Introductory Post – EMINENT 2019

 

Notable excerpt from @PaulNicklen About Me https://paulnicklen.com:

“Paul Nicklen is equally recognized by the conservation community for his outspoken work, and has been awarded the Natural Resources Defense Council BioGems Visionary Award. Most recently, Nicklen was bestowed an honorary PhD at the University of Victoria, for the impact his photography has had on climate change.

In addition to being one of the world’s most acclaimed nature photographers, Nicklen is a sought-after speaker, a TED Talks legend, an author, and National Geographic Fellow. In the past two decades, Paul has collaborated with scientists, filmmakers, conservationists and explorers to create awareness and inspire action for global issues like climate change.

As a co-founder of the non-profit, SeaLegacy, Paul Nicklen is opening a fresh, progressive chapter in the story of ocean conservation. Through visual storytelling, Sea Legacy inspires millions of people to stand up and have a voice for the pristine places threatened by climate change.” 

 

Specific aspects that interest me  about this notable is how well recognized and accomplished he is  within the journalism, biology and photography field. As an adamant Ted Talk listener I admire what he has to say on many wildlife topics (some controversial) and how he contributed his findings to the world. He also interests me with his efforts towards ocean conservation and his beautiful photography in general. 

Paul Nicklen should be considered eminent because he has changed the way people see wildlife photography and the National Geographic society, both literally and figuratively. His popularity and skill in the area of photography led him to achieve the role as a part of NatGeo and from there his efforts and contributions flourished. A big part of his advancement after NatGeo was based around SeaLegacy, his Ted Talks and climate change. 

In my opinion Paul Nicklen exhibits the strengths of a gifted learner in the ways he is able to uniquely differentiate and attach meaning to different emotional connections with the topics he photographs and studies, especially in extreme conditions. Another trait is how he has many areas of interests he wants to study (journalism, editing, bio, photography, film, activism, conservation, etc) and holds himself to high expectations in  each. Both of these points I can heavily relate to because I share very similar interests and hobbies as Nicklen and expect myself to do well in each area. An example of this in TALONS is how we all strive to be our best and sometimes take on too many tasks at once. This is similar to me because I tend to have quite a bit on my plate but am always looking for other things to do to challenge myself, even though I might need to take a step back from commitments instead of adding more.  

As an activist, conservationist and overall  someone who cares greatly about the state of the planet,  Nicklen faces many challenges when trying to get his ideas across to the public when in the face of backlash and turmoil. Within himself, Nicklen faced issues with motivation and stability regarding his mental health on a career path and struggled to figure out where he wanted to go. Straying away from the topic of goals and more on similarities in overcoming difficulties, I can relate to Nicklen in how balancing mental health stability and educational / career responsibilities becomes stressful and burdenning. One of my biggest goals based on studying Paul Nicklen and his career is to take as many opportunities that are thrown at me and expose myself to as much engaging educational experiences as possible to keep myself happy and motivated in a particular field. 

Some barriers I might have when creating and performing a speech about Paul Nicklen is age and gender. However, neither of these things will be portrayed in an offensive or derogatory way to anyone. I plan to bring these up as little as possible in my speech itself because Nicklen’s age and gender did not have that much to do with the success of his career and I believe it will be quite the same in the case of my future too. 

 

Job Ideas – CAREER 10

Job Ideas

 

Journalist 

Education Journalists must have a college diploma or a university degree in journalism or a related field (i.e., communications). Other requirements vary depending on the position and may include:

• a university degree in English or history with proven writing skills.
• experience working on school newspapers or doing outside writing work while in school
• one to two years of experience for daily newspapers
• newspaper layout experience and proven competency with a digital camera

Specialized reporting positions, such as a sports reporter or a music reviewer, require considerable background in the field

Salary Starting $40k 

Tasks Specific job duties in journalism vary by job title. Reporters gather information on newsworthy events through observation in the field, research and interviews. Some broadcast journalists report live on air from the location of an event. General assignment reporters might cover city hall meetings, business openings, celebrity appearances or political rallies. Some reporters specialize in areas like health, sports, fashion, business or foreign affairs. 

News analysts interpret the news from many sources and relay it to an audience through a television or radio broadcast. Correspondents report news from locations around the world. Some larger media outlets assign reporters to a specific beat like crime or politics. Reporters at smaller publications also might take on layout, administrative and editing duties. 

