Spring E-Zin e 2019
Fa s h
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CONTENTS 06
Meet The Editors
08 How The Visual Arts Industry Has Evolved 12 How To Draw A Fashion Croqui 14 Passion For Fashion
By Alex Aguilar
By Lilli Long
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Five Fashion Icons from the past Puruse By Eva Castillo
20 28 How To Take A Great Photo 30 Teens, Media and Fashion magazines 36 what fashion style are you?
By Shanja Ferdous
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Courtesy of Ms. McGuire
Class of 2022, Creators of Mode. April 2019
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Meet
The Editors
alex
Age: 14 Favorite Food: Mac n Cheese Eye Color: Brown Favorite Movie: Lady Bird Hobbies: Playing bass and cutting her own bangs Favorite Song: Lovefool by The Cardigans Favorite Designer: Herself Favorite Color: Black Favorite Article of Clothing They Own: This pair of black high waisted jeans that she got from Goodwill
Lilli
Age: 14 Favorite Food: Springrolls Eye Color: Green Favorite Movie: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Fight Club Hobbies: Photography Favorite Song: Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode Favorite Designer: Chanel Favorite Color: Red Favorite Article of Clothing They Own: Steve Madden boots that she got in New York
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Eva Age: 15 Favorite Food: French Fries Eye Color: Brown Favorite Movie: Twilight Hobbies: Dancing Favorite Song: DNA by Kendrick Lamar Favorite Designer: Marc Jacobs Favorite Color: Pink Favorite Article of Clothing They Own: High Knee Boots
Shanja Age: 14 Favorite Food: Sushi Eye Color: Brown Favorite Movie: Howl’s Moving Castle Hobbies: Drawing, Photography and Eating Favorite Song: Love Interest by Dear Boy Favorite Designer: Laurence Basse Favorite Color: Red Favorite Article of Clothing They Own: Black Leather Jacket that she stole from her mom
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How the Visual Arts Industry Has Evolved By Alex Aguilar With stereotypes like the “starving artist” or the “poor musician”, it’s easy for the youth to get discouraged when they find career interests in visual/performing arts. The portrayal of visual artists in mainstream media are either seen as “one in a million” or grouped together as if they’re all the same. For many years, the visual arts industry has been overlooked. The media’s portrayal of visual arts can twist a person’s view of these industry jobs. Even though the media’s perspective on visual arts careers has changed, past viewpoints have impacted people’s viewpoints. While the visual arts industry may be overlooked, a 2018 study conducted by S Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts found that art alone accounted for 764 billion dollars in the economy. This is four times the amount that agriculture contributed in the same year. Visual arts careers are seen as alternative career paths, so many artists don’t generally follow the standard path of life for many. Many parents expect their children to go to Mode 8
college after high school, but many artists tend to take a different route and stick to their passion. “All they really wanted was for me to graduate from school; they just wanted me to go to college and have a degree,” filmmaker Austin Roa said when asked about his parents’ relationship with his career. Finding work in the arts industry after graduating is often a problem for artists. Many artists expect to get jobs straight out of college. “There’s no guaranteed job everywhere, there’s never going to be a guaranteed job when you graduate college with a film degree.” Roa said, “I feel like there’s some that go to school and only want to study screenwriting or directing classes.
Jade Bird, an English singer, performing in London during her tour with Hozier.
