Ethan's blog

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Lyndsey Addario book report

It's What I do, By Lyndsey Addario

I really enjoyed this book, I haven't been reading much lately but this book makes me want to pick it up again. It was amazing how much was packed into this and how it can go from such a calm chapter to complete chaos within a few pages. The power within her writing was so heavy, I don't think I have ever read a book and felt so much along with the writer. On page 184 she writes, "A bunch of young Americans who should have been out drinking beers at bars back at home and living up their early twenties were instead carrying the lifeless body of their dearest friend through the lonely mountains of Afghanistan." This was one of her most powerful lines from the story within the Korengal valley that stuck out heavily to me as I thought of my own best friends as I read about Rougle. It was also my personal favorite quote and will always have me thinking about it.

Addario's constant resilience to her work and her need to be there for a story is something that sticks out so much from other photographers. After going through the torture and torment of being kidnapped she is still able to go back to photograph war even while growing a child within her. On page 243, after being kidnapped and held hostage for a week, she still writes "everyone asked us the inevitable question and my answer was yes. I knew I would cover another war." I can't imagine myself ever being that dedicated to my line of work to be near death so much and still feel that sense of duty but I do understand how she might feel like she must return and I see the importance in her work.

Addario showed me how easy life can be in perspective with other people. Her writing inspired me to take risks and go for pictures of people I normally would feel too uncomfortable approaching. If someone out there can go through so much torment then I can definitely take some pictures for a class here safely on a random campus in Oregon.

My favorite picture was the one of Khalid. The reason I chose this as my favorite is the backstory, the amount of suffering she went through and trauma she endured just for somebody to reject it over something so small must have been so infuriating. I also loved the photo of all the people who were kidnapped as it gave so much more life to the story to see them in real life as people and to look at their faces (shown on page 205.)

Addario's photo of Khalid, the child who's face was scratched all over by shrapnel. (pg.206)

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody, this was an extremely powerful story and was an amazing read for a college textbook. I was invested in the story and the people through and through. Anybody who is a fan of a more emotional nonfiction would love this book and I am glad I was able to have the chance to read it.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

On campus photos-Linn Benton Community College

Photos of the LBCC campus

Faith Gray sending positivity throughout the Roast runners cafe on campus at about 10:30 AM on November 3rd.

Outside the campus store at around 10:45 in the morning on Friday, November 3rd.

Star Doyle working on a project on the tables above the campus store on November 3rd at 11 AM.

Friday, October 27, 2023

Environmental and mugshot portraits

Shown above is Sarah Rose Larson, photo editor for The Commuter. The photos were taken around 11 45 all around The Commuter office upstairs at LBCC. She was recruited by the old editor and chief at the end of winter term of 2022. Rob Priewe had talked to her about the position prior to her hire and he had mentored her a little bit before as well. She liked him because he was really positive and passionate about photography.

She used to think of photo journalism as something very stressful that she wouldn't want to do but after taking Rob's photo journalism class her opinion changed. She became very passionate about journalism and saw that it can be a very good and positive thing. She finds it to be a way more fitting job then business management jobs which she had before. She loves her job right now getting to work with a great staff and getting to tutor the photojournalism class is just a really great job for her.

Sarah wants everyone to read the commuter she thinks that everybody works really well together to create something great that benefits the community. She says to not be afraid to do what you love. She says it's okay to think outside of the box and not conform to anything anyone else thinks you should do. Sarah spreads her positivity to all the student and staff at LBCC whether that's through the commuter or her warm personality.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Photographer of the week-Annie Leibovitz

Early life:

Our photographer of the week, Annie Leibovitz was born in 1949 in Waterbury Connecticut. She ended up going to San Francisco to enroll in a painting program but after travelling to Japan with her mother she saw her true calling was photography. When she returned to San Francisco she started to take more classes in photography and show more interest. She then visited Israel to sharpen her skills even further. She was never taught about color in school, she had to learn it on her own, it was difficult for her to get photographs in color.

"On the job" Photos

Here I took photos around campus of people at work:

This picture shows Greyson Lunceford in his welding class at LBCC on October 15th at 1 30pm. Greyson started this class so he can get his welding certificate, he loves to weld on his own time as well, he started going to LBCC just recently at the start of fall term.

Here we see Karen Cannan working at the receptionist desk in the learning center above the library. Karen started working at this desk because she saw a sign for free coffee in august about 2 years ago. She found it interesting because she was able to help students. This picture was taken on the 20th of October at about 10 30.