Photo J Assignment #9: Photo Story

Isaac Newton (Right), Director of the student run production of
"The Acor's Nightmare" consults with actor Jake Tudor before
a dress rehearsal on Friday, Nov. 10. The play opened on
Nov. 16 and ran through Nov. 18.

Makeup artist Jasmine Ramirez (Left) applies stage makeup to
Sophia Brown before a dress rehearsal on Monday, Nov. 13.

Jake Tudor (Left) and Matthew Shelton during a dress rehearsal
on Tuesday Nov. 14. "The Actor's Nightmare" is about an accountant
named George Spelvin who is mistaken for an actor's understudy
when he mysteriously appears backstage on a play that he doesn't know
 any of the lines for.

The cast of "The Actor's Nightmare" listening to notes from
 director Isaac Newton (Right) after their third run-through of the play
that day on Tuesday Nov. 14.
(From Left) Aislin Goldrick, Matthew Shelton, Breonna North,
and Sophia Brown.

The cast after their final dress rehearsal on Wednesday Nov. 15.
(From Left) Jake Tudor, Sophia Brown, Matthew Shelton, Breonna North,
and Aislin Goldrick.

Week 10 Blog Forum

Topic 1:

I consider this my best photo because it kind of blends everything I learned about the class together. It's well focused, the cropping is good, the lighting is interesting, I'm stopping the action of his free throw, and it acts as a pretty good candid portrait. It's also one of those photos I consider lucky to have gotten because shooting at night is near impossible and this one turned out pretty good. I think I have improved greatly in photo journalism. I'm less timid about getting closer to the subject or asking for names, than the nervous blob I was beforehand. I feel like all phases of my photography has improved, because if you look at my first few assignments you can tell I wasn't doing that great, compare that to some of my most recent assignments and I feel there is obvious improvement, though there is always room for more. 

Topic 2

1. I want to have 5-10 photos featured in the Commuter.
2. I want to have a better understanding of photography terminology and how to apply them to my photography.
3. I want to get a cover photo for the Commuter

1. I'd have to go through and check but I think I came pretty damn close to 10 photos published and easily eclipsed 5 photos. That mainly came from the fact that I work at the Commuter and I would shoot photos to accompany my writing pieces.
2. I feel like through the classes and working with my camera I better developed my understanding of depth of field and doing most of the editing in the camera. I still have much more to learn though and I'm excited to keep shooting for the Commuter. 
3. I was not able to get a cover photo for the commuter but I came close when I was shooting for the play "The Actor's Nightmare." I'm convinced that if I had a telephoto lens when I was shooting for that story, instead of a wide angle lens, I would've been able to capture a much more effective photo that would've been featured on the cover. Although Angela Scott's photo that made the cover was incredible so, maybe not. 

Book Report: Lynsey Addario

Specialist Carl Vandeberge, center, and Sargeant Kevin Rice, behind, are assisted as
they walk to a medevac helicopter minutes after they were both shot in the stomach
during a Taliban ambush, which killed one soldier, and wounded both of them.
Spc. Carl Vandeberge and Sgt. Kevin Rice, were flown out immediately for surgery.
October 23, 2007.
(Photo by Lynsey Addario)
Photo Courtesy of: lynseyaddario.com

After finishing "It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War" by Lynsey Addario I was once again reinforced with inspiration for the commitment Addario has put into her coverage of conflict zones. Every chapter gives you another story that illustrates just how admirable and just how crazy she is to continue her passion. Yet, as the book's title says "It's What I Do," this field is Addario's calling, she feels bound to it and as a result couldn't see herself doing anything else. I found this to be incredibly inspiring and while I myself may not relate to this sense of duty in this capacity, it does show a different perspective and also reinforces just how important journalism, specifically photo journalism, is.

 In an excerpt towards the end of the book on pages 340 and 341, Addario talks about her return to the Syrian border and reminisces about how she has changed through the book.

"As we raced toward the Syrian border, my mind slipped back to 2003, to who I was then: a young woman who wanted nothing more than to travel the world and to document the stories of people and their hardships. I was insatiable to my quest to document the truth with my photographs and threw myself into the midst of any situation without regard for consequences, believing that if my intentions were pure and I focused on my work, I would be OK. Though I still work with the same dedication, I have grown more cautious with every brush with death, with every friend lost. Somewhere along the way my mortality began to matter."

This quote resonates with me the most because it encapsulates the overall journey she has talked about throughout the book. The line "Somewhere along the way my mortality began to matter," is absolutely crazy to me. It implies that her mortality and own life didn't matter beforehand. That she was so committed to her craft that everything else, including her own life, was secondary.

