For my Computer Supported Collaborative Work class, I’ve been studying photography groups and how they work together. I studied a local photography group, PhoSo, in order to better understand what problems photography groups might have. For this project I was able to study PhoSo on two separate occasions. During the first occasion, the group meet outside to learn about and teach some light painting and night photography skills. In total 11 people attended this session and the session lasted approximately 2 hours. During the second session, the group meet inside in a classroom on the IU campus. In total 9 people attended this session and it lasted approximately 1.5 hours. During these studies I observed people’s behavior, group interaction, collaboration, teaching, and learning from each other. For both studies I actively participated in the groups sessions. As being a photographer myself, I was able to both teach other members, learn from other members, and share my photographs and knowledge.
(more…)

A class assignment for Digital Imagery asked us to look at digital imagery as documentary about diversity. I completed this assignment looking to my masters program in HCID as an exemplar. In studying the composition of students in the program, I noticed that we are actually very diverse. This lead me to the question: What is Enough Diversity? Through my assignment I post a list of “Golden Questions” with which to think about diversity.

What is meant by diversity? Racial diversity? Gender diversity? Socio-economic diversity? Cultural diversity? Personality diversity? Grade diversity? Expertise diversity? Political diversity? How do you measure diversity? Quantitative? Qualitative? Can diversity be measured objectively? From who’s perspective is diversity concerned? The President of IU? Dean of Informatics? Director of HCID? Professors? Students? When do we stop concerning ourselves with diversity? Does worrying about diversity make it matter more? What happens when we stop worrying about diversity?

Download a PDF of this assignment: (includes an alternate final version and attributions)

In my Digital Imagery class we had a project in which we were supposed to use digital images to raise social awareness through documentary images. You can find the project assignment on Professor Eli Blevis’s webpage, or download the PDF directly.

As depression is a major issue within our society, I decided to use my project to try and raise social awareness of depression and it’s effects on our society. I completed my project to make it look like an advertisement that could be used to further public knowledge on depression. If the project were to be developed to turn into an actual advertisement, I would add information on the agency (such as phone number and web address) to the bottom left of the final product.

Download the PDF of this assignment (includes sketches and attributes).

Some photographs of children that I’ve recently taken. Kids are so much fun because they have very little inhibitions. They will simply get in front of the camera and lights and have a ball. It’s makes my job so easy!

Ruthie the Model

(more…)

I spent a large part of the day yesterday creating and building a set for some photography. I shoot some self portraits last night and will continue to shoot tonight. I’m very excited about this shoot. I couldn’t stop tweeting about it last night. It will likely take me a couple of days to process these photographs, but I wanted to give you all a quick preview of what I’m working on.

Crafting the set

Set two with clouds and stars

A recent CSCW class project called for us to re-design our upcoming design studio. Our program is getting a new building (construction started today) and we were set to get out input into the design of our new space. The new Design Studio will be located on the third floor of the new building, set to open in August. Here are some mood board designs that our class designed.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Our professor (Shaowen Bardzell) was so impressed that she gave us all A+’s, canceled an upcoming assignment, and is giving us an extra day to further develop and co-design our ideas with the building facilitator. I’m really impressed with our class projects and I can’t wait to see some of them actually implemented into the new building!