How Art Transforms Our World P26 Capturing the Moment will draw you into what goes on behind the camera!
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l'artiste moderne P14 Handmade With Love will transfer you into the home-made world!
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l’artiste moderne magazine
06
Letter From the Editors
Introduction to the magazine and the people who contibuted to it!
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Appreciating Alternative Art
The alternative view on alternative art!
E.U.P
Table of Contents
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Handmade With Love
The process behind a handcrafted business!
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Learning how to accept alternative art!
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Homemade How To
A guide to managing a home-made bussiness!
Music in The Modern World How competition has shaped music culture!
Table Of
24
Music Memos
Fun facts about music!
32 38
30 Capturing The Moment
How photographers get the perfect shot!
26
To Bind A Book How stories change lives!
How To Be Your Own Publisher Step by step process of self-publishing!
36
Snapshots Of History
A brief history of photography!
Quotes Page
A positive artistic quote to boost your mood.
Contents
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Dear Reader, Natalie
Letters from th editors I am a freshman at Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA). I have always lived in Austin, TX. I have a passion for drawing and poetry, and I find myself fascinated with more alternative art styles. I love watching people create upcycling art, and street art around austin has always grabbed my attention. I was indecisive when I was choosing a topic, so I decided on alternative art because it incorporates both my interests. I am thankful I chose this topic because it allowed me to explore the driving passion and process that goes into creating both types of art.
Catherine
I’m a freshman at LASA High School, and I’ve lived in Austin since I was born. My main hobby is knitting, which I taught myself several years ago. I’ve also been running an Etsy business for my knitted products since early 2018, and have learned a lot about marketing and advertising through the process. Because of this, I was inspired to write about local handmade businesses and the processes behind them for this magazine, which has allowed me to learn the secrets and stories behind some incredible handmade success stories that started similarly to mine.
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Ainsley
I’m a freshman at LASA High School, and have lived in Austin, Texas since I was born. I went to Regents School of Austin for nine years before I began attending LASA. My hobbies and talents include the violin, which I have played for eight years, design, writing and reading. Our magazine topic came about from our shared love of the diverse arts; ranging from alternative art to literature. Thus, our magazine includes many numerous and varying forms of art. My specific topic emerged from my love of the arts which has been an ever present part of my life since I was very young.
he
Allison
I’m a freshman at LASA High School. I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but I was raised here in Austin. I enjoy playing viola, soccer and the arts. I was fortunate enough to be put in a group with 5 other people who are also interested in arts, which made it easy for us to decide on our magazine topic. My personal topic is photography, which is something that I have been interested in since I was in elementary school. I have always loved taking pictures on my phone and looking at influential photos of people, places, and events. This article gave me an opportunity to explore the world of professional photography and learn more about this unique form of art.
Hanna Lou
I am a freshman at LASA High School in Austin, Texas. I am deeply passionate about social issues and I strive to be a good person everyday. When I’m not buried in an impossible pile of homework, I find myself watching a particularly good netflix show, watching youtube, writing, or picking up a good book. Since reading and writing are a huge part of my life, I decided to write about stories for my article. My group all had similar interests in the art field and so our magazine came to be!
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Beauty Is In The Eyes Natalies fea Of The Beholder The Alternative View on Alternative Art By Natalie Murphy
F
From a piece of blank paper to a vibrant mural on a wall, from the clutches of the trash to a price tag ready piece. This transformation is caused by art. A blank piece of paper or a random item from the trash can inspire an artist to tap into their stores passion and creativity, which then spirals into an array of ideas. As artists practice their craft, they may find something that overcomes any negativity — a sanctuary in the form of art.
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Over the past few decades, there has been negative stigma attached to alternate types of art. Upcycling is viewed as trash art and street art is viewed as vandalism. Artists who work with trash and non vandal street artists can understand the root of these claims, but encourage people to dig deeper into the true meaning of these alternative arts. The dictionary definition of graffiti is vandalism, but if you look close graffiti is as much as an art as painting. Although the mediums are different, graffiti artists create them because they have the passion to want to do it, just like any other artist. It takes practice for graffiti artists to enhance and perfect their art as well as perseverance and drive to continue even though there is negativity associated with graffiti.
“When I think of upcycling I think of taking that plastic container and flipping it upside down and making a snowglobe for my niece. ” - Madison June
ature article This negativity often comes from uneducated assumptions about these forms of art, such as all graffiti being vandalism. Graffiti artist Nathan Nordstrom wants us to understand that not all graffiti artists are vandals.