Addario's ability to capture the human experience in some of the most high conflict areas around the globe provides some of the most moving photographs I've seen. Pages 4 & 5, page 62, and page 189 have some of my favorite examples of this.

My favorite photos, however, come from the chapter 9 section of the book in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan on pages 233-235. For me, living in a country that can sometimes like to glorify war through media like movies and video games, these photos are raw depictions of what war really is. Addario's ability to capture the action is crazy to me because if I put myself in that situation I don't know how I could do that. It showcases her courage in the face of danger and the photos are examples of what good photojournalism is.

The main lesson that I learned from this book is to be fearless when you're doing photo journalism. Addario was shot at for god's sake why shouldn't I be able to get a little closer to my subject when I'm covering a clothing drive or a debate.

I think this is a good book for anyone who is passionate about something, not just journalism. It's inspiring to read about just how intense Addario is about photojournalism and it shows exactly what someone can accomplish when they love what they do.

Week 8 Blog Forum

Topic: Addario

Choosing only two chapters from the last two parts of the book was incredibly difficult. All of them showcase the hardships that a photojournalist has to deal with in conflict zones. Since I have to choose I think that chapter nine is the most compelling with chapter 12 coming in second.

 Chapter nine puts addario in the center of an ambush in Korengal Valley. There she's forced to scramble and take photos of the active combat and capture some truly horrifying photos including the photo that most intrigued me in this chapter of the two soldiers carrying away their bloody ally. Along with the quote in chapter nine that states: "As we neared the medevac point, I saw Captain Kearny running at top speed down the mountain toward us from his overwatch position. His gun was lung over his shoulder, and tears ran down his face. 'Rice!' Kearney wrapped his arms around him, and they all stood there and wept, soaking up the incredibleness of the ambush."

Both the image and the quote are incredibly powerful and they show just how horrifying war is, and as a result how important it is to document it.

Week 5 Blog Forum

Topic: Lynsey Addario Book

At the end of chapters 6 and 7 I can say with certainty that Lynsey Addario has to be one of the most crazy people I have ever read about. Chapter 6 sees Addario get kidnapped in the Sunny Triangle. After the traumatic experience she realizes that what she does as a photographer impacts the ones she loves back home as well. This does not deter her though as she hops right back into the line of duty as a photographer. This commitment and dedication to her craft, the central theme of the book, is incredibly inspiring and the lengths in which she is willing to go to document these situations is a great read. The quote "I needed to branch out beyond the daily demands of breaking-news photography... "I wanted to see what else I could do, and for that I needed to try a different region. It was time to move on from Iraq and from the destructive love affairs of my youth." The reason I find this so interesting is because while she does move on from Iraq she goes immediately into covering another high tension region in Africa. For Addario, that was considered a less stressful situation and that is just completely insane to me that that is her idea of a breather. My favorite photo is in chapter seven, with the skeleton rotting with a low angle and Addario capturing the soldiers above it. The lesson that Addario continually teaches me is to be unafraid to be tenacious and willing to risk everything for the sake of good journalism. 

Photographer of the Week: Neil Leifer

Muhammed Ali after knocking out Sonny Liston
Photo by Neil Leifer
Photo Courtesy of neilleifer.com

Neil Leifer's photographs are some of the most iconic in sports history. He took off in the golden era of sports when sports were really starting to stand out as a huge entertainment industry and as a result Leifer has photos of some of the most iconic figures in sports. From Muhammed Ali, to Pele, to Secretariat, if you've seen a sports picture from this era, it's a good chance it's one of Leifer's. His ability to really capture the moment, include the environment, and let the subject sit as the focal point of the picture is truly awe inspiring. His countless photos of iconic athletes almost put together a tapestry of the world of sports throughout his tenure.

Leifer was first introduced to photography when he was 13-years-old when he took classes at the Henry Street Settlement House. Since he loved sports, he began taking sports photos and as a result, Leifer started his his career as a freelance photographer. As a teen, he worked at New York Giant's games and would push wheelchairs for handicapped patrons for free admission to the games. He took photos of the games that he was allowed into and on his 16th birthday he took photo's of the NFL title game between the Giants and the Colts, a game that would later be known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Leifer sold his photos for Sports Illustrated and they brought him aboard, he would go on to be a prodigy for the magazine and Leifer earned his first cover photo at the age of 19. Leifer would go on to have over 200 cover stories for the magazine throughout his life and was well known for his photographs of Boxing legend Muhammad Ali. One might argue that the photo of Ali knocking out Sonny Liston is the most iconic sports photo of all time and because of that and countless other examples of phenomenal photographs, Neil Leifer is also talked about as one of the greatest sports photographers of all time. 

