Capture

CAPTURE The perfect moment

Spring 2021

Ca pt u r e To our dear readers, After many months of collaboration, we are proud to present our wonderful magazine which covers countless aspects and facets of photography. Our efforts were great and many from interviewing photographers all over Austin to spending countless hours mulling over various design ideas ? the product is the masterpiece that lies before you.

We began our process with discussing what topic to base our magazine on. Because we were all absorbed in art, we decided that photography was a captivating topic that we all expressed interest in. We have since worked hard to achieve our goal of enlightening our readers with precious information and advice from professional photographers all over Austin.

Through our endeavors, we are particularly delighted with our captivating visuals; as a magazine dedicated to photography, we aimed to optimize our work to be as visually appealing as possible. Within our magazine you will discover many topics branching over photography such as the business and artistic aspects, as well as specific photographic areas such as portrait, model, and cinematic photography.

We hope that, through our enlightening magazine, your eyes will be opened to the diverse world of photography, and we thank you for reading our magazine.

- Editors

Tabl e of Contents Becomi ng a Ph otograph er . . . . . . . 6 Parts of a Di gi tal Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Ph otograph y as an A rt . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Ph otograph y Th rough A Lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A New M oment i n Portrai t Ph otograph y

22 . . . . . . . . . . . How To Tak e Capti v ati ng Ph otos

24 . . . . . . . . . . A

Smal l Worl d Th rough A rti sts' Eyes

28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Peek I nsi de a Pol aroi d

30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sh i ni ng a Li gh t on Ci nematograph y

34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hi story of Ci nematograph y

I ntroducing the Editors Emily Word is a student attending LASA high school, who is very involved with the arts. She just started to get into photography this past fall and wanted to explore the job opportunities within the photography career field. When her team decided on Photography, she knew that she wanted to do something along the lines of the jobs regarding photography. She had one interviewee already in mind. Emily would love to take a deeper dive into photography as the years go on, and really explore her options because her mom always says that she has a real talent for photography.

Diya Patel is a freshman at LASA high school who loves all forms of art. She has enjoyed drawing since she was a child and participated in 3 levels of art through middle school. However, she wanted to explore other mediums and forms of art, which is why photography caught her attention. She then took part in a photography elective and really enjoyed experimenting with all aspects of photography and learning the basic skills. Based on that, she was thrilled to find a group that shared her same love for photography. Her feature story focuses on fine arts photography and why it is put in the art category. It also covers photography in the city of Austin and how it plays a part in its culture. She learned a lot through the content in this magazine and hopes that you do too.

Annika Solotko is an aspiring artist who attends Lasa high school as a freshman. She has been involved in the arts, especially photography and other forms of visual arts since she was young.

She takes interest in capturing human expression and emotion through her art and photography. for this newspaper, she wanted to take take this opportunity to find out more about portrait photography and inspires them in their art. In her story, she wrote in her story about how Austin photographers continue to work and find inspiration through the global pandemic.

Tiffany Pham is a visual artist attending LASA High School. She has always loved expressing her creativity onto an empty canvas, watching as all of the individual strokes and colors, beautiful on their own, come together to create an art piece so unique to herself. Because of her passion for art, you?ll find a lot of her graphics scattered throughout the magazine. Though her focus is illustration, she is not afraid to dabble with other art forms, such as photography. For Tiffany, her drawings are often a way of escaping reality, though with photography, she is able to embrace and tell stories using real life, as well as allow others to see the world from her point of view.

Adrian Ching is a 15-year-old student attending LASA high school. For a good portion of his life, he has been captivated by the arts. He is primarily invested in writing, voiceover, and A/V production. Particularly, he is an avid fan of animation, which incorporates all three of his interests. He desires to create cinematic masterpieces that can be appreciated by all.

In this magazine, Adrian has written an article dealing with cinematography, the art of creating motion pictures. He describes the process of cinematic production, along with the steps that go into videography.

Becoming A Photogr apher

By Emily Word

hotographers have to deal with a lot of crop sometimes.

Many photographers don?t start out wanting to go into the profession of photography, but sometimes having the slightest influence can change their mind.

