Model Blog (2025.01.16)

The assignment is to find a blog similar to mine that follows at least a few elements of good website design.

While I found several photography blogsites, I needed to choose just one as an example.

Behind the Shutter

Behind the Shutter (https://www.behindtheshutter.com/) is a beautiful site!

I quickly got overwhelmed by the expectation that I have high aspirations with my photography, and that I want to shoot portraits, weddings, and magazine covers

Photographic Chronicle

Olaf Sztaba (https://olafphotoblog.com/) kept the home page as the blog page, which I think is a mistake.

I like the clean look and feel and the lovely photos encourage me to read more of the blog.

Unfortunately, the most recent blog is October 9, 2021.

Chase Jarvis

Chase Jarvis (https://chasejarvis.com/photos/) has a lovely, engaging home page which shows a range of subjects, locations, and interests.

The photos capture my interest and make me want to know more about the subject. It is frustrating that I cannot click on the photo to learn more about it

As I moved my mouse near the search bar, a popup ad covered the page (which is usually an instant dislike for me) for Jarvis’ book.

I am intrigued by the book, and I put it on hold at my library.

However, when I went to the blog (https://chasejarvis.com/blog/), it feels like I’m reading a magazine for Technology people, and I do not feel like reading more.

Beer & Beans

Beer & Beans (https://beersandbeans.com/category/blog/) is written by a photographer and a journalist who take their readers on fun trips around the world.

I like the layout and the web design of this site. With a fun name like that, how could I resist investigating more?

Their blog (https://beersandbeans.com/2017/02/27/best-snow-day-cruise-cocktails/) has a large, easy to read title, has an engaging photo on top, and has two easy ways to connect with the authors on the sidebar.

It’s probably no surprise that I chose to feature Beer & Beans for my assignment.

Self Portrait (2025.01.01)

I used to have long hair (I used to sit on it).

I had it cut (to just below my shoulders) after I gave birth (that’s just too much for an infant to grab hold of).

Backing up farther, I have struggled with migraines all my life (at least since I was a teenager).

I noticed that with shorter hair, the migraines weren’t quite as bad, or quite as frequent, or some indication that the hair exacerbated a known problem.

Images of me through time, from left to right: 1) attending a wedding; 2) giving a presentation; 3) looking askance at a coworker; 4) giving a different presentation; and 5) defending my archaeology master’s thesis prospectus.

The photos above show how I started shortening my hair in stages. By early 2020, I found the style that worked best to keep my migraines at their lowest level as well as allowed for me to still look pretty.

Note: I had tried cutting it all off (possibly the summer of 2008), and did not like my aesthetic.

To get back to the subject, I have frequently thought about capturing the moment when I use two mirrors to see the back of my head as I use the clippers to remove the excess.

Here are some shots of me setting up and finding the right point of view.

I kept my robe on because I get cold very easily.

I kept adjusting my position in the bathroom, the props around me, and how my camera pointed at the bathroom mirror. It also took me a few shots to position the second mirror just right to capture a bit of my face.

Here are some shots of me getting the shot I really wanted

Even after the practice shots, it still took a bit to get it right. I kept getting my arm in the shot when I added the clippers and had to switch hands. And then I realized that my focus was not the clippers, but my face in the second mirror.

Here is the final result

I’m still debating if I like the color or BW better.