Photo J Assignment #8: Action Photos

Jack Cotterman returns serve during a recreational Pickle Ball
match on Wednesday Nov. 15. Pickle Ball is held every weekday
from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through the Albany Parks and Recreation Sports
Department.

Pam Harris (Right) prepares to volley off of a return
 as Mal Bellafronto winds up to serve. 

Cotterman sneaks in a point on Bellafronto as Harris and Grant
Steinbrink (Left) look on. 

Photo J Assignment #7: My Hometown

Jackson Heaton, 20, (left) and Dylan Justesen, 21, are LDS Missionaries
from Utah and Idaho. They meet at Grand Prairie Park in Albany
every Sunday after church for Bible study.

CJ Daniels, 21, a former guard at South Medford High School
practices his free throws on the court at Grand Prairie Park on Nov. 11.
Daniels says he goes to the park about five times a week so that he can
 keep his shooting touch.

Kelsey Breitmer, 26, is a cashier for Albany Fred Meyer. She closes
five times a week and says she has never missed a shift since she started
working there.

Week 4 Blog Forum

Topic 1:

1. I chose "Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects," as the part of the code of ethics that I found most compelling. The reason for this is because it acts as the foundation for several other parts of the code of ethics. The photo journalist's goal is to capture a real moment in time, so if we aim to be accurate and comprehensive when representing our subject then we will fulfill other parts of the code like "resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities," or "Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects. Accuracy is key when covering any type of news story when writing, so why should photography be any different? 
2. I chose "Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Visual journalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it." this one because it gives instruction to live by this code in general and that a good journalist isn't one who simply memorizes it, but continues to learn from it and live by it. 
3. I guess the main thing from 1 on the code of ethics is just to not fabricate anything in your photos. The goal is to share the truth so know use of photoshop to adjust someone or something to make the photo to look better. An honest photo is better than a beautiful one.  

Topic 2:

It was tough to choose between all the great photos that Casey has taken so far this term. I think my favorite is this photo of the subject playing chess in the book store. It has a fantastic angle, pretty good expression, and the lighting is very cool. Overall it's a very interesting photograph and she has plenty more on her blog.

Another instance of trying to narrow it down to just one great photo. I chose this photo of Alex's from when he shot the Farmer's Market booth. The lighting and depth of field in this photo are simply incredible. Very good work from Alex Gaub and there's a lot of other great photos on his blog as well.

Week 6 Blog Forum

Topic 1

1. I'm going to photograph Albany Oregon because it's where I live and it has a lot of variety as far as landmarks and places to shoot.

2. For my portrait I was thinking about shooting someone at the local Fred Meyer like this well known cashier I know. For the landmark maybe something like the Hasty Freez servers or Pix theater ticket people. For my activity I was thinking I'd photograph some people at one of the parks in Albany like Timberland or Grand Prairie.

3. The portrait and landmark because they involve me working around someone's work schedule and I really feel nervous about being a distraction.

Topic 2

1. For the photo story I was planning on to continue shooting "The Actor's Nightmare." Only this time I would get more backstage footage before and after dress rehearsals of the actors and the director. My hope is to document the camaraderie, fun and stressful work that is involved as opening night approaches.

2. The other thing I was thinking was documenting the daily life of a firefighter when not out putting out fires. Essentially photographing the inside of a fire station, what conditions they live in and what they do to keep busy as they wait to fight fires.

Week 7 Blog Forum

Topic 1:

1. The first tip that I thought was applicable to all forms of photography was "stay in your camera." Meaning keep taking photos don't get distracted by the ones you've already taken. In sports photography its important to do this because shooting a celebration is almost just as good as getting a shot of the action, and if you chimp your action shot you will miss out on good photos.
2. The second tip was that you have to be somewhere different then everyone else. You want unique photos and grouping around the other photographers at a sports event will not give you an opportunity to do that.

Topic 2:

1. I will Albany Parks and Rec Department (APRD) Sports, Senior Pickleball.
2. They play mornings at around 8:30 in the APRD Sports activities center. I will stop by there next wednesday.
3. Action Photo Ideas

• Overall: I will get a shot of the overall court, with both teams and get a shot of the athletes swinging at the wiffle ball.
• Medium: I think I'll shoot one side of the court or one of the teams and maybe shoot a celebration, reaction, or action if I can get it.
• Close: I'm thinking that it would be cool to get a close up of one of the athletes before a volley to kind of capture their emotion and focus. Otherwise I would try to capture a reaction after a play.

