Shaniqua

I'm trying to put together a portfolio for college admissions, and I realized that I really have no experience in photojournalism, and all the unrelated photography I do have is complete crap. Should I include portrait, fashion, still life, etc photography, since that's all I really have? Or do I need to go on a rampage to put together a completely new journalism-related portfolio in about 2 months?

Here's what I have so far, if anyone's interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/backrowbeauty/sets/72...

I've been on a 1200 calorie diet (that's food minus exercise) for about a month now. In the first 2 weeks, I lost 5 pounds, but then in the past 2 weeks I haven't lost anything. I can't really reduce my calorie intake much more without starving to death, so how do I start losing weight again?

I need some serious constructive criticism here, guys. Not just "good job" or a one-word answer like that. I need to make improvement if I want to take anything worthy of putting in my portfolio for college...

Here's some of my better work. Be brutally honest.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/backrowbeauty/sets/72...

I'm making a playlist, and I'm stuck as to what the last few songs should be. It's sort of a narrative story, about moving on after someone dies. And I need some songs about not being alone, living, or hope in general.

The main songs I have so far are Helena by My Chemical Romance, A Dark Congregation by The Hush Sound, and Those You've Known from Spring Awakening, if that helps at all.

Critique it. Rip it to shreds. Be brutal.

Through the walls

through the core of the earth

through the electronic fences where

cameras conspire

a bleeding girl screams -

wounded buried in the street

it pierces through the cries

of Allah O Akbar, not defeat

it pierces hope like needles

through flesh

through veins

through bones

it draws out the marrow, leaving

hollow

silence

revolution

It's just a rough draft I wrote yesterday, so I'm open to suggestions.

I shout to the cities and the mountains:

"Turn your eyes to the horizon!

May your breaths be inspired with awe

And your wild lips frozen with the snow of the white plains.

If nobody is sleeping in the sky,

They have awoken their dreams into the

Gold that streams through the clouds.

Let the sunrise be our example.

I may not be alive, but my eyes are not sewn shut."

And the people blindly stumble back to their

radio-music tour buses.

I rarely write poetry, so don't expect too much. And it's kinda long...

If you listen, you can hear it.

It's always there.

On a hill on the sea

Where the clouds hang low and the grass

Bows down to the house in the valley

The wind inspired and disturbed a

shard of air -

The pillow to her golden hair.

A lock fell through and shone

Like lightning on the dew

He drew back the curtains and

Sailed up to greet her

irridescent face

And he swept down to dance

on the crystal facets

where her fingers touch the water

And he stopped and stayed

to admire in stillness

her eyes in the trees

then lingered in the branches,

twinkling

as bells to her harp's embrace.

The clouds came in time

To see them entwined

Their watching eyes veiled

and retracted her gaze

He soared searching over hills

and the mountains and trees

He tapped on the windows

No trace, he howls and sighs -

Where is my Juliet?

Where is my glistening on the pools of her wrist?

The birds echo a chorus

The cicadas and leaves

Every floorboard creak

kettle scream

grandfather tock

beats percussion to mirror

her heartbeat.

If you listen, you can hear it.

It's always there.

I heard her acoustic version of Poker Face, and not only is she an amazing singer, it's actually a good song.

If she's so talented, why the hell does she keep making all this shitty music that's taking over the radio?

Lately, I've been concentrating on remembering my dreams, and I've noticed weird details. A few nights ago, in my dream, I knew the actual date and made references to what I was going to do the next day. Then the next night, I was wearing the same exact thing in my dream that I was wearing to bed that night. Other things like that keep happening. Does this kind of parallel between real life and dreams happen a lot?

I've never taken any formal classes or anything, but I've read a lot about technique, and I think I understand acting pretty well, I'm just...not good. I'm normally sort of socially awkward, which means trying to act natural in a play is...fail. Just as awkward as everyday life.

What should I do about this situation?

They met each other, did it, then died. How exactly is that the perfect romance?

I started doing photography about a year ago, and I wanted to see what people thought of my photography. Please don't just say something like "good job" or "nice" etc, I want to know what I'm doing well and what I can improve on. Be honest and brutal.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/backrowbeauty

How many of you know that quote is actually from Hair, not Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

It seems like almost everyone is depressed and bored and angsty. Why do people find it so hard to be happy?

Because it's 1 AM and there's little else to do. The only problem is, I have a shortage of fort making supplies. I have a bunch of blankets, but nothing to drape them over except for my couch and a card table. What would you do under these circumstances?

Where there's a girl who befriends some creepy old lady who's obsessed with Gone With The Wind, and there's something about a candy that tastes like melancholy, and some random girl whose brother died?

I know that isn't very helpful, but I read this book in class a long time ago and that's really all I remember.

It sounds sort of like a cross between rap and a 90's boy band. I heard it a while ago and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. All I remember of the lyrics are "Yo, my name is Joe, and that's fo sho. If I was black, they'd call me G.I. Bro!" and the chorus goes, "We are not thugs, we are white kids, stay out of clubs."

I googled it, and couldn't find anything. Someone want to help?

I'm on my school's pom team, and lots of people have told me that I break my wrists when I dance. I really try to concentrate on not doing it, but I still am without noticing it. Does anyone have tips on how to keep my wrists straight?

My friends and I didn't make it into our school show choir, so we're going to start our own and perform at the talent show. We have around 20 girls so far. We aren't an extremely talented group, and we don't take ourselves very seriously, but we'd like to do good. Any ideas for songs that we could do?

I'm 15 and I want to get into photography. I have a digital camera that's fairly good, but I want one that's better for actual photography instead of just snapping pics of friends and such. I'm looking to spend around $300-400 for a good digital camera that's easy to use and get clear pictures with...any advice?