Nordstrom admits that his roots did begin within the vandilism side of graffiti, but it is important to note that Nordstrom didn’t just create graffiti because he wanted to be a rebellious teenager. He claims that he and other graffiti artists, “love what we do and it helps us stay sane in a crazy world.” He, along with other artists, have found an escape from the real world through an art form that some people have come to dislike. Another misrepresented art form is upcycling. Upcycling uses already used objects to create new and innovative art. Upcycling is important because it helps eliminate exessive landfill and gives old objects a second chance. Sometimes people think that the objects an upcycler uses in their work aren’t sanitary because they are consiterd trash. However, before upcyclers use objects, they wash them and make sure that any prexisting dirt is eliminated. This idea is completely not true and keeps people from
An upcycled windchime has been made from bike parts. Courtesy of Madison June, 2019.
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Natalies fea ticle p2
Nathan Nordstrom paints pink and purple letters on a wall. Courtesy of Nathan Nordstrom, 2019.
enjoying the new art made from older objects. “I think it’s a shame if people think that upcycling is just wasting or just using trash because even if that is true, there is a way to reuse one man’s trash and turn it into something beautiful,” Madison said. Just like every other type of art graffiti and street art has to be learned and practiced in order to be ready to venture out and create unique pieces. “I learned on the streets, and I had a mentor who taught me the basics and once he showed me I was kind of on my own. I learned through years of practicing and experimenting,” Nordstrom said. Like any other art, a person is taught the tecniques of graffiti, and once they know the basics, they are left to make the art their own. Street art is learned in a similar way. The lessons start out in the classroom, but the artist has to take it upon themselves to make the art their own. “A huge chunk of what I do today and kinda the direction I take my art, I would say that part is self taught, but
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I would say I have some tools in my tool belt that I did learn from taking classes in highschool and college,” Mike Johnston, a street artist, said.
Paintings and drawings are subjective to plagiarism. Upcycling can also be plagiarism. Unfortunitaly, Pinterest is making it easy to see an idea and copy it, and unfortunately for upcycling, there are a lot of people’s personal recreation ideas spreading.
Around a month ago, a volunteer at Austin Creative Reuse noticed that this happens to things that are bought there. Without realising it, a person can unintentionally steal another person’s idea.
“He claims that he and other graffiti artists, ‘love what we do and it helps us stay sane in a crazy world.’” - Nathan Nordtrom
“An example in our store are these wine bottles that have been over on the shelf wrapped in burlap and lace and used as center pieces like for weddings or a party and before 50 of those got donated about a month back. But then a different set that looked really similar with the same decorations but they were definitely made by a different person was donated,” Madison said. In graffiti plagiarism still happens, but it is less about taking an idea as it is copying style. People will learn from each other, but then they make the style their own. That is a big part of the art of graffiti
ature ar-
A mural incorporates both Keep Austin Weird and bats. Courtesy of Mike Johnston.
-- making it your own. It is looked down upon to use someone’s style for yourself. “Graffiti in the legal dictionary term is vandalism and I understand why property owners would not want their properties vandalised. I think that by producing good artwork hopefully that can influence people’s opinions about it,” Nordstrom said. Most graffiti artists understand that their work
is vandalism if they create it without a warrant, and they want people to like their art that they have done legally. People create graffiti for the love that they and others share. “I like meeting other artists that practice the art form,” Nordstrom said. Although it may not seem like it, people who truly care about the art form love meeting others who share the same passion. Perfecting the art of grafitti is very hard to do and most don’t, so the ones who have this passion do it for themselves because it makes them happy. Creativity is a big thing when it comes to being an upcycler. Understanding that point of view is very important. These people can make anything out of what they see. There are differences between recycling and upcycling, but both are helping keep waste out of the landfill. “When I think of recycling, I think of taking a plastic container that maybe your food came in and throwing it in the recycling bin. But when I think of upcycling, I think of taking that plastic container and flipping it upside down and making a snowglobe for my niece,” Madison said. With the knowledge from this article, one will be able to recognize why alternative artists have a passion that not everyone shares and can comprehend fully.
