Frist Exhibit Commemorates Nashville's Civil Rights Movement

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Frist Art Museum is proudly displaying an exhibit titled “We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957-1968” through Oct. 14, 2018 in its Conte Community Gallery.

The Conte Community Gallery is free to everyone, and it is located in the front section of the Frist Center at 919 Broadway. The exhibit is presented in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, which occurred in Memphis on April 4, 1968. It consists of 50 black and white photos from the Civil Rights movement in Nashville between 1957 and 1968. 

King's casket being transported from Memphis to Atlanta for burial.

First day of desegregation in Nashville schools Sept. 9, 1957.

In 1957, desegregation in Nashville schools began to take place. The exhibit also includes photos from the year that King was assassinated, and both events are among the photos in the exhibit. The Nashville sit-ins, which took place in 1960 as an effort to desegregate lunch counters in the area, are another historical event included in the photos.

Agitators attack a sit-in demonstrator at a Nashville lunch counter.

All photos in the exhibit were taken by the two daily newspapers in Tennessee at the time, The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner. The exhibit displays strong photos that helped shape the public's opinion at the time.

Although much change has come since the Civil Rights movement, these photos serve as a reminder of issues that are still relevant. Race is still a common subject in American life, and it is a good time to take another look back at the brave people who stood up for change so that we could have a more equal country.

"We always try to bring in knowledgeable exhibits that are relevant to the time," said Frist Museum Visitors Center Manager Bonnie Wells. "This exhibit is important because it refreshes the public's memory of what people have been through just for equality. It shows the passion and pain that drove the Civil Rights movement."

The Frist Art Museum hosted or will host three events related to the exhibit. At noon on April 14, there was a panel discussion titled “Voices from the Front Lines” with participants from the local Civil Rights movement.

“The pictures themselves are powerful, but nothing makes the movement more real than the first-person accounts that were given at this event,” said Wells. “No one can better express the inequality of the times than the ones who were there.”

Among those who spoke were King Hollands, Gloria McKissack, and Rip Patton.

 At 7 p.m. on April 16, there was a concert titled “Songs of Freedom” in the Frist Auditorium. The concert included spirituals from slave days, freedom songs created in the civil rights era, and the jazz that resulted from these times. This event featured performances by local artists and musicians. “Songs of Freedom” was presented with the future National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville.

Another event to be held in association with “We Shall Overcome” will be a two-day educator workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 19 and 20, which is open to K-12 teachers of all subjects. This workshop will allow teachers to examine the photos in the exhibit while participating in a group gallery discussion that will allow them to gather teaching materials. The event is limited to 20 educators, and registration is due by July 16. Breakfast, lunch, studio activities, materials and gallery admission will be $50 for Frist members and $60 for non-members.

It is the perfect time to view the Frist's “We Shall Overcome” exhibit because the country is still very conscious of race relations. Those who inspired through the stormy Civil Rights era deserve recognition, and these powerful photographs take individuals from 1954 to 1968 with a whirlwind of emotions provoked by the images of the times.

The Frist Art Museum has a vision to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways, and this exhibit brings that vision to life. Regardless of skin color, individuals can benefit humanity by learning of the heroism of people from the past and learning more about things that are important.

For more information, visit www.Fristartmuseum.org. 

How to Take Better Photos Using One Simple App

By Trey Carter 

 Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer 

            SMYRNA -- We live in a digital age where nearly everybody is online. People are obsessed with popular apps such as Instagram and sharing photos. We like to share photos to show off something we accomplished, someone we may have seen recently, or even something we may have created. 

There’s a saying used often by this generation: “Pics or it didn’t happen.” In a way it implies that if someone can’t find a photo on your timeline or page, then it never happened. Of course this isn’t true. You don’t have to share every detail of your life online if you don’t want to. 

If you like sharing photos to your Instagram page or your Twitter feed, you would want them to look very nice and clean. Not everyone can afford an expensive camera, and sometimes our phones just fail to take the perfect photos.

