A Farewell to Smokin’

As our summer days come to an end, so does my internship.

For the past six months, I’ve had the opportunity to intern at the digital marketing agency Smokin’ Hot Solutions as well as its affiliates Kannakart and Cannavation. This was my first internship where I could actually see myself applying what I learned to my career.

Smokin’ Hot Solutions is based in Philadelphia. I eased into it by working remotely from the University of Tampa until I returned home for summer. However, home is not in Philadelphia; it’s in Downingtown. Every other day, I left the house at 8:30 am and arrived at 10:30 am. A mile walk, a train ride, a subway, four blocks, and back again. I’ve never had a commute like this and only know very few who’ve had one more tiring.

As I did it for the last time today, I can safely say the plethora of tools I’ve gained outweighed every method of transportation.

My main focus was public relations. I was able to create press releases and send them to news outlets I’ve never dreamed of communicating with as an intern. Even so, I organized networking events where I convinced journalists, sponsors, and guests to attend. I discovered email marketing. I edited photos and watermarked them for Kannakart. I personally took photos of products even though it didn’t go too well, but hey, they gave me the opportunity anyway.

Although this certainly will not be my last internship, I can’t imagine another that not only will offer so many different fields of experience, but also give me a sense of family in the workplace.

Special thanks to the other interns I was able to work with as well as Jon, Andrew, Khalil, Ken, and Claudia.

And Claudia’s cats.

My Favorite Gifs I’ve Made

I used to love making gifs using Photoshop. Through the years of public relations classes, I’m fortunate that one of them was a Digital Arts class. I remember spending hours in the computer lab working on personal projects instead of doing my homework. Enjoy. And comment your favorite!

 

This is definitely my favorite, and it certainly took the longest.

 

California Part 2: The Birds of Bodega Bay

Before our California trip, my father was adamant that he wanted to see the location of the classic film The Birds. Despite it being unusually cold weather in the golden state, we all enjoyed the very quirky, laid back town. Hilariously enough, we even had some of the birds modeling for us.

Here’s a view of Bodega Bay.

These guys were some of the biggest seagulls I’ve ever seen.

A view from looking directly across the bay.

The employee at a small grocery gave us a show by feeding the birds some old bread.

They were quite the little models, though.

A mile or two away from the bay was the Pacific Ocean. Although it was scenic, it was freezing.

California Part 1: Hanging Out at the Golden Gate Bridge

After applying to nine different campus jobs to start off the semester correctly, I was basically cross-eyed. I thought I’d take a break and use my time efficiently by uploading my latest and greatest photos.

Recently, I toured northern California and was able to take some pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge. This was my first time in the golden state and the day couldn’t have been more beautiful.

One of the lowest points you can take pictures right near the bridge.

Right across from the bridge is the city.

Definitely was a perfect day for sailing.

If you look closely to the lower right, you can see the lines of the fishermen standing next to me.

This is Battery Spencer, a location where they housed major artillery to protect San Fransisco Bay.

Here is the infamous Alcatraz Island where they used to harbor America’s most notorious criminals.

This is another view from the battery.

My mother and I posing just near the bridge.

Interview with Professional Photographer Justine Newman

 

 

Visit Justine’s Facebook page here

Soundcloud photo taken by Kate Tandy Photography

Pumpkin-Picking in Florida

Hyde Park Village hosted its annual Pumpkin Patch as a way to bring the culture of autumn down to the children of Tampa Bay. The event was held every day from Oct. 7 to 30.

Dominic shields his face from the harsh, Florida sun as his parents prepare their camera for a picture.

University of Tampa student Ashleigh has fun posing for her friends as they take pictures for Snapchat.

Justin is carried from his wheelchair to a bail of hay so he can search for his favorite pumpkin.

By pointing to about six or seven pumpkins, Abbey enthusiastically informs her parents which ones she would like to bring home.

Even after a long day of pumpkin-picking, Abbey races her little brother Travis around the fountain until the 5-year-old begins to have second thoughts.