Regardless of the specific job duties, all journalists must adhere to strict ethical policies and deadlines. Accuracy and timeliness are key aspects of news gathering and reporting. Increasingly, journalists must possess a working knowledge of computers and databases. People skills, tenacity and flexibility are other important traits of a journalist, according to the BLS. 

Journalism positions usually require a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and some outlets require several years experience or a master’s degree. Jobs in the field are shrinking as revenues decline and consolidation continues in the industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Hours Varied

Skills 

• Determination
• Confidence
• Perseverance
• Excellent oral or written skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Stamina
• Enthusiasm

Travel Yes 

Animal Trainer / Behaviourist 

Education  high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED). However, in some cases, a bachelor’s degree is required. For example, a marine mammal trainer must have a bachelor’s degree in biology, marine biology, animal science, or a related field.

Salary upwards $30k

Tasks train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or assisting persons with disabilities. Accustom animals to human voice and contact; and condition animals to respond to commands. Train animals according to prescribed standards for show or competition. May train animals to carry pack loads or work as part of pack team.

Hours Varied 

Skills Time management, critical  thinking, customer service skills, physical stamina 

Travel Depends 

National Geographic Graphic Design + Manager 

Education Graphic designers usually need a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. Candidates for graphic design positions should demonstrate their creativity and originality through a professional portfolio that features their best designs.

Salary $50k 

Tasks 

• Meet with clients or the art director to determine the scope of a project
• Advise clients on strategies to reach a particular audience
• Determine the message the design should portray
• Create images that identify a product or convey a message
• Develop graphics for product illustrations, logos, and websites
• Select colors, images, text style, and layout
• Present the design to clients or the art director
• Incorporate changes recommended by the clients into the final design
• Review designs for errors before printing or publishing them

 

Hours Varied, office, 9-5 

Skills 

• Communication skills. Graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately reflect the desired message and effectively express information.
• Computer skills. Most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs.
• Creativity. Graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers. They develop unique designs that convey a recognizable meaning on behalf of their clients.
• Time-management skills. Graphic designers often work on multiple projects at the same time, each with a different deadline.
• Analytical skills. Graphic designers must be able to look at their work from the point of view of their consumers and examine how the designs they develop will be perceived by the consumer to ensure they convey the client’s desired message.
• Artistic ability. Graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers. They produce rough illustrations of design ideas, either by hand sketching or by using a computer program.

 

Travel Most likely not

 

Hamilton DOL – Farmer Refuted

In Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, “Farmer Refuted” is a song involving two main characters and sides to a discussion: Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Seabury (who wrote under the pen name A.W Farmer, hence the name of the song).  Hamilton is involved in a hostile altercation with the loyalist (an Episcopal rector) who is voicing his opinions on the rebellion. This is introduced by the opening line of the song, “Hear ye, hear ye my name is Samuel Seabury” and following, “I present free thoughts on the proceedings of the continental congress” explaining to us his purpose of being there. What morally drove Seabury was the subject of the First Continental Congress for supporting a trade with Britain as part of the aftermath of actions after the Boston Tea Party.

Hamilton heckles Seabury (right)  as he addresses the colonist.

 

The two held their disputes on paper through letters, pamphlets Another character is Hercules Mulligan who says the 5th line, “Oh my god tear this dude apart,” who  encourages Hamilton to speak up and back towards Seabury. Hamilton responded to this by writing back to Seabury in a piece titled  “A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress.” After these initial exchanges, the skirmish between the two continued to escalate. Later on, Aaron Burr makes a small appearance in the line “Alexander please” to which Hamilton responds with “Burr, I’d rather be divisive than indecisive, drop the niceties.” This line highlights the character’s desire to articulate and convey what he believes on the controversial topic, disregarding the concern of maintaining friendships and “niceties.” The final role in this song is a minor character who makes the first true appearance in the following song, “You’ll be back.” King George II is confused as to why the two are fighting and makes remarks through delivering a speech in the next song regarding the rebellion. The leeway and antecedent lines before this involve the people chanting “silence a message from the king, a message from the king, a message from the king.”