Thankfully, there is a simple and easy-to-use free app called VSCO. VSCO stands for Visual Supply Company, and it was founded by Joel Flory and Greg Lutze in 2011. This app essentially gives the user a second camera on their phone, and it allows you to play around with more settings when taking photos. The app also provides a sharing network built into it where you can publish your photos and even look at other people’s work. The app is fairly simple once you use it for a while, it provides you with tons of tools to help make your photos look amazing.

You can find the website for VSCO by using this link: https://vsco.co/. However, I highly recommend checking it out on the app store. 

Shadows, taken at Motlow State Community College, Smyrna, Tenn. 

Cherry blossom trees, taken in the Ross parking lot in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

For starters, when you first open the app, you come across a tutorial basically showing you where everything is and such. I would strongly recommend clicking through it rather than skipping it. Afterward, you are free to start taking photos of anything you want.

The camera is similar yet different than your usual iPhone or Samsung camera. When you tap on the screen, a red circle will appear. From there you can tap anywhere to shift the focus. Once the red circle turns green and you like what you see, you snap the picture. After you capture a photo, you can move onto editing and adding filters.      

Editing in this app is very simple. When you look at your photo below, you have a small option bar, and you will see a button beside the save button. It looks like a scroll bar almost. Once you click on this, it will pull up all of the filters the app has to offer.

I highly recommend trying out all of the filters just to see if one can give your photo the extra pop it needs. Also, you can play around with the intensity of the filter by tapping again on the one you chose. This pulls up another menu that allows you to choose how much of the filter you want to use. 

Flower in bloom, taken in my backyard, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Spring time flowers, taken in my front yard, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

While the app gives you many great choices, there are also various filter packs you can buy through their store. You simply click the shop logo and it takes you to their store. Most of the packs cost money. However, it is usually pretty cheap.

Aside from adding filters, you can also play with various settings such as the exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows and many more. This can get a bit overwhelming at times, but the app makes it very simple by integrating a slide bar for you to make the changes on. You simply move your finger along the bar, and you will see the photo begin to change based on what you are doing. There is also a number placed above this bar to give you an exact value for how much of an edit you are making.

This app isn’t just limited to the photos you take. You can also import photos from your phone and edit those using these filters and tools. 

This app also incorporates a helpful history feature. Perhaps you started editing a photo then stopped and came back to it later. You can easily pull up this tab and see what you did last. This feature can be extremely helpful when editing on the go or if you change your mind on something.

After you have a photo edited and ready to post, you can go to the menu at the bottom of the page to look for the three dots icon. This pulls up a short that allows you to share the photo on VSCO as well as other platforms, save to your gallery, copy your edits, or delete the photo. If you are looking to post this photo to other sites, it is best to save it to your phone’s gallery. If you are on a Samsung phone, it will create a new folder for the app in your gallery.

Keyboard, taken at Motlow State Community College, Smyrna, Tenn.

If you are looking for a more-in-depth guide featuring tips and tricks, check out this article by clicking here: https://www.shopmoment.com/momentist/5-tips-for-better-editing-in-vsco If you check out this next article, you will find examples and tips from other users by clicking here: https://www.shopmoment.com/momentist/11-vsco-editing-tips-part-ii

If you are posting these photos to Instagram, I highly recommend using the hashtags #VSCO and #VSCOcam. These hashtags are essentially a collection of photos from the VSCO app or edited using it. You can find out more information by clicking here: https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-hashtag-VSCO-mean

Now let’s focus on the social network aspect of this app. It is similar to Instagram. However, it has less features. This app is somewhat how Instagram was before it added in more features from other apps such as direct messaging and stories. Through this network, you can follow people and favorite their photos. However, there is no area to comment on them. Also, you don’t really have a feed. There is an area on the app that’s titled collection. It changes often with the photos people upload. 

Athena, taken at Bicentennial park, Nashville, Tenn.

I feel like the social network area of this app is severely lacking. You don’t really get the sense of community you do on another app like Instagram. I like that it is a straight forward network truly based on sharing photos, but I would love the ability to comment on other people’s photos. To combat this, many users put their Instagram or Twitter user names in their bios on their profiles so other users can find them there. I rarely ever use this app for the social aspect, and I think that was the intention of the creators.

