Facebook Final Analysis: Me as a Photographer

Facebook Final Analysis: Me as a Photographer

Initially, my Facebook page was created to display my photojournalistic work. Over the course of the semester, I found opportunities to take different kind of photos, so the page evolved into more of a portfolio page of my overall photography. 

I had my friend and DSU student Mike Nagy take the photos of me to give my page a professional look and clearly display what the page was about. Over time, I will create a collage of my work to incorporate into the banner, so all faucets of my page will be displayed. 

I was able to get a total of 45 likes as of when this blog was posted. I did send out page like invites to my friends and family who knew I was doing this project or friends who are also photographers.

Initially for this class, I thought I had to have a new Facebook account, so my friends list is much smaller than my normal account. In hindsight, I wouldn't not have done this.   

I mostly posted my work with a description of what was going on: 

• Albums of work I had done prior to creating the page. 
• Portait photography
• Photos of me that I used to create the page
• Historical information on photography
• Photojournalistic coverage of the dance-permit protest 
• A "Humans of New York" style photography project I did for the Dixie Sun News

I didn't think the albums would get too much attention because it is work that people had seen before, but I felt it was important to include it. The protest photos received the most engagement. The farthest reach was for my DSN project, and I think that is because I added a link to the Sun's Facebook page. 

This shows me that my viewers want to see my work and that it helps to link where my work is published. I could also share links to my Twitter and Instagram as other locations where my photographs are published. 

What I would have done differently: I was conflicted through out the semester on what to publish, but I should have shared links of what I was working on with the DSN. I didn't do too much photography and what I did do was more to accentuate the articles I had written. I could also have taken photos of events I was at for the DSN, and talked about why I was there and what was going on. 

Also, I am feeling more confident in my digital design and editing (in part to having a better computer this semester,) and I would like to start showcasing that area of my work, too.  

As the page progresses, I think it will turn into a portfolio of the different types of work that I do. I will be able to direct people who are interested in my photography to this page. This is convenient because Facebook is so widely used. 

Part of me wishes I would have done a different subject for my page. I didn't feel very successful with this concept. Over the semester, it was difficult to really get an idea down of where I wanted the page to go. It was also hard for me to come up with content ideas. Of course, now that the semester is over, I have more of a direction! When I met with Eric about my page, he asked me to consider what makes me stand out as a photographer and how would I explain, "why I shoot the way I do." In the about me section of my page, I write that photography gives me a way to observe the world. This is why I am drawn to event photography. I don't really care for posed portraits. I like to see movement, emotion, and expression. I also love bright colors in photography. 

Eventually, I would like to get into more artistic fashion photography, where digital design plays a big part. 

In moving forward, I think I will keep up my page. In a heartbreaking turn of events, my uncle whose camera I would use to take my pictures, past away on Monday. My aunt was adamant that he would have loved for me to have his camera and she gave it to me. In his memory, and to show how grateful I am for this gift, I want to keep taking pictures. 

Connecting the Dots: Location

The benefits of location sharing on social media puts an emphasis on the 'social' part by letting friends and family know where your at. 

"Hey, see I am at Yougurtland! Come and join me." 

But this can also say, " Hey, I am not at home! Come and steal all of my stuff."

I chose to focus my part on being aware of the location information that is posted online, especially if it advertises that one is going to be away from home. I would like to think by now that this is common knowledge, but I still see people on my feeds that post pictures and status update that detail their wonderful vacation thousands of miles away from their hometown. 

For me, I know that I have wanted to let my friends know in the cities I travel to that I am going to be in town, so I'll post a status update. I will also say something about having a house sitter, too. 

My advice is just to be aware of what information, especially location information, is being put out there and know that anyone can have access it to it.

Articles that emphasize the importance of being aware of what location information is being shared:

What not to post while on your vacation



Nine things never to share on Facebook 

Facebook Ad

For my demographic, I chose to include the areas of St. George, Hurricane, Cedar City, and Mesquite NV.  Eventually, I would like to be able to break into the Las Vegas market for event coverage.

I left the age range and gender range to the default setting to give a wider variety of potential people who might be interested in my style of photography.