Courtesy of Austin Roa
Sometimes I feel like those kids don’t know [that] they don’t just hire directors out of school. I want them to know that it is possible to do what you can do. It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of time but whatever it is that you want to do, it’s always possible.” “Actions speak louder than words,” Roa said, “It’s really like that but you have to apply that to everything. If you just let your actions speak for yourself and if you’re a nice person. You’re gonna go so far in life.” Caleb Hinz is another creator that has a lot of experience working in the arts industry. “I think just when you realize that you can continually satisfy a need then [you] can see a long term image from it but I feel like anything entrepreneurial is like shooting and shooting at the stars forever in a certain sense,” Hinz said, “Nothing’s ever guaranteed yet.” Caleb has been the CEO of Normal Parents, a company that produces music as well as designing and selling apparel made by Caleb himself. “[Normal Parents is] a big giant evergrowing art project that’s a way for me to occupy my hands and hopefully make money while I’m doing it.” said Hinz. Hinz had an interesting approach to the start of his business because of the fact that he started out so young. “I never really had any intention of it being a business at first. I think the first thing I thought was that it would be really funny if there was a shirt that said Mode 10
‘Normal Parents’ on it,” Hinz said. “I made this shirt and I posted it on Facebook. I was like I’ll make this for anybody for free. And then a bunch of people wanted it and I started having to charge money for them and basically since then I’ve just been being like ‘Oh wow! I can I can’t make things and make money doing it.’” Starting a business isn’t just that easy though. Hinz had to overcome many problems as a creative person in the industry. “At the beginning you don’t really know what to expect with money and you don’t know what to expect with anything.” Hinz said, “I think at the beginning I [was] overthinking how much I wanted to make and how much it was supposed to be in terms of money. I think in the beginning I was a little overly ambitious.” While Hinz may have struggled in the beginning process of starting Normal Parents, the company has grown to new and different things. He said that he believes it is important to focus on what makes your company unique and different while still maintaining what makes the company itself. Isa Gonzalez is a 20-year old student who croteches in her free time. In recent years she has begun to sell her artwork on etsy. “My small business is my main job.” Isa said. “Being able to be self employed is really flexible for me as a student. “It’s been something I love doing ever since I started” Isa began crocheting when she was 17 years old. Her main
inspiration for her works are her grandmother and other people she looks up to. In recent years, visual arts has become a more accepted career pathway for most. Social media has become a new spot for artists to display their work in a place that everyone can access. Visual Arts has become more diverse and will continue to grow as an industry.
COIN frontman, Chase Lawrence, soundchecking during their tour with The Aces.
Courtesy of Austin Roa
How to Draw Fashion Croquis 1.Draw a starting line Draw a straight line down the middle to begin your croquis. Drawing this line will help you create a more symetrical and proportionate sketch.
By Alex Aguilar
2.Draw the base body
Use the drawn proportions to begin drawing the base for your sketch. Remember to focus on the curves of the body, as this is what your garment would lay onto.
When drawing the proportions, make sure to use a stencil, as they are very difficult to free hand proper ratios.
3. Begin DRawing The Garment Onto the Body Courtesy of Raoul Dufy
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Courtesy of Erin Dinc
Remember to adknowlege the contours of the body when drawing the article of clothing into a croquis.
Lyrca Fabric
Courtesy of Lottie Bertello
Chintz Cotton
Passion for Fashion By;Lilli long
Season after season, fashion week after fashion week, there are fresh designs flying down the runway, and everything is glamorous. Even though the designs are flawless the process behind them isn’t so spotless. Coming up with new ideas can get challenging, especially for new designers, and oftentimes the process from sketching to completion can be very time consuming and cost lots of money. So how do designers do it?
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Well known fashion blogger and personality, Jessica Minh Anh, poses for a photo for her blog during the pre-fashion week rush.
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leven years ago the brand Fashion X established fashion week in Austin. This allowed local designers to creep out of their caves and put
their work into the global spotlight, and though the fashion world is still small, it has grown immensely since Austin Fashion Weeks start in 2008.
Courtesy of Jessica Minh Anh
Designer, Kim Shui, shows off her designs at the VFiles Fashion Show. She grew up in Rome and went on to pursue fashion at Parsons school of design.
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n just a few years designer Nick Lenzini’s brand Holiday has blown up. He started as just a teenager in highschool making album covers under a fake name. Then he started designing merch for the popular band BROCKHAMPTON and it all went on from there. “I really got started when I was in high school, and I did cover art for a lot of people,” Lenzini said. “I had a small name and that’s initially where I got started. Just because I was inspired by a lot of my idols.” Even though he wasn’t doing fashion, Lenzini decided to major in fashion as he went into college. Still a young designer at 23, Lenzini still is educating himself about the fashion industry. “I mean, where I’m at right now is like, I think everything is a learning learning activity,” Lenzini said. “So I guess like, I would say, I’m a designer and training right now going on for a long amount of time.”