Overall, this app is very useful for all kinds of people. This includes amateur photographers who simply are not ready to move up to a real camera. Perhaps you forget your camera at home and still want to take a good and clean picture. Anyone can find a good use for this app and create some amazing photos.

Nationally Known Photographer Thomas Sanders Speaks at MTSU

By David Delgado

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Portrait and landscape Photographer Thomas Sanders spoke to students and faculty at Middle Tennessee State University on Nov. 9, telling them that “Photographing and honoring the veterans act as a an opportunity for them to tell their story.”

            Sanders has received national notoriety for a touring exhibition of photos called “American Heroes: Portraits of Service.” He traveled the country photographing and interviewing hundreds of veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

            More than 50 students and faculty gathered in the BAS State Farm Room at 6:30 p.m. to hear Sanders describe his war-related work and share some of the stories of the veterans he photographed. Storytelling has always been part of Sanders’ life. He was deeply inspired by his grandfather, who also dedicated his life and career to photography.

Photo by David Delgado   

  “My grandfather was a professional photographer for part of his life,” said Sanders. “Storytelling has been part of my whole life because of him.”

Sanders has used a good portion of his work to honor World War II veterans. Sanders used PowerPoint to show present-day images of the vets he photographed. He shared moving stories if soldiers provided them. One of the first World War II Vets he interviewed, Randel Paris, pulled down his pants to show a scar in his lower abdomen. He received the scar during a battle in Italy. He witnessed his accompanying commander triggering an S-mine and dying instantly. During the battle, Randel triggered an S-mine himself. The shrapnel hit his stomach and his intestines came out. He took his canteen belt and cinched it around his stomach to survive.

Photo by David Delgado   

A place where Sanders draws inspiration comes from fellow photographers Jeff Wall and Pieter Hugo. When the lecture was done, Sanders opened himself up for questions about his life and work. Several members of the audience asked questions.

When asked what adversities he sometimes faces, the artist said, “Challenges I face would be language barriers, and sometimes I would photograph the vets and ask them if they wanted to do an interview. Sometimes they did not.”

He added that he enjoys photographing current soldiers as well and would love to do a book on all of the wars. 

            Attendees were invited to visit the Baldwin Photographic Gallery at the College of Media and Entertainment to see the photos featured in his PowerPoint presentation. Many students snapped pictures while admiring the art with the people who organized the event. There was also a line to speak to Sanders and get autographs.

Photo by David Delgado   

“The Baldwin Photographic Gallery hosts up to four exhibitions each academic year,” said event organizer Jackie Heigle, curator and associate professor of photography. “It is important for the students to experience exhibitions of photographic works on and off campus, and to hear the stories of these ‘real world’ photographers who might inspire the students more directly to be aware of the challenges and the rewards of hard work, business acumen, and personal style." 

“I think he is a very interesting photographer who has done well in the span for himself,” said Andrew Miller, an MTSU student who attended the event. “I think the pieces are wonderful and very high quality. I love the expressions and the life you can feel coming from them. I hope this is a tribute that can live on to honor and memorialize these people and their place in history. For better or for worse, documenting history is important from an event standpoint as well as an individual.”  

Photo by David Delgado       

            To stay connected and learn about other events that are going on at MTSU, including the Photography Department, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/whatsup/ 

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What is the Meaning of Photography?

By SkyQuajus Turner

Motlow Buzz Reporter

 

            What is Photography? Photography is a way to show creativity in many ways. Some photographers use photography to express emotion or sometimes to just allow people to see something other than just an image. Photography is known as a free will experience, taking pictures of almost anything that catches your eye.

            Ernst Haas was a photographer during the early ‘20s who used photography as a medium for expression and creativity. He allowed an individual to see something more than just a picture, allowing one to look at an image and see emotional and physical pain, happiness, etc.

            Reggie Baker, a retired local photographer, tells us how the art of photography changed his way of thinking, as well as his way of seeing something more than just a picture. Baker started as a well-known photographer in Flint, Michigan, shooting for hospitals, football players, movies, etc. He tells us that there were brutal things being seen while taking photos in the hospital, which changed his thought on life. Baker also says photography was a great way to escape his real-life situation.

