Passion,

I have many passions, but recently, I've really been into photography. I finally got my own camera, and 2009 has been the start of my photography career. It's awesome! The things I get to do, the people I meet, the credit I get. I love it.

It sounds great, but I still had much to learn. When I started, I knew nothing. I always took pictures using the AUTO feature. I didn't know my settings, I basically only used my creativity. It was good but not good enough. Not "professional" material.

Before starting Project Icarus, I was already trying to learn things on my own. But after starting it, I got a little more serious. I went out, and actually asked my photographer friends. I never did before. I asked them to rate me before I learned. Heres what they had to say:

Father: "If it was out of 10, I'd say you are a 5 out of 10. Not the best, but not junk either"

Anthony(photographer): "You're pretty good for a sophomore, still got lots to learn. By senior year, you'll be famous, popular, professional."

Uncle(photographer): "You're doing great, but still have lots to learn"

I'd say I was doing alright.

So I went out and did my research, I read online articles and tutorials, conducted interviews, watched DVD's my dad bought for me, and then I went out and tried it. I had a photoshoot on Friday that really tested my skills. I went out and did a photoshoot with Anthony. I did pretty good, and I even learned more things. Anthony even learned something new. In all, I think I improved greatly. "You're getting there Andrew", says Anthony. 

I had learned a lot from reading those books and DVD's. I learned the one thing that always bothered me and my the quality of my pictures. I did not know for sure how the use the aperture and shutter speed for my camera. After a long time of researching and trial and error, I finally understood it.

The aperture of the lens is controlled by an iris and controls how much light is let in. Aperture is expressed by the f-stop, e.g. f/2.8. The smaller the value, the larger the lens opening, the more light. Then the shutter speed comes in to play, the faster the shutter speed, the faster the picture is taken, there fore no blur or motion. The slower the speed allows for motion blur and other effects. I learned a lot and I use this now to enhance my pictures. I recently learned how to show the flow of water using my shutter speed. I lowered the shutter speed, took a picture of the shore break, and the picture came out beautiful. The water was so serene and you can see the flow, it was super nice. I continue to learn something new every time I go out on a photo shoot.

Sometimes failing at something will make you want to strive to get better. Before I learned all of this, I did not know much about cameras. I would just take pictures for the heck of it, no knowledge of the settings or anything. I'd usually fail and was sometimes disappointed by my pictures. But trial and error also got me ahead. I played around with my settings until it worked. By doing this, I learned the basics of the camera settings. I recently shot my friend's senior portraits, Penelope and Abby. After I was finished, I was so happy with the pictures. They had a great time, and they also loved the pictures. I was so happy with myself and I guess you could say I was proud. The best part about photography is the feeling you get after you see your pictures or when you see how people feel about your pictures. They seem to understand the values of my pictures, and see the world at my perspective..a

Photography.

I have many passions, but recently, I've really been into photography. I finally got my own camera, and 2009 has been the start of my photography career. It's awesome! The things I get to do, the people I meet, the credit I get. I love it.

It sounds great, but I still had much to learn. When I started, I knew nothing. I always took pictures using the AUTO feature. I didn't know my settings, I basically only used my creativity. It was good but not good enough. Not "professional" material.

Before starting Project Icarus, I was already trying to learn things on my own. But after starting it, I got a little more serious. I went out, and actually asked my photographer friends. I never did before. I asked them to rate me before I learned. Heres what they had to say:

Father: "If it was out of 10, I'd say you are a 5 out of 10. Not the best, but not junk either"

Anthony(photographer): "You're pretty good for a sophomore, still got lots to learn. By senior year, you'll be famous, popular, professional."

Uncle(photographer): "You're doing great, but still have lots to learn"

I'd say I was doing alright.

So I went out and did my research, I read online articles and tutorials, conducted interviews, watched DVD's my dad bought for me, and then I went out and tried it. I had a photoshoot on Friday that really tested my skills. I went out and did a photoshoot with Anthony. I did pretty good, and I even learned more things. Anthony even learned something new. In all, I think I improved greatly. "You're getting there Andrew", says Anthony. 

For my media part, I am creating a book. Displaying my past work and my most recent work. You can see the improvement. I can say I am very proud of my improvement and looking forward to the future of my career.

Passion!

1. What is your passion that you would like to focus on for Project Icarus?

I'm really into piano and photography at the moment. I guess I'm an art and music kind of person. But if I had to choose, I'd choose photography. I've been into it for about a year now, and I still have much to learn. 

2. What resources will you use for your research? (be sure that they are resources that are accessible to you).

Photography Teacher (Dad's Friend)

Fellow Photographers

Photography Blogs, Websites

Uncle

Dad

3. What are the questions you want answered about your passion?

I would like to find out about the different camera settings and what it means. I know it, but I'd like a deeper meaning to it and what it does in detail.

What is special about photography as compared to other art forms? Purpose?

4. What is your research plan (what sources will you consult, who might you interview, etc)?

I'd go ask my photographer friends personally. I could also ask my teacher, uncle, or my dad. They're all professionals and know a lot about photography.

Conduct an interview, visit websites to collect information.

5. What might be a possible product or performance for your impact activity?

Portfolio, Book.

This I believe...

I believe in Music as the most powerful means of communication in the world. Infants have memory of the music they hear in the womb. It is the lullaby sung by a mother or father to a child. It is the way a toddler enjoys sharing what he learned. It is the made-up song of a preschooler and her pride in singing it for you herself. It is that special song that reminds us of one we love. Music joins us together in emotional and memorable times. When we rejoice music help’s us celebrate. When we cry music soothes our soul. Music is able to transcend cultures, and societies. It stays with us through the ages.


In my life I have grown up around music. My parents sang constantly around us and with us, even in the car. One of my favorite little child memories is singing with the family in the car on our way to church. Now, I play the piano and I sing for our church choir and is another step for me in music. My whole family is involved with music, whether it'd be for religious reasons, or just for the heck of it. My parents are always pushing me and little sisters to play our music, or practice the piano. Most of the time, we automatically go ahead and do it ourselves. This shows our love for music and how important it is to us. When I started singing and playing for the church, I realized the power of music. How we could communicate and pray with songs.


Singing and playing music gives me the opportunity to change the world, even just a little at a time. Every week at church, I play a new song, and the meaning of the song is amazing. It'd be religious but also have a deep meaning to it. When its church, and we sing, I love to see how the music affects the church goers. It gives church a whole new meaning for me. I come to play for God and spread his word through music. That is the power of music, it has the ability to reach across and send a message. Music is the most powerful means of communication in the world!

The Melody

The Melody
by: Andrew Tran

My soul is the piano, my words are the keys.
Together it composes songs to choir.
What is a piano, without the player
It's like a soul, without a desire.

It’s the melody of my heart
Of which you are the key, minor or sharp
The part that makes my vocals
A melody of intrinsic value

Every verse, dedicated to your soul
Every line, dedicated to that which makes me whole

It doesn’t even have to rhyme all the time
For the song within my spirit to climb
To levels that your mind can receive

I do believe, without a shadow of a doubt
That you,

My Mind, Body, Soul and Spirit,

Are the Melody of my lifetime

VICTORY!

PORTFOLIO!

PORTFOLIO!!!!!