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Courtesy of The New York Times
Many designers feel similar to Lenzini in the fact that everything is a learning process, especially for such a creative industry like the fashion world. Everything is a learning experience for these designers, inspiration for new designs and ideas don’t often come from the same place. “I always pulling different muses and such and never like to focus on one person,” Lenzini said. Inspiration comes from everywhere, whether it’s music, art, or dreams inspiration is all around us. With more freedom to express themselves people are dressing how that want, and if that’s a 70’s rockstar or an 80’s alternateen, then they will do it. This effect is heavily seen in modern designs. Inspiration is taken from icons like David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Sloane Lenz is an Austin designer whose clothes are reminiscent of the infamous Studio 54. She’s presented her
clothing at various fashion shows from New York Fashion Week to here at our very own Austin Fashion Week. “I like to pull a lot from vintage things are like film or music, creating imagery from like, a pure origin point, like, you know, all of glam rock fashion like Mark Bolin, the New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop,” said Lenz. “I take a lot of inspiration from all of them, and kind of just their, their freedom and the way that they dress and how they would pair things that, you know, normally you might not think like, leopard print pants and a pink crop top.” Vintage is on the rise again, and designers like Lenz are taking a look back at the polaroids and putting their own spins on the trends of yesteryear. Don’t be fooled, being a designer is often emotionally, physically, and financially taxing, especially when you’re just beginning.
Brittany Nicole is a local, Austin designer who has shown off her hard work all over, including Austin Fashion Week. “And I love what I do. It’s very, very hard and was very taxing. A lot of people think that this industry is easy, and it’s not very hard and it’s exhausting,” said Nicole. “But it’s well worth it to, you know, kind of break through and make a name for yourself.” There are tips and tricks to surviving the fashion world. “You have to make sure that you take time to like, really, like nurture yourself, said Lenz. “So for me, it’s just like, keeping the balance, because I like work myself to the bone.” Lenz goes on the talk about how when she was first starting out she would show her work at any fashion show, even if the conditions weren’t great. “In the beginning, I was like, super naive, and I’m trying now to be like, Okay, what, you know, what really will be good for
me and being healthy,” said Lenz. “I would say, taking on too much is something that I’ve really come to come to realize it’s great when there’s lots of opportunities, but feel them out and see what, what’s worth your time.” Lots of new designers are in similar positions to where Lenz was, and it is super important to know your worth and not work yourself to the bone. In the design world there will always be a million little black dresses so it’s important to keep your ideas and designs fresh. “If you give it about 75%, then you won’t make it. So if you’re willing to give up your entire life to fashion and design,” said Nicole. “I think it’s definitely worth it. You can’t go through the design process hearing yourself and comparing your design to things that people have already done, because it’s just the thing it’s already been done.” “If you’re not pushing the boundaries, and you’re not
creating something that hasn’t even done yet, then you won’t be noticed,” said Nicole. Designers world-wide are always looking to make the next big thing, but the only way you can do that is to wildly push the boundaries. The designers who stand out are the ones who are considered “weird” and “creative”. Even though the trends may be changing every season, the way people find inspiration and push their ideas into the world is entirely an individuals own process. Whether it’s Iggy Pop or a flower, any inspiration is good inspiration. The fashion world is constantly evolving and there will always be room for new designers. Even though is may seem tedious, if you are committed the hard work will pay off.
Snaps taken from behind the scenes from the VFiles 2016 Fashion Show, highlight the extreme colors and unique designs that make it to the top
Courtesy of The New York Times
Five Style Icons From The PasT BY Lilli Long
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ashion is thriving in modern day. You see all different patterns, prints, and styles all around you. Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid push trends forward season after season, but who inspired many of the trends we see today? A blast to the past is all you need when looking for some vintage inspo.
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Courtesy of Gold FM
n the 70’s big hair and bell bottoms were all the rage, and Farrah Fawcett embodied that look. The seventies were all about love and freedom, so the bell bottom was a perfect piece for the decade. The Beatles grew their hair out and disco took hold of the world. Being bold was the only acceptable style for the decade. From satin, bell bottom pantsuits to silky dresses, Fawcett knew how to dress for the occasion.
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adonna struck the world with the release of her album, “Madonna”, in 1983. She instantly became a worldwide sensation. Everyone wanted to dress and look like her. She took the club, street style of the teenage world and made it high fashion. A staple of the Madonna look was layers. A skirt on top of leggings with fishnets and tons of necklaces was a common look for Madonna, and became a staple of 80’s fashion soon after.
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long with the club style that Madonna brought to the scene, many celebrities dressed on the more “preppy” side. Rob Lowe could do it all. From his rebel, punk look in St. Elmo’s Fire to his preppy street style, his looks has influenced trends to this day. Anywhere you look in moden day you’re bound to see a group of teenage boys in suede New Balance, tiny shorts and an over-sized collared shirt, a style very reminisent of these 80’s preps. This is all thanks to celebrities like Rob Lowe who rocked the style throughout the decade.