Being a local photographer like me out of Smyrna, Tennessee, your mind is opened up to creative aspects. Growing up, I always saw things in a meaningful way with the idea of drawing artwork to show some form of creativity. As years went by, I was able to own my first camera, an old polaroid made back in the ‘70s handed down to me from my great-grandmother. I eventually upgraded to a Canon DSLR T3i camera. I was allowed to go deeper as an artist, showing expression and allowing others to see that I had true talent for the art of photography.

At the begging of last year, I took some photos for two young brothers with different skin colors (one light and one dark). As I shot the image, I realized that no matter what color your skin is or what you look like, family is family. I called the image “I am my BROTHERS keeper”. Pictures like these express show emotion, shows feeling, and convey meaning.
 

When doing photography, you have to have an eye for the art. You have to be able to know the difference between emotional and non-emotional images, being able to draw an individuals attention.

            “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures,” says Don McCullin.

            “The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation,” says Susan Meiselas.

            “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures,” says McCullin.

https://petapixel.com/2014/05/29/70-inspirational-quotes-photographers/

 

Why Film Photography Is Regaining Its Popularity

By Noah Gardner

Motlow Buzz Reporter

            In a world where photographs are primarily taken digitally, there is a growing popularity amongst photographers for the film formats of the past. But why would anyone in our society of technological advances still return to shoot with  

            In the early 2000s, the world of photography as we knew it changed forever. Though digital cameras were made in the ‘90s, the high quality results came with the 21^st Century. Companies went from processing film to just simply making scans of a digital photo. However, after about 10 years of a crashing market, recent studies have shown that film is regaining its popularity.

Kodak Ektachrome

According to Kodak Alaris, a spinoff of legendary film manufacturer Kodak, sales of Kodak professional film grew more than 5 percent worldwide between 2013 and 2015. Kodak has taken note of the resurgence of the film world and announced that it is rereleasing one of their most popular 35mm films known as Kodak Ektachrome. This stands to show that film is a growing trend amongst amateur and professional photographers.

            What a lot of people don’t understand though is that film takes a bit more time and money. In order to develop film, you must take it somewhere that has the appropriate equipment, like a local camera store such as Durys on Murfreesboro Pike. Also, chain stores like Walmart or Walgreens have photo departments in their stores where they can send your film to be developed.

Photo taken with Kodak Ektachrome

Instead of doing either of these two things, you can do the much more difficult task of developing your own film. To make a long story short, there are a lot of chemicals and tools involved that you have to buy just to get the photos developed. Not to mention a space to set up your own darkroom. This is why I prefer to take my film to a place that will do it for me. I might pay a bit more, but it is worth taking to a professional rather than possibly destroying the film on my own.

            That all being said, a lot of professional photographers defend film photography because it allows them to have complete creative control. While digital photographers have to take hours to edit their photos, film photographers would argue that this is showing a lack of control over their own photos.

 Walter Rothwell, a professional photographer who regularly uses film said, “Necessity is the mother of invention; there is no point staring at the back of a film camera after taking a shot—that time and energy is already going into the next one. Not knowing immediately what has been captured is a creative advantage,”

Photo taken by Walter Rothwell

What he is saying is that film makes the photographer more creative because he or she isn’t sure what the picture looks like immediately after it is taken. Shooting film is a process that makes you appreciate the photo more, wherein digital photos can be much more forgettable due to the incredible volume of a similar image.

            I can understand both sides. I have a digital camera, but I still would prefer to shoot film. To me, film makes photography seems like more of a job, which I like. With digital, you can take hundreds of photos in a matter of seconds and forget about them in an instant. Also, film has a grain quality that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This whole debate is very comparable to the vinyl versus digital download debate. It is all about what the photographer is planning on doing. There is a time and a place for either digital or film, and that is up to you to decide.

            Ultimately, this is not to say that everyone should immediately discard their digital cameras and switch to film, but rather that film still has a very real and serious place in the world of photography. Alongside digital, film photography can continue to strive and thrive, offering a different approach to taking a picture. The rebirth is just that however. Companies will need to continue to respond to the resurgence of the market and innovate as much as they can to stay safe. Whether they can or not, remains to be seen. For now, though, film is alive and well.  

http://www.kodak.com/us/en/corp/press_center/kodak_brings_back_a_classic_with_ektachrome_film/default.htm - An article about Kodak bringing back Ektachrome.       

                

https://shop.lomography.com/en/films/35mm-film?country=us – The different kind of films that you can buy.

https://www.thespruce.com/film-vs-digital-photography-2688470 -The comparison between digital and film cameras.

A Beginners Guide to DSLR Landscape Photography DIY

By Harley Phillips

Everyone loves looking at something profound.

Nature is the most beautiful work of art that will ever exist, and it was here long before us. I have always found myself taking photos outdoors because of all of the color that can brighten up any photo. It is possible for anyone to be an impressive landscape photographer. Anyone can take a pretty picture, however there are secrets behind taking a mesmerizing photo. Hopefully what is discussed in my blog will guide you on your way to becoming a stunning landscape photographer!

The following blog article will explain landscape photography. I put this blog together hoping to motivate more people to try landscape photography. I explain, the equipment I carry, getting to know your camera, and how to start finding inspiration.

What I'm Working with: (Also an affordable option for you!)

·         DSLR Camera (Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera)

·         Nikon D3200 $449.95 (Link for preview or purchase provided below:)

Nikon D3200

·         Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G (VR-Vibration Reduction, SWM- Silent Wave Motor, AS- Aspherical Lens Elements, A-M, Auto-Manual Mode) $199.95 Link for preview or purchase provided below:

af-s-dx-zoom-nikkor-ed-18-55mm-f3.5-5.6g

·         24 MP CMOS sensor

·         Expeed 3 processing (same as used for the D4 and D800 series)

·         3.0", 920k dot screen

·         Full HD 1080p30 video (with 25p & 24p options)

·         Microphone Socket

·         4 frame-per-second continuous shooting

·         Guide mode

Lastly, is my travel worthy $10 Wal-Mart Targus tri-pod!

Targus-TG-5060TR-Tripod-With-3-Way-Panhead

 

Deciding what kind of camera, you want is completely up to you, it doesn't even need to be an expensive one unless you're looking to make a hobby or career out of photography. I am currently still perfecting my skills and have found exceptional use and quality with my equipment.

Part-One: Get to Know Your Camera

The first time I picked my Nikon up it was as if my mind had been opened to a whole new world of photography. No, my Nikon was not the first DSLR camera I messed around with, but it was the first one I had to myself and could play with for hours.

Although, DSLR cameras have automatic modes, there will also be times when you may need to adjust your camera settings. For landscape photography, this is an important step considering our world has day and nighttime.

      For a beginner, the link below will give you insite on the basics of getting to know your camera:

Getting To Know Your Camera

      Not only is there a lot of settings to mess with and think about when taking photos, cameras also tend to have a lot of abbreviated words. Unless you're educated in photography you'll most likely find yourself researching words, etc, quite often.

 Part-Two: Inspiration

GO OUTDOORS! Spend time outside on our beautiful planet. Think about what inspired you to want to try landscape photography.

    Be the lens, find a beautiful view and focus in on it.

   Go to that favorite waterfall of yours and scope out the surrounding area until you find its most attractive angle.

     This doesn't mean that you need to prepare to take the most amazing picture on earth of your favorite waterfall. This is just something to bring out creativity and open your eyes to view something more in-depth than before.

     When you feel as though you are ready to give it a shot, shoot it!

   The following link has a few awesome tips on Landscape Photography:

Tips On Landscape Photography

Part-Three: Things to Consider

            You don’t really need anything fancy when it comes to landscape photography, the pictures speak for themselves. Pay attention to the lighting, that’s one of the most important parts of shooting landscapes!

            Don’t spend all day hiking to a spot for a gorgeous photo that is poorly lit. Try to take photos that are not within an hour before or after sunrise and sunset. Continue practicing taking photos at the same place. The atmosphere around us is always changing meaning our photos will change some as well.

            Depending on the weather, the sky and the season will give you an idea about the atmosphere to expect. I cannot stress enough that your photos need to be attractive. Take photos that are so beautiful that others can feel emotion by looking at them.

            Some photos look even better when they are black & white, especially because of the vibe the photo gives off. Don’t be afraid to take switch things up.

Part-Four: Experience

                It’s not about how much experience you have. If landscape photography was about anything at all I would say it’s about patience.

            Find your inspiration, so you become interested.

Get to know your camera, so you already know what you’re aiming for.

Consider your surroundings and atmosphere.

Part-Five: My Experience

All photos throughout this DIY were taken with my Nikon D3200.

 

 

 

 

 

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Top 10 Photos for Your Big Day

By Kiersten Hull

            Hey ladies! I know that sometimes planning which pictures you want and need can be a little stressful so I recently interviewed several photographers and brides who say you need these photos on your big day! Following are examples:

1)    The way the groom looks at you when you first come down that aisle is number one in my books.

2)    Holding hands as you say your “I DO’S”.

3)    YOUR DRESS! You have to get all the details of your dress because the big day is the only day you will wear it.

4)    The bridal party…You want to be able to remember all the gorgeous people who made your big day happen.

5)    THE KISS! Enough said. 

6)    Being excited after you are officially announced as “MR. & MRS.”

7)    Candid photos are a must to have on your wedding day. You want all the laughs and tears captured.

8)    The way he looks at you (pictures like this are to die for).

9 & 10) Simple and elegant pictures of you and your groom.

Sarah Davenport talks about how a photographer has a lot to do with you getting the best shots on your wedding day and how you can do that: “Being excited and complementary is incredibly important in getting a shot because you're fueling how they feel which reflects how they look.

It can be difficult to find the balance between being bossy and being a director. If you need people to be somewhere, tell them, but be careful not to be too rude and commanding. I highly suggest meeting with the coordinator and bride weeks before the wedding so you can make the schedule together. Know how much time you need to get bridal portraits, bridal party shots and family shots, that way everyone knows when they need to be ready and things flow better. Basically, work together with the coordinator, it's their job to get people where they need to be, it doesn't fall all on the photographer’s shoulders.”

A few examples the brides say they do not want:    https://www.facebook.com/kiersten.hull

1.)   Shots of the same photo just in different angles because then you have the same photo just in a different angle.

2.)   Some brides I have talked to say that do not want a picture of them eating.

3.)   Some say they don’t want pictures of drunk people.

I’m sure there are many more do’s and dont’s and if I or someone I know come up with anymore I will get back to everyone.

Sarah Davenport Photography: 

https://www.facebook.com/sarahdavenportphotographytn/photos/a.571136063026161.1073741832.165945070211931/571137249692709/?type=3&theater

---Sarah let me borrow a couple of her awesome shots of some of her clients’ perfect days!

Blake Brooks Photography:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/blakebrooksphotography/photos/?tab=albums --- A Bride sent me this photo of her and her husband, and I absolutely loved it. I love the view behind them and the love you can feel between them!

Mackenzie Mcculley Photography: https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.mcculley/media_set?set=a.1312911408736876.1073741842.100000540870797&type=3

--- Here is another beautiful bride who sent me some lovely shots from her big day! I just

love these. So simple and elegant!

There are some must have shots on your big day for all you soon to be beautiful brides. I hope this blog article helped you out by showing which photos to take. If you live in Tennessee or somewhere nearby, these photographers do a wonderful job, and all credit goes to them!

            

https://www.facebook.com/MiddleTennesseeEventPlanning/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

            

All About Me

Hi everyone! My name is Kiersten Hull; I am a 19-year-old at Motlow State Community College. I am getting my associates degree in general studies at the moment, but I am looking to go into the wedding planning business after I graduate. I’m happily engaged to my high school sweetheart, and we just bought our very first house! I also work full time at a store called Buckle in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.