Cell phone photography in the media takes more than point and shoot

        My first question was about going to take pictures. I walked out of my photojournalism class with no idea and just the thought that I had a few weeks find some news worthy photos. My gut instinct was to panic. I mean I have taken photos before and after reading the tips on how to take better photos I was confident that I could get good compositions. 

Students lounging in the Student Center. (Photos by Angelique Harrison/ WSUPJ)

Tips that I already follow, being a photography major, breaking all the rules of composition and taking lots of shots. I knew that taking shots of things I thought might be interesting would let me have a variety of photos and allow me to have options. In taking multiple photos I could look back and really think about the compositions of each photo and which photos really told the best story without the captions. As far as composition I just naturally like to break all the rules.

Looking down from the photography lab office in from Old Main.

My second issue with the assignment was finding a newsworthy event. Most of the times when I take photos I just happen upon something I find pleasing to the eye and capture that moment. With this assignment I really had to think about some event that would offer more information about something and that was difficult. I really had to think, but I happened upon both photos in the same way, when I wasn't searching for a picture. The first photo I took was in the Student Center Building and was of students enjoying the new perks of the updates that have been done. The second photo below was a happy experiment. I saw the snow and thought I will get these snowflakes. With a bit of adjustment to the exposure value I was able to capture the movement of the snow falling.

With this assignment I was able to gain a better understanding of the problems that I would face taking newsworthy photos and how I could overcome those issues. I now have more confidence in my ability to capture news worthy photos that tell a story on their own.

I am a Puerto Rican photographer

I was born April 22,1994, the same day as Richard Nixon’s death. 

My mom is Puerto Rican and African-American; my dad is African-American. I have two sisters. I am the middle child. 

My sisters and I at the Puerto Rican Festival in Detroit, Michigan. My sister Yesi
(left) Me, and little sister Marisela.

          While growing up my mom surrounded us with the Hispanic culture, and taught my sisters and I how to dance as soon as we could walk. Salsa, Merengue and Bachata music could be heard almost every day: on the weekends while cleaning; in the car driving to the store; or just after eating arroz con abichuelas y chuletas (rice with beans and pork chops). I have loved music and dancing ever since.

I also have a passion for black and white silver gelatin photography, which is almost obsolete. My passion for photography, which began my junior year of high school, bloomed as I began to understand how much of a story could be told in one photo. That led me to want to peruse a career in photojournalism.
          I hope to travel around the world and become a freelance photographer. My goal is to have a picture in the New York Times or National Geographic.