Photo J Assignment #6: Free Shoot

The Black Curtain Society performed their first dress rehearsal for
"The Actor's Nightmare" on Nov. 2. The play centers around an accountant
named George Spelvin who is mistaken for an actor and forced
to perform in a play that he doesn't know any of the lines for.
The Show will be coming to the Russell Tripp Performance Center
on Nov. 16-18.

Jake Tudor (Left) and Matthew Shelton rehearse one of their
scenes in "The Actor's Nightmare." 

The cast and director engaging in a warm-up exercise before the
dress rehearsal. (From Left) Hannah Costa, Jake Tudor, Breonna North,
Sophia Brown, Matt Shelton, and Isaac Newton.

Photo J Assignment #5: News/Feature

LBCC Student Leadership Council officers met in CC 213 on
Wednesday Oct. 25 to discuss upcoming events like the
Thanksgiving food drive and "Coffee with a Cop."

 SLC Community Outreach Director Marta Nuñez
talks about the plan for setting up the Thanksgiving food drive.

SLC officers listen to the weekly itinerary. SLC meetings are
held every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Week 3 Blog Forum

Topic 1:

One of the two subjects I could shoot is a friend of mine named Troianne Wilkinson. She is an art student at LBCC and an avid painter. I think the best environment to get photos of her would be in her personal art studio with props like an easel and paint brush. I work with her at Fred Meyer and run into her at LBCC from time to time and could easily schedule a time to shoot.

The other subject could be Chessie Alberti. I have some newer ideas on how I could shoot photos and improve on the ones I took for my article. The best environment would be the Writing Center with props like an essay or other types of papers. I have her email so it's possible to contact and schedule a time to shoot with Chessie, she's pretty busy so it would be difficult to find a time.

Since I've already scheduled a shoot with Troianne she will definitely be the subject of the profile.

Topic 2:

This is my favorite photo because I was able to capture the event
that I was shooting as well as the great expression on the subject's face.

This is my worst photo because it is way too soft on the focus. I also
couldn't get the subject's name so the closeup is pretty much useless.
I need to replace this one with a different closeup from the event
I went to. 

I would say I need to improve my shot framing and timing. There are times where I have a potentially great photo from the project I'm working on because the subject is doing something interesting. But I take a second to try to set up the shot and the subject's pose, for lack of a better word, that I found interesting is gone. I need to learn to be able to take the shot and not try to frame it so much to get the "perfect photo" because the perfect shot can always be found through editing later so long as I get the interesting shot.

Photo J Assignment #3: News/Feature

The LBCC Chapter of the American Association of
Women in Community Colleges  (AAWCC) hosted a dollar
clothing drive on Thursday, October 12. The event raised
$388 for the AAWCC scholarship fund.

Kaylee Knapp browses the vast amount of clothing
the drive offered.

AAWCC President Vickie Keith (Right) assists a student with
purchasing their dollar clothing.

Week 2 Blog Forum

Topic 1

My Photographer of the week choice is Neil Leifer. His claim to fame is being known for taking some of the most iconic photos in sports history. He photographed "The Greatest Game ever Played" between the Colts and the Giants in the NFL title game in 1958. He worked for Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine. Leifer also photographed seven Olympic games throughout his career. I'd say the thing that most stands out in his photographs is his ability to capture the emotion or feeling from a sporting event.

Topic 2

So far, reading the book I am incredibly moved by what Addario, as a photo journalist, has gone through. I can't imagine being smack dab in the middle of a war zone and also trying to capture the experience on camera. Her story is both engaging and inspiring and I love that she sprinkles her amazing photos throughout the book so that we can look at them first hand. My favorite photo from the book so far is the bottom photo on page four of the a rebel fighter consoling his wounded comrade outside of a hospital. The reason I like the photo is because it captures the emotion of the circumstances so well. I'd say the biggest lesson I can learn from the book is to be fearless. Like I obviously won't be taking pictures of a warzone, but it puts things in perspective when I may be nervous or embarrassed to take photos. I have no reason to be afraid when their are people actually covering wars. My favorite quote definitely has to be on page 22 "When I return home and rationally consider the risks, the choices are difficult. But when I am doing my work, I am alive and I am me. It's what I do. I am sure there are other versions of happiness, but this one is mine." The reason I like the quote is because it encapsulates what photography means to Addario. It's poetic and it very inspiring.

Photo J Assignment #2: Event

Renee Roman Nose (Right) teaches a poetry workshop 
to LBCC Students in the Diversity Achievement Center on 
Oct. 2.

Students look on at lesson,  where they participated in multiple
poetry writing exercises.

Some students came forward to share poems
they had written for the workshop.

Week 1 Blog Forum

TOPIC 1:

My name is Josh Stickrod a second year Journalism major at LBCC. I'm taking this class to become a more well-rounded journalist and become better in an area that I have very little experience in.

TOPIC 2:

Three goals I have for this class would be:

1. I want to have 5-10 photos featured in the Commuter.
2. I want to have a better understanding of photography terminology and how to apply them to my photography.
3. I want to get a cover photo for the Commuter

TOPIC 3:

1. Chessie Alberti - I'm writing a story about Chessie Alberti the new writing instructor so I wanted to take some pictures of her in her work environment for the story.
2. LBCC Volleyball - I could shoot photos for the LB Volleyball game on Friday or Saturday against Umpqua or Southern Oregon. I would look to get photos of the action and shots of the crowd as well. 
3. Hot Shot Cafe Relaunch - I could take photos of the Hot Shot relaunch with the musical performers such as Ian Priestman or Dale Stowell. 

Photo J Assignment #1

David Kidd's Advanced Surveying Class gets acquainted with
their equipment in the LBCC courtyard on Tuesday Sept. 26.
(From Left): Dan Faas, Brian Swearinigin, and Jory Lum 

Students of class setting up Total Station surveying 
equipment.
(From Left): Brody Faas, Dan Faas, Brian Swearinigin,
Jory Lum, and Kelson Shanks. 

Brody Faas adjusts his Total Station.

What's Next For The Sport of Boxing?

(Photo: Wikimedia)

“Boxing is a dying sport.” This is a statement that has been thrown around for the past two decades that seems to carry more weight as years pass. It's hard to argue because it seems the public loses more interest in the sport as the days go by.

 However, many fans, including myself, continue to watch, hoping that the sport is able to gain more momentum and give us fights and fighters that can return boxing to the cultural spotlight.

Boxing, has been around for thousands of years, with the earliest depictions of the sport coming from third millennia BC. The sport exploded in popularity in the early 1900s after it attained legitimacy and became a regulated and sanctioned sport. Boxing was only second to baseball’s popularity in the first half of 20th century, with fans coming by the thousands to watch fights in person and millions of Americans around the country gathering around their radios to listen in on the action.

The common criticism about the sport that I hear so often today is that it's barbaric, dangerous, devoid of any substance, featuring two people that are just trying to hit and dance around each other. I would say those arguments have reasonable points. Boxing isn't sunshine and rainbows, it is tough, it is brutal, and when you see former boxers today and the effects the sport has had on their health, I can see why people have a hard time wanting to watch it.

Yet, that just makes boxing all the more intriguing to me. Why do people dedicate so much to this sport? What makes it all worth it?

It was Mike Tyson that said, "The tempt for greatness is the biggest drug in the world."

Many fighters seek greatness. They look to push themselves to their physical limit in the hopes of becoming something bigger than themselves; a star, a champion, an all-time great. Fueled by dreams of a better life, many boxers start out young and put in countless hours a week to become a better fighter. The amount of focus, speed, power and intelligence required to become a world-class boxer is staggering.

George "TNT" Evans is a local boxer who spent most of his career in Albany and currently has plans to start a gym in the area. He is a man who has dedicated his life to the sport. Evans was only five years old when he first went to a boxing gym and he's been in love with the sport ever since. Fighting in 483 total bouts throughout both his amateur and professional career, Evans is as experienced as they come. At one point, he was ranked 15th in the world professionally in the Bantamweight Division.

I got a chance to sit down and talk to TNT one-on-one and get his thoughts on what boxing means to him and the impact it has on his life.

"Boxing has been my life and has taught me many valuable lessons. It can teach you how to defend yourself, it can teach you discipline, it can strengthen your self-esteem," said Evans. "Most importantly it teaches you sportsmanship and compassion. Where else can you beat up on someone, and then they beat up on you and at the end of it all you give each other a big hug? I mean where else do you find compassion such as that?"

Evans credits the decline in the popularity of boxing to the fears over concussions and brain injuries in the late 1980s and the subsequent softening of the sport in the 1990s to make the sport more safe.

"It was a brutal sport, you don't see it as brutal as it was in the '80s. In the '70s and '80s people actually hit each other, but today it's just dancing around the ring," said Evans.