Photos Outside a Clinton Rally

Shilo proudly holds her poster in protest of Trump

Tensions clash between supporters

University of Tampa students protest Clinton by walking up and down the line outside the rally

The line went from the entrance to the park to the train tracks outside a parking garage

A man withstands the heat while selling Hillary and Trump protesting signs

One person was taken to the hospital due to Florida’s October heat

Security overlooks the crowd on Tampa’s Museum of Art

University of Tampa students show their pride

Many people who could not make the rally in time walked across the river to view it from the University of Tampa’s Plant Park

A very distant picture of Hillary

One of my favorite captures

Interview with Photographer Chris Otten

Christopher Otten is a professional photographer teaching film at the University of Tampa. He was born in 1984 in Altus, Oklahoma. Some of his work is exhibited in Tampa, Wichita, Minneapolis, Long Beach, and Annapolis. Otten agreed to an interview with me to talk about the subject he loves most.

Question: First and foremost, what made you want to choose a career in photography and teach it to college students?

Chris Otten: It is said that photography has the ability to reveal truth and myth. I find that thought fascinating. I chose photography because of its versatility. As a tool, the camera can record life by seizing a moment in time and it can blur reality. I have the option to focus on documenting things as they appear to the human eye, or I can contrive things by altering their original context. I can increase clarity of the scene by stopping the lens opening down, or I can throw the scene out-of-focus beyond the main subject. There are endless options to manipulate imagery via double camera exposures, creating combination prints in the darkroom, solarizing prints, using partial development, and more.

I enjoy teaching all aspects of photography. When I have the opportunity to witness a student’s visual journey there is a rewarding moment at the end revealing how much they have learned. They understand that the visual arts contribute to our everyday life. Students understand that there is so much more to learn beyond the academic institution. I also feel more well-rounded every semester because I learn new things from students. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, and we all have unique perspectives that are worth sharing.

Photo by Chris Otten in the album “Encounters”

Q: Do you have a favorite photo you’ve taken and if so why is it your favorite?

CO: That is a tough question. When I first started photography, I usually liked everything that I photographed, but over time I have grown to not become attached to anything that I have made. I imagine that is a result of being consumed with so many images on a daily basis. If I were to select one photograph, it would be the portrait of my great grandmother, Dorothy. In that image the viewer witnesses her authoritative expression as her dog sleeps by her feet and lined along the wall are remnants of a rural life. This particular photograph reminds me of home.

Photo by Chris Otten found in the album “Displays”

Q: To the people who want to have a career in photography, what advice would you give to them?

CO: Be honest with yourself. Being a photographer takes a lot of patience and hard work. You have to be willing to push yourself to make your own imagery, especially once you are out of school. Being a photographer is a lifestyle where you have to be hungry for it in order to prosper. You should also be open to many realms of photography. If you are up for the challenge, then I say go for it and don’t let anything distract you. When someone gives you advice or an honest opinion, take it as an opportunity to mature your work.

Photo by Chris Otten in the album “Prospects”

Q: Why do you teach classes in film photography when the world seems to have already embraced the digital age? 

CO: Working with film is a precious and rewarding process. There is something about not knowing exactly what the image will look like until after it has been processed that has always satisfied me. For better or worse, we are in an age where instant gratification is the norm. In the arts, having students work with early photographic processes trains them to slow down and consider the importance of design, light, and how those elements inform one another to make a thoughtful image. In my opinion taking a foundation course such as analog photography allows students to build an appreciation for the photographic medium, and they become more versed in the arts. The process of working in the darkroom can help them become a better photographer.

Photo by Chris Otten found in the album “Almost”

Q: How do you find the best places to take pictures? 