Photo taken by Zach Brigham Delude. A wonderful photo of a couple peering over a bridge into the distance.

Photo taken by Heather French, a picture of a horse named G.E. French captured this beautiful moment for the owner to keep and cherish forever. ?Step number one is to just take a million photos,? said Heather French, owner of Heather N. Photography. ?My recommendation is to just take as many

"step number one is to just take a million photos,"

pictures as possible on whatever camera you can get your

give people that are looking to make a living out of it is you need to develop your own style.? Another great point made by Zach Brigham-Delude, owner and photographer for

-H eather Fr ench, Photogr apher

hands on,?

Many photographers start off small, but as they continue to take more and more photos, they get better.

?The one advice I would

Zach Brigham Photography.

Developing a style and taking many pictures is a very important start to becoming a photographer.

As photographers move further into their journey of

becoming a photographer, they constantly

becoming a photographer is the pay out.

are educating themselves. ?I love learning

?I make a lot of money off of people that are

about what other photographers do, and

doing dating profile stuff,? said

ways that they approach the industry as a

Brigham-Delude. It?s surprising the many

practice,? said French. ?And the other thing is,

different kinds of gigs that are available just

especially with horse show photography,

by being a photographer and also getting

really making a plan.? Making a plan can be

paid pretty well.

very important when getting more into the photography industry, because going to a job without knowing what your plan is, can cause stress and chaos. Running around trying to figure out where things are, instead of taking the time to figure it all out prior to the job.

?And like, here's what I'll say. You have to enjoy it.? said Brigham-Delude. Being a photographer requires some organization and skill, but mainly there needs to be some enthusiasm through your work. Also, if there?s a spark of joy in a specific area, then be a photographer within that area. There

Once getting entangled with the

are so many different ways to be a

photography society, it will be very pleasant.

photographer, but starting out with a million

Photographers are ?super open to sharing

photos, will start a path of photos for the

industry knowledge and sharing clients

future.

even.? said French. Another good outcome of

Photo taken by Zach Brigham-Delude where he gets a perfect moment of this couple.

Parts of a Digital Camera Ever wondered what the specific parts of a digital camera are called? Well here they are! Here is the front view and back view of a standard digital camera, and this can help one learn about the different parts and features of a camera.

Front View The front of the camera is very complicated, but once you learn what all the buttons do, it's not too difficult. Really all you have to do to take a photo is press the shutter button, but to get a decent, nice looking photo, you might want to mess with the settings and focus ring a bit.

Built in Flash Flash Button

Main Command Dial

Shutter Button

Focus Ring

Lens

Mode Dial

Back View The back view of a camera is probably more important in my opinion. The front part does the work, and then the back part is where you do your work. You have to look in the LDC display and figure out if your shot was good or not so good. The view finder is also very important because it's how you are perceiving your picture. You see through the view finder and find the view of your photo.

View Finder

Back of Main Command Dial

Cross Keys

LCD Display

Designed by Emily Word

Play Button Erase Button

Photography as an Art

By Diya Patel

Fine arts photographer Justin Borja, takes a shot of one of the most popular attractions. The grand canyon draws artists from all over the world to capture the beauty of this breathtaking national monument.

camera lifted to an eye, looking through the lens into the outside world, a click of a finger can capture the whole moment. This is the art of making memories, of telling a story in a single shot, of expressing what?s on the inside with what?s on the outside. This is the art of photography.

By definition, photography is the practice of taking and processing photographs. However, to a fine arts photographer, it is so much more than that. In fine arts photography, the camera is just a tool to capture what the artist sees. This form of art is about what the photographer makes of a scene and their interpretation of it.