 

Artifacts from the exchange of letters and pamphlets between Seabury and Hamilton

 

The big idea in the Socials Curriculum that this song best coincides with is disparities in power alter the balance of relationships between individuals and societies. Hamilton and Seabury are arguing over the actions of the continental congress following the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party. The disparity in this situation analyzes the contrast of opinions between Hamilton and Seabury and the imbalance of their evidence, bias and support of each side. These two men influenced what other people thought as they were both notable, authoritative and admirable characters in the scope of Hamilton as a whole.

Samuel Seabury

Alexander Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most important historical note of this song is the publication date of Hamilton’s second published letter The Farmer Refuted, based off of Seabury’s pen name throughout the exchange. The letter was published in February of 1775 and was a follow up of his first letter, A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress. During this time in Hamilton’s life, he was studying at the King’s college in New York where he was heavily interested and gifted in the field of writing. That year, the first shots of the revolution were fired at Lexington Green and Hamilton joined the New York Militia.     

Some of the wants that can be revealed from this song through the interactions of characters is the desire to voice opinions and become involved in authority and events. Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Seabury were influencers in the varying opinions regarding how the congress was handling situations at the time. Many people other than Seabury and Hamilton were later involved in this song such as Aaron Burr, Hercules Mulligan and King George II, showing how small decisions and arguments involve the lives of many other people too. This song expresses how revolutions are heavily dependent on the contrasting ideologies and opinions. As stated earlier, the exchange of letters through the dispute caused tension between the two characters and those who supported them, and resulted in a negative relationship between Seabury and Hamilton. During the revolution, people wanted to become involved because their decisions and actions would make an impact on the large event as a whole (comparable to current day voting). Conflicts this created were cynical relationships, skirmishes and battles, tension between countries and the overall “civil war” as a whole.

 

Sources

Images: 

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Hamilton-United-States-statesman

https://www.episcopalct.org/Find-Resources/archives-of-the-episcopal-church-in-connecticut/diocesan-bishops/samuel-seabury/n

https://genius.com/Original-broadway-cast-of-hamilton-farmer-refuted-lyrics

https://patriottoursnyc.com/the-farmer-refuted/ 

 

 

Info:

https://www.revolvy.com/page/The-Farmer-Refuted

http://elyjah.talons43.ca/2016/12/11/hamilton-song-analysis-farmer-refuted/

https://winewithcheetos.com/2017/06/23/hamilton-an-american-musical-the-facts-behind-the-music-part-4-farmer-refuted-and-youll-be-back/

https://genius.com/Original-broadway-cast-of-hamilton-farmer-refuted-lyrics

 

 

 

 

 

Ted Talk 2019!

 

Click the links to go to specific sites for viewing:

Ted Talk – Light Pollution and Celestial Navigation ( How does light pollution affect our every day lives and how we view the universe?)

Ted Talk – Blooper Reel

Notes and Script

Bibliography

5 Ted Talks  (I watched for reference)

Ted Talk Science 2019 TALONS 9 – Michaela Da Silva

Socials Inquiry Info Graphic

 

 

PDF LINK

CANADIAN HISTORY INQUIry

Ecological Footprint Project

Calculation of Footprint: 12.9

Comparison of Footprint to Others

I notice that my footprint is a lot larger than my peers, and I believe this is mainly because of the amount of sports I do weekly and the living space required for the actvities outside of my own home. An example of this is how my barn is on approximately 40,000 square meters, on top of my 1800 sqm house and the school where I spend most of my time.  Some areas where my footprint was lower than others was in my water use area (I do not take baths and my showers are only about 5 minutes each), as well as how much money I spend daily (not that much as I tend to spend a lot in later quantities at once).

Things That Increase My Footprint 

1. Showering very often for a long duration of time
2. Eating foods or using products that contain high amounts of plastic content
3. Taking private vehicles every day to a work or school environment 
4. Buying new clothes every time you need a new wardrobe in comparison to up cycling and second hand materials
5. Eating more meat
6. Participating in activities and sports that are indoor or have facilities that require large buildings or parking lots
7. Not composting organics or recycling suitable products
8. Buying food that was not grown in BC or locally
9. Leaving taps and hoses on for unnecessary reasons
10. Wearing matching socks 

