Journal 4 - Justine

    

Part One:
    One of my favorite photos by Harvey Wang is the picture of Jim Searles on page 111.
     One of the major ways this photo adds to the profile is that it gives you a face. When you read the profile you have an idea of who Jim Searles through both the style and tone of the profile, and the picture. After seeing the picture, I had a better idea of Searles' character.
     I noticed two things that others might miss. The first is how worn the checkerboard is. The darker squares' color is fading and the edge of the board is chipped in several places. This tells you that the checkerboard has been well-used and well-loved by its players.
The second thing I noticed was the people in the background. there is more than one person playing checkers. Throughout the profile, Searles talked more about "us"(the checker-players) than he did "I" (Searles himself). Also, on page 116, Searles says "Checker players is really a brotherhood - like family." The people in the background are proof of that brotherhood.
     I think the photo holds a tone of seriousness. Searles and the other players are not taking their love of checkers lightly. While they love and are passionate about what they do, They are serious about the game. The lighting also adds to this tone. The light is coming in from one side, giving us a clear view of both Searles and the board.
       The photo's composition came out well. Searles and the checkerboard, the subject, are in crisp, clean focus while the others players in the background are blurred but not unidentifiable. I think the composition was done well.

Part Two:
     I am holding onto gratitude, or gratefulness. During my childhood, I was a terrible complainer. I complained about housework, schoolwork, other people, you name it. I was miserable when doing my work and made others miserable while I was doing it. At some point during my mid-teen years, my mother, my siblings, and I were having a conversation on complaining. I don't remember much of the conversation except that my mother said, "Complaining is just a form of ungratefulness. It is telling God that you are not happy with what He gave you." At the time, that statement had no significant impact on me but after a few months, I started to have a change of heart. I had a friend who was also a complainer and my siblings commented that it was a little difficult to hang out with him because he complained so much. This made me realized that this was true. "He is ungrateful." I realized, remembering what my mother had said. I began to wonder if people found it difficult to hang out with me as well. As a result, I began to work on complaining less and thanking more-and it worked. I started to see the work I had to do in a different light. I was less miserable and the people around me were less miserable. My work was finished better than it was before and the work environment became more pleasant.
     I am not perfect at all. I still have a tendency to complain sometimes, but remembering to be grateful for all that I have-a family, a job, opportunity to work, opportunity to go to school, etc.- improves my attitude, mood, mentality, and work environment.  Learning to be grateful for what I have allows life to be more enjoyable and energetic, and to be a happier person . That is why I am holding on to gratitude.