If boxing is dying, then 2017 has been the defibrillator. Entertaining fights like Keith Thurman's impressive win on Danny Garcia, Anthony Joshua's TKO on Wladimir Klitschko in Wembley Stadium, and Gennady Golovkin's unanimous decision-victory over Danny Jacobs, have all kicked off the year in exciting fashion.

The Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. fight reportedly earned over one million views on pay-per-view. To put that in perspective, that is roughly the same amount of views that the highly anticipated Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao fight earned back in 2015. Upcoming fights like Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev and Golovkin vs. Alvarez later this year should only prove to add to the excitement.

But just how far can these fights take boxing?

Any fuel to the fire is welcome, and as long as these super fights avoid disappointments like Mayweather vs. pretty much anyone he’s faced in the past decade, then boxing is in good shape. These fights stand out to me specifically because it’s giving the two most popular fighters in those weight classes a shot at each other in their prime. That's ultimately what boxing fans want to see. Not seven years after it should have happened like the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight.

"I think boxing will be making a comeback because of those fights coming up and because we're beginning to see a lot more talented kids come up from the amateur level," said Evans.

Boxing is so much more than a sport -- to many it is their life. It represents hard work paying off and shows that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. As humans, that’s something we can all relate to. That's why boxing is called the “sweet science,” because it isn't just the technique or the tangible measurables of a fighter that win out. The fighter's heart and determination to overcome the obstacles in their path ultimately prove to be the deciding factor.

While boxing may be down, it sure as hell isn't out, and like the many athletes that practice the sport religiously, it's still got some fight left in it.

"Peace Be Upon You" an Educational Play About The People of Islam

Falyn Lazarus as Sumaiya in dress rehearsal for "Peace Be Upon You"
(Photo: Angela Scott)

Linn-Benton Community College Performing Arts presents a new, informative production about the people of the Islamic faith. "Peace Be Upon You" aims to educate viewers about Islam and break stereotypes that American culture may associate with the religion.

The play "Peace Be Upon You," is the latest form of community-engaged theater, written by LBCC performing arts instructor Dan Stone, through collaborations with students of the Islamic faith. Presented in a "black box" format with seating on stage, the play runs May 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and May 20 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Tripp Performance Center. Tickets are $10 for general admission or $7 for students and seniors.

"I have a lot of international students, a lot of them from the Middle East. I just felt with all that is happening in the news now, and even before, with all the misrepresentations about people from the Middle East, that this was a great topic," said Stone.

"Peace Be Upon You" centers around Sumaiya, a Muslim women from Iraq, played by Falyn Lazarus and Chelsea, an American woman who has a lot of misconceptions about Islam, played by Hannah Costa. It focuses on the two character's interactions as they room together in a college dorm and tells the story of how they work through their cultural and political differences.

Community-engaged theater, or theater of place, is a type of play that looks to educate an audience about a micro-community that is either misrepresented or has an important story to tell. Past plays recalled stories about veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the latino community in Independence, Oregon, loggers and their families in the Pacific Northwest, the elderly, and more.  

Stone writes the plays with the help of members of the micro-communities in a year long process that features multiple interviews in gatherings known as story circles. The goal is to have members of the story circles pitch ideas so that Stone can get insight into what specific subject the play should explore. Stone wrote "Peace Be Upon You" with the help of several students at LBCC from the Middle East who practice Islam.  

"Often times when I write these kinds of plays I look for a common denominator within the community to write about,” said Stone. “When I interviewed people from the Middle East that live here, the common denominator amongst that group of people is: they are just like anyone else, they're human beings just like everybody else. Other than their religion they are no different than everybody else. So the idea of the play is to humanize these people that Americans typically see as completely foreign and different from them."  

Community-engaged theater is cutting-edge and LBCC's Performing Arts program is on the forefront, one of the only programs in Oregon creating these types of plays. They were recently invited to the University of Oregon to do a presentation on this innovative play writing concept. Already looking ahead to their next project, the LBCC Performing Arts program has partnered up with the Oregon Coast Aquarium to create a series of children's plays that focus on several ecosystems of Oregon.

Stone, who has written these types of plays for just over ten years, explained why he finds community-engaged theater to be important.

"Theater isn't just a form of entertainment, it's learning about who we are and who the people that live around us are."

For more information about "Peace Be Upon You" contact the LBCC box office at 541-917-4531 or email them at theater@linnbenton.edu.

