attempt to regain his son after losing custody to his ex-wife. Neis is a senior in high school who is dual enrolled at Cornerstone University. She has a strong interest in film and this is her director debut. 

On their first day of shooting, Betsy Neis and her cinematographer, Micah Butler look through the viewfinder to check exposure for the first shot at the Crow's Nest on April 10th, 2016.

Moving to the upstairs, Micah Butler and his camera crew meet to discuss camera movement and blocking for one of the more complicated shots in the film

 Script Supervisor, Kendrick Satterfield watches the monitor as Betsy Neis directs her actors for the last shot of the day.

On the second and last day of shooting, Neis runs through blocking for a fight scene with actors, Zeke Quakkelar and Jesse Lee.

Neis and Butler discuss camera movement for the fight scene.

Script Supervisor, Kendrick Satterfield helps camera operator Collin Ludy prepare for a second take as Betsy watches from the side. This is one of the last shots of Day 2.

WRAPPED

About 3 days after principle photography, Betsy Neis sits in the editing suite with editor, Ian Gibson to begin piecing the film together

Nekoda Boggs - Final Photo Essay

Home Schooling with the Jordans

I've had the privilege this year to spend time with a family that I met through Sunshine Community Church here in Grand Rapids. The Jordan family allowed me to come into their home and get to know them. Sue Jordan home schools her four children: Catherine, Joey, Paul and Peter. My aim for this photo essay was to show what home schooling really is since there is a stigma about home schooling being just all fun and games or socially awkward children. Sue Jordan has a very rigorous program that she teaches her kids that if they were place in a public school they would be at least two grades above their actual grade level. Their school day will typically last from 9 am to 3:30 pm with a half hour recess after lunch.

These kids are normal kids and they aren't socially awkward. Joey is on a local robotics team that is going to Nationals in Saint Louis, Missouri from May 3 to May 8. Paul and Peter play with the neighbor kids their age that go to the local public school. Catherine has a job and spends lots of time with friends from church.

Sue Jordan gives her son, fourth grade, Paul Jordan a spelling test in their home in Grand Rapids. Paul Jordan has no difficulty spelling the word "Remembers".

Catherine Jordan, Sophomore, listens to music as she works on her advanced calculus in hopes to get an A in her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In his home in Grand Rapids Joey Jordan does research for an oral presentation that he must give in front of his mother , Sue Jordan, in the next few days.

Now on week 33 of the Jordan children's schooling and with only a few weeks left, like any other student they are ready for summer.

Sue Jordan gives reads off that day's spelling words to her son, Paul Jordan, who again has no struggles with spelling.

Mother and teacher, Sue Jordan, listens and grades her son, eighth grade Joey Jordan, as he gives his oral presentation he's been working on all week.

Second grader Peter Jordan reads a passage out loud to me as I listen to make sure he doesn't stumble over the difficult words of a fourth grade book.

Like any other student after lunch is fixed at noon the children have a half hour of recess before resuming their studies.

Sue Jordan keeps a globe, among other things, in the house during the school day to make the home feel a little more like a classroom.

Sue Jordan and son, second grader Peter Jordan, work on the last science experiment of the year dealing with electric currents and how they work.

Peter Jordan plays a fun game with the electric current they is mother, Sue Jordan, designed to show how electricity cal flow through certain objects.

Joey Jordan speaks to a fellow robotics member before their meeting about how to make the robot better before nationals in the next two weeks.

The robotics team has begun discussing in groups the different tasks they must to do make sure the robot runs smoothly.

Paul Jordan plays soccer outside with his next door neighbor Peter Reed to start their weekend of fun.

Shylia Fletcher- Spot News

As I approached the Blue Bridge I see a horde of people.

 A family walking "The Bridge Walk" for Autism.

 A closer photo of a family leaving the event.

Some people chat as the event comes to an end. 

Street Photography-Tara Ross

#1 

James Beecher passes by a business woman who averted her eyes as she hurries past him.

#2

This monster-size, engine roaring vehicle spent 5 minutes trying to park.

#3

A few men catch their breath as they run away after pulling a"dine-n-dash"at a nearby restaurant.

#4

As the sun goes down, Grand Rapids Blue Bridge is lit up.

#5

James Beecher roams downtown Grand Rapids after finding out his favorite restaurant is closed.