Magazine update and CCR plans!

Good Morning everyone!

Hope everyone has had an amazing week.
After 9 days in DC and NYC I miss my warm, Florida life. I've been freezing all week with an average of 35-40° F!

Anyways, let me fill you in on my project.
This week i have gotten about a thousand pictures! I cannot wait to look over and share them with you guys.
I will be using them for my project. My magazine will contain many of these pictures in the table of contents, and throughout the two-page spreads.

I think most of what I primarily came up with, has been able to go through. Which I am so grateful for because I was really convinced this was the best plan. My magazine had some changes in pictures and layouts but my overall idea stuck, so that is amazing.

On the other hand, there is also my Creative Critical Reflection (CCR). A CCR is a reflection on the work I have completed.
I have chosen to do my reflection as a voice recording. I will be using a voice recorder on my phone and various apps such as "Voice Changer- Celebrity Emoji", "Voice Changer +" and "Voice Changer, Sound Recorder and Player".

Not to mention my laptop. I will be using the normal iMovie and voice memos apps on my laptop to make my CCR unbelievable!!

It won't just be a voice recording, with these apps, i will be able to make it seem like a radio broadcast. I will be on a radio station (I haven't come up with the name yet) as if I was getting interviewed and questioned on my blog and other accomplishments. I am so excited for this part. I will ask around; my friends and parents to see who is going to have the patience to help me out with this, and interview me.

I hope you all like my ideas. Thank you all for the support and e-mails.

Like I always say, any questions or concerns on my posts and/or ideas, feel free to contact me via e-mail or comment below.

Love Your Earth!

#SPREADTHELOVE

 VS 

Reusable straws

On average, Americans use 500 millions straws per day!!
Now, think about where these plastic straws go after they're used.

Such a small change could make a difference in our environment.

Reusable straws can be bought ANYWHERE! : Grocery stores, such as Walmart and Target, Dollar stores, Ebay, Amazon. Plus, they're pretty cheap! the average cost is $5 for a PACK!! Which is almost the same price as plastic ones which will be thrown away after their first use and then damage the environment later on.

Here is a website for further information on reusable straws and how much they impact our planet.
https://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/greenline_straw_free.htm

It's time to make a change!

Here is a link to other eco-friendly alternatives if you want to make an even greater impact.
https://www.onyalife.com/plastic-free/eco-friendly-products/

Spring Break Post (2)

Hey everyone!
These past few days have been great!

I am beyond relieved that I have chosen the topic for my two page spread. I have taken many amazing pictures so far, and have finally finished my two-page table of contents. Since it includes so many pictures, it took me a while. Due to the great amount of amazing shots I got, I might change the layout of my first two-page spread. It depends which pictures convince me the most. I have my rough draft for my article ready to be typed. I am waiting to choose which pictures I want to put in order to do this.

One thing I do know for sure is that my magazine's topic is still pollution. I will also be mentioning all the effects that come along with it. I cited some sources I have and will continue to use on my last post.

I am planning to go to NYC in these days. When I'm there, I will take some pictures of the city. I will use these pictures for my second two page spread. I will place a picture of the city on the right page and a nature picture on the left. Here is how I want it to look like. (these are obviously not my pictures, I found these on google.)

 CITIES VS NATURE

 These pictures will lead to another article, which sadly, I won't be posting on my blog. All the pictures I will be using will be original, for it is a requirement for this project. (I promise you will still be AMAZED by them.)

On the other hand, it is day 4 in DC and I am freezing! It is currently 38° F! I'm missing the warm, 90° F Florida weather!!! There are patches of snow everywhere and we are in winter warning. (Even though it's spring...?) 

Anyways, I hope everyone else is enjoying their spring break (or jobs lol) 

Continue to have a great week. I will be posting soon!

Spring break post

31,000 ft

Hey everyone!  Check out this great shot of the sky I got on the plane. I am so happy to say we made it! I am currently blogging from DC!

I am staying with my best friend and she has promised to take pictures with me throughout the week. Sadly, I am not planning to post any pictures until after I get back, but I promise, they will be great!

After researching my topics in a 2.5 hour flight I have chosen pollution!
I chose this because there are MANY things to talk about with this topic. Not only that, but there’s also MANY solutions to this. I want to mention pollution on a global scale and how everyone Can make a difference if we work together. I also chose this topic because it brings the world together. I like when people cooperate and help each other live peacefully.

