Misaellaneous

Spinning steel wool

2024-02-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Playing with steel wool comes down to knowing how to effectively paint with light. After all it's just a long exposure. Anyone can do it.

All you need is a camera, tripod, a few bundles of steel wool, some parachord a few whisks, a lighter and a couple extras which I'll mention here in a second.

From left to right, carabiner with paracord, fine grade steel wool, lighter, whisks.

Takeaways:

1. Have a few whisks packed and ready to go. You don't want to stop to set up after every spin, so pack a few before you arrive at your destination.

2. If you buy the cheap whisks from Wal-Mart (.97 cents) like I did, you are going to want to tape the ends of the whisk handle so it doesn't fly off.

Taped whisk handle

3. For the sake of practicality and reloading speed, tie a care beaner to the end of your chord to clip the chord on/off to the whisk as needed.

4. Bring a lighter. The whole 9V battery thing is cool when you are out in the wilderness and trying to start a fire for the sake of your survival, but when it comes to spinning wool you don't want to bother with it. It's too slow and inefficient. The solution is quite simple. Bring a lighter. The wool will light up faster and you won't need to fiddle with it as much. Trust me.

5. Regarding the steel wool itself, try using the super fine stuff. In my experience, the course or medium ones don't work as well.

6. Most bundles will last about 15-20 seconds so be sure to set your exposure accordingly. If you want to do it at dusk, or even sunset, use an ND filter to block most of the ambient light.

7. Make sure to be in a safe area where nothing can catch on fire. I recommend doing it at the beach or an empty parking lot. Remember these are sparks your sending flying into the air. If you spin it in San Diego in an empty grass field during mid October you are sure to get arrested for attempted arson. Be smart about it. Have an adult present and don't touch the whisk after it's been lit. If you are wondering why, then it's probably best you avoid spinning it altogether.

Spinning steel wool can yield some interesting and exciting pictures. Have fun and be creative. I always love seeing what others produce. Feel free to share your results in the comments bellow.

Memory cards: why bigger isn't always better.

2020-09-02T14:00:00.012-07:00

The most common question I get from my students (other than "What kind of camera should I buy") is "What kind of memory card do I need" In this post I will be explaining why there's really no need to go after the larger more expensive memory cards and give you some recommendations as to which ones, in my opinion are best.

First of all, I am confident to say that the average photographer probably doesn't need more than 32 or 64GB on an SD card. Now a days any photographer can more likely than not get by with a 16GB or even 8GB card if you really wanted to.

It's been my experience that when it comes to SD cards, bigger isn't always better. Larger SD cards are more expensive and even unnecessary. Instead, I encourage photographers to make it a habit of format their card after ingesting the photos to their computer. To learn more, read this post about learning to format your card and making it an essential part of your workflow.

Do yourself a favor and put the money you save from purchasing the smaller size cards toward the buying the faster cards instead. Personally, I recommend SanDisk. I've been using these memory cards without any issues for more than 10 years. They come in various speeds and sizes but 16GB seems to be the sweet spot for most photography applications. At only ~$8 a pop (at the time of this post), these cards are fast, reliable, and fairly affordable. So much so that you may even want to consider purchasing more than one. Obviously, there are other alternatives out there so feel free to shop around to make sure you get one that best fits your needs.

16 GB San Disk Extreme

At this point you are probably wondering "then why are there 128 or 256GB versions of these cards?"

The size of those cards are typically reserved for recording video or large format photos.
Unless you are shooting everything in RAW and 4K and have hundreds of TB of space to archive this media, its quite pointless.

(Since most camera's now a days take SD cards, that's what I have referenced throughout this post. Please keeps in mind, that not all cameras take the same type of cards. Some take CF's instead of SD's. Other's even take both. If you need further clarification as to the types feel free to leave a comment below.)

Cheat like no one is watching

2020-04-28T10:42:00.005-07:00

You've been shooting in auto mode for a few months now and you are ready to take the next steps in your photographic adventure. If that sounds at all like you, then, I encourage you to read on.

Let's be realistic, no one expects a novice photographer to be able to manipulate their camera settings on the fly. So what if you don't know anything about Aperture, Shutter Speed and Iso? First and foremost, be kind to yourself. Don't be discourage by the overwhelming logic of these and other variables. Stick to it, and eventually you'll master the basics of Photography.

In order to assist you in that journey hamburger-fotospots.com has created an ingenious cheat sheet which details the effects of Aperture, Shutter Speed and Iso in an "extremely simple" manner.

At work, I have my students download a copy of it onto their phones for quick reference. I also print it out on 3x5 index cards and encourage them to carry it in their camera bags if ever they need to refresh their memory.

I believe it's an invaluable resource for the beginning photographer and one I'd like to share with you.

You can download the exposure cheat card here.

Photopea.com makes Photoshop dispensable

2020-04-21T08:56:00.002-07:00

As many educators are looking to find innovative ways to teach students during this new era of "distance learning" one of the questions I had to ask myself was:

"How will I continue to teach our photography students if they don't have access to the software or hardware they need at home?"

If you can afford special software like Adobe Photoshop more power to you. But for the rest of us who can't, fear not, there are alternatives out there.

I'm sure most professional photographers would agree, Photoshop is an essential tool of the trade.
While I have enjoyed using Adobe Products in the past, working on the Adobe Cloud has been a pain.

First of all, photography is already an expensive career/hobby to begin with. I believe Adobe preys on this fact to charge an arm and a leg for it's product, resulting in this art becoming even less accessible to the average person.

Photopea.com is an advanced photo editing software much like Photoshop, except it's free.

Yep, it's free.

You can edit your photos online and export them as a .psd .jpg and .png and more.

