Humans of LBCC

Isaac Savage is a psychology major, and he’s currently dual enrolled with Oregon State University. This is his second year at LBCC. He's most passionate about helping people whenever he’s able, and in any way he can. Willingness to help others is the quality that holds the most value to him. “Helping people has always kind of been my thing. Especially when they’re in stressful situations, whether it’s academic, family, or relationship problems. Psychology fits in that area, so that’s why I chose it,” he explains. Once he receives his degree, Isaac wants to work as a counselor with youth, mostly middle school or high school students. He considers getting accepted into college his greatest accomplishment so far. He applied to OSU twice, getting accepted the second time. Isaac was born in Oregon, growing up in Philomath and Sherwood. His family comes from Jonesville, Louisiana. In his free time, Isaac enjoys socializing with all kinds of people, playing basketball, and working out at the Dixon Recreation Center at OSU.

Pete Souza

Pete Souza is an award winning American photojournalist, speaker, bestselling author, assistant photojournalism professor, former official White House photographer, and currently a freelancer. He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on December 31st, 1954. Graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in public communications from Boston University, he later went on to receive his masters in journalism and mass communication from Kansas State. His career started in Kansas with the Hutchinson News and the Chanute Tribune in the seventies, he then was a photographer for the Chicago Sun Times in the early eighties. Souza covered photo stories for National Geographic, Life magazine, and other notable newspapers and magazines worldwide as a freelancer.

From 1983 to 1989, Souza was an official White House photographer for former U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s second term. He was behind the lense during many well known events, such as when president Reagan invited Michael Jackson to the White House in 1984 to present him with the Presidential Public Safety Communication Award. Souza also took one of the iconic images of Princess Diana dancing in the White House wearing the “Travolta Gown,” with John Travolta in 1985. After photographing Reagan’s second term in office, Souza stayed in Washington D.C., working for the Chicago Tribune Washington D.C., bureau. In 2001, just a few weeks after 9/11, Souza was on of the first photojournalists to cover the Fall of Kabul in Afghanistan. Souza, along with other staff with the Chicago Tribune, received a Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for their reporting on the airline industry. In 2004, he was the official photographer for Reagan’s funeral services.

It was around 2004 when Souza was asked to take photos of Barack Obama’s first year as a U.S. Senator. Souza actually met Obama on his first day in the Senate. He accompanied Obama on trips to Russia, Kenya, and South Africa. I think Souza’s “claim to fame” was in photographing the rise of Barack Obama’s presidency. His 2008 book, “The Rise of President Obama,” was a New York Times bestseller. Souza was an assistant photojournalism professor at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication for a short period of time, before being requested to become the official White House photographer for the newly elected president Barack Obama. Obama’s presidential portrait, taken in 2009 by Souza, was the first presidential portrait taken on a digital camera. Souza’s photo-book ‘Obama: An Intimate Portrait,” was #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list in 2016, and is one of the best selling photography books of all time. Pete Souza is known for his humanizing, candid, and intimate photos of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama during their presidencies. His most recent photo-book “Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents,” was also #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. 

Check out Pete Souza’s website for his image galleries, bio, upcoming events, and more at:

https://www.petesouza.com/content.html?page=3

Follow Souza’s personal account on Instagram @petesouza

For photos taken during his time in the White House with former president Barack Obama, follow @petesouza44

Poetry Club

Poetry Club members (left to right) Rebecca Winnett (front), Alex Baer, and Ari Smith play a game of “Rock-paper-scissors" to decide who gets to read their poem aloud to the group first. Poet laureate, Kel O’Callaghan (top left), keeps tabs on the score. The club assembles on Thursday's from 12-2pm.

Poetry Club members (left to right) Alex Baer and Ari Smith go over a poem Smith wrote in a creative writing class.

Poetry Club member Rebecca Winnett reads aloud to the group a comic poem she wrote called "Socks." The poem follows her experiences trying to get homework done while her fifteen year old cat constantly demands her attention.

Week 4

PORTRAIT SUBJECTS 

For my first choice for my portrait subject, I think I'll contact my younger sibling's elementary school principal. Her name is Barbi Riggs. She was my younger brother's 2nd grade teacher, and she became the principal of that school the next year. I would want to get a picture of her sitting in her office desk with her "Principal Riggs" name tag on the desk. I have her number and email, so I wouldn't have a problem contacting her.

