Week 6, Day 2

My name is Mary Peyton Gosser and I am on my final semester of my Senior year at Meredith. I will be graduating this December (yay!). My major is Studio Art with a focus in Photography. I am class of 2011. I was interested in this course because it allowed me to still practice photography, learn more about in-camera techniques, file sizing, editing and PhotoShop while giving back to the community. I have always loved animals and the two BEST animals I have ever experienced are my cat that I adopted and my dog that we found on the side of the road. I am a big believer in second chances and I feel that every animal deserves their first chance at a home that will be loyal to them. I felt that this course was perfect because it was online and had freedom and I got to interact with the animals. Also, I was able to become a volunteer and start a new hobby/interest that I really, really enjoy. The most valuable part of this course going to the animal shelter and getting to interact with the animals. Seeing the dog and cats becoming so excited when they get a chance to come out of their cage makes me feel so happy. Even getting to show a little affection with some pets and hugs to the animals makes me so happy. That by far is the best part of the course. I learned a lot about photo editing that I should have learned in the past. I am a photography focus but a lot of the stuff that has really stuck (in terms of editing) has been in this class. I have taken a fair share of film photography classes and this is my first digital class. I didn't think I was going to learn so much about the camera that I have already had for a year! Photography can make an impact by raising awareness. It promotes outside marketing for these animals and provides a visual outlet into the lives, souls, hearts, and personalities of the animals. Photos make it possible to experience an animal conveniently. 

This photo is blurry but I wanted to post it because it is special to me. This is the first photo that I took at the animal shelter. It is important to me because though blurry, it captured the happiness of this dog. This dog was so sad in the cage and when we took him out for a walk he just turned into a completely different dog. This photo reminds me how important it is to think of others... even animals. Every living creature deserves to be happy.