For this exercise, I began to really consider what niche I could fill with photography. I would like to hone in on event coverage, especially concerts, charity events, and parties/ gatherings.

Chicago, Food and Sustainability: The Trifecta

Current food-related sustainability projects in Chicago:

The Plant 1400 W. 46th St., Chicago, IL 60609

Copyright by Matt Bergstrom

"The Plant will create 125 jobs in Chicago’s economically distressed Back of the Yards neighborhood – but, remarkably, these jobs will require no fossil fuel use. Instead, The Plant will install a renewable energy system that will eventually divert over 10,000 tons of food waste from landfills each year to meet all of its heat and power needs...All food waste generated by these businesses will be composted in the anaerobic digester to create power for The Plant’s renewable energy system. "

The Plant is a social enterprise model between two companies, non-profit and for-profit, which both aim for a socially and environmentally responsible business.

The building has food-producing businesses and non-profit and educational research facilities. One goal of The Plant is to create new, "green" jobs in the community of Chicago.

One of the more fascinating aspects of The Plant is growing plants and fish in the same environment.

"The fish produce ammonia-based waste that is sent through a biofilter where solids settle out and the rest is broken down into nitrates. Those nitrates are then fed to plants growing in hydroponic beds. By absorbing the nitrates, the plants clean the water, which is returned to the fish. Plant Chicago’s system was also custom-built and incorporates recycled materials into it’s construction."

The Plant even has its own brewery, by brothers Samuel and Jesse Edwin Evans, that utilizes the spent grain by feeding it to the Tilapia,  fertilizing mushrooms, or for energy usage. 

"But much of it will go to an amazing device called an “anaerobic digester,” which is essentially a bacteria-driven stomach that eats up food products like spent grain and produces biogas. That gas will be used in a turbine generator to create electricity for the facility, and 850º steam to be used in the brewing process. The CO2 created by the generator will be fed to plants grown elsewhere in The Plant."

Urban farms, like the one from he non-profit organization and land trust Growing Power  encourages people of all ages and all walks of life to grow and have access to high-quality, safe and affordable food. The non-profit offers:

"...hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner... Food production occurs in the organization’s demonstration greenhouses... [and] urban farms in Milwaukee and Chicago.

 We also distribute produce, grass-based meats, and value-added products through the activities of over 300 small family farmers in the Rainbow Farmers Cooperative, and the organization’s year-round food security program the Farm-to-City Market Basket Program. We also sell to numerous restaurants and small grocery stores in Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee.  

All of the above provide important opportunities for individuals and communities to network with each other as they work in partnership to promote food security and environmentally sound food production practices."

Reddit and Rodger: An Analysis of Elliot Rodger Through Subreddits- Final Essay

"A killing spree was perpetrated on May 23, 2014, in Isla Vista, California, near the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara, by 22-year-old Elliot Rodger. Rodger killed six people and injured thirteen others before committing suicide." -Wikipedia

Social media site Reddit played a big role in the mass shootings, because Roger would frequent "subreddits." Some of the subreddits featured PUAhate or "pick-up artist hate" lamentations because Rodger was involuntarily celibate, or an "incel" and involved in what is called the "red pill" ideology. Both Subreddits are heavily misogynistic. When Roger would try to find dates and was turned down, he became very bitter. It was alleged that the constant rejection is what led him to targeting women who are in sororities during his shooting spree. It has also been brought up that Rodger had mental illnesses that contributed to his depression and skewed perceptions on relationships.

After the shooting incident involving Rodger, it was reported that there were users on various social media sites who recognized that Rodger was a potential threat. Several  articles have been written on Rogers use of social media as an outlet for his “manifesto,” a detailed 138-paged document that describes his life growing up, how he felt he was rejected, and how that lead to his decision to murder innocent people. 

I am an avid Redditor and I watched the event unfold on the site. The general consensus among the users at first was that Roger's story and picture should not be shared because it would perpetuate his actions and render him infamous. It was also feared that others who felt lost like his did would emulate his actions.

Going back to revisit discussions and interpretations about Rodger's perception on dating and women, his mental illness, and why he acted the way he did, has offered some contrast to the initial response of "don't talk about it." Redditors from several Subreddits (links at the bottom of the post) are saying that there needs to be a discussion to prevent such situations from happening.

When I analyze the change in response of “don’t talk about it,” to “we need to talk about it” I think it shows that the community of Reddit was deeply impacted by tragedy and needed time to process how best to respond personally, as well as a community. I have yet to stumble on any thread that show admiration for Rodger; at this point, it is a community of people who discuss his red-flag warnings and mental illness.

After reading through several threads on Reddit via the search "Elliot Rodger," citizen journalism is displayed by way of the various users keeping facts in check and challenging the ideas that are presented. The fault in this is that the idea of subreddits are a gathering place of like-minded people, so some "truths" are skewed.

Rodger would use social media like YouTube to post his laments and ideology. Through social media, he was able to put his ideas out there. He even said that when he would go to sites like PUAhate.com, he would find other people with ideas similar to his.

The main arguments that I saw revolved around Rodgers acting the way he did as a result of his mental illness and lack of social skills. In his manifesto, he said he would wander around and wait for people to approach him. He would become angry when he was ignored and not admired by “hot” females. He detail for pages how his parents tried to help him by hiring life coaches, socialization coaches and psychiatrists, but it only alleviated his loneliness for a small while. He even compared one of his female socialization coaches to a prostitute, as in that she was paid to be with him.

Feminists say that patriarchy and the men's rights movement perpetuated and and added fuel to Rodger's fire of hatred for women. Rodger’s view on women toward the end of his manifesto is disturbing and shows that he does not value women as equal humans:

Those in the Redpill Subreddit say that Rodger was not a redpiller:

Even though I don’t agree with the Red Pill ideology, I do commend the idea of “fixing” an area that one may feel that he is lacking in. Roger does detail in his manifesto that he would go through periods where he would work out, or dress nice in order to attract females. He would stop these endeavors when no one noticed him. Once again, through this thread, there is the discussion that Rodger suffered from mental illness. Part of the proof, they state, is because he wasn't able to get along with his male roommates, either.

I remember following the event as it unfolded on Reddit and being horrified as parts of Rodger's ideology started popping up to explain why he acted the way he did. I was in more traditionally feminist Subreddits, so the view was against the redpill theories and how being a "dominate" man perpetuated such behavior. To do research for this assignment, I have learned that I don't necessarily agree with all of the redpill theory, but I glad to read they did not lay claim and admiration to Rodgers.

Initially, I didn’t want to read his manifesto, but I did. I am deeply disturbed at how quickly his thoughts went to such vile and drastic measures of mass murdering people for offenses they didn’t even commit. The manifesto started out articulating his childhood in a very detailed, yet droll, manner. I found it interesting that Rodger, who had a hard time attending school, was fairly articulate in his writing. It did come across as robotic, until the end when he started detailing his plans for "retribution." He was lonely, but what is so aggravating is that he just expected "good looking women" to be the one to talk to him and make the moves. He said he would sit outside coffee shops and just wait for females to come up and talk to him and instantly want to sleep with him. He would loose his temper and get violently angry if he saw happy couples. He wrote that his parents did make an effort to help him, but what could be done? The police even went to his house to search it before the tragedy happened. 

To be honest, it has made me even more paranoid. I have had guys get visibly angry at me when I have refused to date them. This has even happened when I told them I had a boyfriend, and yes that 250, pound, 6'1 guy over there is my boyfriend. My friend was at a high-end club in at the Palms in Vegas, where a guy was hitting on her. She told him she was married and pointed out her husband. The guy became angry, said there aren't any **** single women around, broke a bottle, and cut her husband's face. It is completely ridiculous, and tragically sad that we as females have to worry about these things when we go out.

After I read the manifesto, I had such an emotional dark cloud hanging over me. I can empathize with feeling socially isolated. But, I think people eventually figure out what they need to find their place in society. This is where I see Rodger's mental illnesses taking over and creating the monster that he turned into.

