Stand Alone

Senior Abigail Cartagenas acts as a proud princess in Theatre 1B's student produced play, "___".

After a tiresome day, 8th grader Sven __ shares a seat with his trusty trombone as he waits for the bus to reach it's stop at McAllen Memorial.

After a winter colder than expected, several blades of grass start to bloom on the UTPA campus at the first signs of warmth. 

The McAllen High School "M" stands strong as students sit at it's feet waiting to be picked up by their parents.

The doorbell waits for a new visitor.

Joshua, who wakes up the earliest out of our family of 5, usually enjoys a few bowls of cereal before starting his early Saturday cartoon marathon.

Our very own "Star-Spangled Banner", the symbol of independence, stands alone and waves to citizens as they drive by the B.E.T.A campus.

This grapevine is left to grow in it's own pot for now, since it's permanent place in the yard has not yet been decided. 

Every morning, this security guard ensures the safety of the North Parking lot.

This toothbrush is the only one left in it's proper place, as the other two previous occupants are left messily on the counter.

FeBRUARY EVENTS

1. What feeling does this photograph create in you, the viewer?

This photo creates a sense of alienation; a forlorn nostalgia.

2. What story do you think this photograph tells the viewer? Does it capture something that would be hard to convey in words?

Interpreted as a piece of art, this photo could arguably assert the distance that man has created from itself to nature. Pictured here, a man stands to witness the world's largest lava lake in the Nyiragongo Crater, located in Africa. While he is but a black silhouette that itself is consumed by the black of the earth floor, he divides the cool and warm (literally) aspects of the picture: The reddish-orange lava lake and the greenish-blue tent. 

3. Who or what is the subject of this photograph?
I feel like the subject of this photograph is the man, as small as he is compared to the rest of the picture. The eyes seem to just go back and forth between the lava lake and the tent, the man serves to bind them both together.

4. Is the lighting natural or artificial? What time of day is it?
Artificial lighting is used, it is most likely in the evening.

5. If it is a color photo, what colors stand out? If it is black and white, what is the effect?
Like I mentioned earlier, the reddish-orange of the lake and the greenish-blue of the tent stand out because of the black they stand on. 

6. What part or parts are out of focus, if any? What is the effect?
The only part of the picture that is not perfectly visible is the man, just because the lighting is made to conceal him.(not to mention his position, facing away from the camera)

7. How is the picture composed? Is the subject centered? Is the "rule of thirds" followed?
Rule of Thirds is not followed, but the picture is still well balanced in my opinion.

8. What strikes you most about the photo? Why do you think that is?
I think I've already answered this in the second question. The bell just rang, so I'll leave it at that. 

9. What is the background for this image?
The background could be the lava lake.

10. Is this photo timely? Does it have a timeless quality? Both? Might it become iconic? Why or why not
The part of the photo that might give some insight on the time might be the tent, other than that, no.

These pictures I just admire.