Bellow I have listed some pros and cons of using this relatively new software alternative.

Pros

• It's free.
Note: An ad free version can be purchased if desired. Distributor account options are also available.

• The interference will look very familiar to Photoshop users. In fact, it could be mistaken for the long-lost twin of Adobe Photoshop.

• Highly accessible. You can run it on the browser itself or install the app on your device.
• Files can be exported in multiple file extensions including: .jpg, .png, .psd, raw, .tiff, .gif, .raw to name a few.

• Did I mention it doesn't cost a dime?

Cons

• It requires you to have an internet connection.
Note: Once loaded onto your device you can disconnect from the internet and continue using it offline.

• It's in the early stages of development so you may have to put up with a few bugs while they work to fix them.

• It may be lacking in some of the most advance features like customizing your workspace and printing.
• The interface may not support certain raw file types.
• You have to put up with ads.

• It's reliability in a professional setting is yet to be determined.

While this free alternative may take a wee bit of playing around and some getting use to, it's better than paying for a software you can't afford.

Although Adobe has been a longtime pioneer of the industry, it doesn't have to own you or you it.

Other great alternatives for essential photo and video editing software include:
DaVinci Resolve for video editing instead of Adobe Premier.
Photo Mechanic instead of Adobe Bridge.

Visit each website to learn more.

Simple Project Timer/ Tracker

2020-04-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

One of the most useful tools I use as a freelance photographer is not a camera or a lens.

Rather, the most useful tool in my photography arsenal as of late has been a simple project tracker which I developed using Google Sheets. This tracker allows me to keep track of how much time I spend working on a project either in the field or in front of the computer.

Whether you are learning to budget your time or making sure to provide clients with accurate billing information a resource like this can prove especially helpful.

To try it out for yourself open the document in Google Sheets on your desktop or laptop, make a copy of the file and personalize your hourly rate. Then, simply click on the start button when you initiate a task and the stop button when you finish.

It's that simple.

Furthermore, you can write a note for each task. Feel free to start and stop the timer at any time when you take a break. The tracker will automatically figure out the total amount of time you spend working on the project based on how long it was left running. It will then calculate the total billing amount based on the hourly rate.

This simple document has proven very useful for me when it comes to making sure I use my time more efficiently and effectively. One of the reasons I decided to make it on google sheets is because it is easily accessible when I am editing photos or video.

Independent contractors should know better than anyone that time is money, so stop waisting yours.

Why formating your card should be an essential part of your workflow.

2020-04-07T11:00:00.002-07:00

I remember the first time I saw the message on my camera.

"Format card all data will be lost!"

I freaked out. I was hesitant to press okay and with good reason. I had a lot of valuable photos stored in that one SD card. The reality is it was a horrible way to store my photos and here is why.

Having old photos on your SD card is just going to slow down the upload process. Depending on how and where those photos were written onto your card, it can take a very long time to locate them. The more days worth of photos you have stored in your card the more complicated it can get. Which brings me to my second point, not deleting old photos on your SD cards can cause a lot of confusion when you are trying to figure out which photos have already been backed up and which ones haven't.

By formatting your SD card you are resetting the card to it's original state and while you may be deleting all the photos in the process, this shouldn't be an issue if and when the photos have been transferred to your computer or an external storage device.

It is a mistake most beginning photographers make, but getting into the habit of formatting your card before every shoot is essential if you want increase the speed of your workflow and avoid common hurdles those who choose not to format their card often face. Hurdles such as accidentally creating duplicates, deleting and/or overwriting files and lacking organization will hinder your ability to establish yourself as a reliable professional.

So how do you format your SD card exactly? It's actually quite simple.
1. Press the menu button on your camera.
2. Navigate to the icon that look like a wrench.
3. Next find the option to Format Card and Select it.
4. Choose OK and you are done.

Note: These directions may very slightly depending on the camera you use. If you do not find the format option right away after navigating to the wrench menu look under user settings.

Get into the habit of formatting your card and I promise you will thank me later.

Photo Competitions Calendar

2020-04-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

One thing I encourage my students to do before they leave my class is enter a photography contest. Not only is it beneficial for putting their work out there, but there is always the chance they might win big.

I will be the first to admit, however, all the research and prep work associated with entering any type of contest can sometimes discourage ones desire to participate.

So to make life just a little easier for myself and others, I have created a calendar with contest deadlines and links to the official contest websites. Though entry fees vary by contest I have also taken the liberty of labeling those that are free to enter with the color green.

As the saying goes, "you can't win, if you don't play."

Best of luck and happy shooting!

To make the most out of this Photo Competitions Calendar, simply add it to your Google Calendar.

Disclaimer: Contest rules, entry fees, deadlines and submission requirements vary for each contest. Misaellaneous is not responsible for the information or content of these websites. Please be sure to visit the official contest websites for details.

Misaellaneous Blog Relaunch

2020-04-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have neglected my blog long enough...

This neglect, however, was not without reason. In the last five years I've kept myself busy winning an Emmy Award, working as a staff photographer at The San Diego Union Tribune, getting married, going back to school and earning a teaching credential, having a kid, quitting my job at the newspaper, becoming a photography teacher, starting a Youtube Channel, traveling around the world and gathering experiences to share with all of you.

To be honest the old blog wasn't something I was super proud of anyway. It was old and dingy, and there was nothing of real value in it.

In light of the extra time COVID-19 has bestowed upon many of us that are quarantined at home, I have decided to bring this old and dingy blog back to life.

In preparation for this relaunch, I spent some time modernizing the look and feel of the layout as well as gathering useful content which I hope all of you can actually find useful.

Some of the new features of my blog include a resource page with resources for new and seasoned photographers alike, as well as a downloads page where you will find free downloadable content some of which will include screen savers, templates, LUT packages and other goodies.