TheRedPill Thread

TumblerInAction Thread

ChangeMyView Thread

Our Ever-Evolving Lingo: For Karen

KAREN! I found this for you:

Ambiguity: Is Edward Snowden a Patriot or a Traitor?

Edward Snowden: Patriot or Traitor?

I have tried to do more research, talk to people who's opinions I respect, procrastinate to give myself more time to turn this question over in my mind, and I draw the same conclusion I drew a few years ago:

I think Edward Snowden is both a traitor and a patriot.

Backstory:
Having spent 1/3 of my life with someone who was in the military, I have always been pretty paranoid about what information was collected online. I didn't really become active on Facebook until after my divorce, 3 years ago, because the fact everything I put on there is saved forever.  And that terrifies me.

We would put gold-foil star stickers over the webcams on our computers and have a schedule set up for when we would change our online passwords.

So, when Snowden did his thing, it didn't seem like such a big deal. We were pretty sure our info was being gathered to some degree. In fact, my friends and I joked that the NSA was probably having a great time seeing all of the lame stuff we would pin on Pinterest.

I think he is a patriot, because he wants accountability from the government violating the fourth amendment.

I think he is a traitor because he broke his oath and potentially put lives in danger.

I am willing to give up certain privacy rights to help keep my country safe. I get really upset, though, when I think about the privacy violations that include the ability to turn my phone's camera or microphone on at will, when I have given no indication that I am threat to security.

And this Wired article is a pretty fascinating read about Snowden that includes personal details.

Elliot Roger and Reddit: The Fatal, Tragic Combination

The event that I am going to analyze the context and impact of social media is the Santa Barbara shootings that happened over the summer.

"A killing spree was perpetrated on May 23, 2014, in Isla Vista, California, near the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara, by 22-year-old Elliot Rodger. Rodger killed six people and injured thirteen others before committing suicide." -Wikipedia

Social media site Reddit played a big role in the shootings, because Roger would frequent "subreddits" that featured pick-up artists techniques and what is called the "red pill" ideology. Both subreddits are heavily misogynistic. When Roger would try to find dates and was turned down, he became very bitter, and decided to solve his misery by targeting women who are in sororities during his shooting spree. 

I am an avid Redditor and I watched the event unfold on the site. The general consensus among the users was that Roger's story and picture should not be shared because it would perpetuate his actions and render him infamous. It was also feared that others who felt lost like his did would emulate his actions. 

How I Learn and Why I Am Responsible For My Educational Experience

Part I: How I learn:

Tactile/kinesthetic learning style
Music association
Problem solving
Teaching others
Positive reinforcement
Analytical- Patterns, formulas, and sequential order

I have a hard time retaining information that is just presented aurally. I use to be a visual learner, but as I have gotten older, this is not as effective. I don't know why this is turing out to be this way.

I find I learn best by teaching others and having interaction where I can work out a problem. I have an associates degree that I earned exclusively online; it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I don't feel qualified to do anything that my degree represents. For the most part, I thrive in a traditional college setting.
By teaching others, I have to know the information and understand it enough to translate it to someone else. I am also held accountable for that information.

Time Article: The Protege Effect


Part II: How to change/ challenge the learning system:

It starts with me. It is important to know what learning scenarios facilitate the best outcome for me, so I need to tailor my education and how I approach school to fit my style. Talking about different styles with instructors and other students opens up the dialogue that education doesn't have to be a one-size fits all experience.
To set myself up for success, I need the interaction with other students and instructors. I retain ideas and give myself an opportunity to form new ones with class and instructor discussions. I need take time out to let my brain process what is going on, and to let the problem-solving gears turn.
Next, talking with other people in my life about how they learn best. Do they even know how their learning styles are? I would explain that it doesn't even have to be related to school, but how learning styles impact how one functions at one's job. My favorite boss was the one who on my first day asked how I learn best.

My questions for the future generations of learners and how we can help them:
Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe are credited with defining the Millennial Generation as those born between 1982-2004. In my household, my boyfriend is still a part of Gen X. My birth year is at the beginning of the designation of the millennial generation, and my brother, born in 1998, is at the end.
All three of us had a different education experience. I barely remember computers in school, and when we did used them, it was a big deal. My brother, on the other hand, has taken several digital design classes and was comfortable working with the software his sophomore year.  I don't even think my boyfriend really worked with computers until the end high school.