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he 90’s brought grunge to the fashion scene. Bands like Nirvana rose up through MTV and fashion soon followed with a similar vibe. Dark denim and leather became everyday wear. Drew Barrymore started out as a little girl in E.T, but evolved into an iconic actress in the 90’s. Her style on and off the red carpet became hot gossip, and her grunge look reflected through the masses.
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f you go on any social media platform it’s like a million versions of River Phoenix. River Phoenix’s style owned the 90’s. He had all the style checkmarks, the shaggy hair, the roughed up converse, the flowy shirt. When you look back at icons of the 90’s like Kurt Cobain and River Phoenix it is obvious their looks have greatly impacted not only the 90’s but every decade since.
Courtesy of WMagazine
‘ Red in Behance’ by Arthur Keef
PURSUE P hotos are efficacious tools to display messages and fashion brings so much identity in people. That which could start as a hobby can turn into a fruitful professions with the help of constant pursuing. These careers are the result of passion and faithful pursue in disguise.
BY: Eva Castillo
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veryone enjoys a great picture; this is clearly understood and unquestionably easy to agree with. Great photos mean so much more than what is often viewed. Beyond the many likes, hearts, comments and retweets on social media, photos wonderfully portray both the good and the hard times, special memories; just like times capsules. Pictures silently speak with a strong voice.
Photographer John Pesina, an Austin, Texas commercial photographer, has gained vast experience in the field of photography in a very particular and impressing way. Photography can become a passionate and triumphant career, regardless of the fact that, in many cases, it simply starts as a play. Throughout his career, he has learned ways to look at day-to-day situations differently.
There are two main factors that work hand in hand: problem-solving and pursuing.
“It’s been very interesting,” Pensina said. “You never really know what you could do the next day...So photography has kept it very spontaneous.”
Photography is essentially another term for problemsolving. It requires constant trials to discover the best way of picturing any desired message. Some principal elements to be considered incorporate lighting, lenses, depth and angle; the use of such elements is key in order to make an impact. When combined, the strength of photography and the essence of fashion speak sharply. Fashion is a way of demonstrating identity and influencing people. With the help of good problem-solving choices of photography, the message wanted to be portrayed is exceptional.
For Pensina, photography was a sudden, fortunate opportunity. The problem did not seem to be the new opportunity life had favorably offered him, but rather how unexpected it had been. Having only a camera and the cloud of necessity above his eyes, he became a self-taught photographer. Pensina took the chance that turned out to be his prosperous career. “[I] just kind of started playing around back-andforth seeing what I could do,” Pensina said.
People do not usually explore different fields though there is so much to be found, so much more to be seen, so much more beyond the picture. The mentality that kept Pensina with his eyes fixed on the same goal was distinguishing what was going to take him from one level to another; from a hobby to a profession. “Determining what is a worthy photo and what isn’t,” Pensina said. “You can photograph lots of things: friends, family portraits, too, everything and kind of figuring out what I was good at and understanding why it was good,” Pensina said. He made it clear that the path to becoming a stupendous, firstclass photographer is a game that includes discovering hidden key steps that will turn the page from one chapter to the best chapter. Strength does not come easily, sometimes it is absent or hidden. The beginning took Pensina more than just having a camera. It’s necessary to have a motivation that, most of time, very abruptly, steals the magic of the night, pulls away from the warm blanket, but forgets to take that which heavily stands in the way:
sleep, fatigue and discouragement. “I’m a night person,” Pensina said. “Every photographer is different. But I like to stay up late and work. [I] like to sleep in until about 11:00 a.m. and, then I’ll get up, like anyone else [would]. I have breakfast, I might work out or I’ll respond to emails and then, if I have a slight editing file that doesn’t need to be edited from the previous shoot, I get to work around.” However, the outcome of his job does not strictly rely on what a day-today routine looks like. Obstacles such as apathy or time could lie in the way, but the satisfaction of getting the hard work done is remarkable. “[I] usually [feel] tired,” Pensina said. “Shooting is a lot of work. [There’s] a lot of equipment to be carried and the shoot days are long... I mean it is fun but it’s definitely work. You’re moving Mode 22
around, you’re constantly problem-solving and thinking and training thing. So… [I’m] tired but satisfied.”
work and then choose what lenses and what lighting style is going to solve.”