What I am most excited about though, is the launch of my very own Youtube Channel. I'll have more on that in upcoming posts. But for now, please help yourself to some of the new content and stay tuned for more to come.

Milestones

Through the Lens 2014

2015-01-01T21:57:00.002-08:00

Kenya Cruz, 4, finds comfort in her mother's bosom on the back of a pick up truck as they head home after a long day of working the bean fields of Nayarit, Mex.

Modesto Cruz Jr. takes a short break from working in the fields of sorghum.

A palm tree absorbs the suns rays against a yellow and orange wall.

A starry night at Wrights Field Preserve in Alpine, CA.

Julian, CA, in September.

iPhonography 2014

2014-12-23T23:57:00.000-08:00

2014 was the year I bought my first iphone and the year I finally gave in to the Instagram craze. (Feel free to blame my very good friend Oscar Jacobo for that one). I'm growing fonder and fonder of this little device with each passing day so here is a small collection of some of my Instagram photos from 2014.
Happy holidays and thank you for your continuing support.

I wish i lived this close to the beach! #beach #ib
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Jul 7, 2014 at 9:32pm PDT

#clouds linger above a field of #grass #naturewalk
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Aug 8, 2014 at 9:55am PDT

Pillars of the Tijuana River Estuary #ib #patternsinnature #patterns #patternobsession
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Aug 8, 2014 at 8:07pm PDT

Life doesn't get any better than this. #stargazing in Alpine #shootingstars #nightscape #beansandrice #sixfeetunderthestars #betterthantv with @agabriella28
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Aug 8, 2014 at 8:48am PDT

Julian can be quite the drama queen this time of year #fall #dramaticlandscape #tree #clouds #blackandwhite #nature #naturewalk #anseladamswannabe
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Sep 9, 2014 at 9:03pm PDT

Spotted a deer in Julian earlier today #deer #drygrass #grassyknoll #julian #wildlife #nature
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:30pm PDT

Thorny bushes and some gravel #patternsinnature #fall #patterns #pov
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Sep 9, 2014 at 3:56pm PDT

Not a bad way to spend a weekday night #stargazing in #julian #nightscape #starrynight #sixfeetunderthestars #shootingstars
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Oct 10, 2014 at 12:10pm PDT

I'm pretty sure i got pooped on... #scaringbirds #beach #ib #birdshit #runnershigh #beachbumb
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:48pm PST

Saxaphone player #streetscene #downtownsandiego #downtown
A photo posted by @misaelvirgen on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:34pm PST

My 'Best of 2012' Collection

2013-01-01T12:39:00.002-08:00

It has been a year since I started this blog. Here is a look at some of my favorite assignments of 2012. I look forward to what 2013 has in store. Happy New Year!

A lion paces back and forth as the sun sets on his den at the world famous San Diego Zoo.

A striped racer snake devours a lizard on a rocky riverbed at Cowles Mountain.

Master’s infielder Spencer Downs hits it left field during Saturdays double header against Concordia University at Master's College. Misael Virgen / The-Signal

Lilli Hill, 14, of Valencia United Methodist Church prepares to spend the night in a cardboard box at the “Box City” fundraising event. The Santa Clarita Valley non-profit organization Family Promise of SCV invited local residents to create and spend the night in a temporary “Box City” set up at Bridgeport Park in Valencia on Saturday to help raise awareness and funds for homeless families in the community. Misael Virgen / The-Signal

Reanna Bowens, 20, of Tri-valley takes on the 50 meter slalom wheelchair race at the Regional Spirit Games competition at Newhall park in Santa Clarita Saturday. More than 500 athletes competed in athletics, bocce, and basketball at the 11th annual Special Olympics event. Misael Virgen / The-Signal

A couple enjoys a view of downtown San Francisco from Alamo Square on a June summer day.

Otay Lakes in Chula Vista on Friday night June 8 2012 taken with a 50mm f/1.8 10 sec. exposure.

[JOURN 495BJ] Border Angels- The Power of One

2012-12-02T22:35:00.001-08:00

Since 1994, 10,000 people have died trying to cross the border between the United States and Mexico, according to Enrique Morones founder of Border Angels. Among those who attempted the journey are men, women and young children. Due to harsh weather conditions, tough terrain and often the expensive price migrants must pay to smugglers, however, many do not make it across.

Founded by Morones in 1986, Border Angels is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to undocumented immigrants. After bringing food and water to migrants who were living in the canyons of North County San Diego, Morones and the Border Angels expanded their operation by going out to the desert to place water near the recently constructed wall dividing the United States and Mexico, also known as Operation Gatekeeper.

“Before Operation Gatekeeper, one or two people died every month,” said Morones.

“After Operation Gatekeeper, one or two people die every day.”

Border Angels is also known for attending to a cemetery in Holtville, California to pray and place crosses that read “no olvidados” (not forgotten) on the graves of the 700 unidentified migrants laid to rest there.

Morones said that there are two main reasons why people migrate to the United States – to look for better economic opportunity and for family reunification.

Since 2006, Border Angels has taken to the streets once a year in a caravan across the country to inform people about border realities and the necessary steps needed to have humane immigration.

Today, the organization continues to educate citizens and government dignitaries on the status of weather related deaths and racial discrimination.

Border Angels is a faith based group whose mission reads, “When I was hungry, who gave me to eat? When I was thirsty, who gave me to drink?” – Mathew 25:35

“After all, we are all of the same race, the human race,” said Morones.

“It is important that we treat each other with dignity and respect.”

For more information please visit: www.borderangels.org

Executive director and founder of Border Angels Enrique Morones at the desert in the Imperial Valley.

