Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Photographers

Macro photography

I like this picture because how the picture was taken at eye-level. Also good example of shallow depth of field because the background is blurry and foreground is clearly.




Deliberate Use of Depth of Field



This picture has along depth of field and you can see the front and background clearly.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Slavery that still exists in the U.S.A



Did you know slavery that still exists in the U.S.A? Take a look at this video that I found at FreeTheSlaves.net. Modern slaves in the USA are being treated unfairly and their rights are being taken away by slaveholders who don’t care about them.





Even though slavery was made illegal by 13th Amendment, every year 50,000 people are brought to the USA and are forced to work without pay. According to one study, they come from “38 different countries, with China, Mexico and Vietnam topping the list.” Once they are here they are forced into housework, childcare, farming, or sex slavery. If they don’t do what they are told to do, the slaves get beaten.

Because slavery is illegal, people keep their slaves hidden from the public. When slaves are found by the police, they are often mistaken for illegal immigrants and deported. So many slaveholders go unpunished (UC Berkeley Press Release, 2004).

Organizations like FreetheSlaves.net are spreading the word that slavery is still going on. On their website they tell stories about people like Rose and Christie (shown on the right) who were tricked in to slavery. The website also suggests things we can do to help free the slaves. For example, you can donate money, or volunteer.



In the 1800s Angelina Grimke was a white abolitionist who spoke out against slavery. She said: “I witnessed for many years its demoralizing influences and its destructiveness to human happiness. It is admitted by some that the slave is not happy under the worst forms of slavery. But I have never seen a happy slave.” Her words as still true today. Without freedom, people cannot be happy. Without choices and school people cannot be happy. In slavery, you have no choices to make your life better. People want to go to school, help their family, and help themselves get a better life. In slavery, you have no choices to make your life better.