I have many great pictures but I may consider taking some more so that I have options to choose from.

I hope you all are satisfied with this amazing topic because not only am I satisfied but RELIEVED that I finally have some more information for you guys! Which I love giving and telling you about.

Here are some links that I am going to refer to for further information. 

• https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/air-pollution
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/pollution.htm
• http://discovermagazine.com/tags/pollution
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution/
• http://earthsharing.org/join-our-mailing-list/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=epus222&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv73VBRCdARIsAOnG8u11-2XSqru-RMmf-6W36UnXK2SBaFJvKOIMsrrO8A23GCF0e-yLrfoaAoBMEALw_wcB
• https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-11-09/air-pollution-kills-the-most-people-in-these-countries
• https://www.usnews.com/topics/subjects/pollution

Magazine changes

Happy Friday everyone!
Finally, spring break has officially started!!

I have been working very hard on my magazine and I want to tell you all about it!
have decided to make my magazine about  70 pages.
I’ve had my cover finished for about a week and a half now and I am finishing up my table of conents. These content pages are informative and pretty easy to follow.
 On the first page (left side) I am including page numbers, headings, and subheadings. I am doing this so that the reader doesn’t have flip through the whole magazine to find a topic they find interesting. My second page ( right side) has pictures. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to put 5 pictures in one page, but I will figure it out. This page will also include page numbers so that the reader can see a ‘preview’ of the article. I am going to attach a drawn layout below so that you guys get an even better idea on what I’m talking about.

And then there’s my two page spread.....
Honestly, I have NO CLUE what I want to do my first two page spread on. I know the layout and have a couple ideas that I have mentioned earlier in my blog, but I haven’t chosen yet which one will be the best fit. I am planning to keep doing my research on that so that the magazine gives the best information possible.
My second two page spread will probably just be a picture with a famous quote or something of the sort.
I want to let you guys know that these two spreads will not have anything to do with each other. Meaning that they will be based on different articles. You guys will be able to notice which articles they are based on once I number the pages. Once that’s done, you can check in the table of contents or simply by the title.

I will update you on any changes! Have an amazing day!

Climate Change

What is Global Warming? 

Global Warming is the rise in average temperature of the Earth.

It brings along a variety of negative effects. 

Polar bears and other animals in the Arctic are losing their habitats due to the melting ice. Coral reefs are dying and becoming opac. Our food, water and infrastructure is also being affected and contaminated.  

What you can do... 

Save electricity, recycle, buy less things, eat less meat, use solar energy and plant your own food. These are some of the few things you can do to help global climate change. Most importantly, spread the word! The more people participate, the greater impact we will make!

Citations:

“Ten Personal Solutions to Global Warming.” Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/what-you-can-do/ten-personal-solutions-to.html#.WqmCL5PwaRs.

“Why you need to care about climate change – now.” Environmental Defense Fund, www.edf.org/climate/why-you-need-care-about-climate-change-now?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=ggad_climate_pd_dmt&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=1485443267&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkKPVBRDtARIsAA2CG6FJKUhgaUJgKdewrPALg3kKvV5_MRp5eiyoQpz5AjdF0Wv32vPact4aAhU1EALw_wcB.

Monday Update

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to fill you in.

Last week I met up with a group of students in my class who are doing similar projects to mine. I am truly impressed with everyone’s ideas and progress so far. We were able to give each other tips and comments on how to improve our work.
After spending 1 hour and 15 minutes together, we were able to share our ideas and each person took the other’s advice.. which is awesome!
I love interacting with others and helping each other get on a better track.
I was advised to make a couple changes with my fonts and color. Luckily my content seemed to be good and they were as happy with it as I am.

On the other hand, this weekend I took many pictures for my project. I went to a grocery store by my house called ‘Publix’ to take some pictures of the fresh produce and I also went to the thrift store ‘Goodwill’. With the managers permission, I was able to take multiple pictures of the shop and the clothing.

An obstacle I faced this weekend was the change in schedule of my friends. Plans changed because I had to go to work when they were available. I fixed the problem though because my mom was willing to go and help me out with whatever I needed.

Even though it wasn’t my initial idea, everything worked out perfectly.

I am going out of town on Friday for spring break. I will be in DC, NYC, and Pennsylvania. I will take as many pictures as I can and will post on my blog! Sadly, I don’t know for sire though because it is very cold and ‘dull’ at the moment over there. Therefore, I’m not sure if I should put that on my magazine, but I’ll consider it.