For Pensina, problemsolving could look From Pensina’s point of view, the most challenging distinctive, always depending on what the part of the process is the message being portrayed problem-solving. is. From there, the paths “To me it is looking at a leading to the creation of scene and knowing that a specific theme relies on you want a specific type of the artist. light or specific look and trying to figure out how to “So… to me it’s all get that, that’s problemproblem-solving,” Pensina solving,” Pensina said. said. “Understanding light, understanding lenses, When it comes to the good things of that nature.” picture, there are plenty of aspects that ought to be taken into account.
fashion
“So you know, the model can sit on a couch but if you’re shooting on a wide lens, you’re going to get her legs to her head,” Pensina said. “If you’re shooting on a long lens… something like 70 millimeters or more, you’re only going to get her chest up. So the issue is the whole message, how do you create specific
Photography is a wide, far-reaching field that involves figuring out what elements to use and how to use those suitably. How about its several branches and styles? Each one is splendid and captivating in its own way, such as fashion. Ilonka Soto Pelivas is the owner and director, as well
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as an instructor at the Austin School of Fashion Design. Her love for arts and for fashion stirred inside her since she was young. As her passion grew, so did the achievements she obtained. For Ilonka S.P., fashion means more than just popular trends. “Well, fashion is pretty much everything because we see fashion reflected on what people feel, what is happening,” S.P. said. “Culture, economy… that’s fashion. Fashion is style, you are going to see it as a reflection from people [and] from cultures.” S.P. exquisitely explained the essence and value of the fashion arts. She stated that fashion is very important to be analyzed and considered. Fashion is the art of putting abstract patterns in one piece or the magic of complemening and contrasting colors. “I like lines, collections, show[s], I like all of that,” S.P. said. “But also… I like a client, in particular, that needs something very crazy and unique and I love the challenge.” Challenge is never absent in the world of visual arts, therefore, nor should be unleashing pure and free-spirited creativity. Rules have been broken over time to create fabulous trends and styles that suit every person in their own unique way. “I love to mix textures,” S.P. Mode 24
said. “I love to break the rules. Materials that don’t go together that are really hard to combine, I like to combine them. I like to play with very asymmetric elements. So, break the rules that will be. That feels to me like a contribution, creatively speaking. More than that little piece of fashion, is a piece of your style.” Many people have an ambitious dream, but the effort that it takes to make them come true is somewhere to be found. Some people dream about fame, others dream about power; the limit does not exist when the spirit is high. “Well, we have so much fun with youth that my vision is to hold an academy available for everybody,” S.P. said. “Everybody could be a professional star here. You see all these special stars left and right on TV, all ages, different continents... And I think everybody’s got an opportunity. If you really want to pursue it or even if it’s just a hobby, if you don’t want to follow it when you grow up, this can be the most enjoyable experience. You just learn so much and your life, with no doubt, is going to be richer in every way. The whole point that you could showcase your own creation on a stage in you model [it] yourself, that is already amazing things I believe,” S.P. said while drawing an encouraging smile on her
face. The Austin School of Fashion Design is a place for enthusiastic big dreamers. There, whatever starts as a hobby could really turn out amazing. S.P. also mentioned that even though her love for the arts and for fashion sprung at a young age, she had never planned on becoming what she is now. Competition can always be found in the majority of all professions, particularly in the visual arts. Competition can turn into high and effective motivation. Mike Slocumb is a very gifted designer whose motivation is the foundation of his achievements in his Digital Design career. “I think probably the people that I was exposed to.. who I thought... [would] push you,” Slocumb said. “I’d never really been able to collaborate with people on things and then kind of going in and realizing when you have a bunch of really talented people you may have a great idea, but, at the end the day it can be a better thing... when you collaborate with other people that are really good.”
“I’ve learned that in life, you need to learn pretty much of everything,” S.P. said. “And when you really want to be noticed, especially in a field like ours, that can be very highly competitive… You can go in so many directions, so many levels [and] dimensions of how many different things you can really do..with fashion design.”
Ilonka Soto Pelivas at Austin School of fashion Design, February 2019
Picture by Eva castillo
Phtographyin the visual arts
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may have a great idea, but, at the end the day it can be a better thing...when you collaborate with other people that are really good.” For Slocumb, success came accompanied by challenge and support. Just like in photography, graphic design also involved problem-solving and the idea of discovering what the message is, what effects it will have and how to create it. Slocumb also noted that it’s good to find people whose work one really loves and people respected in their field and listen to what they have to say. “Whether it’s doing a poster or somebody or an illustra-
of the challenge. However, it depends on the people. S.P. said some people might want something very crazy and unique. The differences in taste attribute to the development of the artist and their work. “[Challenge] can make a very rich career; [a] professional career too,” S.P. said. Once people start from zero, difficulties are like positive checkmarks in the way. Through challenges, people can become better at what they aim to improve. Time is, however, the key; the process does not occur overnight or the firs time attempting.
