Thinking Graphically

I have always photographed moments first composition second, but the combination of not working for a paper right now and taking a video class has me thinking more about the graphic nature of my photos. So here's a couple I've taken this semester. Hopefully by the end of the semester I'll be able to take some graphic photos with moments in them too.

Best of 2011

I've been seeing a lot of "best of 2011" photos a lot lately, and if there's too things I love it's blog posts and bandwagoning. Just kidding. On a serious note 2011 was a big year for me. My confidence and ability with my camera grew a lot between picture stories, my favorite class, and The Flint Journal, my favorite internship so far. I had the opportunity to experience a lot of things that helped me understand the world around me as well as myself this year. So here they are, in chronological order, my favorite photos from 2011. Here's to improvement in 2012

The Last Flint Photos

I took these photos in my last few weeks at The Flint Journal. I've had them picked out for this post for over a week but for some reason I felt like I should post them from Virginia. My time in Flint was great. I had fun and grew a lot, and I'm thankful for the people who helped me along in my time there. These probably aren't my best photos from Flint but I hope that I'm better now than when I started at the Journal.
Lillian Croenwalt and Shainie Weingarten peek through a curtain dividing women and men to watch Croenwalt's husband, Lee, 90, read from the Torah with Rabbi Yisroel Wingarten (left) during his Bar Mitzvah Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at the Chabad House in Flint Township.

Goodrich sophomore Carlos Fordham takes a shot during the Dec. 20, 2011, game against Beecher at Beecher High School. The Bucs won 82-59.

Sara Gonsler, 17, of Grand Blanc, helps Donovan Robinson, 10, sew one of the pillows he and other McGrath Elementary School students made for Munson Medical Center heart patients.

A woman involved in a three-vehicle crash resulting in multiple people injured on West Pierson Road in Mt. Morris Township sits in an ambulance at the scene.

Bus Jobs Occupy Fans

Olivia Desgrange, 15, of Davison High School, carries a box of donated foods while Travis Carte, 17, hands bus driver Willie Kidd another box of food to be taken into Outreach East in Davison Wednesday morning.

Dan Horan (left), 56, of Fenton, and Henry Barrera (middle), 55, of Flint, chant "jobs" at a rally to support the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline at City Hall Monday afternoon in Flint.

Occupy Flint protester Derek James, 21, reads a copy of the United States Constitution before protesting against the National Defense Authorization Act Wednesday afternoon in Flint.

Goodrich fans Kyle Bradley (left), 17, and Kenny Rappuhn, 17, react to a dunk by a Goodrich player during Tuesday night's overtime Grand Blanc victory 61-59 over Goodrich at Grand Blanc High School.

Santa Spray Sled Mott

Tyler Smith, 8, of Linden, sits on Santa's lap while children in line outside peer in Bear Creek Coffee Cafe in downtown Linden Saturday afternoon.

Flint Police Officer Tonya Fields wipes her eyes after another officer used pepper spray to subdue a hysterical man, according to a witness, after police responded to a call for a child being thrown out of a house window on Atherton Road Friday afternoon in Flint. The child was not injured, police said.

Terry Hendrickson, 13, rides on top of Holden Barber, 13, while he sleds down a hill at Kearsley Park, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 in Flint, Mich.

Mott guard Darryl Marshall looks for a pass around Sinclair Community College sophomore Trent Maddox (right) during Saturday's Mott victory 101-72 in the Bears Club Classic.

State Thanksgiving Christmas

Ursula and Tom Pougnet hug their sons Garrett (7) and Jacques after they won the division 5 championship game Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit.

Powers Catholic quarterback Garret Pougnet is tackled by Lansing Catholic defenders Dan Liesman (left) and Ryan Clark during the first half of the division 5 state championship game at Ford Field in Detroit Saturday.

Neighbor Paige Hughes (right) holds hands with Letha Turner while Turner tries to comfort the homeowner as Flint Township Firefighters put out a fire in her house early Thanksgiving morning in Flint Township. The house was initially thought to have two children inside, but it was discovered they were at a relative's house.

Elissa Findling, of Commerce Township, kisses her nine-month-old son Dylan as the Christmas tree is lit at Crossroads Village Friday night in Flint.

Ride Win Smoke Prom

Anthony Frey, 9, attempts to do a "wheelie" on his neighbor's bicycle while playing after school in east Flint Wednesday afternoon.

Frankenmuth team captain Nicole DeGrace (11) celebrates winning the regional volleyball championship over North Branch with her teammates Thursday night at Mt. Morris Junior High School.

Flint Firefighter J. Gilbert takes a phone call while at a vacant structure fire at 1714 Oak St. in Flint Monday afternoon. The fire was under arson investigation, said Captain Joe Morrison of the Flint Fire Department.

Winner of the Miss Michigan's Outstanding Teen Scholarship Pageant Marissa Cowans, 17, of St. Clair Shores, Mich., prepares to participate in a Viper Apparel fashion show as part of a graduation and prom expo at Fenton High School Saturday.