I hope you all have a great week! :)

Good morning  everyone!

I hope you all had a great week. Mine felt so long! I guess I'm just excited for spring break..

Anyways, this weekend I am planning to go out and take more pictures for my magazine! I will be returning to Tree Tops Park to take more nature shots. Hopefully, the weather is nice like it was last week so the photos come out as great. I am also planning on going thrift shopping! I have never been before, but I have heard many positive feedback about it, including: cheap clothes, and good for the environment. What could get better than that? So, when I go, I'll take a bunch of pictures to put on my blog and magazine.

I will also be taking pictures of organic produce, recycling hacks, and other things that I will talk about in my magazine. (which I don't want to spoil for you, so I'll stop there.)

An obstacle that has been very hard for me to overcome is time. I am a full-time student, part-time worker, night-time homeworker and a professional nap taker! Fitting a great amount of time into my magazine has been hard for me but not impossible!

 I believe I update you guys so much and try to constantly keep you all involved. Because I have spent a great amount of time working on this, my ideas have been amazing!


There have been many changes from my initial idea of my magazine and blog. Such as: theme, color scheme, cover page, and even magazine topics!
Everything has been working out for the better though and I am certain you will be more that satisfied with the process and final results.

Have a great weekend! Will keep you guys updated and post pictures soon!

Starting my Mag!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to keep you all updated on my magazine.
After looking endlessly online for websites to create my magazine, I have decided to use a website called "Flipsnack.com" for my creation. It is simple, yet has a variety of options to design my magazine in my own taste, and not to mention, it's FREE!

I obviously began by doing my cover page, and I am proud to say it is officially finished! I used the picture of my friend Nicole as the main subject and placed her directly in the middle of the cover. I also used famous quotes and magazine topics as cover lines. My masthead is my magazine title "ECO-MAGAZINE", and I placed the dateline right below it.
I chose this name because I believe it is straightforward on what the topic of my magazine is: the environment and ways to help it.
Other than informative, my magazine is also colorful!

I also used different lively colors that represent the Earth.

Blue: Tranquility, Peace, Confidence and Royalty.
Green: Freshness, Youth, Growth, and Optimism.
White: Pureness, Cleanliness, and Perfection.
Pink: Passion, Sweetness, Tenderness, and Intimacy.
Yellow: Courage, Illumination, and Cheerfulness.

I am beyond excited to continue this journey. Thank you all for feedback and tips along the way. Most importantly, thank you to all the people who have felt inspired to be a CHANGE! If you haven't, start now. It's never "too late". The future is yours.

Behind the Scenes

Well, as you all figured, my pictures came out unbelievable!
Even though you are yet to see them, I know you know I'm honest.

All these pictures took a lot of work and effort. My friends and I had an amazing time shooting and I would love to share with you the process. We had lots of fun and had the wonderful opportunity of meeting new people. Below I will attach pictures of some 'behind the scenes' action so you can get a glimpse of what's to come.

Long Shot

I decided to take a long shot of this beautiful tree. 

The vibrant colors and unique shapes are sure to captivate any hiker's eye.

 I took this picture because I want to show the fascinating ways nature thrives!

 Using a long shot, you will be able to see the whole tree and specific details it carries that makes it exclusive. 

Close-Up

This close up shot is of my friend Nicole. 

I might be using one of these cheerful pictures as the cover image for my magazine. 

I decided to take this photo because it shows joy and peace. Because the camera is close to her, the reader is able to 'feel' the felicity that she felt.

 I want people to feel this when they read my magazine and show them how to feel the same wonders toward their natural environment. 

It took us a little over 3 hours to take all of our pictures. The weather was delightful since it wasn't the usual hot, humid, Florida weather, but rather breezy and slightly cloudy. Due to this, we were able to get many shots with perfect lighting. 

On the other hand, I've had a couple questions regarding my post on Sunday. I want to clarify that I asked all the people I took pictures of permission to photograph them. 

Like I always say, any questions or comments please feel free to contact me through email or comment below. 

I promised to post some eco-friendly alternatives so here we go... 

"Stop using plastic bottles." 

Let's be honest, how many times have you heard this one? 

DO IT! STOP USING THEM!

"Last year, a study estimated that around eight million metric tons of our plastic waste enter the oceans from land each year." 

Guys it's time to take some action! 