Of these ten detrimental environmental impacts, I have chosen 5 that I have attempted to change  to maintain a friendlier ecological footprint. I have started to take the bus more to school in the mornings, regardless of the fact that my parents are available to drive me or not. I chose this mainly because pollution and gasoline is a large contributing factor to the amount of carbon monoxide in the air and how unchangeable this problem may become in our future. When I am buying groceries by myself or with my mum I encourage her to buy things more locally grown and support farmers and growers in BC. One of the largest steps I have made as a person in my life to help myself be nicer to the environment is me going vegetarian in 2013. The livestock industry contributes more greenhouse gas emissions globally than the transport sector and the ecological footprint of vegetarians is estimated to be around half that of meat eaters. The last thing I tried to better for myself is wearing second hand clothes because I find myself throwing out a lot of my own clothes because I was unaware of how to up cycle them properly.  I chose these things to work on because I knew they would be accomplishable for me and I would not drop the ball or forget about them because I knew I would enjoy helping the earth and attempting to make an impact. 

The hardest change I had to make throughout this experience was wearing more second hand clothing. This is because I really enjoy shopping for new clothes and being able to do that dwindled the more I wore other peoples clothes instead of buying. My mum and I have created a system where at the end of each month we go through all the clothes we no longer wear and send them to value village, and shop for more clothes for ourselves while we are there. Giving up meat was not considered a large or challenging change for me because animals are very important to me and it made me uncomfortable to eat them in the first place, and I knew giving up the ability to do that would also help towards greenhouse gasses and the negative effects of farming. This change would probably be the easiest one for me to make because I also recognized how it would change my life and how much I wished to impact the people around me. I continue to tell people how positive going vegetarian can be for someone and how helpful it can be, because I believe things cannot be spread without people advocating their opinions about them. An obstacle I encountered while trying to drive to school less and use the bus more was the contradicting times with my schedule. I have to take 2 and sometimes 3 buses to school each day and they don’t always line up, leaving me waiting for up to 30 minutes in the morning. Since it also takes longer to get to school using public transit, I had to wake up earlier in my day which also proved challenging since I enjoy sleeping quite a bit. The way I solved this problem was going to sleep earlier at night and setting more than one alarm to insure I actually woke up instead of sleeping through them all. The steps I will and continue to take in my future include staying vegetarian for as long as my other medical dietary restrictions allow me to, create and organize systems to up cycle clothing and not buy things I do not need, buy local groceries when I move out for myself (when I have more control on what I can spend my personal money on) and continue to maintain a better sleep schedule so I can take public transit more instead of relying on my parents.

 

In Depth 2019 – Final Post

I am extremely happy with how my learning and exploration of photography has expanded throughout this entire experience and I would do it over again in a heartbeat. My mentor was helpful, forgiving, knowledgable, caring and helpful when showing me the ropes and basics of learning to take photos like a professional. Of course learning such a large hobby needed to be toned down to some more graspable aspects, so each session we narrowed down separate concepts to focus on. The main ones include:

1. Posing: positioning models (humans, animals, objects) in such a posture that produces flattering images with proper focal points
2. Backgrounds and lighting: learning what backlight is and when to use it vs frontal lighting and the use of natural sunlight on different facial angles
3. Portrait shooting: things to keep in mind for using models and taking people on shoots (finding locations, setting times with use of daylight, outfits, poses, action shots, etc)
4. Editing: exploring software such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign and the basics on how to manipulate and change images a certain way

TALONS Adopt A Trail group working on bettering the environment by maintaining the Scott Creek Trail by their school, Gleneagle.

So far the final artifact I have completed for my final project is completing my finalized personal photography website. This page highlights the main things I enjoyed about this project in different tabs in my gallery (equine, portraits, nature) and a few photos from each shooting location in each tab. I also have included a blog which I am regularly adding posts to, a “contact me” menu for shoot bookings (also an option on my Instagram page) and an about me. This website was very fun to make as I am also very heavily invested in digital and graphic design and enjoyed putting these skills to use.

How close can I get to a wild animal with a small 18-55 mm kit lense?

For my final learning centre I will be showcasing my website on my laptop in front of a poster with some highlighted concepts (such as the ones listed above in this post) of what I learned. So far the vision I have for this poster is writing boxes in the middle of a trip fold and some more images I have taken on either side. I will also have some landscape photos professionally printed on the table for people to take as they walk by. Additionally on my table I will be displaying the  book I wrote for ZIP 2019 about the Impact and Origin of Photography, also mentioned in my website: https://michaeladasilva9.wixsite.com/photography

Thank you to everyone who help[ed me along with this project!

Looking forward to In Depth Night!