CO: It really stems from the photographer’s vision. I don’t think that there are better places than others when taking pictures. It is all how you choose to look at a place. Sometimes the most interesting pictures are of subtle, fleeting moments. Those particular subjects require a keen and observant eye. Other times the process is more involved in that it requires building everything from scratch, much like a writer or director. Being thoughtful about what you are doing inevitably reveals a sense of purpose in the pictures. After I have established an idea I try not to complicate things by overthinking them. I just start shooting. I will add to the scene or take away from it depending on what feels right. From there I may or may not use the picture. Similar to storytelling, I sort through several images to discover what works best to imply a narrative. With other images I set them to the side where they may be used at another time.

Photo by Chris Otten found in the album “Apache”

All photos were featured with Chris Otten’s knowledge and consent. To explore more of Otten’s work, click here.

Top 5 Reasons Instagram has Failed

“What’s your Instagram?” A question people ask me on at least a bimonthly basis. To which I respond, “I don’t really use it anymore, but here it is…”

A certain social media platform has taken the world by storm. Everyone has it. An individual’s entire life is broadcasted in a series of images and videos under miscellaneous profiles. But I’m here to tell you Instagram is not what it once was.

I ended up downloading the application when someone suggested I share my photos that way instead of just using twitter. Mind you, this was probably around 2010, when most people didn’t even have a twitter account. After a couple hours, I was hooked. Sadly, as Instagram became more and more famous, I lost more and more of my passion using it.

Here are the top five reasons Instagram has ultimately failed over the years:

5. “Instagram” turned “Selfiegram”

Go to anyone’s profile. What do you expect to see? Selfies. Selfies everywhere. The main reason I had such a fond interest in Instagram was because it was photography sharing, not a selfie sharing app. Sure, a good number of people take some pretty impressive photos, but they’re completely buried under dozens and dozens of selfies. Now it seems as if sharing selfies are Instagram’s main purpose. Since the company has a habit of slightly changing every so often, I wouldn’t put it past them to change their name from “Instagram” to “Selfiegram”.

4. It sold out to Facebook

It’s no mystery as to why the above began to occur almost simultaneously as Facebook purchased the organization. Facebook is the epitome of everyone’s idea of social media. You showcase everything from your political views to your relationship status. Almost nothing goes unseen. So when Instagram and Facebook made that connection, all the anything-other-than-photography-based photos managed to find their way into realm of the application. You may begin to see why this would be particularly upsetting to those dedicated to the art of photography who used an app just dedicated to the art of photography.

3. Celebrities have taken over

To those who are not familiar with Instagram’s old popular page, imagine this: if your photo received a number of likes in a certain period of time, you may have been lucky enough to have had a photo featured on this page. Instagram would even send you a notification with an exclamation. It was that big of a deal. However, as the celebrities began to find their way into Instagram, they had to change this feature for obvious reasons. Kim Kardashian could take a photo of a lamp and it would have been featured on the popular page within seconds. RIP popular page.

2. It has stolen ideas from other social media platforms 

Instagram used to be simple. That’s what made it gain millions of users around the globe just after launching 24 hours prior. It made headlines for making an application that was dedicated to simply photo-sharing. Even in its own title, “gram” translates into something “drawn”, while “insta” refers to instantly. This altogether gives very simple meaning to the name “Instagram”. Nowhere in that title however does it give meaning to video. A couple years ago, the application updated and its users found that it could post them. Not only was this years after YouTube already existed, but Vine already launched something similar as well. Not too many years after that, its users woke up to yet another addition. They could post stories by selecting their profile that would be deleted 24 hours later. This should be familiar to everyone who has a Snapchat since it is essentially the exact same idea. Not only has Instagram lost its original purpose, but it lost any originality it had left.

1. It used to primarily be for photography buffs… Like myself 

It didn’t matter if you were first starting out as a complete and total amateur or you already made photography into a successful profession. What mattered to me is that we were a happy little community. We could easily access each other’s pages thanks to the popular page. We rarely had any stigma towards those with a small following base. There was no such thing as viewing other people’s stories. Celebrities never got in the way. It felt as if we found a perfect way for any type of photographer, amateur or professional, to share their art. Now, it feels like we’re back to scouring the internet to find each other’s professional websites, which is not too easily done if you’re a beginner. They say with change comes opportunity, but for me it may be a while before I come across such an ideal opportunity again.