Save our oceans! Save our land! Save the future!

An average BPA (bisphenol) free bottle costs from $5-$10. You can refill this bottle any time of the day, leave it in a hot car, put any drink in it, and best of all.... you help out your environment!

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday I went with my friends to take pictures and it went awesome! I will post some ‘behind the scenes’ pictures so you all can laugh a little.

Due to my excitement, the pictures didn’t come out exactly as I thought they would. They came out better than I planned! I tried doing something similar to what I drew out in my last posts but, it didn’t work out. I hope you are pleased with what i got instead.

The lighting was another factor that affected my choice of pictures. Because I am using natural sunlight for all my pictures, I need to be cautious and thoughtful whenever I’m shooting.
Overall though, the lighting and weather was great. Since spring just started, my pictures came out unbelievable.

Even though it didn't go as planned, everything worked out perfectly. We ended up going to Tree Tops Park. Coincidentally, we went to the park on 'Water Matters' day, and the park was holding an event with various kiosks to promote ways to conserve our water! Lots of people participated! and the best part is: I got pictures of that too. Which i cannot wait to show you!

                 

      

THE FUTURE WILL THANK YOU!

Outline

Good afternoon!

Everything is going amazing with the project so far. My friends and I are ready to begin shooting pictures tomorrow. Since we have that planned, out and I have already thoroughly explained my ideas  , I want to fill you in on what else I have planned for my magazine. I will take about 4-6 pictures exclusively for my magazine and will post all the other ones on my blog. Even though my magazine is about 70-90 pages, I will only show a preview of the cover page, table of content and TWO two-page layouts. Let me explain what each will contain. 

Cover page: Masthead, picture, dateline, main cover line and coverlines. (I am stil debating whether to have a model on this page, because I want the whole magazine to focus on the environment. I may use an animal instead. I'll keep you all updated on that.)

Table of Contents: (pages 1 & 2) Page numbers, 1-3 images, and story titles. (I am also thinking about putting a famous quote on either of these pages) 

Two-Page Spread (1): Image, story, title, and explanation. 

(I am so excited to make this one! I will be writing about a topic that I strongly believe in. Topics include: recycling, pollution, veganism) 

Two-Page Spread (2): Image 

(This is where I will put my best image, so good it deserves TWO pages!)

If you want a visual representation of my idea look at the image below. 

Location/ Planning cont.

I'm back with great news!

Before I tell you guys anything  I want to let you guys know that my comments and email are open to EVERYONE! i have already gotten questions and concerns which i have happily answered. Feel free to hit send anytime for any regards.

On the other hand, my friends and I have figured out where we are going to take amazing pictures for my blog and magazine! 

We are going to be shooting pictures in a local public park. Tree Tops Park has much recognition in Broward County for being very green since it is highly conserved. There are many animals, trees, plains, trails and hills. There is always going to be people there because of how beautiful the landscapes are. We will begin this weekend and meet at the park around 12pm that way we get the best natural lighting possible.
I have gone there a couple of times to bike and hike on the trails. I am so excited to continue this journey.

Here is a link for further information of the park.

http://www.broward.org/Parks/TreeTopsPark/Pages/Default.aspx

I will also attach an image of the park map. We will spend most of our time by Picnic Areas and the Butterfly Garden

Planning

Hey guys! Glad to be back!
I just wanted to update you all on my project. My friends and I have already gotten together to plan everything, and let me tell you: we’re beyond excited! We’re looking forward to this unique experience, and I’m proud that you guys will also be part of it.

I’m going to fill you in on what we had in mind.
Since My genre is environmental journalism I thought “why not make my project on current environmental issues, their solutions and how everyone can make an impact.” After this sparked in my mind, my excitement rose 100%. Something I feel passionate about should be my topic so that i can inform you all as much as possible.

My 3 friends will help me set every thing up properly in order to take perfect pictures. Our schedules aren’t completely planned yet since we all work part-time and have tons of homework, but luckily we are all on the same page in terms of the overall vision of my project. Which is an Eco-friendly magazine (made with recycled paper) which informs readers on how to live green! I will let you know as soon as this changes, so that you know when we are shooting. Fortunately, so far, everything has worked out as planned. Along the way, there will be obstacles but I will be able to work through them in order to successfully run this blog and complete this project.

Below I will attach some images on the pictures and shots I am planning to take. If there’s a positive comment or opinion you have, feel free to email me or comment on my post so that I can review it.