Construction materials litter a construction site in Border Field State Park in Imperial Beach as the wall that divides the U.S.-Mexico Border wraps around a
mountain at the distance.

Clouds linger above the desert floor as seen from a moving bus.

A gallon of drinking water sits on a rock in the Imperial Valley desert where Border Angels group visits regularly.

A cross reads “descanse en paz” (rest in peace) at a poppers grave in Holtville, Calif. where 700 unidentified migrants are buried.

Executive director and founder of Border Angels Enrique Morones autographs his book The Power of One for a student at Southewestern College in Chula Vista.

Executive director and founder of Border Angels Enrique Morones kneels in front of a poppers grave at the Holtville Cemetery in the Imperial Valley while holding a cross
that reads “no olvidados” (not forgotten).

[JOURN 495BJ] Storyboard- Border Angels

2012-11-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

Storyboard for Backpack Journalism 495BJ Final Project.

[JOURN 495BJ] VII: Ed Kashi for multimedia advocacy

2012-11-19T17:18:00.003-08:00

Ed Kashi
Instructions: Each couple will prepare a 5-10 minute presentation, during which they will post on their blog sites, and then share with the class.

www.edkashi.com
www.viiphoto.com
www.talkingeyesmedia.org/about/ed-kashi

1) The name, origin, and essential purpose/philosophy of the individual or organization.
VII (Seven) is a photo agency dedicated to shedding light on the environmental, social and political injustices of the 21st century. The agency was founded by seven of the worlds leading photojournalists in 2001 (Alexandra Boulat, Ron Haviv, Gary Knight, Antonin Kratochvil, Christopher Morris, John Stanmeyer and James Nachtwey.) Among the group of elite photographers signed to the agency is Ed Kashi, who joined in 2010.

Kashi is a widely recognized photojournalist, filmmaker, and educator. His images have been published and exhibited worldwide. Kashi's most recent work includes Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta, THREE and Photojournalisms, a combination of journal writings to his wife done over a 20-year period from locations all around the world. In 2002 Kashi and his wife founded Talking Eyes Media, a non-profit company that has produced short films and multimedia pieces exploring important social issues.

"Designed from the outset to be an efficient, technologically enabled distribution hub for some of the world's finest photojournalism, VII has been responsible for creating and relaying to the world many of the images that define the turbulent opening years of the 21st century... But this is not merely artfully captured, neutral observation; nor is it the doctrinaire elaboration of a political or social position. Each photographer is inspired by an array of often very different motivations, and it is from this breadth of reference that the agency draws its originality and strength." -viiphoto.com

New York Times interview with Ed Kashi

OTHER VII PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lynsey Addario, Jocelyn Bain Hogg, Marcus Bleasdale, Stefano de Luigi, Venetia Dearden, Jessica Dimmock, Adam Ferguson, Ashley Gilbertson, Ron Haviv, Ed Kashi, Gary Knight, Antonin Kratochvil, Joachim Ladefoged, Christopher Morris, Seamus Murphy, Maciek Nabrdalik, Franco Pagetti, Stephanie Sinclair, John Stanmeyer, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Tomas van Houtryve, Donald Weber

2) Show an example of multimedia work produced by the individual/organization.

A Vietnam pond has been contaminated from the U.S. Military spraying some 12 million gallons of Agent Orange herbicide from 1962-1971. A toxic chemical in Agent Orange, Dioxin, has been associated with cancers, diabetes, birth defects and other disabilities. Vietnam Red Cross estimates more than 150,000 Vietnamese children have been born with birth defects associated with Agent Orange.

The multimedia piece focuses on the story of Tan Tri age 21 and Tan Hau, age 10. Tan Tri's mother must carry him around because he is unable to walk or crawl. Tan thi Thu Hien age 18 is their sister who is normal and healthy. She teaches them how to read and she feels terrible because her brothers don’t get to do normal activities. The mother must stay home to take care of them. She carries them to the yard to do some exercises with them, then carries them back into the house to eat. She worries about what will happen to them when she is gone and not there to take care of them anymore.

The biggest struggle for these families are that they are no services or support given to them from the government. Agent Orange spreads through three generations. Slowly, British organizations are contributing to the welfare of those children with disabilities.

Children of Vietnam is an organization trying to help families in need and have reached out to Ly’s family. Ly is now in school and getting the food and medicine she needs. Children of Vietnam are currently “supporting 200 families through their services,” Luro’ng thi Hu’o’ng said. They repair homes and give vocational training. The community is coming together and families are finally getting necessary service.

This Agent Orange poison has affected numerous families.

“I saw the war as asomething that happened in the natural order of things. But the most long lasting effect, the most deavastatingly cruel things, is this kind of toxin. We don’t know when it’s going to go away,” Tan Dong said.

3) Explain how this work is similar or different to traditional journalism reportage. Lead a discussion with the class on the ethical dimension of this work, and its effectiveness.

At the turn of the century, Ed Kashi was one of few photographers who was able to embraced the internet as a way for distributing his work. Using new technology and traditional photojournalism-style reportage, Ed Kashi focused his journalistic eye on some of the worlds most pressing issues helping modernize story telling and define the use of multimedia. By publishing his work online it opened the door to other mediums as well like The New York Times Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Magazine, AARP.org, MSNBC.com, MediaStorm, The Documentary Channel, and PBS stations nationwide.

