More than a month has passed since the trimester began, and there has definitely been a lot of diverse stories and perhaps untapped creativity that are lingering within the class. I have placed myself in a more vulnerable state for the more than 100 entries in the self-introductions forums that I have looked into. Vulnerable being the word since there were a lot of stories that I needed to step into and feel the emotions through their photographs. Each ePortfolio gave me a glimpse not only of what their quality of work is now but also their perspectives on how they might grow more as we tackle this course further.

Most of the submissions that I saw could be categorized as snapshots of what they deemed beautiful. From beautiful landscapes, objects, and people, there was a wide range of photographs that were definitely shown. However, the submissions that stood out were definitely those that told more than what they saw. Those photographs that told stories or what felt like vivid moments that they froze in time. They whispered emotions that helped me connect with their vision and creativity.

On the other side of the spectrum, there were still ePortfolios that were definitely still grasping at something. May it be their own vision, their story, their creativeness captured in a moment, or even just the confidence in their own content. These ePortfolios were more like slightly out of focus photographs that may have something grand in store but definitely just needs some refinement to see what they are trying to show. Nonetheless, these ePortfolios showed effort that just definitely needed more guidance to showcase their potential that is just waiting to be honed.

Overall, I see this class as a mix blend, with a full range of skills, perspectives, and potential. From those that seemed to be starting out to those that have been developing their creativity well, there is definitely a lot of room for growth and discourse to tap our potentials.

This photograph captures a dynamic scene at a subway station, where a train rushes by with a man standing still waiting for his train to arrive, creating a striking contrast between motion and stillness.

The framing of the person standing still implicates the compliance to the rule of thirds, however it doesn't strictly follow it.

However, the leading lines or diagonals leading towards the light at the end of the photograph creates a sense of direction and point of focus, further highlighting the stillness of the person amidst the moving train.

The use of color in this photo could also be pointed out. The warm tone and bright light brings more life to it by implicating the time when this was taken. This creates a more nostalgic feel, bringing you back to when this was taken as well as trying to picture yourself as if you were that place.

If I were taking this photo, I would have a bit shorter of an exposure to not wash out the light at the end of the photograph as well as to not fully blur out the train's details. I would also align the person more towards the first vertical line in the rule of thirds to find a better balance with the photograph.

This was one of the more professional looking photographs that I have seen.

With the tasteful use of tall cropping, great use of the leading lines of the tables' edge as well as the lighting, and good use of the rule of thirds, I find this image very appealing to look at.

There's a good focus or emphasis and sense of space with the subject, the lady looking over the produce, and the alleyway where there's a good distance between the people in the background and the subject.

There's also a good sense of unity with how all the elements work together creating a good sense of the market life.

Overall, the photograph is well shot with my only adjustment be in the perspective of the shot. I think having a lower point of view, a bit more level to the tables, would create a more intimate feel to the photograph.

Having seen, reviewed, and critiqued my classmates' ePortfolios and photography work, I find myself in a sea of diverse talents, skills, and creative visions. I don't like to compare my work to my peers, instead I try to learn from the techniques that my peers employ in their work so that I may be able to improve mine. There seems to be a good mix of creativity and technical prowess within the class, however the experience and finesse with how we create our photographs are definitely lacking. Students like me in this class showcase the eagerness to grow and develop their skills and the photographs that I have seen, I could definitely also see the potential that we have.

Looking at my own work, I would like to say that I have an eye on photography, however there is a lack of technique. I have mainly employed the basics of composition in my shots and I know that there is still much for me to learn. I would like to develop the skill of creating a story in my photographs. I have seen and brought up above individuals that could capture moments, creating a vivid story for the viewers to not only see but also feel.
I would like to have my fundamentals of photography be honed even further so that I could be quick on my feet and be adaptable on my work.

To improve on my skills, I would definitely need to be more active in the act of photography itself. The more I practice, the more I could develop the skills that I want. I know that only reading and knowing the techniques, the principles, and the different styles of compositions are only surface level. Unless I actually apply them in my own work, will I only start to further develop my skills and tap my potential.

I would probably try to stick to some composition styles and try to capture those where I may be so I could get a better sense of how these photographs may be formed.
I may also try to have my peers review and critique my photographs to have an outside perspective to my shortcomings and the things that I could refine.
In addition, I may try to dip my toes in some post-processing work to familiarize myself in how these applications may help in my overall work.