Completed CCR

YouTube Video (Main):

Instagram Account (Secondary)

Twitter Account (Secondary):

 

My CCR Creation Process

    After thorough consideration, I decided to make my CCR (Creative Critical Reflection) as a Youtube Q&A video. I jot down my answers to the 4 questions of the CCR (refer back to my "Preparing For The CCR" post) in my notebook, trying to mimic the tone of YouTubers I've seen do Q&A's before. I then created a google form and responded to myself with the CCR questions.

 Once I was finished, I entered a quiet room and recorded my video. I did each question in different clips and edited them together. I even created my own intro to make it seem like a genuine Youtube video.

 I decided to make actual social media accounts for my magazine "CLUBHOUSE" that I referenced in the video. I created Instagram and Twitter accounts and posted about the Q&A and the newest issue I am currently working on.

And with that, my CCR was finally completed!

Depths of Field and Photography Techniques

      During the first semester of my media studies class, I spent a lot of my time learning photography and its techniques. One of which was depths of field.  This is the focus on objects, both in the background and foreground. Essentially, it is the blur or sharpness of an object. It is used for selective concentration and goes hand in hand with the isolation technique. Depths of field has helped me in pointing out a specific subject in my photographs. 

         

    Other techniques that I have mentioned in previous posts such as framing, rule of thirds, repetition, and viewpoints have all contributed to my journey. These tactics have helped me keep my viewers engaged and create beautiful works.

Photo Planning: Why is it Important?

     In many cases, photographers only have one chance to get the perfect shot. Careful planning is needed due to this fact. Conditions must be suitable and everyone must be prepared. Here are some tips when it comes to photo planning:

• Have multiple photographers present in different areas. This allows for more options and multiple angles of the same subject.
• Be early! Pictures of the process before an event are just as valuable as those taken during or after. Showing up earlier also ensures that unexpected occurrences, such as traffic, will not intervene with the photo shoot.
• Take recognizable pictures of people to make it easier to collect quotes.
• Prepare your gear equipment for action.
• Find a desirable location that can capture your subject.
• Always check the weather prior to the shoot.

    Using the list above, one will have a smooth shoot with little to no blunders. 

    

Composition, Cropping, and Storage

     There are many different elements to photography. Some of which are composition, cropping, and storage. These three are all essential when it comes to taking pictures. 

     Composition is a photograph's general visual structure. It appeals to the viewer and uses different techniques to keep them interested. Some methods are isolation, viewpoints (bird's and worm's eye), framing, leading lines, and the rule of thirds. The use of these breathes life into the photo while being relevant to the topic.

     Here is an example of the "bird's eye view" technique:

      Cropping is what stops viewers from getting distracted by irrelevant information. This keeps the focus on the subject. Cropping can be a double-edged sword as poor cropping can ruin a photo.

       Below is an example of cropping:

     Last but not least,  storage preserves photos as well as history. Proper storage means having a record to go back on when needed. It also prevents possible damage to pictures while keeping them organized and most times portable. 

 

How To Write A Caption (And Why They Are Important)

    Captions are short, yet writers may spend a lot of time on them.  This is because captions are vital as they are the most read in a publication. A good caption must include the five W's and the H: who, what, when, where, why, and how. A basic caption is one that only includes the first 4 W's all in one sentence. These are answered in the present tense. It then turns into an expanded caption that answers the why and how, usually in one or two sentences. These must be answered in the past tense. Captions must also have an action lead-in to attract the reader. Adding a quote can be a good addition to your caption.

    My classmates and I were given an assignment on basic and expanded captions. This is my attempt at the latter:

Why Are Headlines Important?

     Headlines are essential to an entire spread. They are the first copy that the readers see and are attention grabbers. A headline is made up of two parts: a teaser and a teller. The teaser visually and/or verbally attract readers while the tellers provide brief information on the topic. You can use different types of hooks in your teaser, including puns, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and homonyms. The forms of headlines are:

• Kicker (one line of secondary above primary)
• Wicket (two or more secondary lines above primary)
• Tripod Pattern (two or more secondary lines beside primary)
• Hammer Pattern (one or more secondary lines below primary)

     I tried making a headline of my own using a hammer pattern with a pun teaser. This is what I came up with: