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This photo stands out as my 'best photo' because of the low angle, the vibrant colors, and the great 'model' Michelle Gilles. It reflects what I have learned in PhotoJournalism by use of a different angle, the low angle, which was a challenge i put on myself to understand and somewhat 'master'. This photo shows a bit of comfort/confidence I had with the subjects at the event and the event itself, where at the start of the semester I was nervous to even walk around with a camera; to be comfortable and confident in the area your shooting, will definitely result in better photos, as this photo shows.

My photo skills at the beginning of this semester were almost non-exisitant aside from quick shots off my iPhone, where I saw the aesthetics of a photo make the photo, but what this class has taught me is that an aesthetic background doesn't make the photo better, the angle, the lighting, the intimacy, the subject is what makes a good photo.

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I hope by the end of this term I hope to have some knowledge of the qualities it takes to make a successful documentary photo. I want to have the ability to use a camera to create a good image/photo, not a filter on an app. Lastly, at the end of this term I hope to understand the contribution of photojournalism. 

Now that the semester is coming to an end, I have more of an understanding of what qualities go into getting a great photo. Along with getting good lighting, variety of angles, correct camera settings, the dedication, time, and effort it takes to getting a good shot was not completely aware to me before this class. I assumed taking a great photo comes natural to people, and to some it may. However, I have learned that most photographers have had to learn, just as I, their way of photographing through practice. At the beginning of this semester, I barely knew how to work my camera or even the basic terms such as ISO, depth of field, and aperture. Now, I have a basic understanding of adjusting those levels for the type of scenery I'm shooting, and why I need to adjust them, in order to get a good photo without having to edit it with a filter on VSCO. I can see some improvement in myself with a camera, which makes me eager to learn more. Lastly, I hoped to know the contribution photojournalism meant to the world, and exactly what photojournalism is. After taking Rob's Intro to Photojournalism course and reading Lynsey Addario's autobiography and memoirs I have the desire to learn more, to follow photojournalists. I look at National Geographic and cover story pictures differently, for the knowledge I have of editing and the Code of Ethics. I appreciate and applaud photojournalist; for their dedication and devote work, for their beautiful images and strong stories, for going out into the field, to tell a story of 'whats right in the world' or whats is terribly wrong, just writing a story to have it shared to open people's eyes. 
Without photojournalists the world would be naive.