I found that people are naturally attracted toward sunsets—generally viewing them as something out of a dream. I aimed to try and find a sunset that personifies this dream like view or ethereal idea people have of sunsets. I believe the sunset over Berkeley was my best attempt at capturing that.

I got the inspiration to take this photo from another photographer named Todd Hido. I really like his photos of Bay Area houses at night, and this was my attempt at trying to recreate that. The photo has added grain because I really like how it adds to the texture and sort of eeriness of the photo. When first taking the photo of this house, I actually did it on film. I asked my mom for her old film camera and went to our local camera store and bought a roll of film. I had shot on film previously but never at night, so it was really fun and challenging for me not to know what the photo was going to turn out looking like. However, the photos I captured of this house on film were all very over or under exposed, which was a disappointment to me, but it's also part of the learning process, and I appreciate the fact that when taking photos on film, you don't know what the picture is going to look like until its been developed. Even though my film photos didn't come out the best, I still liked them and wanted to see what they could have looked like, so I went back to the same house with my digital camera and took a photo, and I am very pleased with how it came out.

My whole life I’ve been trying to find a passion. I’ve always put myself into a proverbial box by doing things I thought would make the people around me happy. Photography to me was always an afterthought. Something I did mindlessly, without thinking just by clicking a button on a phone screen. Photography was not art, it was an action. It took a teacher of mine to show me what more it could be, to show me that photography takes control, creativity, and an ever thinking mind. He showed me the way to my true passion, the one that makes me happy, not anyone else. The umbrella series originates from a singular photo I took when I was just beginning photography, less than a year ago. The series focused on vintage photos, and I felt umbrellas added a kind of mysterious vintage look. Through this project I learned that umbrellas are much more than what I thought before. Umbrellas are masks, they hide us. You will see that many of the photos in this collection involve people facing away from the camera, and holding the umbrella either above or behind them. I believe this pose illustrates both umbrellas ability to mask our identities and hide us from things we are not yet ready to see.

The pursuit of capturing the essence of solitude against the misty backdrop of the ocean becomes an artful endeavor. The artistic process of staging a photo begins with a conceptual foundation rooted in emotion and symbolism. The grey expanse of the ocean, shrouded in the ethereal embrace of fog, sets the atmospheric stage for an introspective narrative. Choosing the perfect location is paramount - a desolate stretch of coastline where the rhythmic whispers of the waves echo the quiet recesses of the soul. The girl, a poignant protagonist, is carefully positioned, her silhouette a study in contemplation against the muted canvas of the mist-laden seascape. The subdued lighting, courtesy of the fog, envelops her in an almost mystical aura, intensifying the feeling of isolation. The girls gaze, fixed upon the horizon, becomes the focal point of emotional gravity, It is a gaze that transcends the physical boundaries of the photograph, inviting viewers to step into the solitude portrayed. The choice of a foggy day adds an extra layer of metaphorical weight, as if the girl is navigating the uncertainties of life obscured by a haze. The vast, seemingly endless ocean mirrors the expanses of one's internal landscape when left alone with thoughts. This staged photograph is not merely an image; it is a visual poem that invites contemplation of the human experience of solitude, beautifully captured in the union of a lone figure and the misty grey ocean.

it means the beauty of someone work is demonstrated in their artwork or photo.

This long exposure photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge captures the vibrant energy of San Francisco at night. The city’s iconic bridge stretches across the darkness, its orange glow reflected in the still waters of the bay. Streaks of white and yellow light from passing cars paint the bridge’s underbelly, transforming it into a luminous artery pulsing with life. In this image, I see a gateway not just to a physical location, but to a world of possibility. The Golden Gate Bridge has long been a symbol of innovation and progress, and the city it connects is a hub of creativity and diversity. The constant flow of traffic across the bridge represents the endless movement of people and ideas that define San Francisco. I hope this image evokes a sense of wonder and excitement in the viewer. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of nights, there is always a spark of light, a path forward, and a vibrant energy waiting to be discovered.