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E.U
Natalie’ EDUCATION
-Education is important for people to understand why people do grffiti -There are 2 sides to graffiti (Vandalism and Not Vandalism) Pros
-People devote their life to this art and not just everyone can do it
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-Graffiti can be done legally for the city -Understanding can really help the public’s negative view on street art
Cons
t -
U.P
’s ASF
3 ways to understand alternative art and how they will help
UNDERSTAND
s
- Graffiti is a way to express yourself and graffiti makes some very happy -Graffiti can be a form of therapy for some -this can help some release stress
PURPOSE OF: UpCycling
- Eliminates waste $$ - Helps the economy because a person is selling something that wouldn’t have been sold before -Helps the environment
Sources
-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling -www.quora.com/why-do-people-draw-graffiti -Interview with Nathan Nordstrom conducted on January 16 -https://www.instagram.com/slokeone/
By: Natalie Murphy l’artiste moderne / 13
Catheri feature Handmade With Love cle Handmade ring dishes are sold by Amanda Deer Jewelry in Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy of Amanda Eddy.
The Process Behind the Handcrafted Industry
I
n a world with stores full of ready-made items, there are still people who spend their life perfecting the art of making things from scratch. Love and passion are added into every finished product, a level of uniqueness that machines can’t achieve and factories can’t replicate. What’s more, millions of these artisans have taken their craft a step further, building a business upwards from scratch the same way they make their products, giving the world a window into the beauty of all things handmade with love. The handmade industry recently made a turnaround. As technology advances, there is a push to go back to high quality, unique products that can only be crafted by hand. Fortunately, there are numerous online businesses offering one of a kind products. Platforms like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and Instagram allow for
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By Catherine Watson
sellers to advertise their creations without requiring extensive technical knowledge, and are home to millions of handmade products available to buy. While this is a positive sign for handmade business as a whole, it has made the industry more competitive for individuals, as their products must be increasingly high quality to stand out against all the others. For those wishing to enter the industry, there are lots of steps to go through in order to reach success. As an entrepreneur, there are several advantages to entering the handmade industry. For example, when selling handmade items, fluctuating supply and demand becomes a smaller issue. “I can make things to order which keeps my inventory and money investment minimal,” Kara Whitten, owner and founder of Austin handmade business Kailo Chic,
said. “With manufacturing, you always have to buy large amounts of goods which costs a lot.” Made to order items help keep production costs down, but profitability is still a difficult thing to achieve. For new businesses, it can seem challenging to price items according to labor while still competing against machine-made goods. “It is hard to price yourself to compete with manufactured goods, but there is a market out there looking for the unique and handmade,” Whitten said. “They want what others don’t and are willing to pay for it. You just have to find them!”
ine’s arti-
while still maintaining a professional business. “That is the magic of selling online,” Whitten said. “No one knows that you are just working in your pajamas from home to make their goods!”
“It is hard to price yourself to compete with manufactured goods, but there is a market out there looking for the unique and handmade.” — Kara Whitten
Amy Lloyd, Austin branch manager of fair trade nonprofit Ten Thousand Villages, first discovered the handmade industry as a buyer. She explains how handmade items offer an appeal over massproduced products.
Aspiring handmade entrepreneurs often spend extensive time refining their work before even attempting to place it on an online marketplace. However, most experienced sellers advise against delaying the opportunity for buyers to find one’s creations. “It’s never going to be perfect,” Eddy said. “Things change so fast — technology changes, trends change. Just put it out there.”
Although a faultless business model is difficult to achieve, sellers say that superlative product photography is crucial to attracting sales. For buyers to purchase an item, they have never seen in-person, online sellers must
“It didn’t bother me to pay a little bit more money when I knew could get not only that unusual gift, but the story about the people who make it, and I could pass that onto someone,” Lloyd said. Because all businesses take time to begin making a reliable income from sales, entrepreneurs should begin on a manageable scale that accommodates a small budget. Online marketplaces make this easier. “Start small. There is no need to jump in with a huge money investment,” Whitten said. “Make a few things, list them on Etsy. Email stores about wholesaling your products, and set up a social media account to tell your brand story. Once you start to see the sales coming in, you can start to invest in things like a website, more materials, getting help and advertising.” Another advantage of online marketing is the ability to pursue interests and passions with flexibility in schedule
Kailo Chic began with Kara Whitten’s sewn handbags. Photo courtesy of Kara Whitten.