Understanding this art requires the grasp of an artist?s perspective behind

the lens. Being able to perceive ideas like how

based in Austin, explains why she believes

the composition and aspects of a photo are

photography is considered a form of art.

decided, or why photography is even

Photographers change different aspects of a

considered a form of art and self expression

photo to shape the way it is looked at and

are important. Even basics like what type of

interpreted by the viewer. As Stockstill said, it is

camera to use, how to edit your photos, and

a form of self expression and can be used to

what software is best for that. There is so

tell a story.

much thought that goes into one photo and

?Literally anything that expresses

fine arts photographers think about it all

something else in a way. If you want to tell a

before clicking the shutter button.

story through a photo, you wanna capture

?I think that it?s a visual form of

what?s in the moment. Whatever is happening,

expression. A camera is a tool [just] like a

just capture it,? said Justin Borja, a young fine

paintbrush is a tool. You can use it in a kind of

arts photographer who travels all around the

a utilitarian role like to document a crime

United States to take photos. Borja is

scene or class photos, but you can also choose

self-taught and has explored the realm

to make images with the intention of them

of photography through trial and error.

He explains that

being more than just a photo of a moment,? Christie Stockstill said.

Stockstill, a fine arts photographer

?Anything that tells a story is a form of art.?

- Justin Borja, Fine Arts Photographer

candid photos are a

Sisters is a photo in

Christie Stockstill, a fine arts photogrpher?s,Water Portraits collection.

perfect example of how photography tells a

However, it can be difficult to capture

story. You can capture what is happening

everything you want to tell the reader into one

without it being planned, and that is when you

picture. Stockstill mentions that

can really see the meaning of that moment.

?cinematographers have the luxury of

?Certain colors create certain feelings in

movement to help tell the story.? It makes it

the viewer. Negative space around a subject

hard to only use aspects like lighting,

can make the subject feel small or it could

composition, color, and size to have the same

serve to highlight the subject. A cluttered or

effect on a viewer through just one photo.

busy background can add interest or give

?It?s not always elevated to the same

insight to the subject. That could tell you more

status as painting or sculptures. People are just

about the subject or it could be distracting

like, ?Well all you did was snap a photo. You

from the subject. So, it depends on what you?re

could snap 500 photos and get a good one in

trying to highlight. There?s so much, I feel like I

there.?If you are painting or sculpting there?s

could teach a course on how to create different

this perception that it has so much more skill

looks and different pictures,? Stockstill added.

involved, takes so long, and there is only one of

As Stockstill explained, there are so

those things rather than being able to print 7

many different aspects in a photo, and each

million of them. I do think that Austin, and

one serves a unique purpose. Looking down

everywhere really, could really do more to

on a subject can make them seem small and insignificant, while looking up on a subject will give them a sense of authority and power.

elevate photography to the status of art or at least bring it up for discussion more often,?

Stockstill explained.

Stockstill believed that Austin was lacking in the department of incorporating

photography as a part of its culture. Austin has art museums and galleries throughout the city.

She says that sometimes you?ll find a photography exhibit where you can enter your work that is meant for only photography.

However, she looks down upon the fact that the art rarely gets included with exhibits of other art mediums at the same time. Austin does use photography in terms of advertising the city and showing its history and people. ?There?s a lot that I love about it, which is that I get to share my way of seeing the world with other people. Of course, it?s always gratifying when people get what you?re trying to do and that?s worth it. You may go a long time without somebody praising your work, but then when somebody really gets it or responds to it, you get the little reminder that it?s not all for nothing,? Stockstill said.

Borja added, ?My favorite part is seeing client?s faces when they see my pictures. That?s probably the biggest feedback without even saying anything. Once I see them smile, that is the best thing I could ever have with my work.?

Fine arts photographers Borja and Stockstill explained their favorite parts about what they do and why it is special.

Photography is so much more than just clicking a button. It is expressing one's self through the art of capturing a moment in time.

Justin Borja photographs himself at NONOTAK Studio?s Hoshi, a depiction of infinate space.

Ph otogr aph y Th r ou Photography is a wide field with many different aspects. Explore its variety by taking a look at the results of a survey done by LASA freshman and a photo gallery of professional landscape photography.

Types of Cameras Used by LASA Freshman For Their Best Phot os

16.1%

83.9%

DSLR

Smart phone

Thirty-one freshman students at LASA (Liberal Arts and Science Academy) high school in Austin, Texas were interviewed about which type of camera they use to take their best photos. The results are shown in the the graph above.

