Week 5 of 52

This week, Week 5 of the 52 Project, I decided to try and follow the Theme of the Flickr Group I am following, MCP 52 Project. The theme for Week 5 was Muse. My muse comes often whenever I can empty mind and focus on something beyond me. This sunset, like many others, takes me out of myself and into the beauty that is nature, creation, God.

This was taken from Palisades Park in Santa Monica, CA where sunsets, like this one, are often breath taking.

The MCP Group's theme was Muse and my theme is Structure. The Muse is the beauty of the sunset and the structure is the repetition of day into night, sunset into sunrise. Please enjoy my photos as much as I enjoy sharing them with you. You can see my photos in my Photography 2011 Group on Flickr. If you'd like to share please join the group.

Week 4

Well, this week it was harder to shoot than previous weeks. I made and effort with this gorgeous tree and roots. It was the wrong time of day, high noon. The lighting was harsh and made great shadows.

Friday, the 28th I realized I hadn't done anything else and just started shooting. None of those are any good. Enjoy!

Settlement with LAUSD

In the works. This week there was a settlement with LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) and layoff policies will no longer be last hired is first fired. This has many wondering just what does that mean.

In basic terms, seniority is out the window, and anyone can get the axe. Wow, no one is safe. This all stems from two years of teachers RIFs, (Reduction In Force), otherwise known as a layoff. The new teachers, usually more energetic and passionate, were let go and schools were forced to have substitute teachers fill in until a teacher was relocated and placed in that position.

LAUSD has until March 15th to set up a policy and method in which to release teachers. Wow, I really don't know what to think. What comes to mind are the words of Shakespeare and Anne Rice, "Beware the Ides of March" because, "No one is safe from nature's savagery, not even the innocent."

This all makes me think of the words of Chris Dede, "When we look back on public education, this will be seen as the 'Dark Ages'.

Week 3 of 52

These are my two favorites of the shoot I did with fellow photags in Downtown L.A. last Sunday. The streets were quiet and welcoming. I've seen some of the other photos taken that day and they did well also. I do have others that I may post because I liked them also. Enjoy

Week 2 of 52

I'm into week 2 and is not as easy as I thought. I'm look at structures and still working out processes to get this out. I'm posting on facebook, this blog and I'm also going to post on flickr. Let me know what you think.

Project 52 for 2011

Well, I'm late for posting for my Photography Project 52 . That means I am to post a photo every week of 2011. The first week of 2011 ended yesterday and I have no excuses, except that I forgot.

I will shoot and post under the theme of Structure. What that means exactly will be seen.

Here is my first installment. Shot on one of our rainy days in Southern California, that being a rarity in it self. I shot this with my iPhone.

I am doing this in order to practice developing my photographic eye, so give me your suggestion.

New School Year

It's that time again, Back-to-School Time!

I'm here at school preparing for a new school year in the mists of budget cuts, reductions in personnel and effectiveness of teachers scrutiny through test scores.

Public education is being battered and demeaned at every turn. What we do is challenged and criticized in the media and coffee shop conversations. It is brutal to listen to rants on the lack of confidence in what we do. But we all return with smiles and the belief that this year is going to be a good year. That is the hope that lives in every educator who teaches because it is their passion. I am grateful to work with such a group.

Have a great year. It will be if you make it so. See you in September.