I never thought to question how things were being taught. I just know there were certain subjects I never felt successful in, regardless of how helpful my teacher was. It wasn't until my second round in college at UNLV that I really figured out how I learn best and what I can do about it.
This contrast with my brother, who is very aware that there are different options for learning out there. It could be a personality thing as well, but he is not afraid to question teaching methods and to find ways to focus in on what he feels is important and where he really excels. Sadly, the system is not set up for this and he either has A's or F's.

 Should we be able to create our own lesson plan? How would we know what we are good at and where our interests really lie at a younger age? I think we should all have a basic understanding of math, science, language, etc. How could this be applied to one's education for optimal understanding, even though the student might be pursing in depth another subject with different learning styles?
I am also a firm believer in teaching kids life skills and how to function in our world.

Personally Promoting... Me

Objective for Facebook page:

- Display my journalistic-based photography

- An online portfolio

- Engage in networking

- Inform followers about news topics or reporting information information that I find interesting and thought-provoking. Reference sites Poynter Online and Columbia Journalism Review.

- Content, either through new photos I take, or articles or photos that intrigue and inspire me, will be updated 3-4 times a week.

-My logo will be personally designed by me. The logo, merged with portrait photographs of me, will be taken by another student, Michael Nagy. The photographs will be candid shots of me with my camera, taking photos. (Photo inception!)

Target Audience:

Cynthia, 40ish, a recruiter for internships and freelance reporters for a local magazine. She finds prospective students through recommendations, online portfolios or ads. Students who have strong online presence are favored because it translates to a multifaceted avenue for promoting the magazine.

Caleb, 20ish, has a well-known local band. The band will be playing at a fundraiser in a couple of weeks. He remembers one of his Facebook friends takes photos, and knows how and where to publish them. He is able to easily send an event invite to this friend and a message to ask about taking pictures via Facebook.

Tara, 20ish, is studying mass communication. She has worked on projects with other students in her classes. Through Facebook, she is able to keep in touch with them, and see the work her peers are producing.

Facebook Link:

www.facebook.com/HaleyHazenPH

"How is my Family Doing Today?" My Insight on Social Media and Relationships

"Effects of Increasing Digital Connections on Relationships and Community" on the NPR-based Diane Rehm Show discussed the decline of face-to-face interaction because of avid social media usage. Radio show guest Marc Dunkelman,  Susan Pinker and Zeynep Tufeci discuss with Rehm their insight on research and observation the effect social media has on personal relationships. 

Tufeci explained that social media usage helps to build up the "middle relationships," which are acquaintances. She also talks about how social media users generally keep up on family members.  This is what I use social media for, especially Facebook. I know if my sister is having a good day or a bad day at work, what my mom's plans are for the weekend, or what new Internet meme my brother is laughing at.  I also like to read where my cousins are going on vacation or see pictures of their kids, especially since I don't get to visit with them very often.

Introverts benefit from social media use, Pinker mentions. I am pretty introverted and social media gives me an outlet to interact with people. When I interact face-to-face, I have a post about a favorite band that I can build a conversation off of, for example. When I meet new people, connecting on social media lets me keep in touch with people I enjoyed interacting with when I was out and about. Social media has helped me network and keep in touch with people I have met at my job, too.

Dunnkelman discussed that social media has dwindled personal interaction. I disagree. In fact, I find it is quite the opposite for me. I have met up with friends from high school who I haven't seen in over ten years. Via Facebook, I know they are going to be in town. I will post a comment, "Hey! Let's meet up for coffee." I always get a reply and a coffee date. Many of my Facebook friends are local musicians. When they have shows, I know when and when they are playing because of the Facebook invites. I can plan to go and see a show, because I have the information.

At some point, I do agree that Facebook can be detrimental to our social interactions, but if it is used as the only means of social interaction. The key is to use it to compliment one's personal relationships.