JRN 420

Sportraits

Amari Smith poses for a portrait in Moore Hall on Monday, Nov. 18, 2025. Hannah Smith poses with lacrosse stick in Moore Hall on Monday, Nov. 18, 2025. Elliot Talsma, left, and Amari Smith, right, pose in their boxing gloves in Moore Hall on Monday, Nov. 18, 2025. SETUP REFLECTION This assignment was kind of challenging for me, especially when trying to come up with ideas for the models. Even though I was looking up poses online, I feel like none of them were really working h

Fashion

Central Michigan seniors Dylan Clifford, left, and Zach Hausbeck, right, pose for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Central Michigan senior Dylan Clifford poses for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Central Michigan senior Zach Hausbeck poses for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Central Michigan senior Dylan Clifford poses for a photo in Moore Hall on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. SETUP REFLECTION This setup for this in class was kind of di

Portable Studio Portrait

Zoey Morse poses with a bag of flour and a loaf of sourdough in Moore 424, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Zoey Morse poses taking a bite out of a sourdough loaf in Moore 424, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Zoey Morse poses with all of her baking ingredients surrounding her in Moore 424, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Oct. 20, 2025. SETUP REFLECTION Setting this up was pretty easy as I h

Sportraits

crani1al

Nov 18, 20252 min read

Fashion

crani1al

Oct 30, 20252 min read

Portable Studio Portrait

crani1al

Oct 23, 20252 min read

Thought Piece #5

Reading pages 278-291 of The Hot Shoe Diaries, really opened my eyes to the potential of small flashes. Joe McNally’s setups in this section are impressive—they go well beyond simple off-camera speedlight tricks. From lighting the inside of a firetruck, to three-stacked speedlights for the beach shoot or surrounding an entire airplane with over 40 speedlights! These examples not only showed me what light can achieve but also shifted my mindset about planning, ambition and pay

crani1al

Oct 11, 20253 min read

Thought Piece #4

The more I read into Joe McNally’s The Hot Shoe Diaries, the clearer it becomes that lighting is just as much about problem solving as it is about being creative. Through pages 208-277 McNally breaks down how he thinks on his feet and adjust to different scenarios. I appreciate his honesty in admitting that he doesn’t always nail it on the first try. It’s a good reminder that photography isn’t meant to be straightforward; it required thought, experimentation and the willingne

crani1al

Oct 8, 20253 min read

Location Car Lighting

An Audi A5 is parked in the back parking lot of Moore Hall, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. Erik Holladay-McCann borrowed the car from a friend who works for Enterprise. A close up shot shows the emblem of an Audi A5 in the back parking lot of Moore Hall, on the campus of Central Michigan University, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. Erik Holladay-McCann borrowed the car from a friend who works for Enterprise. An Audi A5 is parked in front of the B

crani1al

Sep 24, 20252 min read

Thought Piece #3

While reading Joe McNally’s The Hot Shoe Diaries, specifically from pages 150 to 207, I was really struck by how much of photography is about adapting to unexpected situations. McNally portrays photography not as a set formula but as a craft that thrives on experimentation, adaptability, and intuition. That viewpoint resonates with the way I tackle challenges in my own life. I often find myself waiting for the perfect moment to act, whether it’s in photography, school, or my

crani1al

Sep 23, 20252 min read

Thought Piece #2

In pages 63–149 of The Hot Shoe Diaries , Joe McNally really digs into how small flashes can tell big stories through photography. One thing that really struck me was his perspective on light—it becomes a character in his images instead of just a technical detail. His insights reminded me that great photography isn’t about avoiding challenges; it’s about embracing them to create something meaningful. One story that particularly stood out was when he photographed a dancer. McN

crani1al

Sep 15, 20252 min read

Thought Piece #1

Reading the opening chapters of Joe McNally's The Hot Shoe Diaries reminded me of why I got into photography in the first place. His way of mixing technical know-how with a good grasp of human emotions really stood out to me. What struck me the most was how McNally talks about light-- not just as a basic element, but as something lively that stirs feelings and draws the viewer into what's happening. His way of working with light doesn't feel like following a strict rulebook o

crani1al

Sep 8, 20253 min read