Kent State Shootings. The shooting at Kent State University in Ohio lasted 13 seconds. When it was over, four students were dead, nine were wounded, and the innocence of a generation was shattered. I like this photo. The picture showcases the grief of one’s loss. It makes me feel grief. The photographer was trying to capture and show the aftermaths and feelings of people who experienced the shootings firsthand. The story behind it, and the people in it, intrigues me a lot.

Terror of War. On June 8, 1972, Associated Press photographer Nick Ut was outside Trang Bang, about 25 miles northwest of Saigon, when the South Vietnamese air force mistakenly dropped a load of napalm on the village. I don’t like this picture. It’s too sad for me to look at. It makes me feel really sad. The photographer is trying to show the horrors and effects of war. The history behind the picture intrigues me.

Oscar Selfie. In the middle of the 2014 Oscars, host Ellen DeGeneres waded into the crowd and corralled some of the world’s biggest stars to squeeze in for a selfie. I like this picture. It’s funny to look at. It makes me feel happy. Bradly Cooper is trying to take a picture for memories.

My first impression was inspiration. He achieves abstract by zooming in on regular things and focuses on the details. Lines, values, geometric, and textures are important to his work. By using those elements and principles, I will be able to achieve similar photography.