Photo Story

Sunrise Elementary School was built in 1949 and is educating the second generation of students in Albany, Oregon. The school is located just off Hill Street a few blocks away from Calapooia Middle School and the Boys and Girls Club. Jodi Smith is now a second-year principal at Sunrise and for my photo story I wanted to get a glimpse into what went on in sort of "the day of the life" of a elementary school principal. Besides staff meetings and other more private activities, I was able to follow Jodi around as she did her general duties. 

***All photos of students are for photo assignment only and cannot be used for any other means without consent from children's parents.***

Front entrance at Sunrise Elementary School in Albany, Oregon.

On December 2nd, Jodi Smith checks in on various students in the library as they work on coloring Monsters University pictures. Part of being a principal is knowing every student and Jodi is very knowledgable with the students academic and even personal lives.

This classroom is dedicated to the school's Smart Reader program, where twice a week volunteers come in and help students learn to read. Students are also allowed to take home and keep books as they progress, it is an awesome way to help develop the children's reading capabilities. Mrs. Smith was going in and checking on the program and also meeting the new school coordinator.

In this second-grade classroom students work at a variety of stations whether it's group reading. coloring, or even computer time. A student is showing Jodi what it is that she has colored. 

One of Jodi Smith's last stops is in this classroom to talk to teacher Sasha Mattingly (center) and Special Education Assistant Brenda Shipley (left). Conversations include student issues including an incident with a student earlier in the day. 

Action/Sports

Jamison Dufour shoots on the far end basket at Grand Prairie Park overlooking Periwinkle Creek in Albany Oregon on Tuesday, November 17th. Grand Prairie Park is one of Albany's most popular areas for local pick-up basketball games during the Spring and Summer months where the weather is perfect for basketball.

Jamison Dufour releases the ball off of his fingertips on a jumpshot at Grand Prairie Park while Grand Prairie Road looms in the background.

Low-angle photo of Jamison Dufour shooting while the raining sky stands large in the background. 

As Jamison shoots other parts of the park are visible such as the picnics tables both under the gazebo, and under the trees. 

Close-up shot of Jamison Dufour in mid-dribble. I enjoyed the detail of the basketball being able to see parts of the words "Wilson", and "Evolution", which are the basketball brand and style of ball, respectively. Also both the look of the ball and the ground give an insight as to what type of weather was going on this day, Tuesday November 17. 

My Neighborhood

The Historic Carousel & Museum in downtown Albany, Oregon is a non-profit agency whose goal is create a carousel with all completely hand-crafted animals. The idea for the project started in 2002 based on inspirations from previous carousels in places such as Montana and even in Salem, Oregon. Eventually  the building will be torn down and rebuilt to house the entire carousel which will include 52 animals in 3 different rows ranging from large to medium to small animals. This photo was taken on Tuesday, November 10th inside the workshop of the museum.

Gary Richards is a volunteer and also a faculties/safety coordinator at the carousel's museum. In this photo Gary is demonstrating a small detail of what all goes into the carving of what will someday be a horse on the carousel. 

A photo of children playing at Lexington Park in Albany, Oregon on Tuesday, November 10th. 

Willamette Community Church Open Gym

From Left: Valer Enea, Roger Williams, Eric Curteman, and Vince. Willamette Community Church is located on Third Avenue in downtown Albany, Oregon. The church shares the same building as Albany Christian School and the open gym is held inside the school's gymnasium on Thursday nights in the winter. This photo was taken on November, 5th. The group of guys, both from the church and not, warm-up before games begin.

Valer Enea readies himself for a jump shot while Roger Williams looks on intently.

Jamison Dufour begins lacing his basketball shoes in preparation for the evening.

Photographer of the Week - Henri Cartier-Bresson

http://mediastore3.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/Home2/e/d/8/0/PAR19082.jpg

Henri Cartier-Bresson was born in Chanteloup, France on August 22, 1908. Henri was the oldest of five children and his family was fairly wealthy due to his father's occupation as a textile manufacturer. Cartier-Bresson was educated in Paris and he soon had developed a an interest in art and literature. Photography first caught the eye of Cartier-Bresson when he traveled to Africa in 1931 to hunt antelope and boar. When Henri grew tired of hunting he started to dabble in photography with a "brownie", what they called a small, inexpensive camera at the time. Cartier-Bresson soon came to realize that he enjoyed shooting photos, more than posting his works to show off. When he had returned to France he purchased a 35mm Leica, a simple camera that would be key in defining Henri's works. Henri was very adamant in having his pictures catch the candidness of the moment, he would often use black tape to cover the chrome pieces of his Leica as to go more unnoticed. He also made it clear that he preferred his pictures to be as non-edited as possible. Cartier-Bresson's "claim to fame" definitely was in the candid and spontaneous ways in which he shot his photos, which helped lead photojournalism into being seen as an art form. The above picture is my favorite from his portfolio because I really enjoy the setting and how we can see down the tunnel of trees. I just think that it has a really nice simplistic, yet eye-catching dynamic to it. 

Works Cited:
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Henri-Cartier-Bresson
http://www.biography.com/people/henri-cartier-bresson-9240139

Culture Table at the DAC

Various students gather for a Culture Table meeting on Wednesday October 28th, in Linn-Benton's Diversity Achievement Center. The topic of conversation for this meeting was foods of different cultures. The Culture Table is a weekly gathering on Wednesdays from 12 noon to 1 o'clock in the afternoon where students of varying nationalities discuss topics relating to their specific cultures.

From left, Hadi Alatiq, Zhiqi Lu, Rosalie Crowe, Sami Kerzel, Phan Nguyen, and Mohamed Ari. Hadi Alatiq and Mohamed Ari share a laugh together while Zhiqi Lu and Sami Kerzel look on in enjoyment.  

Nakul Kataria and Rosalie Crowe listen to conversation from Mohamed Ari about his culture's food at the Linn-Benton Culture Table on Wednesday, October 28th. Also pictured: Phan Nguyen (center). 

Week 4 Environmental Portrait

Scott Smith is a first-time administrator in the Albany public school system. He is currently the Assistant Principal at Calapooia Middle School in Albany, Oregon. Scott is pictured here near the front entrance of the middle school beneath a welcome sign. 

Scott Smith

Week 3 Photos

A group of students work on a project in the LBCC courtyard early afternoon on Tuesday, October 6th.

The many faces that occur when one works on a school project. Students in the LBCC courtyard.

Final shot of students before completion of their project in the LBCC courtyard on Tuesday, October 6th.

Second Week Photos

Students perform lay-ups in a basketball class at Linn-Benton Community College.

Early arrivers warm up before class begins at Linn-Benton's Albany, Oregon campus.

A collection of basketballs await use in LBCC activity center.

My First Photos

Alex Fromm studying under the courtyard gazebo, Wednesday September 30th.

 A student climbs the stairs towards the upper level of LBCC's South Santiam Hall, Wednesday September 30th.

Various students spending time in the LBCC courtyard, early on September 30th.