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Catherine’s Gradient succulent pots are handmade by Kailo Chic in Austin, TX. Photo courtesy of Kara Whitten.
provide images that bridge the gap between screen and shopper. “Tell a story that others want to see,” Whitten said. “It is more than just pretty pictures of pretty products. It is the story of why you handmake, why it’s your passion, and encouragement of others to be a part of your story.” This is particularly important in industries where the product is worn. Buyers want to know what they’ll look like wearing the item before purchasing it. Additionally, handmade sellers can get creative and go beyond simple product shots to set a tone that appeals to buyers. “Think about styling. Not just a product on a plain background, but a story to go with it,” Whitten said. “Maybe the purse you made is spilling candy all over a table top. Maybe a planter is living it up among books and decorative items. Tell the story with your photos to get buyers engaged.” Once the shop has been established with quality photography, the next step is expanding the product line. The more variety and products there are, the more likely
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Amanda Deer uses professional modeling for their h
they will be found. “I think there’s just so many opportunities when you’re a business owner, a small-business owner, to do different things that you can really go different ways on,” Eddy said.
“That is the magic of selling online. No one knows that you are just working in your pajamas from home to make their goods!” — Kara Whitten
feature article p2
handmade jewelry. Photo courtesy of Amanda Eddy.
Ten Thousand Villages sells handmade items, such as these paper sculptures, from around the world. Photo by Catherine Watson, 2019.
Increasing the product variety also allows for more creativity. “I feel that opening myself up to more items has helped me grow as a business and feel more fulfilled with what I get to create on a daily basis,” Whitten said. Because handmade items take longer to craft than manufactured goods, business owners must optimize their process and efficiency. Maximizing their time helps to make up for being small than other businesses. “I try to get orders out in less than a week,” Whitten said. “If I can keep only handmade products that I can create quickly, then I can keep up with orders and ship them out in a timely manner.” Ten Thousand Villages sells handmade products from developing countries. Their fair trade policy allows artisans to sell overseas without any tariffs. “My hope is that our next generation realizes all of the aspects of fair trade and incorporates that into more of
an everyday life rather than an anomaly,” Lloyd said. The income from sales allows artisans to overcome impoverished circumstances and make better lives for themselves. “It’s hard when you see all the challenges that are going on in the world today, to think that as one little person you can make a difference. But shopping in a fair trade environment actually does that,” Lloyd said. “When you make a purchase, you actually know that it is making a difference in someone’s life.” Society is constantly moving forward. Every day, people work to create machines to produce items so others don’t have to. Among this, more and more people are taking a step back from the busyness of the universe and rediscovering a world where everything is handcrafted. When you make a purchase in the handcrafted world, there’s a real person on the other side of the screen, and when they see your order, they do a little happy dance.
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Handmade
how -to
By Catherine Watson
6. Invest in Marketing
Catheri
Drive traffic to your site.
U
Etsy Promotions & Google Search Ads
5. Expand Your Brand 50% of buyers have bought something they saw on social media. Websites put you in local search results.
4. Product Photography 75% of online
As you presence increases, so does your credibility. Shoppers rely on photos when purchasing.
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A Guide to Building Your Handmade Business
1. Define Your Brand
ine’s ASF
What problem
What is
N Q E U I U
about it?
Why do buyers want to buy from you?
does it solve?
2. Research Your Industry
Niche Define your
Search Engine Optimization
Low Supply,
High Demand
3. Develop a Business Plan
Budgeting is key.
Set goals for yourself.
$
Show what’s valuable about your product.
Apart Set yourself
Price items for your labor, not just materials
• • • • • • •
Sources:
Interview with Amanda Eddy, conducted Jan. 26, 2019. nancybadillo.com businessnewsdaily.com smallbiztrends.com seattlewebdesign.com smallbusiness.yahoo.com
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Six framed music sheets on a white wall at Kelsey Kennedy’s violin studio. Photo courtesy of Kelsey Kennedy 2019.
Music In The Modern World
How Competition Has Shaped Music Culture
By Ainsley Harris
B
Bow poised, mouth parted, fingers ready: Every musician is positioned before playing. The music begins, it ebbs and flows, speaking an unknown language somehow known by all perfectly. But then, an eye shifts, a beat skipped, the artist pauses for a fraction of time, looking to the performers around them, and something shifts. The music ends its insight into the heart, the secrets of the soul unable to be
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spoken through words. A new melody arises, one of ‘not good enough,’ of ‘someone is better,’ of comparison. The music has shifted from pure and insightful to competitive, and in that transition something has been lost, something key. Music is an abstract art that expresses feelings and passion. This beautiful and positive art form has been around for centuries. However, in this coming day and age, music has been twisted into something
“The music environment is what you make it. You can surround yourself with positive musicians or you can do the opposite.” - Cory Morrow
different from its original purpose. While music is an incredible art that transforms people’s lives and is used for expression, the environment of music can lead to a destruction of passion. Thus, is it important to keep positive and self-reflect when facing music culture rather than allowing the mainstream, self-deprecating view to consume oneself.
private lesson teacher. This reveals that at heart, music is pure, powerful and beneficial, as well as a force that transcends the bounds of its environment.