[JOURN 495BJ] Group Project: Family Fun Arcade

2012-10-28T21:37:00.001-07:00

After 39 years of business, Family Fun Arcade (FFA) located in Granada Hills, will be closing on December 31, 2012. Many local gamers have found fun, comfort and competition at the arcade.
We spoke with professional gamers Loren Riley (AGE Fanatiq) and Ray Ruballos (AGE Knives) who expressed their gratitude for the arcade.
“I’m really grateful for this place,” said Ray Ruballos.
“A lot of the time I felt like I took it for granted because I always had a place to play.”
With growing popularity for online console gaming, the arcade scene has seen a significant decline in clientele in the past years. FFA was able to make a short comeback with events, such as, the world premier of Street Fighter 4 in 2008. Come December 31, 2012, however, it will be game over for this local arcade. Insert coin(s).

Map of Arcades in the San Fernando Valley.

An elderly couple walks past Family Fun Arcade in Granada Hills. The arcade is scheduled to close by January 2013.

Granada Hills Charter High School student John Schwager, 16, gets ready to play Street Fighter II at Family Fun Arcade after school Friday Oct. 26, 2012.

Bon Parungao, 23, of Northridge plays Street Fighter at Family Fun Arcade Saturday Oct. 27, 2012.

Gamers play at Family Fun Arcade in Granada Hills.

Alex Madrigal, 22, of Oxnard looks at his girlfriend Andrea Nelendez, 19, play at Family Fun Arcade Friday Oct. 26, 2012. "Every week we try to find
something different to do, this week it is video games," he said.

A quarter is inserted into an arcade game at Family Fun Arcade.

Gamers link play at Family Fun Arcade in Granada Hills.

Carlos Gomez, left, 24, of Sylmar and Ivan Lua, right, 24, of west Hollywood play a friendly game of Street Fighter at Family Fun Arcade Thursday Oct. 24, 2012.

Professional gamer Loren Riley "AGE Fanatiq" started his gaming career at Family Fun Arcade. Today he travels around the country competing in fighting game
tournaments for After Glow Elite, a gaming accessories company. photo credit: Jeffrey Zide.

[JOURN 495BJ] Multimedia Project Proposal: Group 4

2012-10-15T17:34:00.001-07:00

Group 4 collaborative multimedia project proposal
Danielle Hale, Sigournee Grondin, Ken Scarboro,
Misael Virgen, Jeffrey Zide

Story summary:
The spread of online console gaming has made it difficult to find the face-to-face competition of arcades. Luckily, on Balboa and Devonshire there is Family Fun Arcade for the gamer looking for an arcade experience. Unfortunately, Family Fun will be closing its doors by January 2013, joining many other arcades rendered obsolete by in-home gaming. We plan on focusing our multimedia project on Family Fun Arcade as one of the few remaining arcades, and record its history of 38 years in the Valley. The interviews with the owner and regulars will be video, b-roll will feature video, photographs and ambient audio. We are also planning a map showing locations of arcades through several decades, and a graph or other chart showing the growth/decline of in-home consoles and arcades.

Team roles:
Photo: Misael
Video: Jeffery, Sigournee
Maps: Danielle, Sigournee
Web layout: Ken
Graphs: ken
Each team member will be responsible for editing their own respective medium and collaborating when medias are combined for final versions.

Deadlines:
Oct. 15: Story board, project proposal
Oct. 22: Raw photos, b-roll video and research information due
Oct. 24: Interviews, completed maps and graphs and photo galleries due
Oct. 27: Finished multimedia video component
Oct. 28: Final web presentation for posting on blogs

File storage summary:
Completed group files will be stored on the photojournalism lab servers. Misael will create appropriate folders for team members to store their files for access by other team members.

[JOURN 495BJ] Gabriel Ivan Orendain-Necochea: Personality Profile

2012-10-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

PersonalityProfile JOURN495BJ from Misael Virgen on Vimeo.

Gabriel Ivan Orendain-Necochea's, 25, is a theater major at California State University, Northridge where he also works as Visual Editor for the Daily Sundial.

After being nationally recognized for his news reporting and editorial cartoons at The Sun at Southwestern College in San Diego, Orendain-Necochea transferred his talent to the Daily Sundial at California State University, Northrige a year ago. Despite a knack for news reporting, however, Orendain-Necochea insists in following his dreams of stardom.

His artistic talent and creative attitude inspired him to peruse a career in acting.

"Creative freedom is everything to me," he said.

Music and drawing also help feed Orendain-Necochea's creativity.

"My heart is not in it [news reporting], it's in acting, " he said.

"Id rather be in the headlines, as oppose to writing them."

[Journ 495BJ] Exercise: Afghanistan Touch Down in Flight Multimedia Analysis

2012-09-27T12:44:00.001-07:00

What is the focus of the story?
Afghanistan: touch down in flight is a multimedia piece delivered in a short video format by Lukas and Salome Augustin. The video challenges people’s perspectives of an otherwise misunderstood nation.
“As each of us have our own impressions of Afghanistan, predominantly marked with pictures of foreign forces, explosions and terror, we were privileged enough to have access into the daily life of the Afghan people,” said the authors.
“We hope the pictures you know will merge with the pictures you see and will enrich your views of the country.”

What story forms where used to tell the story?

A bible passage at the beginning of the video helps set the mood.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” -Ecclesiastes 3:11.
The video itself is made up of a series of environmental video-portraits with a strong b-roll narrative that helps carry the story forward. Also, the combination of ambient sound and music help the viewer’s lock their attention on the short film.

What was the focus of each story form and how did each contribute to the overall goals of the piece?
The bible passage is an appropriate metaphor for a country whose main conflicts derive from religious beliefs of eternity and entitlement. In contrast, the focus of the video-portrait was to present the lifestyles of the Afghan people from a more mundane perspective.

Was the presentation effective? Why or why not?
What made this presentation so effective, in my opinion, was the use of the classical environmental portrait in the video style. It brought the faces to life and enabled a new level of intimacy that a standard still portrait might have not been able to achieve.