 

Photo by Erica Lusky

Photo by Erica Lusky

Photo by Erica Lusky

Taking A Step Back

Our generation is so far the largest generation that tolerates reading less and less. I don’t think people read those lengthy blogs we see now and then so maybe I’m a little thankful for this being one of them. There’s a feeling of satisfaction for transforming all those thoughts into words on a white backdrop as well as a fear for being judged for producing them in the first place.

Even so, I’m really trying to not let those little anxieties control my actions. So here’s a little bit of my mind:

A couple years ago, the Parish of Philadelphia was rather successful. It collected enough money to build a new church in Downingtown since the previous couldn’t seat everyone. I even remember thinking I would never see this new church since they declared it would take years to finish. A couple months ago, that last drop of paint dried and there’s barely a day where I don’t pass it. It’s aesthetically modern, unlike the old that could barely hold any one regular Sunday mass. It stands taller than any other church in Downingtown once stood and seems to symbolize a powerful step ahead in Catholicism. But I can’t help but view it as a step back.

A lot of people are familiar with the Christian scandals, and in this case I’m referring to the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Philadelphia. I’d rather not go into specifics about this said “scandal”, but after those who participated were convicted, a massive change occurred in my life as well as many others around me.

I felt violated. After learning that the Monseigneur that I confessed to and listened to preach every Sunday had covered up this scandal for almost 20 years, the church that was being built right outside seemed to have negative appeal to me instead of positive.I remember one night at the dinner table, a night as ordinary as any other, I confessed to my parents that I thought I was an atheist. There was a breath of silence until my father laughed and told me just like that I wasn’t. And I was shocked. My father, who I remember never coming to church with my mother and I, was saying that I was still a Catholic. Why? Because that’s just who my family saw themselves as. Safely organized in the Catholic realm of the many illusory categories of humanity regardless of who they really are.

Even so, all these stories on the news and conversations about the stupidity of Catholicism never sat right with me despite the shortsighted decisions of a handful of priests. On Christmas mass only a week ago, I looked at all the regular churchgoers and couldn’t make up my mind on whether I respected them for their ability to forgive or shook my head at them for their ignorance.

This post isn’t about insulting or finding a right or wrong, it’s about taking a step back regardless of who we think we are. Finding the good in something or someone is quite difficult after we’ve made our mind up about them.

A couple years ago on YouTube, I remember just browsing through videos and finding myself in a section where an American insulted Australia. I forget the exact insult, but the title wave of responses created a rift that will never be erased on this social networking site. Those videos will never be taken down, and only have the potential to gain more and more views along with more and more upset citizens who can’t help being who they are and which pile of dirt they happened to be born on. This reminded me of reading the book The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. He mentioned numerous times about how thankful he was to gain the chance to learn how to read and how he was thus more intelligent than many of the other slaves. One example is when he noticed that some of them would get into fights with slaves from other plantations, arguing that their Master was better than the other’s. Obviously, most of us full heartedly agree upon this idea to be ludicrous, fighting for which “master” was best. But why do we have to say or feel that something is stupid when the other can’t help but feel that way?

I guess what I’m trying to say is that despite humanity’s continuous steps forward, there’s always somehow another step back. We always have to carry a prejudice towards something and make others feel less worthy of being who they are because of who we are.

Since I’m publishing this blog on the New Year, my New Year’s resolution is simply to try to find the good in everything. Because when we make something out to be stupid or not as good as doing or being this or that, we become cruel to others. I made the mistake of looking down upon Catholicism. I’m not saying I’m a Catholic and I’m not saying I’m not. To me, labels are the biggest bridges that produce a prejudice. I’m just saying that looking down upon something, whatever it is, has more of a negative effect than a positive. Instead of continuously looking down upon something, maybe we should find it in our hearts to forgive, regardless whoever that heart may belong to or wherever that heart may reside.