Music, as Cory Morrow, a rock musician popular in the nineties, said, is the embodiment of what feelings sound like. By inspiring and evoking feelings, music leads to passion and purpose that improves the quality of one’s life. By immersing oneself in music, one is able to express and represent their thought, feelings and emotions. The core of music has always been positive and completely focused on expressing oneself without words.
While music has some aspects that can be seen as downsides — people in professional music environments can find themselves in the face of an unpredictable lifestyle that would have been more stable if their career was a desk job or similar — Jeanine Attaway, a piano teacher and member of a band, The Ugly Beats, said that while she sometimes finds doubt in her decision to be a musician in tough times, her love of music and the passion it brings to her life offsets those doubts. So, she chooses to do something she loves even if that means not being entirely stable. This shows that music brings an enthusiasm toward life that overpowers short term tight spots
Not only can music evoke emotions, but it also “works all aspects of my [the] body and mind and soul” said Kelsey Kennedy, a violinist in the Austin Symphony and a
However, while music was made to be a positive and welcoming thing, the environment that has come into place with the introduction of musical scholarships,
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competitions, and awards has lead to a music culture that revolves around competition. Competition’s taking over music has had a negative result on the music culture itself. The music world was meant to be about creating beautiful things not about who plays best or who wins what. And as Kennedy said, it impossible to truly judge in the professional and pre-professional music world. The result of this highly competitive environment has been increasingly negative, turning an art used for fun and expression into a cutthroat and ruthless environment, with each musician having to fight for a spot at the top. Why does this extreme competition result in a negative atmosphere? “Comparison is the biggest thief of joy in this universe.” Kennedy said, and then continued to state that competition with other people results in discouragement that impedes on passion.
“The music environment is what you make it,” Morrow said. “You can surround yourself with positive musicians or you can do the opposite.” Thus, each musician has the responsibility to put themselves in a positive, encouraging position. This search for an open environment that is not dragged down by comparison is also the responsibility of young musician’s parents because, as Kennedy said, it is really difficult for children to continue to feel inspired without parental encouragement. Child musicians are often unable to both flourish in their musical passion and continue to love the musical skill as a result of parents implementing comparison and extreme competition early on. Therefore, finding a key middle ground between interest but not over pressuring is important in making the music community a more positive place to be.
“Comparison is the biggest thief of joy in this universe.” - Kelsey Kennedy
However, there are ways to combat this competition and return back to the original purpose of music. The first factor that plays a big role in keeping music healthy and positive is to find a positive environment.
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Another key aspect of keeping music positive is the mindsets of musicians when in the environment. The greatest advice Kennedy said she could give
A lone cello floating on a black background. Photo courtesy of Pixabay. 2019.
A close up of record player focusing on the needle with a blurry background. Photo courtesy of Pixabay. 2019.
to fellow and future musicians is to stay passionate, and that when thriving in music it is important to compete with oneself in order to improve but not to compete with others. By doing this, artists are able to lessen their self deprecation and stay content with their art while still improving their skill. “My advice is that you must see your musical gift as just that: a gift” Morrow said. This mindset encourages a different outlook that discourages comparison against other musicians. Additionally, by seeing music as a gift, musicians, instead of being ungrateful for their lack of skill compared to others, are instead encouraged by the fact that they have this gift in them and they are able to flourish in it, whether professionally or as a hobby. While external competition is to be discouraged, continuing to push oneself to get better and more skilled is always essential for artists. “Be diligent and keep
moving and keep playing,” Morrow said. “But play each time like it was your last performance.” Music is something that is always evolving for each individual, and the goal of each musician is always to get better, but it should be improving one’s skill instead of working to get better than someone else. Music is a timeless art that has been used for centuries to express the thoughts and feelings of the heart, as well as bettering the quality and enjoyment of life. However, over the years, the music commumimty has been twisted into a competitive enviorment therefore has corrupting its purity. For musicians in this competative space it is essential to surround themselves with a positive enviornment, to create a practice of self competion instead of with others, and to view music through a less entitled lens. By practicing these things the music community can transform from competative to passionate.