Take a deeper look i nto

u gh A Len s Designed by Diya Patel

landscape photography all over the Uni ted States through these photos taken by fi ne arts photographer Justi n Borja.

All photos taken by fine arts photographer Justin Borja.

ANewMoment inPortr Local Austin portrait photographers

individual's character. Their story is at the

continue to work through the Pandemic, a

heart of portrait photography. Some of

time when the day to day lives of subjects

Austin?s most established photographers

have been transformed. Through

continue to shoot and continue to capture

photography, they capture the depth of an

stories instant of time. They are active in

rait Photography

By Annika Solot ko

the community and continue sharing

when a story is told in a single moment

images that tell the unique story of their

and captured on camera. A boy stepping

subjects with precision and creativity.

over a puddle captured in mid-air, or

Local photographers continue to capture

majestic Yosemite in the sun,

what Henri Cartier Bresson famously

photographers seek to capture unique

summarized as "the decisive moment"

stories through their own unique lens.

And Austin's photographers continue to capture moments, unyielding to the pandemic, and ready to capture how individuals re-emerge in its aftermath. ?We have a right brain and a left brain. The great photographs get both of them at the same time, ? said Brenda Ladd. Brenda seeks to capture stories and the intangible presence of her subjects in her longstanding practice in Travis Heights. In discussing her first photograph where she felt she had captured her subject well, Brenda said, ?It

Her grandmother had been a German immigrant. ?We were talking and she threw her head back she had her tissue in her hand, ?Like in jazz if you

was very daring for me because I was listen to music and you have that kind of very young.? library of you know tunes that you can you know get sound on.? While Ladd has taught at the University of Texas and the Rocky Mountain School, she did not complete a degree in photography, rather studying under master photographers, studying at many schools, and ultimately creating her own style in her studio.

"I am inspir ed by a per son?s essence."

-Br enda Ladd, Por t r ait Phot ogr apher

I not ice det ails, like people having a r ubber band ar ound t heir w r ist . Or, you k now, a st r ap st ick ing out of t heir shir t . I am det ailed in t hat way.

- Ginny Wit k in Belofsky, Por t r ait Phot ogr apher

What drives portrait photographers varies,

Austin photographers look forward to the

with some preferring to shoot in studio and

other side of the pandemic when they can

others preferring to travel and go where the

shoot more freely and without the

subjects are. ?It allows me to be mobile,?

constraints of social distancing and with

said GInny Witkin Belofsky, another Austin

more freedom to travel. Their work and

portrait photographer. ?When I go to work

enthusiasm remain on full display however,

it's in a different location with different

with many remaining active online and in

people every time - I love that,? she said of

social media to share their work and build

her profession. ?I love working with people -

new clients and opportunities to capture new

I?m an extrovert and can?t want to engage

moments, new stories, and the essence of

them in a photo shoot.?

their subjects with portrait photograph

It?s somet hing t hat t ells a st or y in my opinion t hat makes gr eat wor k . Somet hing t hat gr abs you for mor e t han a second.

--Br enda Ladd, Por t r ait Phot ogr apher

howto take captivating photos

Designed by Annika Solot ko

Light ing Light is central to every image, defining our visual perception. Changes to lighting can transform a subject or a scene. While photographers universally agree that good lighting is critical to photography, they also agree that there is an art, and sometimes some luck to great light. For some photos, natural light is essential - the sun with its magnificent coverage and energy can illuminate a subject or an entire landscape to the horizon. For some photos, careful placement and creativity can create the desired effect. Be patient, wait for and use natural light, or get creative, and use your own illumination.

Composit ion Composition describes the arrangement of objects and backgrounds in a scene. Achieving great composition requires achieving a combination of visual balance, detail, and geometry. How an artist curates these in a scene makes an image more or less interesting from the perspective of the viewer.Too many details can be distracting and diminish from the overall intent of an image.

Unbalanced placement of objects can make an image seem off balance. Combining these elements so they work together will create an artistic and compelling image.

Movement Capturing the "definitive moment" can benefit from a sense of motion and happening. To capture a story, sometimes the story needs to transpire in front of the viewer with implied movement in a still image. The moment where movement and a story crystallizes can tell a story - and sometimes you need to be patient, or quick witted, to capture it!