his photos weren’t very good and after a while. he stepped up his skills and gained experience that helped him become better. There is a great picture in every person’s own perspective that can be shared. There is a unique sense of identity in every person’s sense of fashion. It can all be collected in an image where words are not necessary. Fashion and photography are powerful ways to depict a message, an idea, a way to express something. The determination is, undoubtedly, needed during the process of obtaining success.
tion of something or a design, it’s never like in this bubble,” Slocumb said. “You’re always working with other people, you’re collaborating with other people, so... it gets compromised. I don’t mean compromising your design ideas or compromising anything in a bad way, it’s collective. It’s a collective effort.”
One could rise from the low, Collective motivation matters. from that which was never Even so, according to Pensina, planned and still achieve great it is also a matter of staying things and be a witness of the true to one’s own motivation. power of passion and faithful pursue. “You know because you can get a lot of photos and people will tell you ‘oh that’s a great photo’, but it’s not about what others think, it’s about how you feel about the photo and how you feel will change over time... and that’s how it works,” Pensina said.
At times, climbing up the stair to success requires a push from people. Critiques and guidance are both equally effective as a part
He also admitted that the best to way to learn is to s hoot over and over again. In his personal opinion, he said that in the beginning, many of
BY: EVA CASTILLO
HOW TO TAKE A GREAT PHOTO Taking a great photo heavely relies on taking maximum advantage of certain elements and being careful to avoid certain common mistakes.
DO’S 1
Know your camera Become one with the camera and never hesistae to try different feautres. Consider all aspects, such as aperture, shuter speed, focal length,and exposure. Shoot regarless of the outcome, letting the camera become part of the photographer’s hand
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Get GOOD lighting Consider where the light is coming from before raising the camera, .Whether using naural light or artificial, learn how it could make photos look better. Do not take all the photos exclusively at night; this is somethign to keep in mind.
ExPLORE ALL ANGLES Shooting from below, from above, from the side, from the back, and even use the framing composition, simply exploring different angles will add the effect that the photo is meant to portrait. Therefore, it is essential to invest time in discovering what prespective will work to the photographer’s advantage.
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ignore details As a professional photographer would know, details are like the cherry on top in a photograph. Details could be things like the placement of hands, color scheme and contrast, background, and focus. Little things matterr. too; these would make phenomenal pictures.
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Postpone Do not put off for tomorrow... or the day after tomorrow, or next week, or later...what can be done right now. Postpoining editing photo leads to accumulated work and lack of effort, and therefore high quality. Do not overedit, though.
auto flash all the time Sometimes, the most beneficial source of light is natural light. However, do not take phots directly under sunlight Automatic flash can sometimes make photos flat and fated.
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TEENS, MEDIA &
BY SHANJA FERDOUS
FASHION MAGAZINES Everyone knows that images in the media may be misleading. As technology advances and our population grows larger in numbers, there is a need to answer the question; why are teens and young adults so affected by the media and celebrities?
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Hector Socorro is a photographer from Spain. This photograph is a part of his project called “Cat People.”
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he two phrases; teen and depression often go handin-hand with each other and correlate perfectly. From the times of the stone age and to today, teens and young adults can be seen struggling to get themselves out of the endless loop. Teens and young adults often turn to social media and fashion magazines as a sort of haven to sort their feelings and express themselves. In the rising world of technology, social media like Snapchat and Instagram play a big part in the lives of teens. Magazines, now, easily accessible online, still play a big role through online articles. Whether read online or in-person, they still have an effect on the reader through false photoshopped images of people, suggestible content, and false hope to teens and younger generations on how their body should or should not look like. In our modern society, it is easy to see people struggling with their body image. People ages mainly under 40 are affected. Magazines usually cater their content to this particular age group, so a question is asked; why do magazines produce false perfect images of people when they know they are catering to a fragile age group? “Teenagers and young adults will be the next generation of consumers that the company will profit off of and they have to have an oncoming flow of dependable people,” UT Fashion Design Professor Gail Chovan said. “Magazines are usually for profit organizations. Whatever will make them money, they will publish.” Magazines will do almost
anything to get money, no matter the consequences that society faces in return. They know very well that perfection does not exist and is unachievable, yet they photoshop their models and spread their material throughout the world. “Advertisers are making the decisions to what they are going to run and the more they pay, the better placement they get,” Chovan stated. If everyone were to determinewhether or not social media and the types of materials seen on things like magazines are healthy for teens and young adults, it would be found that it is not. Tennyson Tole, a student in high school feels strongly about this subject and gives an up-close approach to it.