Was the design and navigational structure easy to follow? Confusing?
I had never seen another presentation quite like this so its “navigational structure” did take me by surprise, at first. My initial impression was the images, although engaging, lacked context. By the end, however, the video made a lot more sense and a lot of the clips I had seen previously could have stood out by themselves.

Was the Package engaging? Why or why not?
The first close-up portrait of the young men at 00:45 was a bit uncomfortable for me. But, I think it was that same initial awkwardness that helped establish the level of intimacy the authors were trying to convey.

What where the strengths of the package?
The use of detailed close-ups, wide shots, and medium shots helped balance the narrative. Each shot was very well planned and the video was well edited and color graded with the use of Final Cut Pro, as described in the video description.

What where the weaknesses of the package?
Perhaps the lack of a verbal narrative could be seen as a weakness but instead I choose to believe it was a preference of style by the author. I appreciated the lack of a narrative because it lets the images of the video speak for themselves.

Did the piece leave you satisfied? Confused? Wanting more?
Even after watching the piece several times, I wanted to see more to study the different techniques used to make this video.

What is one significant concept you learned from this package?
By simply taking the concept of a still image and applying it to a video format, I learned of a new way to execute the environmental portrait.

Zoo Photography Tips: Top 7

2012-08-20T11:09:00.003-07:00

A lion paces back and forth as the sun sets on his den at the
world famous San Diego Zoo.
This summer I spent a generous amount of time visiting my hometown zoo, the San Diego Zoo. My girlfriend and I got our year memberships in early April. Zoo’s are unlike any other environment. The variety of exotic animals all existing in the same place, can make animal photography very rewarding. But shooting in such and enclosed environment can present itself with its own set of challenges and difficulties. So here are a few zoo photography tips for you.

1. Buy yourself a telephoto lens.
In general, animals tend to be farther away than initially perceived. Even a cheap telephoto is better than no telephoto.

2. An active lion makes a better picture than a sleeping lion. So wait for them to roar and interact with other lions. The only way to do that is to stalk them. Patience is key.

3. Step two is hard to do when you can only afford to be at the zoo for one day. Which brings me to my next point. I recommend getting a year pass. Depending on how much you plan on visiting, a year pass could very well be worth your while.

4. Unless you are trying to make an artistic statement, the enclosure of an animal is not a good idea to feature. To avoid it shoot at a wide aperture. This will allow you to bypass any fences or netting that come between you and the animal. Also, depending on the exhibit, glass can become very problematic. Be aware of glare at all times. There is nothing worse than going home convinced you have a great shot of a king cobra only to find other people’s reflection (or even your own) in the shot.

5. Pick a spot and stick to it. The less you move around the more others can enjoy the exhibit and the less they are likely to get in your way.

6. If you wanna shoot video bring a tripod (or monopod.) I do not recommend resting the camera on the arm rests of the exhibit. Especially because people are always leaning against them and even the slightest of movements will cause terrible camera shake.

7. Finally, wear comfortable shoes. I know this sounds like a no brainier but making sure you have comfortable shoes on is important. It is not so much the walking but the standing that takes a toll on the feet. I have worn flip flops to the zoo many times before and believe me when I say this, your feet will hurt like hell.

The zoo can be a fun and relaxing place to practice your animal photography. Whether it is zebras, orangutans, elephants, or lions, the zoo provides you with an opportunity to capture animals from all around the world. The more you know about your subject the more intimate the pictures you will create. Your local zoo is the perfect place to learn more about your wild friend.

San Francisco, the City by the Bay

2012-07-19T12:53:00.001-07:00

A view of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point.

During summer, my family and I visited San Francisco for the first time. During our stay, we visited Alamo Square, Pier 39, the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and of course the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

We made the trip from San Diego by car. I can remember being on the freeway for hours admiring the rural-like landscapes along the way. Our 550 mile journey was long and tiresome. Meanwhile I had that photographer’s tingle in my fingers wishing I could get shots of the scenery before me but knowing we had to stay on the move.

Finally, we ended up making a stop in Patterson, CA to visit family. Only then, was I able to take a moment to photograph the apricot groves under the starlit sky.

We made our arrival to the big city the next day. As we toured the city on foot, I couldn't help but notice the cable lines that linked the city above me. Not to mention the city streets which are the steepest I have ever seen. I only thank God I wasn’t driving stick or I would have freaked. By nightfall the stars that once lit up the Patterson sky had gradually disappeared and replaced by the big city lights.

One night I decided to sneak out of the hotel room to get a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. During the day, the bridge was packed with tourists and commuters coming and going, but around 10 p.m. the entire place was bare. The bridge practically became deserted after midnight, except for the few city workers painting the bridge.

When I decided to head back to the hotel from the north side I had to wake the teller at the toll booth because she was sound asleep.

We enjoyed the rest of our stay dining in China Town and Pier 39, walking along Fisherman's Wharf and taking a ferry ride around the entire bay.
I don’t think I will ever outgrow these family vacations.

A couple enjoys a view of downtown San Francisco from Alamo Square on a June summer day.

San Francisco Cable Lines link the city from above.

Apricot groves of Patterson, CA under a star lit night sky.

Jellyfish.

Alcatraz prison cells.

A look at downtown San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point.