When I went camping near Willow Creek, I made this stack of rocks, which is shown in the photo. This photograph shows shallow depths.

this is a picture of the beautiful tree in the front yard of my lovely house in amazing El Sobrante

My name is Ashly O., I am from Costa Rica and I speak Spanish. I’m 19 years old and I have a wonderful experience with cameras because Mr. Zak explains very well how to use them and I had fun. It was my first session of taking photos and I feel I did it well. My portrait is about Helson, my classmate. He is very intrepid as a model. I would describe him as an expert model in this photo because he has great ideas for the photos and nice modeling. I feel proud of myself when I see this photo because I like how I captured my model in the perfect time To take this photo my model claimed the basketball red for himself and looked straight at the camera and gave me this amazing photo It was the perfect time and I also think this photo has a lot of rules of composition like centreted, angles and story that we learn in Mr Zak class like creativity taking photos. I realize that I enjoy taking photos. This photo was already perfect when I edited it. I just add color, contrast and I just erase a poster from the photo using the bandage technique. The story of my portrait is about a basketball player that is in love with the game and does whatever for amazing photos of basketball.

What Is time? Did it have a beginning? Will it have an end? Do others perceive time differently? why does time seem to move faster the longer we experience it? As I briefly stare at the clock under wisteria, I ask myself these questions.

Capturing a moment of simple daily life spontaneously to show how every day can be beautiful and elegant.

This picture not only looks nice but being apart of the sunset in Costa Rica after catching my first wave felt like an unforgetable moment.

As an athlete myself, I know the joy I feel when I know people are taking photos of me doing what I love. It makes me feel appreciated, so I want to make others feel that. I often take pictures of the "underdog" in sports to help encourage them when they feel doubtful about their skills or being a part of the team. Photographing the underdog often causes for more emotion and dedication shown in the photos, which I believe makes a better photo. My photo submission, "Force of Football," represents the physical strength and mental strength needed for football. Missing a block, throwing an interception, or dropping a touchdown all affect a player's mindset in the game. Sometimes completely changing the game outcome. This moment I photographed was the first play number 17 had been in for, and he made a critical block that resulted in a touchdown for the team. The player watched his teammate who scored the touchdown get all the praise while he was left walking back to the sideline. This photo shows how this player is just as important as the touchdown makers. Without that block, there would have been no touchdown. This is why I believe they are the playmakers. I want my works to reflect the importance of the underdog and how resilient they need to be to play in the face of adversity.

When taking this photo, I wanted to capture a low light setting with cars. I found a perfect spot right behind a pole to create foreground and background. I used manual exposure and color-graded in photoshop.

I thought that it would be a cute picture of my dog running towards me

In this piece, I wanted to show that there are multiple sides to who I am. What you see on the outside is not always what is on the inside.

me and my friends and family travel a lot, so i always look for an opportunity to photograph for my digital photography class. We were on the beach, and i was marveling at how beautiful the lighting was, and how nice the warm breeze felt. I hate to take out my phone or camera at times like these, because its always more special to just enjoy the moment with only your eyes. But i felt that this time was different, just the perfectness of the beach, the sunset, and the grass. When i saw my friend walking back up from the sand, i knew that i had to take my camera out. My friend walks in an elegant way, so i had a good feeling that he would make the picture look much better. As i thought back, i also remembered that i had an assignment for my digital photography class, so i started snapping pictures immediately. As i was taking pictures, i didn't feel that they were special in any way until i looked at the pictures later, which was when i realized i had found my work of art.

A memorial to my grandpa, a man hopefully I will one day turn out or become.

I was on the way out of my house and i saw the light creeping out behind the clouds and thought it would be a good picture, when i went down to the shore to capture that moment, someone was driving their boat out on the water and it completed the picture in my eyes.

Reading is one of my hobbies. A great way to express yourself is through photography. BI can get lost in books and I teleport into my own little world. This photo represents how important book choice is.