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Music Memos
Interesting Information About Music By Ainsley Harris
Ainsleys AS
Music helps regain lost memories and maintain mental abilities.
68 million People paid for music subscriptions.
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Sf
of all musicians are undiscovered.
ces Anxiety
Students in band & orchestra have the lowest levels of drug use
Sources: 1. musicentrepreneurhq.com 2. childrensmusicworkshop.com 3. gethealthystayhealthy.com
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k o o B a d To Bin es iv L e g n a h C s ie r to S How
Words By: Hanna Lou Rathouz
B
Behind the pages of a book, behind the camera in a movie, and even behind the outward appearance of a person, is a story. The world is fundamentally built on stories. Each conversation, movie, or book is like a building block slowing making the world wider and vaster than before. Stories shape society, the people of society, and the communities in society. When a parent reads to their child to help them sleep, to most people it is a simply a bedtime story, but stories are so much more than that. Stories shape people’s identity and personalities while also teaching valuable lessons and helping people learn and develop emotional intelligence. Stories connect people all over the world by opening a door into a new situation, experience or world. Stories help create empathy and allow information to be processed. The news, TV shows, movies, and lectures in school are all stories. Before people understood the world around them scientifically, they created stories about how the world worked to make sense of the life they were experiencing. The world that we know
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“
There is a of being a quality taken into ble to be else’s per someone spective -Lucy Duncan
”
Lucy Duncan, woman in white kneeling, and other leaders facing the Border Officers in San Diego. Photo courtesy of American Friends Service Committee, 2018.
today was developed from a simple story. Lucy Duncan is an activist and a professional storyteller who has put stories into a new perspective. Her mother was storyteller and a mentor to her as well. Duncan is an oral storyteller, both to young children and full grown adults. Duncan owned a children’s bookstore, which allowed her to see how her storytelling and stories in general have affected children. Duncan is part of an organization called American Friends Service Committee, which works to spread activism all over the country. She also identifies as a Quaker, which is a community of people that believe strongly in applying peaceful principles instead of using violence. Stories have not only helped Duncan heal from trauma, but they also help her comprehend and examine her day to day life. Duncan tells stories to all kinds of people, all of them going through different stages in their lives. “There is a quality of being able to be taken into someone else’s perspective or the way that they see,” Duncan said. She calls this feeling “magical.” Though Duncan is a professional storyteller, she is also an activist who works with racism and understanding what that means and looks like.
Protesting on first day of action of Poor People’s Campaign in DC. Photo by Carl Roose, 2018.
“I got a lot more training around racism and from there I got much more seriously involved,” Duncan said. Duncan has worked with activists all over the United States and has used her stories to spread activism as well. Duncan got the opportunity to visit Palestine through AFSC and ended up staying in the city of Gaza. Shortly after she left, the city was bombed, resulting in the deaths of some of her close friends. “I tell stories about the hard things and then after telling it I’m able to be OK, and I can get back up the next day and struggle some more. Stories are a way to heal from trauma and help to release it and share it,” Duncan said. Stories were not only a career path for Duncan, but also a way to heal and process the world
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around her. Franny Billingsley is the children’s manager at 57th Street Books in Chicago, Illinois. Billingsley has loved reading from a young age and found her identity in the books that she read. Later in life, she would move on to publishing some of her own work in both the children’s and young adult categories. Billingsley used stories to connect to others and to find her true passion in life.
“How could I have gotten so far away from what I really loved?” -Franny Billingsly
“They were both kind of an escape, I think, but then also a door to new worlds,” Billingsley said. Billingsley even lost herself at one point after she forced herself to go through law school, something she regrets to this day. But miraculously, reading brought her back and made her realize that what she was doing in life at that moment wasn’t making her happy. “I went, oh my God, how could I have gotten so far away from what I really loved? And then I came full circle back to myself after basically 10 years of having been away from myself,” Billingsley said. She reread all of her favorite children’s books after she was able to rekindle her love for reading, and from there decided that she wanted to publish something on her own. “My determination to be a children’s book writer came before wanting to work in a bookstore. The bookstore was kind of like the cherry on top of everything,” Billingsley said. Billingsley has worked at 57th Street Books for about 12 and a half years now and never regrets the choice she made to quit her office job and work for a bookstore instead. She will never
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Kids listening to stories at a Valentine’s day story-hour at 57th Street Books. Courtesy of 57th Street Books, 2019.