“The media can negatively affect teens and young adults by creating unrealistic beauty standards for impressionable young women and men that they have to look like the perfect people they see projected onPhotographer screens,” ToleDerrick said. “They Freske explores a type compare themselves with people of everybody photography called that seems to love and “Hypnotic Fashion” find things about themselves that aren’t perfect and highlight their imperfections, losing sight of the good things about them and only seeing the bad and ugly flaws.” whether or not social media and the types of materials seen on things like magazines are healthy for teens and young adults, it would be found that it is not. Tennyson Tole, a student in high school feels strongly about this subject and gives an up-close approach to it.
“The media can negatively affect teens and young adults by creating unrealistic beauty standards for impressionable young women and men that they have to look like the perfect people they see projected on screens,” Tole said. “They compare themselves with people that everybody seems to love and find things about themselves that aren’t perfect and highlight their imperfections, losing sight of the good things about them and only seeing the bad and ugly flaws.” Tennyson is not the only student around her age that agrees with this quote. Finn Duffy, another student in high school also gives us some insight into this point of view. “I think the media does affect young adults,” Duffy said. “Young
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Courtesy of Derrick Freske
adulthood is one of few time periods in one’s life when they form opinions and become accustomed to society. If society tells someone to look like society wants, odds are the person will change themselves.”
The graphic is a type of pyramid and can be referred to as the “selfactualization pyramid”.
agrees fully with the pyramid and the fact that in order to reach the highest level, or the next level, the one below is needed. The In “Maslow’s Hierarchy of enviroment that a child, teen, or Needs”, in order to move up in young adult lives in influences the pyramid, the needs from the their psychological and physical level below need to be fulfilled. needs. As people get older and grow, The last tier of the pyramid, the “[The environment] has a big their perception influence on of others and teens and young themselves adults. In order change based on for a teen to be the environment self-actualized around them. they need to have losing sight of the their primary good things about needs met, such them and only as physiological seeing the bad and needs, selfugly flaws.” esteem, love and affection Tennyson is not then when the the only student other needs around her age are fulfilled,” that agrees with Bitkowski said. this quote. Finn In our society Duffy, another today, teens are student in high surrounded by school also gives digital devices us some insight that control and into this point of center around Derrick Freske, a photographer view. their lives. Social based in California, photographs media plays a big Daniella Campbell, an actor. “I think the part in the lives of Courtesy of Derrick media does affect people, especially Freske young adults,” young adults. Duffy said. Social media can “Young adulthood be used for good, is one of few but more than time periods in one’s life when peak, is self-actualization, which often it can hurt and bring people they form opinions and become Austin Therapist Mirela Bitkowski down. accustomed to society. If society explained. tells someone to look like society “Self-actualization means “If teens and young adults are wants, odds are the person will reaching your highest hopes and looking to social media to define change themselves.” dreams and your highest goals their self-worth, this may be for yourself,” Bitkowski stated. “It really affect their self worth and One way that this can be represents that person’s growth self esteem,” Bitkowski said. “It’s represented is through a type and fulfillment and their highest important to surround yourself to of graphic created by Abraham needs in life as well. Not everyone people that support you and love Maslow in 1943 called the reaches self-actualization.” you unconditionally. People tend “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” Along with that, Bitkowski to put their insecurities on other Mode 32
people, if their behavior is mean or negative its their perception of their self.” Often, in social media, famous stars like Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez and Britney Spears photoshop themselves or have their editors photoshop them. It is well-known that magazines are known to photoshop their models, but in spite of this, teens are still prone to believing in the false looks of others. “Most photos are photoshopped, most of them are celebrities and they don’t even look that good in
photoshopping, editing, changing the lighting. If a young teen were to know how much effort went into social media, maybe they would be less likely to compare themselves to them,” Bitkowski said. The reason that people on the media are so inclined to change how they look is because they are self-conscious and as they were growing up, they were in a environment where photoshopped, airbrushed and perfect people were the norm, and to not be the “norm” can bring bullying, hurt and social anxiety.