Studio Time with Tyler

2012-03-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

My friend Tyler called me up last week to tell me he wanted to get his picture taken.
Tyler is also a photographer and a CSUN alumni so it didn’t take long before I was able to bring him into the studio and make it happen.
Most of Tyler’s upper body is covered in awesome tattoos so this was a great opportunity to show case them. We began by experimenting with an orange background to match Tyler’s outgoing personality.
Halfway through the shoot, however, we decided to take a complete 360 degree turn with navy blue for a more down to earth feel.
The energy in the room was high and creativity seemed to flow quite well as music from A Day to Remember flooded to studio. Being that I am still fairly new at studio photography, I saw this as a great opportunity to put to practice a few of the lighting concepts I learned in my Advertising Photography class over the semester.
Overall I’d say it was a pretty successful shoot, but I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Here are some of the photos of last weeks shoot with Tyler Ross.

Welcoming the Canon EOS 5D Mark II to the family

2012-02-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

A look at my new 21.1 megapixel, full-frame, with full HD
video, digital box with a hole.

Its been a long time coming but I finally have new gear! I had been shooting with a Nikon D40X for about five years now. This little camera withstood a lot from me! Its small body and price is what caught my attention as a novice photographer five years ago. Although it saddens me to put my sweetheart to rest, I am proud to be the new owner of a Canon ESO 5D Mark II.

I am usually not one to worry about the tech specs of my equipment but as my photography progresses ensuring the quality of my photographs has become more and more important to me.

I believe every type of camera produces a particular image unique in its quality. Some may label it as better or worse while I simply like to see things as different. With new technologies becoming more available it gets easier to forget a camera is simply a dark box with a hole. So why spend thousands of dollars on a piece of equipment you can actually make yourself?

Photography has come a long way from pinhole cameras. The technology put into the cameras we know of today have revolutionized the way we view the world. Some of these technologies have allowed us to see things otherwise not visible to our naked eye. But for photojournalists as myself, it assures quality and performance above all things. Purchasing new equipment was an investment I really had to convince myself of.

Despite word that Canon is coming out with a new version of the EOS 5D Mark II (5D Mark III) I felt the price for the new camera simply does not justify the small changes made to it. So I took advantage of the price drop of the current version instead. After taking the first few shots with my new camera, I couldn’t be more sure about my decision.

Canon and Nikon clearly stand as the two giants of the 35mm industry. I have participated in a lot of Canon/Nikon debates with my peers over the years always backing up my brand blindly.

Finally, One day I decided to take on some research on the matter and dive into the tech specs, quality and benefits of both brands. I then came to find both brands are very respectable and both provide photographers with the necessary technology needed to produce quality images and although there might be lots and lots of discussions on which is better I find them both to be equal, except for one thing. Price!

Ultimately it is my opinion that Canon, although still pricey, gives you more for your dollar. Switching may not be for everyone but I am glad to be part of the Canon family now.

My first picture taken with the Canon 5D Mark II of my dog Dino.

Purple flowers along Mishe Mokwa, the six-mile trail to Sandstone Peak. The trail climbs 1,400 vertical feet to the top of the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains.

A view of my car (lower left hand corner) as I begin my hike up to Sandstone Peak.

“Shoes” my first Advertising Photography class assignment also taken with the Canon 5D Mark II.

On assignment for the Santa Clarita Signal with the 5D Mark II. Read about it here.

On assignment for the Daily Sundial with the 5D Mark II. Read about it here.

For those interested in taking a peek inside my camera bag... (A) 13-inch MacBook pro, (B) Canon EOS 5D Mark II, (C) Lexar 8GB (X2), (D) Canon 50mm f/1.4, (E) Canon TC-80N3 timer remote, (F) gorillapod, (G) Canon Power Shot A495, (H) Canon LC-E6 battery charger, (I) AA rechargeable batteries, (J) 6GB flash drive, (K) TomTom gps, (L) ChapStick, (M) wallet, (N) mints, (O) Reporters notepad, (P) pens, (Q)“Great Ideas” notepad, (R) headphones, (S) cell phone, (T) keys, (U) and some change...

misaelvirgen.com

2012-02-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

On my first blog post I mentioned that I would try to launch my website by the end of the month. I am a couple days late, but my website is now live. I invite you to check it out and share it with your friends. In it, you will find portfolio images as well as a downloadable resume and contact information.

I am working on a “wallpapers” tab where I will make your favorite photographs available for download as well as a “buy prints” tab so you can purchase the photographs in different sizes.

I am very excited and hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to e-mail me with any suggestions you may have.

-Misael Virgen

The Great Wall of North America

2012-01-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

The Sun breaches through the southwestern edge of the fence
dividing the United States with Mexico.

For centuries, civilizations have built structures to establish and protect their political boundaries. Perhaps, among the most famous examples is the 5,500-mile-long Great Wall of China and the 96-mile-long Berlin Wall. The United States government has recently initiated construction on a similar structure extending across the 2,000-mile-long border with Mexico.

Born and raised in San Diego, I had never taken the opportunity to check out the mighty fence so I took a trip to Border Field State Park to see its progress. As I walked toward the southwestern edge of the country, I could clearly see to the other side where families and teenagers enjoyed a day at the beach. A border patrol vehicle, however, patrolled my side of the beach just a few feet from where the fence stopped and the rest of the beach continued.

In a geography class last year, I learned many political boundaries are based from topographical features in the area, like the Pyrenees Mts. which naturally divide Spain and France making them one of the more stable borders in Europe. But the only feature that divided U.S. territory with Mexican territory was the 20-foot-tall wall. It was unatural.

The U.S. government plans to extend the 20-foot-high fence 300 feet into the pacific. A project that would cost tax payers $4.3 million to complete in addition to the $2.1 billion cost of the entire fence, according to numbers reported by the Los Angeles Times.

INTO THE PACIFIC- What appears to be another one of California’s luxurious peers is actually a marker for the 2,000-mile-long fence dividing U.S. and Mexico which the government plans to extend 300 feet into the ocean.

NATURE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES- Sea birds look for food to eat on the northern side of the fence while people enjoy a day at the beach on the south side.