forget how important books have been in her life and how they have shaped her as a human being. Emma de Boer-Piedt is the head youth librarian at the Howson branch of the Austin Public Library and works with young children and teenagers who love to read. She has also seen how libraries affect communities and why reading is so fundamental to society. De Boer-Piedt describes libraries as “the great equalizer” because she likes to think that no matter who you are or where you come from, you will be
e h t e r a s e i “Librar r” e z i l a u q e great dt
r-Pie e o B e d a -Emm
treated equally at the library. Not only that, but most of the services offered are free and allow people to explore new things without taking money out of their pocket. The library is not just a place for books, it is also a place for people to find jobs, to do workshops, and to grow as human beings. “It doesn’t matter if your poor or rich, you can come in and use the computers. We can help you find jobs. It’s not just about access to books; it’s about access to so much more,” De Boer-Piedt said. Children who don’t have internet come to the library to work and use the computers that they are allowed to borrow. Even some of the libraries now have social workers to help people get back on their feet. De Boer-Piedt describes the library as a “welcoming” and “safe space” for anyone no matter the person’s race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Emma de Boer-Piedt sits at her desk at the Howson branch. Photo by Hanna Lou Rathouz, 2019.
Overall, the impact that libraries have on communities is important and influential in helping people find jobs, offering care to young children, and opening up more opportunities for the community itself. Stories shape the people of society, and the communities in society, and society itself. They teach morals and help people discover who they truly are. They heal trauma, and can be used as a platform to make the world a better, and more safe place. Stories are the building blocks of society and they will forever stay that way.
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A guide to publishing your book...by YOURSELF!
Build Your Platform
Write
Self-Editing & Title
Feedback
Research
Youtube and Instagram are great platforms that can help build your following!
Write! You can’t sell a book if it doesn’t exist!
In this stage you need to edit your novel for major plot holes, character development, and consistancy. Then, come up with your title! Thoughts:
Both beta readers and a professional editor should be used in this step
It is important in this step that you research the industry as much as you can and figure out where and how you want to self-publish.
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You can’t make a living unless you have readers! Go step by step, brick by brick.
Design
Hire a professional graphic designer to design your front and back cover. DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF (unless you are a graphic designer).
Formating & Uploading
Your graphic designer can help you format your book.
Pricing
You can upload (publish) through Amazon, Ingramspark, and many other places.
Next, you have to price your book. Most self published authors price their books higher to make a substantial living.
$
Marketing
Let people know about your book. Come up with a plan to advertise your book to the world!
Celebrate!
You just published a book! Celebrate yourself and your acomplishment!
YOUR NEW BOOK! By: You
Sources: https://self-publishingschool.com https://jamesaltucher.com https://www.forbes.com
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Capturing the Moment How Photographers Get the Perfect Shot
By: Allison Bullock Photo courtesy of Pixabay, 2019.
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C
rinkled photos on yellowed paper tear gently between wrinkled fingers. Old memories smile playfully back through the thousands of photos that paint a picture of the past. Weddings, graduations, first steps, first loose tooth, first day of school, and every moment in between. Silly faces on summer days, happy smiles on Christmas morning, endless selfies on mom’s phone. All of these moments strung together make up the best parts of life. Messily put together or beautifully choreographed, all of these moments have been immortalized through the marvel that is the camera.
But, beyond the photo reflecting the person who’s taking it, a good photo should reflect the subject of the image—in this case, the people. What makes a good photo in these industries is the photographer’s ability to understand their client and take a photo that encompasses who they are. Granted, is it important to remember that there are many technical elements to photography that must be mastered as well. A good photo needs to have quality lighting, composition, focus, and generally has to be aesthetically pleasing. However, even if all of these are perfect, a photo cannot be truly excellent unless it captures its subject well. If a picture is beautiful in every way, but the client is unhappy with it or they feel like it is not “them,” the whole experience is not worth it.
“She strives to make her photos very real and capture who her client really is, not just the face they put on for the camera.”
There are many different forms and styles of photography used today, including commercial photography, portraiture, and wedding and family photography. There is great variety in the photography industry and each photographer has a different approach to their art.
To make sure that they are able to capture their client’s personality, different photographers use specific, tried and true methods that ensure that their clients are happy with the photos that they receive. Lindy Willis, a senior portrait photographer has a method for setting up the picture so that her client is comfortable and their background that suits them.