human who fits their description of perfect, that in real life, does not exist,” Duffy stated. “Fashion magazines photoshop their models for sales. Their number one goal is to make a profit and they will do it almost any way they can. Magazines feel like the models need to stick to the trends and look a certain way, or else they won’t be able to attract enough clients,” Duffy said. “I think that fashion magazines photoshop their models to publish perfection according to the set standards of modern beauty. I believe that magazines both feel as they should stick to the trend whilst
“Magazines need their models to be diverse “What I think has happened over
and different, not like they took
one white woman and hit ctrl+c”. real life,” Bitkowski said. 20 students at various schools and of various ages were asked whether or not they knew that magazines and other forms of media did photoshop and airbrush their pictures. Every single one of them said that they knew that the media is often misleading and models are more than often edited. So, to go back to the question, why are people still affected by things like the social media and entertainment if they very well know that it is often misleading? “They only post what they want us to see, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a perfect picture on social media:
the past few decades is that people are looking more and more for perfection and there has always been the want to make people look young and to look perfect and not to look natural, to look like people we can aspire to be, part of these fantasies, and they do that and present, obviously, a unreal image, especially of women, but they do it to men too,” Chovan said. “You don’t want to see people with pimples and blemishes and you know, cellulite,” Chovan stated. A common theme that seems to trend is the fact that magazines and social media photoshop their pictures to make money and revenue off of teens. “[They] are trying to portray a
maintaining perfect models.” Tole said. Everyone seems to be referring to “perfect models” or “perfect people,” so what exactly does our modern society describe perfect people as? “To a certain extent, the ideal model represents the ideal woman/man so with the trends of appearances/how society changes, models will adapt to how society thinks models should look. Most of the time, models are fit, thinnish, blond-haired, and fair-skinned,” Tole said. If magazines were to represent people differently with nonphotoshopped people and with
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more natural looking models, our world would slowly change their perspective with time. “And so then we would just be looking at the girl next door, or they would be looking at their college roommate, or they’d be looking at somebody in their class, or somebody at the grocery store and that’s not interesting,” Chovan expressed. “What they want to see is somebody plastic and somebody not real, but yet with a hit of something they can relate to,” Professor Chovan said. Of course, many interviewees stated that it would take decades or even a century for the way that magazines represent their people. If magazines were to change what they put out, then our society and the other’s esteems would improve drastically. “The standards for people’s appearances would change, and so would the trends,” Tole revealed. “I think it would help a lot of people with a positive body image. I think that a lot of people would feel more comfortable in their own skin if they had somebody who was popular and everybody else loved that looked like them. Role models work best when you can relate to them,” Tennyson said. Since new ideas, and a more open mindset would come forth in all due time, people can learn to improve upon themselves and not look into outer-beauty as much. “I think the mentality of everyone would change drastically,” Duffy stated. “People
would be more accepting of new ideas and traits because they would not be able to say “Well, I don’t see any representation of it, so it must not exist...They would not feel like outcasts. People would feel free to wear what they want, not trying to cover up what they think are flaws,” Duffy said. To start off by changing our world for the better, more accurate representation is needed. Without accurate representation, there is less people willing to represent. “Representation is the key,” Duffy declared. “If teens do not see representation, they will think either they do not look like what they should or that others do not look like what they should. Magazines need their models to be diverse and different, not like they took one white woman and hit ctrl+c,” Duffy stated. People can start by speaking out. If enough people agree that magazines should not be photoshopped, then editors will start representing people differently, bringing new trends and a better educated magazine. “Every person has a responsibility to work on their self-worth and self-esteem,” Bitkowski said. With enough outcry and when others realize the problems that can occur by false representation, the worse can change for the better. Rising up is not a small matter. Everyone deserves representation within our society.
WHICH FASHION STYLE ARE YOU? BY SHANJA FERDOUS
I have a colorful waredrobe.
I only buy designer clothes.
I mainly have blacks.
I like thrift shopping.
I like going to the mall.
I just buy whatever is on sale.
I have a budget when shopping. I buy what I like, the price does not matter to me.
I like borrowing clothes from friends and family.
I only go shopping when I need it.
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I only wear what I buy.
I go shopping whenever I can.
RESULTS: Bohemian!
I like staying comfortable when I dress.
Chic!
FuN!
I wear whatever looks good. No pain, no gain.
I like staying up to date on recent trends.
I like wearing large pieces of jewerly.
I like simple pieces of jewerly or none at all.
I don’t particularly follow trends.
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ters