Technology Today photography requires a high level of technical proficiency to achieve great results. Digital photography has made it possible to record images speed and ease, but even in well trained hands, mistakes can be made in lighting, exposure, focus, and resolution because of the complexity of the software. All of these can distract from the goal of capturing a well lit, well composed, creative moment.

Desig ned b y Tiffa ny Pha m

On the b a c k of a p ola roid p ic ture, there is a c hem ic a l p a c k.

When is a p ic ture is ta ken, it is reflec ted throug h the lens, onto the m irror, a nd d ow n the film , w here it's exp osed .

Then using a g ea r system , the im a g e is p ushed throug h rollers tha t b rea k the c hem ic a l p a c k on the film .

ea d a ls sp r

ge

Sh i n i n g a L i gh t o n C i n em at o gr ap h y B y A d r i an C h i n g

Some of the team at a woodwork shop. Taken during an interview conducted by documentary production studio Look & See. Photo by Drift Journal.

Producer Laura Dunn and Cinematographer Lee Daniel stand by a set for a documentary, ready to film. Photo by Jef Sewell. hen he was just a kid,

problem-solving. Huff, now a director of

Gary Huff would watch

photography, says, ?The thing I enjoy most

the dancing images on

about working in the film industry is the

television, hopping from

problem-solving aspect; working together with

one angle to another,

everyone on set to overcome various

smoothly encapsulating every view of the action. How did they do that? Huff began experimenting with his own rudimentary equipment with the help of his brother, in order to find the

problems.?

Cinematography is used as the general term for the video-graphing of a film.

However, filmmakers agree that cinematography is not simply the work of

solution. Yet, the answer to his

shooting a scene with a camera. It is the

question had always been

complete involvement of a crew working

right in front of him. It was simply a matter of

together to uncover and overcome obstacles in order to create the best product possible.

Film-making follows a certain structure for

and ideas spring from that process.? The path

sure, but the process is never the same. ?I?ve

of creating films is wild and unpredictable, as

shot over six hundred productions,? says Huff,

Dunn adds, ?I like to get totally disoriented by

?but I?m always encountering new obstacles,

the material and then find my way back out in

and solving those problems is where I feel

the editing process.? She explains that the

most at home.?

process a cinematographer goes through in

Additionally, documentary filmmaker

order to reach the goal should not be

Laura Dunn says, ?I don?t start with a script. I

superficial, and that genuine effort is what

start with an idea and then read everything I

springs light into a film. She concludes, ?I think

can find on the topic, start interviewing folks,

this is an honest way to make films? to let the story transform my way of

"I?veshot over sixhundredproductions,but I?malways encounteringnewobstacles,andsolvingthoseproblems iswhereI feel most at home."- GaryHuff,FilmDirector

Homemade Film Studio. Photo by iStock.

seeing the world. It?s hard and messy and expensive and time-consuming, but it?s always fascinating, and I like the challenge.?

Des i gned by Adr i an Chi ng

Hi s t or y of Ci nemat ogr aphy

It?s something ?Artists that tells a produce work story in my that is in opinion that some way a makes great self portrait.? work.

- Christie Something Stockstill ?Honestly my favorite part is that grabs editing & filtering the you for photos. Mostly because when more than a "Take as you see the difference between second. many the raw & edited photos; like -Br enda pictures wow, it?s unbelievable.? as Ladd - @sweetlpstv on Instagram possible on whatever ?I get inspiration at the most random camera times but generally just other people you can in the community! There are so many get your talented creators with such unique hands photography.? on."

- @sweetlpstv on Instagram - Heather French "You do need The thing I to develop "I am inspired enjoy most your own by a person?s about style." - Zach essence." working in Brigham-Delude Brenda Ladd the film industry is "If it looks cool or if there's the problemsolving aspect." something happening then I'll go ahead and capture it."

- Gary Huff

PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES

"It?s hard and messy and expensive and timeconsuming, but it?s always fascinating, and I like the challenge."

- Laura Dunn

- Justin Borja