For my second choice I would probably contact my old soccer coach named Ramiro Santana. Ideally I'd get pictures of him with his soccer coach sweater, maybe holding a soccer ball in the soccer field with the soccer nets in the background. I'm friends with him on Facebook, so I could contact him through that. 

Tips from the "Shooting Stars" video I could apply to this assignment:

- Figure out a place for the portrait subject beforehand, test the lighting, background, etc. 

-Make the subject comfortable. Have conversation, form a sort of personal relationship in the time you're taking their pictures. They will be more cooperative, and their face won't just "sit there."

Week 3

Topic 1

Shooting an event / activity

For my event/activity assignment, I went to the "Global Connections Hangouts" club on Wednesday, Oct. 16th. I was interested in the club because the day was convenient and I was interested in meeting new students. It was difficult for me to get a good overall shot of the club. I had a really fun time at the hangout. I stayed the whole time to finish a game of UNO, even after I was finished taking pictures. Ultimately if I had an opportunity to shoot this assignment again, I would try and get a better overall picture, and more information about the club members.

Topic 2

Self-critique

The best photo I've taken so far in this class was my picture of Jamie Alvarez for the first HUMANS OF LBCC assignment.

The worst photo I've taken for a class assignment was for the second HUMANS OF LBCC assignment. I was way too close to the subject and the lighting was awful. 

The skill I need to improve the most is to definitely get better with my camera. I need to learn more about the settings/lenses etc.

Global Connections Hangouts

When: Wednesdays 12:00-12:50pm

Where: LBCC T-119 & ELCI (on West Way near the tennis courts) 

Location varies

The first meeting of this year’s Global Connections Hangouts club was held in Takena 119 on Wednesday, October 16th. The students join in groups to chat and play games after enjoying lunch together.

In the Global Connections Hangouts club, you have the opportunity to meet LBCC students from around the world with unique cultural backgrounds, learn about other cultures, play games, and make new friends in a fun and welcoming environment! Lunch is provided, usually different ethnic cuisines each week. The club has had Vietnamese sandwiches, Indian food, and more. For their next meeting they plan on having Middle Eastern food. The club proves that LBCC is truly enriched by cultural diversity.

On November 20th at noon in Forum 104, the hangout will be having a big performance. “We didn’t have a good turn out the last two years. This year we’re actually trying to do events where we go to the campus community. We paid a lot of money for this performance. It’s called They Call Me Q. It’s a one person comedy skit about identity, and it has really great reviews. It’s going to be performed on a Wednesday instead of our hangouts. Hopefully we’ll have teachers that will encourage their students to come,” says Kim Sullivan, the International Student Advisor who organizes the club.

Students Keisuke Murasawa (Right) and Richard Ongosari (Left) laugh as Murasawa pulls more cards during his turn in a game of UNO.

Club member Tiare Tiana Tuimavave hesitantly goes in to draw a block playing the classic hardwood game Jenga. 

Week 2 Forum

Topic 1

Photographer of the Week

Pete Souza

Facts -

- Former Official Chief White House Photographer for U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama
- Several of his photography books are New York Times bestsellers
- He photographed a couple stories on assignment for National Geographic


I think what stands out the most is how authentic his photos are. He captured the most intimate moments of Reagan's and Obama's presidencies. For example: when he captured former President Obama's reaction to the news of the Sandy Hook shooting. You can see Obama is severely effected by the news, it showed that Obama genuinely cared as a president and as a father. I think his "Claim to Fame," was covering former President Barack Obama's rise and presidency. His book "Obama: An Intimate Portrait," is one of the best selling photography books of all time.

Topic 2

 Lynsey Addario

"It's What I Do"

I thought the book was exciting. What impressed me most was how badass Lynsey Addario is. She was afraid but still went through with her work. She had me a worried for her life at times, and it was just the prelude and first chapter of the book. I think at one point in the prelude she mentions how she was "in the line of fire," and I was incredibly impressed at just how truly dedicated she is to her work. She was willing to risk her life for the photo's and stories. I really, really admire her passion. I think the lessons you can apply to photojournalism based on her book are to: find your stories and take your photo's even when you're scared, and to capture all the photo's you can because they show the real story.