An artist can be defined as “a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer.” I don’t believe you have to work in the area to be an artist. I believe that if you are passionate about expressing yourself through painting, dancing, singing, playing an instrument, writing, etc. then you can be defined as an artist. Photography is even something I would define as an art. Colin Taylor is the artist I chose for this photo story of an artist. Colin is a freshman here at Stephen F. Austin and he plays guitar, writes poetry, and sings. My story shows a young man who is goofy, silly, smart, and passionate about an art he truly enjoys to do in his free time. Colin Taylor writes his own songs and plays and sings them as well. Throughout this photo shoot Colin played a variety of his own music around campus, as well as popular songs one can hear on the radio. At the beginning of the story there is a video of Colin in the lighting lab at SFA singing a song he wrote called “Raindrops” that reminds him of his girlfriend of 2 years. Enjoy! (Gabrielle Rambo/ SFASYOU.com)
Colin Taylor sits under a tree and plays a variety of songs Sunday afternoon on the SFA campus.
He writes out lyrics to a song he played during the day out on campus. The song he played was one he came up with on the spot while we were photographing out side.
After walking around campus for a while, Colin leans up against the railing and plays the song “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars in front of the Austin building Sunday afternoon.
Studio time: Colin shows off his outgoing personality in the lighting lab on campus. I didn’t have to ask him to pose in any particular way, he just took the liberty of doing what ever his personality lead him to do.
Colin gets lost in song while playing and singing in front of the Student Center Sunday.
Trying to remember the words, Colin gets stuck on the lyrics he previously came up with during the day.
The two photographs above are also from studio time. Directly above: Colin sings and plays guitar while in the studio, ignoring that he is being photographed.
The guitar makes the sounds but the hands form the chords that make the music.
Simply Colin Taylor
“I love to write music because 1. its a great stress reliever, 2. I can express my deepest fears, my greatest loves, and just my general perception of life through a medium that makes people smile and can change people’s life and perception and 3…cause the chicks dig it.”
“To create art with all the passion in one’s soul is to live art with all the beauty in one’s heart.”
SFA alumni James Hughes “Black James” performed at the 4/20 Mapfest in Houston, Tx, an all day festival dedicated to music, art, and peace. Black James was one of many performers, as well as one of other SFA alumni whom performed at the festival. James not only performed his solo performance, he also free-styled with the Renazons to close out. Follow the life of a post graduate student trying to achieve his dream and do something he loves. 4/20 Mapfest Performance. View alternate presentation at, Prezi.
Black James at 4/20 Mapfest. James’ choice of shoe game for his performance. By: Berenice Tirado
James embraced his mic. Black James during his 4/20 performance. By: Berenice Tirado
James at the Mullet in Houston. James posed for some shots with the graffiti art at the venue. By: Berenice Tirado
Black James at the 4/20 festival in Houston. James performed “Boy Meets World” at the Mullet. By: Berenice Tirado
The venue of the festival. The Mullet, a building located in Houston. Locals said the art always changes its never the same and it is always great. By: Berenice Tirado
Black James during his performance. James gazed at his audience as he got ready to perform. By: Berenice Tirado
Black James performed his music with enthusiasm and excitement. By: Berenice Tirado
Black James walked through the smoke as he got ready for his collaboration. James walked on the floor to begin his free-style performance with the Renazons. By: Berenice Tirado
Black James at the festival. James continued his performance. By: Berenice Tirado
Black James at the Mullet. James continued with excitement and really got into his music and lyrics. By: Berenice Tirado
James sat down with his Nikon camera and friends after his performance. James skimmed through pictures and videos taken by family and friends that attended the show. By: Berenice Tirado
James walked on stage at the Mullet. James made sure everything was set and the mic was ready to begin the show. By: Berenice Tirado
James collaborating with the Renazons. James and the Renazons closed their performance. By: Berenice Tirado
Illustration photography, a way to show ideas visually. Very eye appealing and informative images that have been illustrated in some way to convey something real. This illustration photography shows some ideas and illustrations while keeping the photojournalistic edge and not changing the meaning of the images.
Marystella Rodriguez, Junior, rehabilitation services major. In this image Marystella helped illustrate the frustration and struggles college students face during finals. By: Berenice Tirado, SFASYOU.com
Sammy, three-year old and Jorge Martinez. In this image Sammy demonstrated the love of grandparents and grandchildren by kissing her grandfather on the cheek while picking flowers in the SFA arboretum. By: Berenice Tirado, SFASYOU.com
Marystella Rodriguez looks at her reflection. In this image Marystella helped illustrate reflection week back looking at her reflection and representing looking back in life. By: Berenice Tirado, SFASYOU.com
It can happen to any student, anywhere, any time. It disguises as an excuse, but many claim it to be a real disease. Senioritis has struck many SFA seniors as the Spring 2013 Semester comes to an end. Senioritis is a phenomenon that plagues graduating seniors during their last semester. There is some questions to wether senioritis is a real disease or an excuse not to care anymore. Either way, those who fall ill to this “sickness” seem to find comfort only in graduation.