At a Glance:

Dan Stone - Performing Arts Advisor at LBCC
Phone: 541-917-4566

Falyn Lazarus - Actress playing Sumaiya Hannah Costa - Actress playing Chelsea

Linn-Benton Performing Arts Center

LBCC Student Delphine Le Brun Colon Recieves NASA Internship

Delphine Le Brun Colon,
mechanical engineering student at LBCC,
was selected for the NASA Internship Program
(Photo: Elliot Pond)

Deep within the winding hallways of the Industrial A building on the Albany campus of LBCC sits a small room dedicated to LB's Space Exploration Club. In here lie both current and past projects of the group -- payloads and rockets sit atop a labyrinth of tangled wires. In a sense they serve as trophies; reminders that represent the hard work put into each project by the club.

For one of the club's most dedicated members, Delphine Le Brun Colon, they represent the rediscovery of a childhood dream.

Le Brun Colon is currently majoring in mechanical engineering at LBCC with a minor in aerospace engineering. She is the second LB Space Exploration Club member to accept a summer internship at NASA. She will be heading down to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama to work on the RS-25 engine, the strongest rocket propulsion system in the world.

Le Brun Colon was born on the west coast of France and grew up in a small island community called I’lle dYeu. She moved around quite a bit throughout the course of her life and says the constant moving helped her understand the importance of being able to adapt. She had always dreamed of being an astronaut but admits that she buried that idea at a young age, believing it to be too unrealistic.

She eventually made her way to Oregon by way of New York City. At the time Le Brun Colon was seeking to go into Ecological Engineering, and OSU was one of three universities in the country offering an ecological engineering undergraduate program. This lead her to attend college at LBCC and on welcome day, her first year, back in 2014 she met Parker Swanson at the Space Exploration Club booth. After talking with him and seeing some of the projects the club had worked on, she knew that she had to sign up.

"Life has a funny way of bringing you back to your path if you let it," said Le Brun Colon.

In 2015, Le Brun Colon got the opportunity to work with the group on designing a payload that flew on board a NASA research rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This experience only further confirmed that she had found her true calling.

"Experiencing a rocket launch sparked something in me. I knew I wanted to work in aerospace," said Le Brun Colon.

She went on to lead the group's project in 2016, where they created an ambitious rocket-borne payload that was designed to measure polarized energy from gamma rays in space. Levi Willmeth, colleague and friend of Le Brun Colon and current project manager for the Space Exploration Club, praised her leadership ability and attitude.

"My favorite part of working with Delphine is that she is relentless, selfless, and able to step back and see the bigger picture. She identifies problems months in advance, but will also cancel her weekend plans or pull a late night build session to solve a team emergency. Delphine is an excellent team member in any capacity, either giving directions or following them. Filling both of those roles is a difficult and rare quality," said Willmeth.

Willmeth also accepted a NASA Internship for this upcoming summer and has worked closely with Le Brun Colon for three years now. The two applied for their opportunities through NASA's One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI), which is designed for the selection and development of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.

"I encourage everyone to apply. There are so many opportunities offered and internships at NASA are not restricted to science and engineering type projects. they look for business majors, communication majors, etc," said Le Brun Colon.

Parker Swanson, adviser to the Space Exploration Club, is proud of both Le Brun Colon and Willmeth. He's thrilled that they received such amazing opportunities and says they are both well-deserved. He recounted the time he met Le Brun Colon at the Space Exploration Club booth in 2014 and explained that it has been his pleasure to watch her develop not only into an excellent engineer, but into an excellent manager and key member of the club.

"Delphine does everything with passion, including her engineering studies, her work with our team, several part-time jobs, and also having fun," said Swanson.

After her internship with NASA, Le Brun Colon plans to transfer to Oregon State to finish her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. She will also perform her own research with OSU's propulsion lab and plans to attend grad school as well.

For Le Brun Colon it has been quite a journey. She talked about the invaluable experiences and people she's met along the way and praises the Space Exploration Club for giving her the hands-on experience to open up a path to a childhood dream.

"All the people I’ve met in the aerospace industry are humble and hardworking. There is something special about having to work together and trust each other to achieve something that is greater than all of us,” said Le Brun Colon. “My favorite things about the Space Exploration Club are: the fact that it is open to everyone, the invaluable hands-on experience, the incredible projects I’ve had the chance to work on, and the people I get to work with. I didn’t know anything when I started but I learned. Don’t let yourself be intimidated. Be curious instead."

At a Glance:

Delphine LeBrun Colon: delphine.lebruncolon.5989@mail.linnbenton.edu
Levi Willmeth: levi.willmeth@gmail.com
Parker Swanson: swansop@linnbenton.edu

LBCC Space Exploration Club

OSSI

"NASA-wide system for the recruitment, application, selection and career development of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Opportunities for students in other disciplines are available."