The most interesting side of the industry is the human aspect and the way photography captures personalities and each person’s unique style. Some professional photographers focus on the pose, while others are more concerned with capturing an organic moment, no matter how messy. To be successful, every photographer has to find their niche and become skilled at a particular style or type of photography which reflects their personality, skills and personal artistic flourish.
First, when clients contact her, she sends her clients a questionnaire to get a sense of who they are and what their interests are. Through that, she is able to get to know them a little better and have a general sense of who they are. Then, she has her client pick out their favorite sessions that she has done from her website portfolio so she can really understand their style. She says that this helps her to really understand their personality because often people are able to see a piece of themselves in a picture that they could not describe in words.
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Once she knows what a client wants, she seeks out the right location for the session. She drives around the Austin area in search of the perfect place for the shoot, which often takes hours or sometimes even days. She takes small pictures of a few of these places. Then, she sends them to her clients and allows them to pick the final location. Although it is a long process to find the optimal spot, Willis believes it is worth it. “I think in doing that, we start off with the framework of the picture in an environment that’s their personality.” She maintains that her clients are not going to be able to be themselves or showcase their personality in an environment that does not suit them. She uses her background as a starting place to take photos that reflect who her clients are. However, taking a good photograph is more than the background. Melissa Glynn, a photographer who specializes in wedding, family and boudoir, described a good photo of someone as, “when you get a glimpse of what they’re really like.” She strives to make her photos very real and capture who her client really is, not just the face they put on for the camera. To do this, she tries to make her clients comfortable by being silly, outgoing and as friendly as she can. Glynn says that when she does this, it makes her clients more willing to be themselves and makes them ready to let go of their misgivings about having their picture taken. Since she photographs regular people, not models, they are often uncomfortable with being on camera and having their picture taken. At the beginning of each session, she asks her clients to simply forget about the camera and be themselves. Through this, Glynn is able to get photos
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that really capture her clients’ personalities and make them happy with the photos that she took. “Whenever I feel like I captured that 4 year old little boy at the epitome of who he is right now, then I feel like I got it,” Glynn said, describing a recent session with a young boy and his family. When she is able to get a glimpse into people’s lives and truly understand who they are in that moment through her camera, Glynn believes that she has taken a quality photo.
Allison’s ASF
Elissa Rinehart, a wedding photographer in Austin, takes a similar approach to her clients when it’s time for their wedding photographs to be taken. She tells them to simply get married and leave the pictures to her. She is able to photograph real moments this way and get a true sense of what the environment and people at the wedding were like in reality. In the end, her clients are usually happiest with the photos where they see real emotion or movement, not just a pose. Lindy Willis’ home stud Although technique and composition are both important to photography, the most difficult and arguably most important element is the human aspect of the photo. The most powerful part of a photograph is the image of exactly who a person is at a specific moment that they will be able to hold on to forever. When the human aspect of the photograph is lost, there is no point in taking it. There will be many beautiful sunsets, scenic views, or artistic layouts throughout history, but that person’s laugh in that one moment will never take place again. The best photos contain the everyday, authentic images of all of the people around the world. They are real, vibrant moments that take place and are begging to be recorded by both professional photographers and amateurs alike. Life takes place under the sun, and it is seen best through the lens of a camera.
dio (above) is where the magic happens before and after her shoots. Photo by Lindy Willis.
Melissa Glynn is a photographer who does a range of family, wedding, and engagement sessions. Photo by Lindsey Mueller, courtesy of Melissa Glynn.
Lindy Willis is an experienced photographer who specializes in senior pictures and portraiture. Photo by Karissa Willis, courtesy of Lindy Willis.
Elissa Rinehart is a wedding photographer in Austin, Texas. Photo by Caitlin McWeeney, courtesy of Elissa Rinehart.
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1827 The first fo rm of photograp hy, called heliograph y, is invented.
1838 The daguerreotype is invented, making photography more accessible.
Snapshots A brief history of the photograph,
1891 Color phot ography changes an d becomes p Sources: ublicly • polaroid.com available. • photo-museum.org • datausa.io
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BY: ALLISON
1891 Color photos are ab le to be put on rolls.
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Cameras are used an photogra becomes p
1869
1888 e put on Photos ar e. e first tim h t r o f ls l ro
1st color photo is developed, but is not available to the public. Polaroid
of History from its invention to today!
BULLOCK
20
e widely nd aphy popular.
1948 Instant Photography is invented!
Early
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y otograph h P l a it g i D available. s e m o c e b
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"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose oursleves at the same time" .
-Thomas Merton