http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur/chinese-fur-industry/

Summary: The article speaks about the intense abuse and cruel treatment of animals, mainly dogs and cats on the fur farms in China who is the largest exporter of fur garments to the United States. The article goes on to say foxes, minks, rabbits, dogs, cats, and other animals pace and shiver in outdoor wire cages, with no shelter from driving rain, freezing nights, or the scorching sun. The article speaks about the after leaving in such deplorable conditions the animals are skinned and their fur is used to make various products.

1. The article is overall very informative. The mood is serious and evokes a sense of compassion for the treatment of the animals.

2. My audience is people that wear fur garments as well as people who do not.

3. My approach will be metaphorical than literal.

4. I believe that I may use models as well as still life to bring out my ideas.

5. I’m thinking of using female models.

6. I will also use stuff animal of a dog and cat, jacket and boots.

7. I will try bright light with 2:1 ratio and also a very dark mood with a 4:1 light ratio and maybe strobe light as well.

8. High contrast. I want to the focus to be mainly on the objects and not the model.

Results: For shoot one I believe that I was able to show the meaning of the topic in some ways. Interesting enough it’s very hard to capture a specific sympathetic mood using stuff animals yet I was able to use additional props to somewhat show case the idea. Also, I used various lighting to bring out a somewhat dramatic feel.

Summary: In the article Human Trafficking In Our Own Backyard, Mullaly  gives the description of those who are victim of human especially sex trafficking – slim and obese, tall and short, strikingly beautiful and very plain, black, Asia, and white – literally the girl next door. An estimated 300,000 women, children and even men are trafficked for sexual purposes, not in Africa, Southeast Asia or the Middle East but right here in our own backyard. Prostitution is a lucrative business and earns more than drug dealing. This business consists of residents that have been on the streets since 14 and have been abused sexually. A pimp oversee the dealings of the victims.

Communication Problem: To show the impact of human trafficking on individuals

Image Ideas: dark images that show someone tie up with a sadden countenance.

She Being Brand: The author uses the metaphor of sensuality and a woman to describe the way he feels as he drives his car for the first time through the street of Boston. The poem has a sense of excitement, passion and although it is the first drive there is a sense of satisfaction when the ride comes to an end.

Coming Home Detroit: This poem is very different than “she being brand” here we see the author incite less excitement and passion, also the scene unfold through dirty street.

Communication Problem: To capture and show sensuality and a sense of satisfaction through the images of a toy car and different levels of lighting.

Image ideas: I want to create the right mood, to capture images that give out a romantic feel. Images that have soft lighting with a hint of shadow.

Results: The Shoot went well. I believe the mood was captured to communicate the message of both poems. Various lighting levels were used with the integration of photo filters that created the desired effect.

Summary: The evolution of potato has gone through a revolutionary change from an organic process where farmers use seeds, large quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and fuel to produce potatoes to the modern method of genetically engineer potato. The organic way is refer as “inputs” and is said to saddle the farmer with debt, jeopardizes his health, erodes his soil and ruins its fertility, pollutes the ground water and compromises the safety of the food we eat. The article states that this argument has always been from environmentalist or organic farmers. But, more recently this same argument has come from government officials and the agribusiness companies that sold farmers on all those expensive “inputs” in the first place. So, what would rescue the American food chain states the article- a new kind of plant of which genetically engineering will be at the fore- front. The article went on to say that genetically engineer food will replace expensive and toxic chemicals and the produce will be able to protect themselves from insects and disease without the help of pesticides. For example the bacterium Bacillius thuringiensis found in soil will give the potato plant cells information they need to manufacture a toxin lethal to the Colorado potato beetle. It is interesting to note that the article makes it very clear that this new technological way of engineering food is the property of one man.

Communication Problem: Should man tamper with the way in which food is grown? And is it right for the genetically engineer way of producing food be monopolized by one person?

Image Ideas: Potato shoot with warm light close up with a needle or potato peeler to show tampering.

Result: I am very happy with the outcome of the shoot and believe that what I had in mind was capture. Five station was set up, with various levels of lighting and filters that allow light to bounce of the potato from different angles. We were able different props and shoot at close up range.