THE OTHER SIDE- A family walks north toward the 20-foot-tall fence that marks the end of Mexican territory.

20 FEET TALL- A man stops to take a look at the 20-foot-tall fence from Tijuana looking north.

HOW’S MY HAIR?- To the left, a tourist couple takes a picture at the southwestern end of the United States in front of the fence dividing U.S. and Mexico.

INSPECTION- CBP officer Joseph Tarbona inspects traffic at the San Ysidro port of entry at the United States / Mexico border.

Statistics show that in 2009 about 30,000,000 people crossed through the San Ysidro port of entry, almost 20,000,000 more than the Otay Mesa and Tecate borders combined. "Thousands and thousands and thousands of people cross everyday," said Transit System Security Officer Francisco Garcia, 23. "This is the biggest border crossing in the United States."

TYPICAL NIGHT- Cars make their way into Mexico with little to no custom checking while cars trying to get into the United States stall as they wait for customs and immigration officers to let them through San Ysidro Port of entry, one of the busiest border crossings of the United States/ Mexico Border.

OVER THE MT. AND THROUGH THE DESERT- A piece of the 2,000-mile-long fence along Border Field State Park in San Diego.

My 'Best of 2011' Collection

2012-01-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

RED TIDE- Billions of plankton called Lingulodinium polyedrum cause bioluminescence at Black's Beach, California on Oct. 1, 2011. More commonly referred to as “red tide,” the algae bloom wash ashore during late summer and have been seen to cause a neon blue glow rising from the waves like fire at night.

I hope to be launching my website by the end of this month and to compliment it I started a blog. As a photojournalist, I continue to push forward in my efforts to document that which is true and real in my surrounding environment. Each day, for me, represents a different opportunity to capture extraordinary moments and tell compelling stories. These are some of my favorite moments of 2011.
-Misael Virgen

WALK OUT- California State University, Northridge Students take over Manzanita Hall shouting "Wake up, walk out!" inviting students to come out of their classrooms to join the statewide protest against tuition hikes on March 2, 2011.

BRAZIL FEST- Brazilian dancers dance the night away in their traditional Carnaval costumes made of feathers and beads at the 11th Annual Brazilian Carnaval Exotica at Club Nokia from Saturday into Sunday morning.

FARM DAYS- Antolin Mendoza, 30, and his fellow farm workers ride in the back of a pick-up truck making their way around Underwood Family Farms in Moor Park to harvest vegetables.

ANGELES AT DAWN- Venus and the moon welcome the first day of March across the snow covered Angeles National Forest at dawn.

WATCH BIRD- A rock wren watches over Otay Lake in Chula Vista on the first Sunday of August.

DREAMS OF STARDOM- Contestants make their way inside Petco Park to audition for season 11 of American Idol in San Diego.

MATCHING SHADES- Rahul Deshpande, one of three judges at the 6th Annual Dog Days of Summer Canine Festival and Contest at Cardiff and German Shepard, Sherif, greet one another in the best looking big dog competition.

BORDER CONSTRUCTION- A look at construction of the San Ysidro port of entry from the newly constructed pedestrian bridge at the United States / Mexico border Aug. 19, 2011. A few weeks later on Sept. 14 a section of scaffold installed to protect cars from overhead construction collapsed injuring 17 people.

OCEANSIDE OUTRIGGERS- The Oceanside Outriggers, practice just off shore the Oceanside harbor to prepare for the 43 mile race, Na Wahine O Ke Kai, in Hawaii on Sept. 25, 2011.

A STATE OF THE ART MEDICAL FACILITY- Dr. Cade Lawrence looks closely at a mock operation at the surgery-simulation lab inside the new Medical Education and Telemedicine Building at UCSD. The $100 million facility made its grand opening Sept. 16 and incorporates high-tech simulators and other state of the art equipment to give doctors hands-on experience.

DASH- Cross country runners dash up hill as they finish their final lap in the No.1 boys varsity race at the 30th Annual Southern California Cross Country Invitational at Guajome Park on Oct. 15, 2011.

QB MAKES A RUN FOR THE WIN- With only two minuets left in the clock, Tofi Paopao races down the sideline en route for a touchdown and come-from-behind victory against Ramona 21-17 on October 21.

KABOOM- A simulated explosion goes off during an Operational Medical Symposium at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego where Navy corpsmen took part in exercises to prepare them for real life scenarios when deployed to Afghanistan.

THE HAWK GAZE- A red shouldered hawk gazes into the newly restored San Dieguito Wetlands in Del Mar.

CATCHING UP- Spectators watch as Vista’s Courtney Corradetti passes Rancho Buena Vista’s Rebeckah St Laurent stealing 5th place in the final stretch of the CIF San Diego Section finals at Morley Field in San Diego.

SWEET VICTORY- Fallbrook warriors celebrate their victory goal at the CIF San Diego Section Division I finals against Scripps Ranch.

SETTING SAIL FOR SUNSET- A sailboat sails at the distance as the sun breaks through the clouds Aug. 17, 2011 at Sunset Cliffs, Cali.

SOARING SAN DIEGO- Flying over the San Vicente Reservoir.

BLACKOUT- The Imperial Beach sheriff and lifeguard station at 9:55pm on Sept. 8, 2011 during a San Diego County wide power outage where people were left in the dark Thursday afternoon in San Diego County and beyond.

POWER BACK- The Imperial Beach sheriff and lifeguard station just seconds after the power returned to Imperial Beach at 9:56pm. 5 million people where left in the dark Thursday afternoon in San Diego County. Other areas affected by the outage included all Baja California, Orange County and Arizona where the power outage was said to have initiated by SDGE officials.