             

                     1                                       2                                      3

Before I go, I'm going to explain these shots, so if you're interested, keep reading... 

Shot 1: This picture shows 4 bins. 3 recycling bins and one general garbage bin. All four will be placed on the grass somewhere in a park. I have chosen this because it shows people where to place their garbage and waste. 

Shot 2: This picture will also take place in a park or somewhere with plenty of grass and trees. The people will be placed in the center, holding hands as a sign of making peace with each other and nature. 

Shot 3: This picture is a close up of green leaves, and the sun shining in the background. I chose this picture because with a close up, the audience is able to see details; something the other pictures don't show. 

(I just wanted to point out that I drew these pictures in 100% recycled paper!!)

I hope you guys will leave my blog today feeling a bit more informed on my plans. I will keep on updating you all in any changes. Sadly, I believe most things never go as planned, so there will probably be changes in the final product of this project. Regardless, everything I do will be for the better of this blog and for you guys: my readers. 

Have a great day! 

Research

I told you guys a couple days ago that I am going to make my magazine environmental-friendly and I have come up with some amazing ideas. For sure, the genre of my magazine is Environmental Journalism. There are many magazine companies with this same genre such as "E- The Environmental Magazine" and "Orion Magazine". 

 E- The Environmental Magazine 
(https://emagazine.com/)
E- Magazine was founded in 1998 and first published in 1990, in Connecticut, United States. There are bi monthly publications on controversial, environmental topics, such as climate change, food safety, and impacts of the increase in human population growth. E-Magazine targets audiences of all ages, who want to make a positive impact on the environment. 

Orion Magazine
(www.orionmagazine.org)
Orion Magazine was first issued in 1988 in New York, United States by George Russell. The publications of the magazine are bi monthly and are based on environmental and cultural concerns. Some of the main topics include: Pollution, recycling, scientific studies, food & agriculture, and impactful communities. Nowadays, Orion has a budget of $1.5 million along with efficient amount of staff and interns. 





According to Orion ''humans are morally responsible for the world in which we live, and that the individual comes to sense this responsibility as he or she develops a personal bond with nature''. Honestly, I am fond of this quote and I hope it touches you enough so that you check out more of the interesting material on their website to inform yourself on how you can begin building your bond with nature and start making a change in your community. I have spent much time reading these magazines' articles and about their history. Let me tell you I am enchanted with everything they have information on. I hope you guys have time to look into these magazines. I have attached their links along with some basic facts about their companies. 

Citations:
“Mission and History.” Orion Magazine, orionmagazine.org/about/mission-and-history/.

“Orion (Magazine).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Feb. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(magazine).

“E The Environmental Magazine, Author at EarthTalk.Org.” EarthTalk.org, earthtalk.org/author/e-the-environmental-magazine/.

“E–The Environmental Magazine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Feb. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%E2%80%93The_Environmental_Magazine.

Genre

Good Afternoon guys! I am feeling ecstatic today!

In order to successfully run this blog, I will be using a Mac laptop to conduct all my research, design my blog and magazine, plan my ideas, and keep you all informed during the week. Like i said before, i want to use vibrant colors to enhance a lively, Earth, feeling. Green is the main color you will see, because it is a calm, peaceful color. It is also the color of life: trees, plants, grass and flowers that live amongst us in our beautiful planet.

I am still figuring out how i am going to take pictures, but my plan is to receive help from a couple friends who have professional cameras. If that doesn't work out, I will be using my iPhone which has also good camera quality at 12.3 megapixels.

On the other hand, its official, my genre is absolutely Environmental Journalism. I was stuck between this and Science Informative, but deep down, I felt like this would be more interesting for us both. If you don't know what that is, keep reading! 

What is Environmental Journalism:
EJ is essentially "is the collection, verification, production, distribution" and exposure of news, trends, and people related to the natural environment which humans utilize and interact with. The main purpose of it is to engage people with issues related to the environment. While one is reading this genre, one must keep in mind history, politics and current events. Issues such as pollution, recycling, and waste may come up. If you are concerned for the planet's well-being and yours, I hope you find this topic desiring. 

I promise to keep you guys updated as much as possible. As a Highschool Senior I have many important events coming up, but I promise to post eco-friendly alternatives to everyday things as soon as I can. 

Hope you all have a an amazing rest of the day, and that you come visit my blog again soon!