The Shins "Heartworms" Review

The Shins "Hearworms" Album Artwork

Complete artistic freedom among musicians is a rarity these days. In an industry dominated by the bottom line and driving record sales, a lot of great music gets lost in the shuffle. We've reached an age where artistic integrity takes a back seat to the demands of the consumer. This results in watered down, similar sounding mediocrity that holds the medium at a standstill.

Artists are rarely content with creating art for art's sake. One genre of music I have always considered to be an exception to this is indie rock, filling a niche for people who want to hear genuine music created by people with true passion for what they are doing. Although some indie rock bands do strike deals with larger record labels, the artists are still given a lot of freedom to do what they feel is best on their projects.

One of indie rock's most popular bands, The Shins, once dominated the genre throughout the 2000s. Over the years, they have seen their fair share of changes. Back in 2008, front man of the group James Mercer decided to part ways with the three other founding members of the band. Stating it was an "aesthetic decision," and effectively turning the group into Mercer's solo project. With a new band accompanying him, many had concerns about the future of The Shins, but Mercer has proven he can do it on his own, the most recent example being his latest album "Heartworms."

"Heartworms" is the fifth studio album by The Shins, the follow up to "Port of Morrow" (2012), and the second album for the group on Columbia Records. It is also the first album frontman James Mercer has produced by himself since the band's 2001 debut album, "Oh, Inverted World."

"Heartworms" takes elements from past Shins albums, balancing the enigmatic lyricism of Mercer with his addictive melodies, evoking both sweet and bittersweet emotions along the way. "Heartworms" adds new elements as well. Mercer, inspired by his work with Danger Mouse in their side project, Broken Bells, uses a lot of synth sounds, as well as violins. All these pieces together make for unique sounding arrangements that lets "Heartworms" stand out in the Shin's discography.

Much like past albums from the group, "Heartworms" doesn't revolve around one central theme. Instead, each song has its own self-contained idea or question it explores.

Opening up the album is the track, "Name for You," an upbeat tune that challenges society's treatment of women and the labels people like to put on them. Inspired by and written for Mercer's three daughters, it describes the pressures and challenges women have to face on a day-to-day basis. The chorus makes a reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with the repeating line "What's in a name?" which is essentially saying that whatever society labels women as, that isn't necessarily what they have to be.

"I had been thinking about femininity and what it means to be a women in society and I guess I just wanted to speak to them [Mercer's daughters] and I want them to have a life where they feel powerful and comfortable and confident," said Mercer in an interview with 7.30, an Australian news program.

"Mildenhall" focuses on Mercer's childhood and how he went from growing up in a military family in Albuquerque, New Mexico to the lead singer of an indie rock band. Carrying an older country western vibe to it, "Mildenhall" has Mercer working his lower register while a steady rhythm and relaxing acoustic guitar gently flow throughout the song. Although it differs significantly from what Mercer usually writes, it works well here and is a nice nod to the old country and folk music Mercer used to listen to with his father.

"The Fear," the closing track of Heartworms, has both a feeling of melancholy and hope sprinkled throughout. Inspired by Mercer's own life and his struggle with debilitating thoughts, the song is about anxiety and how if someone's not careful they can waste their life by worrying too much.

Other tracks on the album explore concepts like the humor of modern relationships, living life to it's fullest, and loving someone who doesn't feel the same way. Mercer's song writing is as brilliant as ever, his use of cryptic lyrics leaves a lot of the meanings to his songs up to interpretation. One listener may have a completely different view on a song than someone else.

While "Heartworms" is a solid album, it doesn't do anything particularly transcendent to the genre or even for the Shins. Sure, it's a fun, well thought out album with some cool new elements, but it doesn't quite have the same magic of past records like "Oh, Inverted World" and "Chutes too Narrow" that made the band really stand out in the early 2000s.

Though the days of  The Shins creating groundbreaking music may be over, it's still great to see something auteur driven in the year 2017. James Mercer has proven yet again that he can still craft captivating melodies and arrangements that will stick around in your head long after your first listen.

At a glance:

Heartworms
The Shins
Fifth studio album created by the Portland based indie rock band.
Features James Mercer and a few new band members, the album comes five years after the release of previous album "Port of Morrow."
11 Tracks || Album Length: 41:51
Rating: 4/5 Good
Download Cost: $10.99

What others said:

"Self-produced and recorded, Heartworms is the most hermetic LP James Mercer has released since 2001’s Oh, Inverted World. His gift for making fussy arrangements seem effortless remains unparalleled."
- Evan Rytlewski (Pitchfork)




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