Senioritis plagues SFA students with laziness, a lack of studying and a dismissive attitude as classes come to an end. The only documented cure for senioritis is graduation, according to the Urban Dictionary. (Kasi Dickerson/ SFASYOU.com)
SFA Senior Sarah Clark counts down the days until graduation as school becomes overwhelming on April 11, 2013. Clark, like many seniors, has fallen ill to senioritis. (Kasi Dickerson/ SFASYOU.com)
Seniors feel the heat of senioritis as graduation nears. Many question the legitimacy of senioritis asking if it is an excuse or a real issue? (Kasi Dickerson/ SFASYOU.com)
Illustration photography seemed like it would be an easy task for this photo assignment. I now know know it takes a lot of thought, but once I found one word, one idea, I was able to roll with it and create something I am pretty proud of. The word “madness” came to me from the song “madness” by the band Muse. My boss also told me about some illustration photography he had done about holiday depression. Those two things were all I needed to come up with my three ideas. The first photograph represents the frustrations and stress of college. I wanted the photo to portray a student who felt overwhelmed and lost with all the ciaos. In the second photograph, “dream”, I wanted to express what it is often like for college students who are so close to being done with school. In a way it illustrates the way I feel with only a year left in college. It is hard to not daydream about all the things that are to come after graduation and all of the excitement that will come with it. Lastly is the photograph “accomplish”. This one was tricky and is not my favorite of the two but I feel like it illustrates that even through the stress and the constant need to want to be done and start fresh, you still feel a sense of accomplishment every time you reach a goal you set for yourself. Whether it’s a diploma or an A+ on a test believing in ones self is the best accomplishment. (all photos were taken in the lighting lab in the mass com building on campus)
Posing as a stressed out student, Marie Greger grips her pencil as she stares into a workbook as a clump of words overwhelms her. Greger is not an SFA student, she is actually a high school student from Germany staying with a family in Victoria, Texas. She posed in the lighting lab Sunday on the SFA campus and easily portrayed any student who tends to stress out. (Gabrielle Rambo/sfasyou.com)
Looking off into a daydream-like state, Nick Abshire portrays a student who can’t keep their mind on the work in front of them. Abshire is a Freshman at SFA and often thinks about what his future after college will be like. (Gabrielle Rambo/sfasyou.com)
Nick Abshire and Marie Greger pose together for a final shot portraying the success two different people can have even through stress and constant daydreaming. The photo is titled “accomplish” because when a person pushes through everything invading their thoughts, their mind can become clear which can also lead to accomplishment. (Gabrielle Rambo/sfasyou.com)
“BSL Breed specific legislation mainly against the Pit Bull breed is unfair, how is it legal to own a tiger in Florida but illegal to own a Pit Bull,” Jorge Martinez shared what he thought about the bad reputation given to Pit Bulls and what he thinks as well as sharing what a big part of his life his four Pit Bulls are. Puppy Love
Jorge Martinez enjoys playing basketball on his free time. This past Sunday Jorge played a pickup game of three on three at the West Side park. By: Berenice Tirado
Jorge Martinez plays with his nephews Arian and Paytton. At a previous Nacogdoches high school soccer game Jorge baby-sat his nephews while supporting his younger brother. By: Berenice Tirado
Jorge Martinez dances with his Pit Bull Scarface on the trampoline. Jorge loves his dogs to death he enjoys playing and running with them as well as playing on the trampoline. By: Berenice Tirado
Students walk around campus wearing jackets and jeans trying to keep warm with the crisp spring weather Monday in Nacogdoches. Flowers are in bloom and the sun is shining, but on the Stephen F. Austin campus, students are bundled up. Gabrielle Rambo/SFASYOU.com
Not everyone has the courage to step up to change, especially when that change involves sexual assault.
Lauren Hill, senior health science major and member of the S.A.V.E. coalition, speaks on behalf of sexually
assaulted victims by helping arrange events for next month’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Lauren Hill, member of the S.A.V.E. coalition on campus smiles at a joke while discussing future events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April during a S.A.V.E. meeting on Friday, March 22.
Lauren Hill adds to the conversation Friday during a S.A.V.E. meeting that was focused on the idea of the next upcoming events including Prevention in the Park, Denim Day, Take Back the Night and a Woman’s Self Defense Class.
Hill concentrates on making Denim Day buttons in support of a young girl’s rape case that got thrown out because she was wearing jeans when she was assaulted.
As her student Diego reads his book, Rebecca Lyles reads over her lesson plans for the day at BQJ Elementary School. As a student teacher, Lyles teaches three students from a first grade class for 20-30 minutes a few times a week. Gabrielle Rambo/SFASYOU.com
There are so many students that walk around campus that many of us have hardly any idea of what their life is like or what they do on a day-to-day basis. Rebecca Lyles is one of hundreds of students on the SFA campus that has a personality like no other.
As a full time student, part-time Phone Jacks manager and student teacher, Becca has put her outgoing and original personality into each area she is involved in.
For the past couple of weeks I have been taking a glimpse into Lyles’ life. She is a campus personality by simply being herself. She has a big heart and loves everything she does, especially when teaching her first graders at QBJ Elementary School.
” It’s hard to do so much, it always feels like there isn’t enough time in the day, but the second I see those kids, my day is made,” Becca Lyles said.
These photos are just a small look at what she does from day-to-day.
Becca Lyles laughs with her first grade students at BQJ Elementary School after their teacher made a funny comment. Lyles is an education major and is in the process of student teaching. Gabrielle Rambo/SFASYOU.com
Standing by her office, Rebecca Lyles, junior, smiles for the camera as her coworkers make calls. Lyles is a manager at an on-campus job known as Phone Jacks. Gabrielle Rambo/SFASYOU.com
